Our two month check-up

Last Tuesday we took Nicklas to his two month doctor's appointment to be weighed and have his first vaccinations. He now weighs 12 pounds 11 ounces (way to go!) and is 23 inches long. I could of sworn he would be longer than that...he's already wearing 3 month and 3-6 month clothes and some of them are even a little too short! He's growing so fast its scary! The shots were pretty unpleasant (for both him and myself) and he's been a grumpy-pants most of the week since then. Dr. Hogan also started him on Zantac twice a day to see if it helps with his fussiness, since he's generally upset most of the time after he eats (and before he eats, if we're really keeping score). It doesn't seem to help much, but I'm trying to be patient...she said it might take a week or so to notice a difference. Plus it tastes terrible, so it's like pulling teeth to get him to take it.

Robert had the week off for fall break, so he kept the baby for two days while I went to work. Those were also the two days that Nicklas decided he wasn't going to drink from a bottle anymore! I would call home and hear him screaming in the background, but Robert was doing the best he could to get him to eat. Nothing worked, so he ate very little those two days. I'm trying to chalk it up to the fact that he's just had shots and started on this Zantac and maybe that's why he's regressed back to only taking the breast and not the bottle. It's also the first time Robert's kept him all day alone, which probably stressed them both out, to be honest. I'm not working much this week, so we're going to try the bottle again slowly to see if he'll take it.

I know Robert is glad to be going back to work tomorrow!

Pumpkin picking!

Who likes their bath??

Nicklas's First UGA Game Day!

Last Saturday we decided to take Nicklas to the UGA vs. Vanderbilt game. It was homecoming, which we always get tickets to because we usually march in the alumni Redcoat band for pregame. I debated all week about taking him, but the weather was beautiful (although a little chilly in the morning), it wasn't raining and the game was set to kick-off at 12:30. It was an early enough game so that he might could make it through. We made it to the fourth quarter before we had to leave, which was pretty good since we got to Athens at 7am! Nicklas was very good, he slept alot during the day but was awake most of the game. By the time we got back to the car he was happy, but tired. All in all, we had a great time and were very thankful that Mom went with us to watch him during pregame and morning rehearsal.

Robert, Nicklas and Hairy Dawg!

I got so many compliments on his outfit...I'm just glad he was still able to fit in it!

We did our best to keep the sun off his face...espescially since we sat so high up! No shade!

My tired boy, all ready to go!

Two Months Old!

Ah, peace and quiet! I finally got Nicklas to go down for his afternoon nap...it's 5pm and he's been fighting it all afternoon. We tried walking in the stroller and vacuming the house (while holding the baby) and he's now asleep with his little head squished into the corner of the crib. He's still breathing, so I'm not moving him...

My chunky boy now weighs about 12 pounds, or so we estimated on Mom's scales this afternoon. We're going to his 2 month well baby check-up next Tuesday, where he gets his first set of vaccinations...I'm not looking forward to this. At least Robert's coming with me, so maybe he can help me out.

I went back to work for a day last week, on Thursday. It was my first day away from Nicklas for more than, say, three hours. They called that morning and asked if I would come in, and I almost said no, but Mom was available for the day and Robert insisted that I go. It was nice, having adult conversations all day and my patients no longer asking about the baby ( since I wasn't carrying him around with me anymore). You get tired of telling the same stories over and over again. But I missed Nicklas so much! I was almost afraid that I wouldn't miss him and then feel guilty about it...but I was so happy to see him when I got home and vice versa. I'm working another day this week, its kinda nice to go back into work slowly so we both can adjust.

Nicklas is sleeping through the night about every two or three nights now. From about 9 pm to 7 am or so. The other nights he gets up just once to feed and usually can go right back to sleep. I say usually b/c sometimes he gets up at four AM and wants to play when mom and dad want to sleep. I guess that's normal. He's still very fussy in the evenings, especially if he doesn't nap well during the day, but it's slowly getting better ( I think). Some days are awful and some days he's just totally happy. Are all babies like this? I wish things were more predictable, especially with me going back to work, but I think I'm just wanting things to happen too fast. Like I want him to start laughing and playing with toys, etc, and one day I'll be wishing for him to be little again.

We had a good weekend with family. My in-laws, including Robert's brother Russell came down for a few days and Robert's grandmother and aunt drove down from Ringgold for Nicklas's church dedication Sunday morning. Jonas and Melissa are here as well; she had a baby shower in Winder on Sunday afternoon. Nicklas was bored at the shower...he slept the whole time. That figures :-)

Who's got colic??/We slept through the night!

This post has both good and bad points to it. Last night Nicklas slept from 9 pm to 5 am without getting up once! We usually have to wake up around 2 or 3 for a feeding, but he totally missed it...I, however, was up by 3:30 listening for the monitor and wondering why he wasn't crying yet! All you breastfeeding mothers will know, when you go over 8 hours without feeding them, I was really ready for him to wake up! Maybe tonight will be just as good; he's been sleeping most of the day (despite my best efforts to keep him awake) so he may not want to go to sleep tonight at all...

On the flip side, its pretty clear that Nicklas has colic. He's very gassy and unhappy, mostly in the evenings. He usually fusses from about the time Robert gets home from work until we put him to bed around 9 or 9:30. It's 8pm right now and the only thing I could find to calm him down was to strap him in his stroller and push him around the house...he's still sitting in it, watching me type as I push him back and forth with my foot. When you're desperate, you're desperate... He's a very pleasant baby during the day, he's starting cooing and smiling and all these cute things, I just feel so bad because Robert misses so much of it while he's at work. I know he thinks that Nicklas is just the fussiest baby, but he's really not, only at night. (Well, except for today, if he wasn't asleep he was crying...and I've been alone all day. Yuck.)

My parents left today to go to Niagra Falls for their anniversary. I'm so jealous! Next weekend, my brother and his wife are coming down from Wake Forest for the long weekend. Melissa is having a baby shower here in Winder on Sunday afternoon, which I'm very excited about...then my in-laws are also coming to visit and see Nicklas next weekend. Talk about a busy couple of days! I'm excited because my days have gotten so monotonous I'm ready for something different. I will be going back to work next week (or as soon as I pick up a shift at either of my jobs). Since I work PRN, I can work whatever days I need to , so I'll be working Wed-Fridays and some weekends while my mom keeps the baby...isn't she great!

I'm trying to include some portraits we had made of Nicklas a few weeks ago. They were done by Jessie Murray, who came to our house and did the pictures in our own living room. She did a wonderful job, and if you would like to check out some of her work, go to http://www.morethanamemoryphoto.com/.