Gardner at his first New Spring video shoot.
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So many wonderful changes have occurred since I last posted to the blog! Gardner is now adhering to a predictable schedule during the day, which includes a nap every 1-1/2 hours or so. He has really responded well to the scheduled sleep; it is about that time that he starts to rub his little eyes and get cranky. When he wakes up 45 minutes later, he is all smiles and coos! I was fearful that so much daytime sleep would mess up his night sleeping, but no fear in that. He has still been averaging 6-8 hours of sleep at a time at night...much needed zzz's for mom!
Christmas is only 3 days away, and I can hardly wait to experience it with Gardner for the first time! I watch how excited he gets with his little musical bouncer seat, and I can't help but to shiver with excitement as I remember what is under the tree....a Symphony Gym! After much research and decision-making, it is the one big gift we are giving him, and I know he will love the music and the rainbow-colored li...
Gardner had his first illness yesterday.... He seemed to have a little bit of a tummy bug. He had a low-grade fever all afternoon and evening. This morning he seemed okay at his morning feeding, so we'll see. I really hate seeing him feel bad. It makes a mom's heart hurt. :0(
Mom (Mimi) seems to think that it might be that he's teething early. He's nearly three months, which is early for a tooth, but not unheard of. He has been gnawing on his fists, teethers I hold up to his mouth, and his bib or blanket for 2 weeks now, so maybe that is it. Time will tell.
He is starting to show signs of reaching his hands out towards things, although his movements are nondirected and still random. Whenever I stand near our Christmas tree I look down and see him leaning out toward it with his fingers outstretched. When I walk him over to it, he just holds his hand there...he hasn't learned the "reach and grasp" skill yet. But I can see him changing s...
Oh my goodness, Gardner laughed this morning for the first time! Not just a little "heeeehhhh" or coo, but an outright laugh complete with the cute air-sucking noises in his throat! (If you have ever heard a small baby laugh, you know what I'm talking about.) I was changing his diaper and had his shirt off so I could give him a "mini massage," which I do often with baby lotion. I rubbed my hands together to warm up the lotion, as always, and as always, he shivered with anticipation (he loves massages!). But as I put my hands on his tiny chest and shoulders, he let out the biggest laugh! I jumped back and stood still for what seemed like an eternity....did he just laugh? I nearly screamed. I spent the next 5 minutes tickling him, trying to achieve that cute sound once again, but he decided that was enough for one day. :0)
Next time you bet I'll have the video camera set up and ready for that second occasion when he decides to let me hear his chee...
Days with Gardner are exciting and changing all the time! He is now 10 weeks old and is smiling, cooing, giggling (sort of)....social interaction at his best! He recognizes faces and voices, and he is holding his head up so well. His little mohawk is lying down now, thanks to longer hair. Ken think's it's sad that his mohawk is gone; I do, too, but only because I see that he's now getting "big boy hair".....and it brings a tear to my eye to see him grow so quickly.
He is "fighting sleep" during the day, so they call it, meaning I have to "trick" him into taking the 4 hours' worth of naptime he's supposed to be getting at his age. That may include anything from a car ride I subtly plan for his fussy time of the day, to going for a walk outside, to rocking him with his pacifier, to lying down with him myself for a snooze, as well. If he goes all afternoon with no more than 30 minutes of good "zz's" then there will b...
Hi!
Daddy was on vacation all week long, and he, Mommy and I have had lots of fun and wonderful time together!! So far this week, we have been to Greenville….my first trip to Haywood Mall, and our first picture taken as a family! We also spent some time with both sets of grandparents, and some of our friends from church. We went and walked around the Chris Taylor pond and I saw geese and ducks for the first time. I also made my first trip to both Mama Penns restaurant and Jittery Joes, who has the best coffee in the upstate (Daddy says so).
This week I mastered eating from a bottle, which helps Mommy keep me out longer in public and makes her life a little easier. I have also been so full of smiles this week….and I am “cooing” up a storm. Sometimes I think Mom thinks I will just start talking with real words, I coo so loud and so excitedly.
Mornings are so special at home. After my breakfast, I sit in Mommy and Daddy’s room and they talk and smile at me. We sit there togethe...
Almost 7 weeks old, and Gardner is growing so quickly. Yesterday he enjoyed his first "family gathering" at my grandparent's house. Grandpa turned 86 years old, and like every year, we were all there to celebrate with him, including his 2 new great-grandchildren! Gardner was passed from lap to lap, but seemed to enjoy every minute of it. I had dressed him in a cute J. Crew-looking sweater and cordoroy set....adorable. He's so stylish already.
Because of antibiotics I've been taking, Gardner has developed thrush, a common yeast infection in the mouth. It was diagnosed over the phone last week after I described his symptoms to a nurse at his pediatrician's office. I am now giving him swabs of medicine with a q-tip 4 times a day....the medicine smells fruity, and he loves it! He smacks his tiny lips and smiles! I am glad that he is on the mend now, so that this won't interfere with my plans to keep nursing.
I hear him crying now in the next roo...
Gardner is now cooing, smiling, and kicking during his "playtimes!" It is so amazing to watch him grow so quickly. It's amazing, really. I held baby Jaden Moorhead last night, the 3rd child of some friends, and he felt incredibly light in my arms....7 lbs. 15 oz! It was then that I truly realized how children can grow up without you noticing, since it's so gradual. Gardner felt heavy compared to him!
Gardner has fussy afternoons, but only mildly. He is still far less of a crier than some babies I've been near. He was in his swing yesterday and just would not be consoled. I knelt down beside the swing and grabbed his little hand, then I began to sing. I sang every song that popped into my head...."He's Got the Whole World," "This Little Light of Mine," "Aluette," and even "Amazing Grace." Within two measures of the first song, his little face smoothed out and his eyes gazed into mine. He let out a sigh and...
Gardner is 1 month old today!!!
Also, 4-week follow-up/check-up with Dr. Hearn today. At last, I can finally resume normal exercise...even abdominals, and kickboxing! :0) Dr. Hearn said everything healed up perfectly; he only had to clip off an extra knot in my stitches. Ouch, but not a big ouch. He was glad to see that breastfeeding is such a success for us, and it further encouraged me that I'm doing it right! Sometimes a mom needs a little bit of confirmation....
My blood pressure was still low, as always (90/70)....I have now lost 16 lbs....9 more to lose if I want to get back to pre-baby weight. But I agree with Ken that I was too skinny before. I plan to start weightlifting again to build more muscle tone. I think what I weigh now is just fine, and Dr. Hearn agreed wholeheartedly. It's refreshing to have a doctor talk with you about every issue, even these, which are not directly related to birth itself. I can really tell he wants to be more than just a d...
Gardner is now 3 weeks and 4 days old! Already we can see so many changes in him! For one thing, he really recognizes our voices. I can walk into a room after being away for a while, and when I say something, he jerks his head around towards me! The same goes for Ken. He has gotten used to Ken's voice because he talked to him every day when he was still in the womb.
By far the biggest (and first, I guess) milestone happened today! He smiled when I talked to him! Now, I know there are those newborn reflex smiles (he's had those since he was born), and this was not it. Two distinct times he stared right into my eyes and let out a big grin as I chatted to him! So sweet!
He is mama's helper in the kitchen....I set his carrier on top of the countertops as I cook each night, and he especially likes the hum of the dishwasher when it runs. We go for walks 4-5 times a week, and his little eyes can hardly take in all of the autumn sights and colors as they pass by...
