Pinchers Up...and Down

This is how we roll around here on Sunday afternoons. In case you are wondering...I don't feel guilty about this being possibly the last day we have 80 degree weather for the next 6 months and we are all inside...it feels good to just let them relax and not have to do anything or feel guilty. Really.

One Month Old (kind of)

Sept. 25th marks the one month anniversary of my baby boy! He has grown so much in just one month, it is truly amazing. I had to snap this picture of him sleeping since when he is awake we are usually nursing, changing a diaper or I am busy running around the house while he is enjoying his alone time (no guilty feelings here...yeah, right!) Anyway I am thinking how quickly Nov. 3rd is going to come and how I am not quite ready to give up all the time I get to spend with him.
In one month:
-we have had many visitors: family and friends are always welcome to give and get hugs!
-my baby boy has smiled at me so many times and I can't wait for him to smile at me for "reals"
-I totally love the way he looks at me while he is nursing...those eyes! How am I ever going to capture them on my camera?
-he sleeps at the most 3 hours at a time, mostly just 2...we are clearly sleep deprived!
-we have changed more poopy diapers than I ever care to remember (can't think about the landfill, can't think about the landfill....)
-love how he loves his mobile above his changing table and now watches the little animals go around
-love how his big brother's voice calms him down
-love how he looks in every cute outfit we put him in
-love how he is more awake and aware of the world around him...at the same time saddened by his departure from newborn into infant stage
-love how my mom and sister stop by or call everyday to get their z fix
-love how big brother holds him, loves him and helps out so much!

I could go on, but this blog would be a novel! Here we go into month 2...what is next?

Only Eyebrows...with a bit of spitup

Today's post is something of a realization. While talking with my friend Heather I realized that I am in daily need of talking to more than one adult. Since one adult is usually my husband, I am fairly OK...for the most part. Let me explain. There are many parts of my brain, heart and soul that need to be nourished daily. (Like many of us, correct?) Well, the part that is motherly and wifely is getting nourished beyond belief lately. And that is a great, wonderful thing. I love it and cherish it. The other part of me, the career minded part, misses the interaction with fellow colleagues and some intellectual conversation. (Not that I don't have that with my husband and friends on the phone) But I miss the conversations about school stuff with teachers about teachers, students and (EVEN...gasp!) curriculum. So what do I do? I take on a project that is school related (during my maternity) leave. This is not so hard...or so I think. The part where I do everything at home, talk to teachers from my school (who also happen to be on maternity leave) and research on the Internet is not so hard. The hard part? Going to another elementary school in my district and taking up a meeting with a teacher WITH MY FOUR WEEK OLD BABY! What the hell was I thinking? First of all, said baby decides to scream his little head off half way to the building, in the building and all the way into the meeting place EVEN THOUGH I had clearly fed him, changed him, brought the pacifier and was carrying him in his favorite front pack! (former sitter of older son CJ was also at said meeting and took small, screaming infant of mine for a short walk, calmed him down and held him for my 20 min meeting...I am more than thankful) So, this meeting went...well, let's just say I am not at my 100% yet and thank goodness I had written down questions prior to the meeting...like 2 and 3 days before. I lost my train of thought more than once mid conversation, I repeated myself more than I care to remember and I felt like a total idiot blubbering my way through and feeling like a wet sack of potatoes. To top it all off? I left the meeting, infant happy in pack, got to my truck and forgot my whole folder of notes and information the teacher had given me! I had to pack myself and infant all the way back inside the school and get my folder and again look and feel like an idiot for forgetting all the information. When will all this end? Apparently not today, because I just looked in the mirror and thank goodness I never left the house today because after my shower and getting dressed I put on my eyebrows but no other makeup...no eyeshadow, liner or mascara...ONLY my pencil thin eyebrows! And you guessed it...a nice stain of spit up on my left shoulder. Will I be ready for work on Nov. 3rd? Hmmmm, good question. Please inform me if you see something horribly wrong with my face, outfit, child or all of the above. I promise to not take offense.

What Have We Been Doing?

Well...let's see...I will start with the oldest:
Carlos has been working two jobs that make up one full time job. When he is not working he is catching up on his sleep, doing fun stuff with CJ, holding Zac on his chest, changing and/or burping Zac, doing house stuff...basically being a great dad, husband and partner!
CJ has been settling into 3rd grade and will start soccer practice tonight! Wow! He has been doing a great job with Zac and just the other day carried him to his changing table and changed his diaper all my himself! I am amazed (over and over) about their bond.
I have been trying to take a shower everyday, do a load of laundry everyday and get some small project done everyday...between nursing, changing diapers and getting in a nap myself those three prior items on my agenda seem very huge!
Zac has been sleeping anywhere from 1-4 hours at time with no schedule, pooping (a lot), smiling very infrequently, eyes open but not too much in focus most of the time, wearing cute outfits and basically the joy of our life everyday! Oh and he "climbs" into bed with CJ every morning to wake him up with a huge kiss! Too cute! I love my boys!
The days are just packed and often none of the above gets done, but it is all worth it as I realize at the end of the day that my hair is dirty (just one day), there is dinner on the table (or in the frig ready to be made very quickly) and all I have done is hold my baby all day, nap with him and just enjoy his new-born-ness! Side note: he is out of newborn diapers and into 1's...I am a little sadden by this!

A Bath, A BOB and A Baby

This past week there has been some fairly large milestones for Zac, well for all of us. First of all, he had his first bath...actually it was in the bathroom sink and highly supervised by big brother. Zac loved the water, not a peep or pee or poop for that matter. He did a great job and smelled oh-so-good afterwards. Gotta love that baby shampoo smell!

Next we had our first voyage out in the BOB stroller. If you have not seen or heard of a BOB stroller then go to REI and click on Kids then strollers. (Sorry, but I am not technically savvy enough to make the link for you.) Auntie Anna and I walked with Zac in the stroller and big brother riding along on his bike! We all loved that we were outside...me especially! Two weeks post-partum and I am feeling great! It was a short walk and not too strenuous mind you. But here are some pictures to mark the special occasion.

Finally we had a quick visit to baby Gracie's house. The funny thing is that whatever baby Gracie was doing...Zac had to follow in her footsteps. She ate, Zac got hungry and had to eat...she pooped, Zac had to too...and she had to get down to her onsie...well, so did he! Notice the legs! They were too cute together! Lifelong friends!

The Winelands Came for a Visit

...and here are some great pictures of Zac! If he could talk, this is what we thought he would be saying...

Pix #1: "Tell me more...what else did they say? Come on dish the dirt."

Pix #2: "You don't say!"

Pix #3: "Really? I can't believe it!"

CJ and Zac

In just the last two weeks CJ has met his baby brother for the first time, slept through some crying (from Zac and mom), been a fabulous help around the house and completed his first week of 3rd grade! CJ is such a great kid and I could not be more proud. He loves 3rd grade and even spoke in Spanish with the teacher the first week of school! I asked him what he liked about 3rd grade and he told me, "everything mom". He did tell me that is was a little different knowing that I was not in the building teaching, but he got used to it. I love that he is such a sweet and caring brother, smart and curious 8 year old and such a big helper to our family. Here is to many more weeks, months and years of these two boys loving on each other!