gDiapers

We finally started Elliot on gDiapers on April 16^th! It’s been almost 2 months of gDiapers for us. He is pictured above in the cutest of all his gDiapers. For those of you who do not know what they are or how they work, visit www.gdiapers.com. You can use an insert called a “flushie” in them (which is 100% biodegradable and flushable), or you can also use cloth. We predominately use cloth. Grandma figured out what the material was from the cloth inserts we’d purchased and found the material online so that she could make more. We’ve got a big enough stash so that we only need to wash diapers 2 times a week. Woo Hoo! These gDiapers and their cute gPants are like an obsession. The company has re-released their “Glam Black” ones and even though I’m trying to be good and save money for the pay-less summer ahead (We do 10 month pay with Steven’s pay) I just HAVE to have this new one … especially since it is limited release and who knows when they will bring them back out again!

May was a HUGE month for Elliot. First of all, he turned 6 months (of course, he’s since turned 7 months…I am SOOO slack in updating this page).

Elliot has learned to do or obtained the following since I last posted:

• Sit unsupported 4/6, can sit like a champ now and move his torso
• Support his weight briefly on all 4’s 4/13, he can support his weight longer now, but he’s not quite crawling yet
• Saw his first feature-length film in honor of Earth Day we took him to see EARTH … he LOVED it but did take a quick nap in the middle
• Has slept on his own several times for anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour for naps (we cosleep)
• Got his 1st tooth! Bottom Center teeth … the left one 5/6
• Pulled himself from sitting to standing in his crib by HIMSELF 5/7, and he does this regularly now
  
• Finally said “Mamamamamamamama” 5/14, but won’t say it with any regularity … he seems to prefer the sound of “dadadadadada”
• Got his 2^nd tooth! Bottom Center teeth … the right one 5/18
• Began eating solid veggies 5/19 … homemade organic baby food, yum! He loves Sweet Potatoes and Acorn Squash
• Swam in a "big" pool 5/24 and LOVED it.

So, I think those are all the highlights from the nearly 2 months since I last posted.

At Elliot’s 6 month checkup he weighed 19 lbs. and measured 28 ¾” tall. I’m pretty sure he’s even taller now … and I’m guessing he’s around 21 lbs. He actually did not gain any weight between 4 months and 6 months, so he’s proven to be a good boy that listens to his Mommy and Grandma, as we pleaded with him to slow down the growing! ;) He’s got such a long torso, though … he wears 12 months in onesies and outfit sets, but when it comes to pants and shorts he’s in 6-9 month stuff.

He is still such a happy baby. I think he may be working on a tooth or two, though, because he cried the MOST he’s ever cried in his life the night before last. Happily, he was back to his cheery self the next day. We now say he must really want a sibling because he’s just SOOO good.

First Concert

Elliot REALLY enjoyed his first concert. His reaction was amazing. When we walked into the auditorium it was like he turned "on!" He was looking around everywhere ... and not at the lights, as you would expect a baby would ... he was making eye contact with the crowd. It was as if he was saying "I'm here to perform." People around us got a kick out of seeing a baby at the concert ... I'm sure some of them were worried there would be a lot of crying, but there was NONE! Once the show started he settled right in and watched the stage, avidly, for 90 minutes. Mom and I were AMAZED at his focus. In the picture above he's sitting on my lap and sucking on MY thumb! He didn't need to wear the ear protection too much ... mostly for the audience applause and cheers.

Elliot has officially mastered the art of "rolling over." He's got back to tummy and tummy to back down pat. He's actually started to move onto lifting his belly off of the mat and lunging forward ... pre-crawling. I actually got to see the whole thing ... I was watching him on the mat ... thought he had lifted his little belly off of it so I started watching him even more closely and sure enough a few seconds later he did it again and then lunged forward. It was awesome to catch the whole thing!

We were casually feeding Elliot cereal for "fun" ... it wasn't replacing any nursing feeds, just something extra and infrequent, but after reading some stuff on kellymom.com I decided to cut that out. Dr.'s seem to be pushing food earlier and in large quantities these days. We all know my issues with the American Academy of Pediatrics when it comes to vaccines, but I don't ignore their advice completely ... and they recommend no food introduction until at least 6 months ... more like 6 to 8 months... I wonder why Dr.'s then start pushing the foods at 4 months?

More updates to come!

Working Moms

March has been a VERY busy month for us! I have spent WAY too much time at work, along with everyone else, getting things ready for our big launch on April 1st! Thankfully the bulk of my work is done, so I am able to sit down at the computer and give ya'll an update!

Elliot is doing great! He's been teething a good bit .... lots of drool and soaked shirts! There's a lot of big cognitive developmental workings that go on during month 4 and this can cause some sleep disturbances, which we have been going through .... hasn't been the easiest, especially with work so busy, but we're getting through it. He's still an incredibly happy baby, so I am still feeling very lucky!

He'll be 5 months next Saturday, and I am starting to feel like "wow, where'd the time go" whereas until about 3 months I was like .... is time crawling?

The image above was taken RIGHT after Elliot rolled from his back to his tummy for the 1st time! It was VERY exciting. Mom and I were with him, but we both missed the action ... Oh well, we'll try to capture the 2nd time on video for posterity.

Elliot will be attending his 1st concert this Friday. We're going to see John Prine ... for those of you who have no idea who that is and are wondering about a baby going to a concert ... he's a cross between a country and folk singer, so the music isn't going to be too harsh, but still, to be safe, we've purchased sound blocking ear muffs for him ... oh he looks so cute in them! I'll post concert pics this weekend.

A LOT of firsts this month ... Elliot also had his first baby cereal this month ... at about 4.5 months of age. He really seems to enjoy it. He opens wide and gets most of it down his throat the first try. Oh ... I think he's crying for some food now, I'd best go feed my boy!

More to come this weekend!

Growing Like a Weed

I apologize for the extreme delay in updating. I did manage to get some photos (80+) loaded last weekend ... but adding text was too much for me!

Elliot is EXCELLENT. He's "growing like a weed" and learning new things every day ... sometimes every minute it seems!

He's started on his path to rolling over. He's got the roll to the side down pat and he's even rolled from his tummy to his back! He's also quite eager to always be sitting up ... he's actually sitting in my lap as I type this!

This past month we've gotten him 2 new big plastic-crap toys (didn't want a house full of plastic-crap ... oh, well, live, learn then get Luvs, right?) that he loves spending about 10 minutes each in ... the excer-saucer and a better version of a Bumbo chair. The excer-saucer is today's version of a Johny-Jump-Up and the chair allows Elliot to sit with back support. Both items have a 360 degree tray that has toys affixed to it. I suppose this is helping to develop his reach and grab reflexes ... which he is doing a lot of ... especially with mama and grandma's hair and daddy's beard!

Grandma, as most of you know, is staying home with Elliot. I think the 2 of them are enjoying their days together. She has been wonderful about bringing Elliot over for afternoon feedings most every day and I usually go home for lunch so Elliot is only averaging 1 bottle a day. Some days I think we're silly for caring about this so much, but they're only this little for so long and only once ... so I will breastfeed and co-sleep as long as it's enjoyable for both of us (within reason, of course!).

Elli-bug turns 4 months this coming Wednesday! How exciting! All the huge landmark months and skills that are coming ahead seem so much more within reach now than they did at 1 month of age ... which, of course, they are ... but you know what I mean. I think before 3 months you really are wishing them to grow faster and then when you get to 4 months you realize it's speeding and you kinda want it to slow down a little.

Yesterday Elliot took his pacifier out of his mouth ... dropped it ... picked it back up ... and then put it BACK in his MOUTH! I think it's his new favorite game. He amazes me everyday!

Here are the things Elliot does that melt my heart this month:

He has started to wrap his arms around my neck when I hold him and at least once now he's actually squeezed while doing so ... I know he doesn't know what a hug is yet, but it's pretty cool to even feel like you're getting a hug from your baby! One day this week when I was getting into the backseat to get him out for an afternoon feeding he reached out his hand to me and every day when I come home from work I catch his eye and smile at him real big and say "Hey Baby!" and he just grins back at me ... so happy to see me.

Making the transition to working-mom has been .... well, ... work. I am SOOO blessed to have my mom at home with Elliot, but still you wish you could be with your child all the time. You worry about the stress from working affecting home, and you worry about being great on both fronts because you really can't afford to be anything less with either!

Last weekend we had a in-house photo shoot. I think Elliot enjoyed it ... he and the camera seem to have a love affair going on! I hope you enjoy the results.

So between my two jobs I haven't much time to write out updates ... but I will try to at least get you updated once a month!

There's new pictures and even VIDEO for you all to enjoy now! :)

Elliot is doing GREAT! He's HUGE! He's in the 97th percentile for height and weight ... and my back feels every percent of that! He's 16lbs 2.5oz and 25.5" tall.

He has started to push his feet against my hands in order to crawl during tummy time. You can just feel how much this kid wants to move. He also loves sitting up. We bought him one of those infant chairs (like a bumbo, but not one of those) so that he can sit up. The chairs are designed to start with 3 and 4 month olds ... but when your baby is so big and wears 6 month clothing ... you kinda think he can do the "big kid" stuff ... SOOO ... even though he's got great head control and really strong neck muscles I don't let him sit in the chair for too long.

He's also got some top front teeth that are working on growing ... I think we'll see them by the end of 4 months if not sooner! He's discovered his hands and LOVES trying to suck on them. It's already quite obvious that he's going to be a righty ... but I was saying that when he was in the womb.

Elliot is working on extending out his day feedings from every 2 hours to somewhere between 2.5 to 3.5 hours ... makes things a little unpredictable when you're out and about, but it's also kinda nice! He's definitely got longer awake and sleep cycles now. It's really interesting all the little changes that babies go through in such a short amount of time. We've been co-sleeping from the beginning, and I can tell you that really helps a mama get her sleep ... especially a breastfeeding one! Elliot used to be on a bedtime schedule of between 12 - 2, but we have been successful with moving that window to 10 - 12! Usually we'll go to sleep at 11. He used to have to be rocked to sleep BEFORE we went into the bedroom for the night, but, happily, now I can go lay down with him while he's still awake and he'll eventually fall asleep without any fussing. Have I mentioned how lucky I am??

I swear Elliot actually said a word the other day ... I don't know what it was, but it was about four "coos" strung together. It was pretty wild because it came out like he was really talking to me ... usually the coos are monosyllabic. He's quite vocal with his coos and man does he love to smile and laugh! You'll see some of that on the videos.

I'm enjoying motherhood more and more the further away we get from my medical issues! No surprise there, huh? ;) I am completely healed up at this point, and SOOO happy for it. I go back to work this Friday 1/16, but I am ready for it. Especially since it's a 3-day weekend! Haha! I even took off the following Friday so that I have a 3-day week following my 1st day back ... and then another 3-day weekend. I figure, if you can ease into it, why not?

Maternity leave ...

I now know why most women get at least 6 weeks off for maternity leave ... it took me 6 weeks and 1 day to start feeling like I knew what I was doing!

So, in light of that, I feel that EVERY woman should get at least 12 weeks off so that she can spend the first 6 figuring it out and then the last 6 enjoying it! Luckily I have 4 weeks and some change left. I go back to work on 1/16/09.

Hope you enjoy the newest pictures! Elliot enjoyed meeting Santa Claus ... well, he at least didn't mind meeting Santa.

Oy Vey! You thought the labor drama was a lot?

I hope you enjoy the latest pictures. Elliot really enjoys his bath time! I used to say babies didn't need more than 2 baths a week ... but it looks like my little water baby is going to have us pulling out that bathtub a bit more often!

Elliot's 2 week checkup brought A LOT of drama! Happily, his weight is great 11 lbs. 8.8 oz ... probably more now since that was a week ago! But, he evidently passed a mucous plug but it had his ped worried so we spent about 3 hours at Brenner's Children's Hospital to make sure that there wasn't anything more to it ... which, THANK GOD, there wasn't! Because of that trip I had to reschedule my 2 week post op check to Thursday of that week (last week).

(Warning: Detailed Medical Info you may not want to know) At my checkup it was discovered that I was running a pretty high fever ... blood was taken ... white blood cell count through the roof ... was readmitted to the hospital. I had a rectus fascia abscess (abdomen) which needed to be drained before the fever would go down. That was a lovely and new experience! All said and done I was in the hospital from Thursday evening to Monday at noon. I did not have to go home with the drain (woo hoo!) but I did go home on Cipro to clear up the remainder of the infection.

The actual "bug" ended up being e.coli, which apparently lives in female parts (who knew?) and got in there during the surgery because when the uterus was torn they had to actually remove it completely to do the repair which left my abdomen cavity more exposed than in a "normal" c-section.

So, I am well on my way to being healed and am excited about getting all this drama behind me! ;)

Unfortunately, I cannot breastfeed while on the Cipro, so that was quite a disappointing blow because I'd been feeding all through the stay at the hospital (on different antibiotics) only to have to stop when I came home! But, I am pumping and dumping (to keep supply up) and I have faith that my little man will remember (in a week's time) that he prefers his milk source fresh and at body temperature! :)