You Mean I Can't Get Paid to Take Care of My Kid Forever? Oh.

Yep...I'm back to work!  I can hardly believe 4 months went by so quickly, but I'm excited to re-enter the world of my career!  It was 1st and then 2nd (only to Matthew) for so long...and now it's 3rd in my life, but I have re-realized how much I need it for my sanity, self worth and, well, shopping addiction.  I have a serious addiction to Nordstrom, but even worse - an addiction to baby clothes!  Aaaaggghhhhh!!!!!

How is he already 4 months old?
And, why does he think he needs to stand up ALL THE TIME!?

(50th percentile on weight, 85th percentile on height)

During my transition back into work, I took Jack into the office with me a couple of times.  Everyone there just loves him....and he loves them right back with his cute smiles and giggles.

My lead(s) at work have been super flexible with my transition back....and we've figured out what "perfect" looks like for me as a mom with a successful career.  I'm so excited to start my work/life balance and to make it a success for everyone!

Jack....sleeping on the job.

With me back to work, Jack has made his debut at daycare where he just flirts with all of the ladies there all day.  He's the only baby, so he gets a TON of attention.  And, luckily?  He still likes me, his favorite girl, at the end of the day.  Whew.  He's only there 2 half days per week....and Daddy Day Care takes over from there.  Matt takes care of Jack on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and then Jack hangs with Grandmas Schneider on Fridays.  He gets in some good outdoor time with her as she takes him for nice, long walks.

So, besides being the cutest baby ever created, he's doing all SORTS of new and amazing things:

He has been bearing weight on his legs for a while now, but here's a picture of him standing like a little man!  

Easter with Grandma!

Jack started his swimming career and he's sure to be the next Michael Phelp.

Matt had to dunk his little face into the water.  I think it hurt me more than it hurt Jack.  He popped right back up like a little champ!

Pre Pool

Post Pool

Matt didn't stop smiling for the entire lesson!

See what I mean?

Tummy Time at the Pool!

He's a tired duckling after swim class, but I'll still smooch his face!

After talking to our pediatrician about Jack starting a new routine of eating 3 times/night (uhm, pardon?), we've started a little rice cereal for dinner each night.  Although I think it smells like wet socks, Jack seems to love it!

Our first attempt wasn't super successful:

...but the second time around, we were shoving it in with both hands!

In any case, a little rice cereal led to a full night of uninterrupted sleep for the entire household!!  Of course, I woke up at 6:15 am having a mild heart attack that he might have been stolen in his sleep.  To my astonishment, he was snoozing peacefully....

Upcoming events:

Baby Jack goes International with a trip to Vancouver

Baptism on 6/23

Half Birthday on 6/23

Until then, enjoy some other adventures outside of the crib:

That sweet baby sleeps best right in the middle of our bed.  It's our early morning ritual.  After a long night in his crib, I miss him, so this is where he ends up!

My Loves out to Dinner.

They are very serious about shopping.

Oh Wait - You like to be on a schedule? ME TOO! We were meant to be together!

As Jack turns 3 months old (WHAT?! where did my mini baby go?) and weighs in at over 13 lbs, we've come to realize that he loves his schedule - and it should NOT be messed with.  He's up around 7 am and passed out by 7:30 pm with a couple of naps in between.  He's almost like clock work...and that's a good thing, because this little momma is all about the schedules and the checklists!  

Our Big Boy!

As I worry less about if he's eating enough (um, duh.) and sleeping enough (finally!), I find myself finding new things to obsess over....

1.  Making Baby Food.  I can barely make food edible enough for Matt and I.  Poor Jack!

2.  High Chairs.  I hate them all.  They all look silly and plasticy and like a lot to clean up after a feeding frenzy gone bad.

3.  Wipes.  We used to use about 10/diaper change.  Well, we got better at that, but now we use about 100/day wiping down toys and his hands and Lucky's mouth.  Ok, not really wiping Lucky's mouth, but close.

4.  Pacifiers.  Wait?  I thought you only like soothies!  I bought a million of them and now you like this other kind?  Good grief.

5.  Milk.  What if I don't have enough milk stock piled in the freezer for when I go back to work?!

6.  Milestones.  What if I am not doing enough with him each day to teach him things?  He already rolled over (you knew this already because I told EVERYONE!), but he doesn't like to grab onto things much (I thought all men were grabby?)...although I read that's a 3-4 month thing, so we'll see how it goes.  He HAS found a fondness for my shirt, my necklace and Matt's chest hair, though - LOL!

7.  Swim Lessons.  We've signed him up for swim lessons, which are less "swim" lessons and more about "water survival."  They basically teach the babies how to survive should they fall in a pool....by rolling over on their backs and holding their heads up.  I AM NERVOUS, but it's a parent/tot class, so Matt or I will be right there with him.  (and the other will DEFINITELY be videoing!)

8.  Lucky's Balls.  No not THOSE kind (he doesn't have those kind anymore!)....but his tennis balls.  They are icky...and I just know Jack is going to want to play with them.  I wonder if I can sanitize them without killing the dog.

9.  Swaddling.  Every book says something different, but most say to stop around 3-4 months.  Well, we'd love to stop except that when he's NOT swaddled, he attacks his face with his hands and it wakes him up.  So, we swaddle or we don't sleep.

10.  What if Jack forgets who I am when I go back to work?  (April 18)  I won't be able to handle it because my heart simply bursts with love every time I see/think of/hold this kid....and if he decides that he doesn't like me that much.... I. Will. Die. 

All in all, month 3 brought all good stuff.....and less confusion.  We were also able to schedule his Baptism to be on his 1/2 birthday (6/23), since our boy is a Christmas baby!

We did a whirlwind maternity leave tour in FL...visiting Becky and Jimmy in Jacksonville, my parents and Jaime in Pensacola and our St. Pete crew for KB/Emmalee's wedding.  

Meme getting her time in with sweet Jack.

Granddaddy Bullard getting in his time with Jack too!

He rolled over for the first time at my mom's house:

We even hit up Jack's first baseball game with his buddy Liam (our friend's Katie and Bill's baby boy who is two weeks older thank Jack):

Our Tiny Little Yankee Fan

This is Jack's friend Liam:

As Liam looks down at Jack laying in my lap, he's like "Holy Crap!  There's another little dude like me!"

Jack even had his first slumber party - sans momma! - at the Bells' house.  He loved watching their three kids and the chaotic bliss that comes with a big household.  And no one is a better momma than Amy, so he was in great hands!  (He even wanted to come back to us the next day, so it was a successful night away from us!)

We've also started the "Your Baby Can Read" program....and I know there are a lot of mixed reviews out there.  We just wanted to try it to see how Jack reacted to it - and he absolutely loves it!  I love doing this program with him to see his reactions.  It makes him so happy and gigglyl...which makes us happy!

Someone asked me recently: "What has changed the most?"  

The only answer that I could think of was "EVERYTHING" .... every cliche about having children is true.  

A baby changes everything....and you won't believe to what extent until you have one.  And I don't mean the small stuff like, not going out to dinner on Friday/Saturday nights or rearranging your entire life....I mean, it changes you in ways that you didn't think you could change.  Like, I have more patience now than when I didn't have a child.  How is this even possible?  Screaming children don't bother me anymore - in fact - I always think "I wonder if they could use an extra hand to help whatever is ailing that baby at the moment"

Matt is still a germ-o-phobe, but really has no issue wiping spit up off his face with his bare hand....nor does he mind catching poop/pee/puke with his bare hands.

Most of all, I didn't know I had this much love to give another person, least of all one that pukes on me on a fairly consistent basis.

I just hope he likes me as much as I like him.

All smiles all the time!

All giggles with Sophie the Giraffe

Jack grew a mustache

Lucky watching over Jack during play time.

Going old school with his Run DMC Tee.

Raising one eyebrow like his momma and Meme!

"I wore my tie to the office today for all of the Gator fans there!"

Dinner with Grandpa Schneider

This is my Aunt Teen!

Hi, We Are Your Parents. Are You Worried?

http://www.emaphotography.com/slideshow/jackson/

Last we spoke, our little dude was 5 weeks old weighing in at 9lbs, 2 oz and 21 3/4 inches.

On his two month birthday (Feb 17 he was 8 weeks), we are happy to report that he is: 11.5 lbs and 22 inches!

Like Father, Like Son

We must say - before we forget - Happy Valentine's Day!

Growing like a little weed.  A little weed that eats a lot, poops a lot and sleeps a little....and, now GRABS things and holds on....like my hair or necklace or chin.

But, 

Who needs sleep?  I don't need sleep.  Accenture trained me to not need sleep.  Except that....they didn't train me be teased with 1-2 hours...only to have to get up, walk to the crib in another room, change a diaper, feed, burp, swaddle and rock another human being.  

But, it's absolutely amazing what one can do even sleep deprived!  It's just that some days....I have to choose between eating, sleeping or showering.  I most often choose to eat.  Don't judge.

So, Jack - he has good nights and he has bad nights.  Needless to say he's not an awesome sleeper, but he's not terrible either.  We count our blessings that we get the 5-6 hour stretches that we get (which are pretty often these days!)....and we laugh off the "cluster feeding" sessions where he's up every hour.  (What do you mean there's a growth spurt at 6 weeks?!  Someone should tell us this stuff!  I need a calendar of events!)  Luckily, he hasn't had one of those cluster feeding sessions in a couple of weeks.

We mostly just do what feels right....and let him lead the way on most days.

Hell, sometimes?  We just sleep in the bouncer.

And, sometimes?  We all sleep in the same bed:

Uhm, Dad?  I'm awake.  Are you?  No?  How about now?

Sometimes?  We pass out while mom is trying to make the bed.



And, sometimes....we just pass out in mom's arms while she's trying to get a burp outta me:

....or while laying on mom's lap.



Mornings are the best....when Jack hangs with his momma...and we talk about his tubby little belly:

....and his big boy yawns:

...and how he makes the cutest stretchy face:

Some days, we hang out in our sock monkey gear (and watch the Super Bowl):

Along the way, we've learned what we need....and what we don't need, that's for sure!  We know there's so much more to learn, but it's CRAZY how much stuff we thought we needed....and how much we've really used.  Honestly?  This is our list of newborn must haves:

• A white noise machine (Thank You Becky!):  Because apparently, babies like it to sound like it did in the womb....and this machine mimics that....and, well, he sleeps.  Thank God.
• The "Miracle Blanket" (Thank You Oscar and Steph!):  It's a swaddle blanket on crack...helping you to tie down even the most hulk-like little arms.  Jack is going to be a professional wrestler (Jack the Ripper, duh.) with the amount of wrestling he does to get out of a tightly swaddled blanket.
• The Happiest Baby On The Block DVD (Thank You Oscar and Steph!):  This DVD is all about how to calm your baby down....and it is SPOT ON.  I can't believe we waited until week 4 to watch this!  It changed our lives.  And Jack's.
• Nice Burp Cloths:  ....are the ones that are actually cloth diapers.  Never buy the ones that are technically called "burp cloths."  Only buy cloth diapers...and use them for everything (even diapering, if you so choose, which we didn't...but to each their own!)
• Baby Socks:  Buy lots of them.  Thanks to Matt's genes, Jack has constantly ice cold hands and feet.  Also thanks to Matt?  We lose baby socks like it's our job.  Actually, we've been losing adult socks like it's our job for quite some time, but those little bastard baby socks?  Holy crap are they hard to keep up with!
• Nipple Cream:  Let's just say this isn't for Matt.
• White Onesies:  Because on most days, it's not a fashion show....and we change clothes a lot around here.  I mean, with the peeing and the pooping and the rookie parents/diaper issues....there are a lot of wardrobe changes.  Again, we aren't talking about Matt - although he does contribute to the overall gas problem in this house.  Living with boys is tough.
• Video Baby Monitor:  Nothing says neurotic (uhm, ME) like waking up every hour of a 6 hour sleep stretch to check the video monitor.  To be perfectly honest, I get up A LOT to make sure he's still breathing.  Do not judge.

Then, there are those day to day items like aquaphor, stain remover, snot suckers, saline, gas medicine, hand sanitizer, etc....that you must have on hand to survive.  Thanks to my friend Amy for a goodie bag with all of those items and more.  She knew this ahead of time....because she's got three little angels of her own!

With all of this excitement, you'd think Lucky would be bouncing off the walls, but honestly - Lucky is less than amused with the whole night time production.  He generally finds himself back downstairs on the couch rather than on his dog bed in our room.

Lucky isn't so much interested in all of Jack's amazing feats like grabbing things and holding on....or mimicking what we do with our mouths....or smiling/laughing/swatting at the little animals that hang from his activity mat.

Lucky isn't so much impressed that our little guy scootches himself across the room during tummy time or that he presses up on his (ever thickening) little legs to "stand up."

This is my rock n roll onesie from my friend, Jeneane.

Who is this weird man?

Yeah...Lucky, he'd be just fine snoozing the day away rather than be bothered with the achievements of Jack.

Lucky:  "This is my fur-less little brother"

But, he knows that he must always be calm and submissive....and patient, because Lord knows it takes us AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF TIME to get ready to go anywhere.