Friday, July 27, 2012
July
Here are just a few photos from the past week or so. Ollie has done some exciting things which include feeling both the grass and the sand between his toes for the first time... As well as mastering the 'stink eye.' He is getting so big and so much more entertained by the world around him. I can't believe he will be four months old next week!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Summertime trip to California
Here are a bunch of photos I took from our trip to California. We started in the Bay Area and worked our way down to Palm Springs where we met up with our friends from Boston. It was really hot of course, but still a lot of fun =) Plus, having a two and a half year old around really made me excited for what is to come with our own little Mister.
Photos from the real camera:
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| the floaty thing that was far too big for a 3 month old |
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| giving "Ollay" some love |
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| Miss Maize looking cute |
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| Mister Ollie looking handsome |
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| just days away from finding his toes |
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| baby bum |
Photos from the phone:
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| asleep and stylin |
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| George's first bday... as a Grandpa |
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| Ernie is hot in Los Altos |
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| Ollie watches Englad vs. Italy |
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| Palm Springs. Maizie and her buddy. |
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| catching Lizards |
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| Happy Birthday Nicole! |
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hanging out with the kiddos       |
Thursday, July 5, 2012
3 Months
Oliver turned 3 months on July 3. We are away in California right now, but thought I should post the pictures I took. I will post our vacation photos when we get back.
We have seen some really big changes in Ollie over the course of the month. He is still often disgruntled and grumpy, but his happy times are lasting a lot longer than before... and during them he is usually smiling (and almost giggling). He can pretty much keep his head up, and it's fun to watch him have the mobility to explore the world around him a little more every day. He usually sleeps from about 10pm to 4am, but since we've been away it's been a bit more unpredictable (and pretty frustrating to see him backtrack). One of the more interesting things I've noticed is that while he still enjoys his meals, he is satisfied for longer and he eats a lot faster. His once ravenous appetite has FINALLY slowed down and he no longer screams out the second he gets hungry. I definitely have more of a life now, and I am not confined to nursing him on the couch all day long. His new favorite trick is watching us blow raspberries with our mouths and then copying us! It's so cute and even though it is also very simple, it goes to show what little sponges babies are.
I am also proud to announce that both Pete and I have made Ollie's "Favorite Things" list. And not only did we make the list, we seem to be right up at the top. So adding to the list I started a few weeks ago, I present you, at 13 weeks, Oliver's Favorite Things (yes in this order):
1) Bouncing
2) Mom and Dad
3) Eating
4) Bathtime
5) Blowing bubbles
We have seen some really big changes in Ollie over the course of the month. He is still often disgruntled and grumpy, but his happy times are lasting a lot longer than before... and during them he is usually smiling (and almost giggling). He can pretty much keep his head up, and it's fun to watch him have the mobility to explore the world around him a little more every day. He usually sleeps from about 10pm to 4am, but since we've been away it's been a bit more unpredictable (and pretty frustrating to see him backtrack). One of the more interesting things I've noticed is that while he still enjoys his meals, he is satisfied for longer and he eats a lot faster. His once ravenous appetite has FINALLY slowed down and he no longer screams out the second he gets hungry. I definitely have more of a life now, and I am not confined to nursing him on the couch all day long. His new favorite trick is watching us blow raspberries with our mouths and then copying us! It's so cute and even though it is also very simple, it goes to show what little sponges babies are.
I am also proud to announce that both Pete and I have made Ollie's "Favorite Things" list. And not only did we make the list, we seem to be right up at the top. So adding to the list I started a few weeks ago, I present you, at 13 weeks, Oliver's Favorite Things (yes in this order):
1) Bouncing
2) Mom and Dad
3) Eating
4) Bathtime
5) Blowing bubbles
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| 3 Months- July 3, 2012 |
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Two Months
Ollie met his new doctor and had his 2 month check up today. Everything looks great. He is healthy and growing so well.
Weight: 14lbs 2oz....... 95th percentile
Length: 24.5 inches..... 95th percentile
Head circumference: 16.5 inches
He also had a handful of vaccinations at the appointment. I teared up a little bit when Oliver turned purple and started screaming as the doctor jabbed him in his gloriously chubby thighs I was holding down. But he recovered pretty quickly, so I guess it couldn't have been too bad. He was also surprisingly pleasant throughout the appointment (minus the shots and getting weighed). He just sat there in his diaper smiling and drooling while Pete held him. So far the rest of the afternoon has gone smoothly and he doesn't seem any fussier than usual and he's not running a fever. Hopefully the shots were the worst of it. Our next check up and round of vaccines won't be until the 4 month mark in August.
Ollie continues to smile/coo more and cry less. Even diaper changes don't seem to be a battle anymore. I know I've discussed how much he loves bathtime before, but his latest discovery is how much fun it is to kick and splash water all over the place. This week he's been going to bed earlier and sleeping longer! Last night he set a record and slept from 9:30pm-4am and then from 5am-8am (not to mention the 2.5 hour nap he had between 2:30-5pm yesterday afternoon).
I have been trying to take photos of him in the same place between two stuffed animals as he grows. Here's the collection so far....
And here are a few more, just because I am so proud of his pudgy little body :) It's been a lot of hard work breastfeeding such a hungry little man but it's definitely getting easier as the weeks stretch on. For me it is SO rewarding to see him fill in and add on some fabulous rolls. On the other end of the spectrum, I am also sad to retire some of his adorable outfits and jammies :-( He is already starting to wear 6 month clothing in some brands!
Weight: 14lbs 2oz....... 95th percentile
Length: 24.5 inches..... 95th percentile
Head circumference: 16.5 inches
He also had a handful of vaccinations at the appointment. I teared up a little bit when Oliver turned purple and started screaming as the doctor jabbed him in his gloriously chubby thighs I was holding down. But he recovered pretty quickly, so I guess it couldn't have been too bad. He was also surprisingly pleasant throughout the appointment (minus the shots and getting weighed). He just sat there in his diaper smiling and drooling while Pete held him. So far the rest of the afternoon has gone smoothly and he doesn't seem any fussier than usual and he's not running a fever. Hopefully the shots were the worst of it. Our next check up and round of vaccines won't be until the 4 month mark in August.
Ollie continues to smile/coo more and cry less. Even diaper changes don't seem to be a battle anymore. I know I've discussed how much he loves bathtime before, but his latest discovery is how much fun it is to kick and splash water all over the place. This week he's been going to bed earlier and sleeping longer! Last night he set a record and slept from 9:30pm-4am and then from 5am-8am (not to mention the 2.5 hour nap he had between 2:30-5pm yesterday afternoon).
I have been trying to take photos of him in the same place between two stuffed animals as he grows. Here's the collection so far....
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| 2 Months- June 3, 2012 |
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| 1 Month- May 3, 2012 |
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| 1 Week- April 10, 2012 |
And here are a few more, just because I am so proud of his pudgy little body :) It's been a lot of hard work breastfeeding such a hungry little man but it's definitely getting easier as the weeks stretch on. For me it is SO rewarding to see him fill in and add on some fabulous rolls. On the other end of the spectrum, I am also sad to retire some of his adorable outfits and jammies :-( He is already starting to wear 6 month clothing in some brands!
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| Ollie and his doggies |
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| Our beautiful boy |
Friday, June 1, 2012
Ollie goes to Denver!
Ollie attended his first wedding in Denver at 7.5 weeks. Of course he was incredibly handsome and very well behaved for the whole ceremony. It was a gorgeous day and everything about the wedding was beautiful and so much fun. Pete took Ollie for a few hours during the reception so I could enjoy it with my girlfriends. Here are a few pictures from the day....
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| Ollie with the bride and some of Gonzaga's finest ladies |
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| a shot of his awesome attire |
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The Boy Who Smiles in his Sleep
Ollie is 7 weeks as of yesterday, but a week ago we had our discharge appointment from the midwife. It was a little bit sad to say goodbye to the two hardworking ladies at the practice, especially after they took such good care of us over the past 10 months. However, we will meet his doctor in early June for his 2 month check up and first round of vaccinations. I'm sure we will be in good hands.
As for me, I am almost back to my old self and my iron levels are slowly rising. I left the hospital with a hemoglobin count of 61 and as of a week ago, I was at 86. My goal is to get right around 100. My energy levels are pretty good, and I can't wait til I feel well enough to walk the golf course again and head back to yoga. Shouldn't be long now.
More importantly, Ollie's 6 week stats were great. He is a strong, healthy boy and he is already growing too quickly! Here are his stats from birth to 6 weeks:
Weight-- At Birth: 8lbs/11oz
6 Weeks: 11lbs/12oz
Length-- At Birth: 21 inches
6 Weeks: 23 inches
Head circumference-- At Birth: 13 inches
6 Weeks: 15.5 inches
Also at 6 weeks, Ollie took his first plane ride down to California to meet my side of the family. For being kind of a grumpy baby, he was a perfect angel on both flights. We did happen to have a blowout diaper on the way home... which I managed to change in the airplane restroom. Of course while I was in there, we hit a patch of turbulence, but I was quick enough to get him into a clean diaper and clean clothes without much trouble except for a few tears (from him that is).
Since we returned from California, we have gotten into the groove of things. Ollie has been smiling and cooing a lot, and he even started blowing bubbles. He also has a newfound love for bath time. At night he has been sleeping pretty regularly from 11pm to nearly 4am. And then again from about 5 to 7am. He is really settling into his own, especially now that we've discovered how much he loves to bounce in our arms on the exercise ball. He used to have nights when he cried inconsolably for hours, but now we have a few tricks up our sleeves. He is calm or asleep in minutes after swaddling, bouncing and turning on the white noise machine. Some good advice, a few gadgets, and the book "Happiest Baby on the Block" helped us figure out what we needed to do to make him happy. At night, when we are bouncing on the ball, just after he falls asleep he usually flashes me a little smile, and then I know it's safe to put him down. He still works himself up pretty well several times a day, and the kid definitely isn't afraid to use his lungs when he's not happy about something. But overall, I'm just so relieved to have found a way to soothe him, and because of that he is more settled and content.
At 7 Weeks these are his top 3 (and possibly only) favorite things:
1) Eating
2) Bouncing
3) Bathtime
(...we hope the list will continue to grow, and Pete and I are still waiting to make it onto the list ourselves!)
As for me, I am almost back to my old self and my iron levels are slowly rising. I left the hospital with a hemoglobin count of 61 and as of a week ago, I was at 86. My goal is to get right around 100. My energy levels are pretty good, and I can't wait til I feel well enough to walk the golf course again and head back to yoga. Shouldn't be long now.
More importantly, Ollie's 6 week stats were great. He is a strong, healthy boy and he is already growing too quickly! Here are his stats from birth to 6 weeks:
Weight-- At Birth: 8lbs/11oz
6 Weeks: 11lbs/12oz
Length-- At Birth: 21 inches
6 Weeks: 23 inches
Head circumference-- At Birth: 13 inches
6 Weeks: 15.5 inches
Also at 6 weeks, Ollie took his first plane ride down to California to meet my side of the family. For being kind of a grumpy baby, he was a perfect angel on both flights. We did happen to have a blowout diaper on the way home... which I managed to change in the airplane restroom. Of course while I was in there, we hit a patch of turbulence, but I was quick enough to get him into a clean diaper and clean clothes without much trouble except for a few tears (from him that is).
Since we returned from California, we have gotten into the groove of things. Ollie has been smiling and cooing a lot, and he even started blowing bubbles. He also has a newfound love for bath time. At night he has been sleeping pretty regularly from 11pm to nearly 4am. And then again from about 5 to 7am. He is really settling into his own, especially now that we've discovered how much he loves to bounce in our arms on the exercise ball. He used to have nights when he cried inconsolably for hours, but now we have a few tricks up our sleeves. He is calm or asleep in minutes after swaddling, bouncing and turning on the white noise machine. Some good advice, a few gadgets, and the book "Happiest Baby on the Block" helped us figure out what we needed to do to make him happy. At night, when we are bouncing on the ball, just after he falls asleep he usually flashes me a little smile, and then I know it's safe to put him down. He still works himself up pretty well several times a day, and the kid definitely isn't afraid to use his lungs when he's not happy about something. But overall, I'm just so relieved to have found a way to soothe him, and because of that he is more settled and content.
At 7 Weeks these are his top 3 (and possibly only) favorite things:
1) Eating
2) Bouncing
3) Bathtime
(...we hope the list will continue to grow, and Pete and I are still waiting to make it onto the list ourselves!)
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
How Oliver Got His Name
I'm not sure which one I hear more often, but there are 2 questions people ask me all of the time....
1) Why did you choose the name Oliver?
2) How is Ernie handling the new baby?
1) I'm not sure how I grew to love the name Oliver, but I did. I loved it well before I was pregnant and all the way through my pregnancy. If Little T was a boy, I just felt he would suit the name. However, during those 9 months, Pete had other opinions and I really wanted to agree on something together, I didn't want one of us to force a name on the other. So we pretty much left it until after he was born. Even though he probably wouldn't admit it, I actually think Pete liked the name all along. After I went through such an ordeal during Ollie's delivery we didn't really have the mental capacity to name him the night of his birth. The next day, my birthday, Pete told me as my birthday gift (and for all the hardwork and scaryness we experienced) I could name the baby. At that point, I'm pretty sure he knew it would be Oliver. So we went with Oliver as his first, and Peter as his middle for his wonderful Papa and all the Peters who came before him. Plus we liked the initials O.P.T. in hopes that he will become Oliver the OPTimist ;) I never second guessed our decision but it took me a while to get used to calling him Oliver and Ollie, or hearing other people call him that. Of course I'm used it it now and I just love love love it!
2) Ernie is just fine. She actually seems genuinely concerned when he cries, although I think she is a little bothered at night when he keeps her up. Pete walks her every morning and gives her loads of attention, since I seem to spend 75% of my time with my hands full feeding the little man. The first week we were home she seemed sort of miffed with me because I couldn't do anything but sit on the couch and feed the baby. Things have really turned around since then and I get my snuggles in (and a walk here and there) with her whenever I can. She is very gentle with Oliver, curious and even a little unsure. The one thing that terrifies her is when he fills his diaper. When he poops it seems to come in one giant loud rush and Ernie runs as far away as she can when she hears this.... she will even sprint to the next room if she's in a dead sleep.
Ernie is also just as gross as ever. When Oliver's belly button stump fell off, I was changing him on our bed. I put the nasty cord stump on my nightstand on a napkin. When I went to throw away the diaper and wash my hands, Ernie didn't waste any time.... because when I came back in the room, there was the napkin on the bed and no umbilical stump in sight. Ernie was looking at me awkwardly out of one eye from the corner of our room. I could only come to one rather rotten conclusion.
1) Why did you choose the name Oliver?
2) How is Ernie handling the new baby?
1) I'm not sure how I grew to love the name Oliver, but I did. I loved it well before I was pregnant and all the way through my pregnancy. If Little T was a boy, I just felt he would suit the name. However, during those 9 months, Pete had other opinions and I really wanted to agree on something together, I didn't want one of us to force a name on the other. So we pretty much left it until after he was born. Even though he probably wouldn't admit it, I actually think Pete liked the name all along. After I went through such an ordeal during Ollie's delivery we didn't really have the mental capacity to name him the night of his birth. The next day, my birthday, Pete told me as my birthday gift (and for all the hardwork and scaryness we experienced) I could name the baby. At that point, I'm pretty sure he knew it would be Oliver. So we went with Oliver as his first, and Peter as his middle for his wonderful Papa and all the Peters who came before him. Plus we liked the initials O.P.T. in hopes that he will become Oliver the OPTimist ;) I never second guessed our decision but it took me a while to get used to calling him Oliver and Ollie, or hearing other people call him that. Of course I'm used it it now and I just love love love it!
2) Ernie is just fine. She actually seems genuinely concerned when he cries, although I think she is a little bothered at night when he keeps her up. Pete walks her every morning and gives her loads of attention, since I seem to spend 75% of my time with my hands full feeding the little man. The first week we were home she seemed sort of miffed with me because I couldn't do anything but sit on the couch and feed the baby. Things have really turned around since then and I get my snuggles in (and a walk here and there) with her whenever I can. She is very gentle with Oliver, curious and even a little unsure. The one thing that terrifies her is when he fills his diaper. When he poops it seems to come in one giant loud rush and Ernie runs as far away as she can when she hears this.... she will even sprint to the next room if she's in a dead sleep.
Ernie is also just as gross as ever. When Oliver's belly button stump fell off, I was changing him on our bed. I put the nasty cord stump on my nightstand on a napkin. When I went to throw away the diaper and wash my hands, Ernie didn't waste any time.... because when I came back in the room, there was the napkin on the bed and no umbilical stump in sight. Ernie was looking at me awkwardly out of one eye from the corner of our room. I could only come to one rather rotten conclusion.
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