Update

Well, it's been a while since I've updated all you faithful bloggies (I just made that word up) on how things are going here in Mommyland. Well, it's interesting!! Life pretty much consists of feeding (the baby, the hubby, and myself), cleaning up after said feedings, cleaning up pee and poop (the baby, that is), trying to figure out Patrick's different cries and tend to them accordingly, trying to figure out how to leave the house most effectively, and generally adjusting to being a mom and the primary caretaker for our little dude. It's the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life - no joke. But I really love my little guy and husband and feel so grateful that I have this opportunity in life!! That sentiment gets me through the hard days and makes me appreciate the good days even more...

A few things about my little Patrick:

1. He was weighed at his last doctor's visit, last Wednesday the 25th, and weighed in at 10 lbs, 13 oz and is now 22 inches long. Growing, growing, growing, that boy is!
2. He doesn't cry when his diaper is dirty. Most of the time, I change him solely because I'm about to feed him and need to wake him up, because I detect something that smells a little like toxic waste in his pants, or because there is a very scary noise emanating from his diaper - sort of a combination of a foghorn and a machine gun. This sounds like a GOOD thing, but I feel bad because I never know how long the mess has been residing in his diaper... I'm still working out this issue.
3. Patrick is just starting to smile and grin at things he likes. Some of those things include rattles, Baci, his daddy, bathtime, and the sight of my boobie (I think he gets that from his daddy!). ;)
4. His hungry cry sounds like cats in heat fighting each other in the middle of the night. It reminds me of being a kid and being awoken by my cat fighting all the other tomcats in the neighborhood...
5. We've figured out a sleeping routine that has started to entail his sleeping for about 5 hours straight - from about 11:00 am to 3:00 am and then another 3 or 4 hours after I feed him and get him back to sleep. I'm starting to feel like an intellectual being again after getting some rest!! Hallelujah!

As for me, I'm getting better at keeping the diaper bag and car packed at all times in order to get out of the house more quickly. I still end up leaving with everything he could possibly ever need - diapers, burp cloths, change of outfits, bottles, rattles, pacifiers, blankets, socks, hand sanitizer, extra diaper covers, etc. etc. etc. - because I'm not sure what he REALLY needs yet, but I'm working out that issue, too. It's getting better, though, and I'm starting to take him out and about more often. I have to admit, I love it when strangers stop me and comment on how cute Patrick is... It makes my day!

In other news, Sheridan and I have had lots of visitors in the last few weeks. It's been so nice! In addition to his mom and my parents visiting in January and February, we recently hosted my friend Laurie from high school (we reconnected on Facebook!) and Matt and Carolyn (Sheridan's brother and sister in law) for weekend visits. We're especially glad we got to see Matt before he starts his yearlong deployment to Afghanistan - he's a Captain in the Army and is heading over soon. Please keep his safety in your thoughts and prayers over the next year!

And lastly, it's time to get back in shape for me. I'm not going to be jumping into spinning classes anytime soon or anything like that, but I really want to get my body back into shape. Plus, I just feel really weak! Sometimes my arms get sore just burping the baby or my legs get tired walking up the stairs with the baby in my arms... I've pretty much lost all the extra weight from pregnancy already, but I'm just OUT OF SHAPE and have a soft belly for the first time in my life. NOT COOL! So I'm getting started on a new plan called Mommy Without Pounds this weekend - it's a special nutrition and exercise program designed for breastfeeding moms. Stay tuned for news of progress!

OK, I'll try to write more soon. Love, Mer

St. Patrick's Day

We had a good time celebrating our little guy's first St. Patrick's Day this year! We all got dressed up in our finest green t-shirts (Patrick had a special onesie to commemorate the day, as you can see in the photo) and shared a yummy dinner of homemade shepherd's pie. We'll always remember our first St. Patrick's Day with our favorite baby leprechaun, Patrick O' Cutie Pie!

We hope you all had a fun holiday, too!

Love, Mer

Eyelashes

I know I owe new stories and updates, but it's been a time consuming couple of weeks with the lovemuffin!! I'll get to them soon, I promise, but here are a couple of cute shots of my baby boy to tide you over... ;) Can you believe the eyelashes on this kid??? CLEARLY he got these from his daddy, because I would absolutely die for a set of lashes like this!!

Love, Mer

Stuff

Sheridan took this photo of Patrick and me at the doctor's office on Monday. Hasn't our little guy changed so much??!! He's much less of a fetus now and is a thriving, chubby, healthy baby boy now that he is actually supposed to be living outside my womb... he's supposed to be 21 days old now. :)

In other news, we took our first trip to the mall today!! Since the day was so warm (85 degrees), sunny and lovely, Patrick and I packed up our gear and headed over to The Domain to check out the stores. It's a new outdoor shopping center in North Austin with Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Borders, and lots of other shops. He cried all the way there, but as soon as I parked and gave him his pacifier, he quieted right down and napped the whole time I browsed. I had so much fun strolling the little guy around in the sunshine and he was such a good boy! I got him all the way home before he woke up and it was perfect timing to feed him again. All in all, it was a great experience and a lovely memory.

My friend Nicole used to take her first of three sons to the mall all the time with her and she said he's now quite the shopper, saying things like "Mommy, don't we need to pick up something for Daddy?" and "Isn't this a great deal?". She joked the other day that she created a monster... ;) I need to be careful of not doing the same with my little shadow because Sheridan will kill me if I create another shopaholic in the family! (Right, sweetie?)

Anyway, hope you're all having a great week!

Love, Mer

Poor Baci...

He got hit by a pee fountain today while lounging next to the changing table during a diaper change! He's officially been initiated as Patrick's "big brother".

Sorry Bachmeister - I promise I'm working out the kinks with this pee fountain business... I thought I had it down, but apparently I need a little more work.

Love, Mommy

Growth Update and More

Birthdate - Wednesday, January 21, 2009
5 lbs, 13 oz, 18 inches long

First doctor appointment - Monday, January 26, 2009
5 lbs, 8 oz, 18 3/8 inches long

2 week doctor appointment - Wednesday, February 4, 2009
5 lbs, 12 oz, 19 inches long

One month doctor appointment -Wednesday, February 18, 2009
7 lbs, 5 oz, 20.5 inches

Weigh-in with the lactation consultant - Tuesday, February 24, 2009
8 lbs, 2 oz with his clothes on (so not quite 8 lbs)

Doctor appointment - Monday, March 2, 2009
8 lbs, 14 oz!!!

We're told Patrick is growing at about twice the rate of a normal infant... No wonder he's "eating me out of house and home" and wants to eat about every 2 hours - he's G R O W I N G almost a pound a week these days. Apparently he's got a hollow leg, just like his daddy! :D

And we're about to head into the dreaded 6 to 8 week period - this is when babies are at their very fussiest. Over the last few days, we've started to notice signs of this colicky period arriving right on schedule - lots of crying, not much sleeping, lots of gas, and tempers are flaring (including mine)! But the doctor says that at the end of this challenging 2 weeks, we're going to have a brand new, smiley baby. God help us and please wish us luck over the next couple of weeks!!!!!!

Love, Mer