Roll, Toby, Roll!

Yes, he's rolled!!! Yesterday, while enjoying some "tummy time" (well, enjoyed might be the wrong word...he was crying rather vigorously at the time) Toby managed to roll himself over to his back! Now we really have to watch him on the changing table and such...he's becoming mobile a little early! He doesn't seem to understand the magnitude of what's he's accomplished at such an early age, but Mom does! :) Now if he does it again, we'll know it wasn't just a one time accident (and even if it takes him 3 months to do it again, we're still counting this one as the first time!)

Ok, enough with the exclamation points ;) I did make it through my first week alone with Tobias, and it wasn't half bad. We've had good days and not-so-good-ones, but we lived. I'm exhausted today, but that's more due to a new medication that makes me drowsy than from a bad night...in fact, Toby has given us a 4 hour sleep period every night this week (of course now that I say that there'll be no such luck tonight).

Dinners have not been fancy, and the house is in a general state of dishevelment, but we made it. There are always improvements to be made! Curtis is studying the art of grilling and plans on grilling chicken for dinner tonight, thanks to our new charcoal grill...technically it's not new; it was given to us from a friend, but it's new to us and Curtis is learning to be the master griller. I am more than happy to see him do it...it means he is volunteering to cook one meal a week!

Chel

3 Weeks

Wow, time is flying by! I can't believe Tobias is 3 weeks already! And he is officially in 3-6 month clothes, even though he still fits in a few of his 0-3 month outfits. The 3-6ers are definitely a little more comfortable though. Still...at 3 weeks! I thought we'd have a little longer in the tiny outfits!

We went for our first walk this weekend...Lex and all! It went really well, and we're totally in love with our stroller after seeing how well it handled the rough sidewalks around the complex. Toby slept through the whole outing, but that just means he has a comfortable stroller :)

Today is Curtis's first day back at work since Toby was born. 3 weeks is a really long paternity leave, I know, and I was afraid I wouldn't be ready, especially since we'd been having problems with Toby at night, but the last two nights have gone well, and I've had enough sleep to function (at least until my afternoon nap!). This morning I was even able to shower, which was my biggest fear with Curtis leaving. I also pulled out our front carrier and Toby seemed to love it...he loves being held anyway, which makes getting anything else done very challenging, but the carrier lulled him right to sleep, and I moved him over to his swing, which is where he is peacefully sleeping right now! So although it's only been 4 hours on our own, it's going really well so far.

It's supposed to be really pretty down here this week, even getting up into the 70's later in the week! Yay! I think Toby, Lex, and I will be taking some walks...it's time for Mom to start getting back into shape (although I'm still taking it kinda easy until I get the go-ahead from my dr in another 2 weeks)!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Monday and enjoy the last few days of March, which seems to be leaving the same way it came in...baaaa!

Chel

2am...

I'm becoming very famliar with 2am...it's actually not a bad time of day when you're awake enough to notice, which I am increasingly more so. Toby is enjoying his nightly feedings more than Mom is, but now that I've learned the advantages of afternoon naps, 2am feedings are becoming one of those special times for Toby and myself. Now if we could get him to sleep for more than 2.5 hours, we'd be gold!

Curtis goes back to work on Monday, so our time together here is winding down...and I'll be sorry to see him go. I'm not sure right now how I'm even going to shower every day while trying to take care of Toby, lol. And I'm definitely going to miss those extra hands around for midnight diaper changes!

Lex is getting used to Toby, but he's still very uncomfortable with Toby face to face...the first week Toby was home, Lex was sniffing him, and Toby sneezed, which scared Lex to death...now he won't come near if Toby is facing him, but he will smell the back of Toby's head, and apparently his feet are safe too. Other than that, though, our 30 lb dog is frightened of our 10 lb baby!

Today is cloudy and cold, but that didn't stop Curtis and his dad from playing a round of golf at 8am this morning...brrrr! Too cold for me, but I'm not up for golf anyway, so I stayed in the cozy warm house.

Chel

Two Weeks Tomorrow!

I can't believe my boy is almost 2 weeks old already! Time flies be so fast, and yet it seems he's been here forever already. Curtis is still beating me at diaper changes...but he's had a lot more practice when I wasn't getting around so well. I still get him up every night after Toby feeds to change a diaper...I guess I need to phase that out this week since very soon Curtis will return to work and I'll be on my own at night.

Toby is still pretty much just eating and sleeping. His umbilical cord fell off this week, so he had his first bath...it was pretty crazy, and I think we need more practice. Toby screamed the whole time which is pretty nerve-wracking!

He's gaining weight like crazy...we had him at the pediatrician to be weighed on Friday and he topped the scales at 9 lbs, 15 ozs!!! I guess I needn't worry about whether he's eating enough :) At this rate he'll be in 3-6 month clothing before long...which I don't mind because we have cuter clothes that size anyway! And the more weight he gains is the more weight he sucks off his mama, who has a bridesmaid's dress she needs to squeeze into in a mere 2 months! So eat, Toby, eat!

Of course, as I say that, I am eating a Frosty, but I figure I deserve a few treats after all I've been through. I am finally getting around better, but this has been quite the recovery. I've only really been back on my feet the last 3 days...if anyone wants the gory details, let me know, but for the rest of you, I'll spare you for now :)

Much love and sleepless nights,

Michelle

He's Here!!!!!!

It's odd...the happier the news, the longer it sometimes takes to get out. Tobias Michael Mears made his appearance into the world on March 6th at 4:11 pm (yes, I know, over a week ago!). He weighed in at 9 lbs, 4 oz, and 22 inches long. I had a 13 hour labor and did it with pretty much no meds (even the dr said that what I had in my iv didn't count!). I tore pretty badly though, so recovery has been very difficult and painful...but it was totally worth it to have my sweet baby boy!

He's so good...he loves to sleep like most newborns, but he has his alert periods each day. He has the sweetest smile, even though I know it usually means he is doing something dirty in his diaper :) I could just sit and hold him all day...who needs laundry when you have a baby!

Dad is doing an exceptional job...he has taken over most of the diaper duty since I have problems getting around and has done a wonderful job of housework and cooking. The nights are hard on him, but he's getting used to it (and afternoon naps). So is Mom.


Love to all,
Michelle

March Arrives Like a Lamb

It's in the 70's here...so beautiful! It's nice to air the house out a little, although Lex keeps barking at the birds :)

9 days until my due date!!! I'm so excited and nervous...it's coming up so quickly! Against my better judgement, I have decided to post belly pics of this baby's growth...the last pic is last Friday, 38 weeks. I'm huge! I can't wait until rolling over in bed is no longer a full scale production :)

Chel

Who Ever Said No News is Good News???

Well, no news to report. Nada. Nothing. Zip.

Baby seems quite comfortable just hanging out in the womb for awhile...I guess that means I'm making a good home for him! My due date is still almost 2 weeks away, so I know I'm being impatient, but it's hard not to at this stage in the game. And so much for the natural induction methods...I've tried eggplant, fresh pineapple, and loads of basil (not together). On the upside, I've been eating very well lately ;)

Curtis is eager to meet the baby as well...he's been sneaking basil into my food in hopes that particular wives tale might be true. No such luck. Patience has never been one of my virtues!

On the other hand, we should be having the dresser delivered this week or the next, and it would be nice to have it here before the baby arrives. And I would like to make it to March, but that's only two more days away. I guess he'll make an appearance when he's good and ready and not a second earlier!

I thought about posting my 38 week picture, but quite frankly I'm starting to resemble a whale and can hardly stand to look at the pics myself! The dr said at my 37 week appt that the baby looks good sized...at least 8 pounds (but I don't know if he meant 8 pounds then or 8 pounds nearer my due date...I really hope it means he'll be close to 8 pounds in another 2 weeks!!!!!) We'll have to wait and see I guess (again with the patience thing! Argh!)

Ok, enough lamenting on my part. When you're 8.5 months pregnant it's hard to think about anything else.

Chel