Aunt Lisa's Birthday

Yesterday was Aunt Lisa's birthday. Collin and met the family at Olive Garden for lunch to celebrate. Afterwards, we went back to Lisa's house to play Rock Band with cousin Dustin. Collin had fun listening to use try to play the guitar, sing and play the drums. He was doing tummy time for some of this and did not fuss at all because he was so distracted. Good distraction, huh? hehe

Speaking of tummy time, Collin is really using his arms and hands now. Within less than 10 minutes of putting him on his tummy, he scoots around to more than 45 degrees from the position he started in. He is not turning over much these days without a reminder of how to do it.

He is "talking" more and does this much more in the mornings than any other time. He even screams sometimes. I was hoping we could skip this phase.

Sucking on his fingers, wrist and anything else he can put into his mouth is a priority these days. If he gets your fingers, he will try to put these in his mouth too. We used to think this was cute but try not to let him do this right now because he has thrush again. Yep, that's right. The thrush came back so I am back to sanitizing everything he touches everyday. This also killed any milk supply I had left so Collin is on 100% bottles these days.

He is trying to sit up on his own more and more recently. If is lying in our laps, he does crunches to try and sit up and see what is going on. Last night, he sat up in dad's lap unassisted for a moment before falling backwards but it sure did seem like a long time to us.

He is still not sleeping through the night even though he is eating more which includes rice cereal around the 7:30pm eating time. He will sleep for a 4 hour period which is better than nothing. Our schedule is different everyday though right now because of the holidays so I am hoping this is one of the reasons for him not sleeping as good. I am back to work this week so that should help get him back on a schedule. I hope this works.....

Happy New Year's Eve....be safe tonight.

Merry Christmas!

Collin opened his presents this morning after he had some breakfast. He did not care too much about what was inside the bags or under the paper...but he sure did like the wrapping. He would crinkle it and then put it in his mouth (no, I did not let him eat any of it). I had a hard time getting him to open the next present because he was focused on the wrapping paper. Daddy and I got a big laugh out of this. It was a lot of fun to watch him investigate the paper and then put it in his mouth. Of course, he had to slap and hit it since that is his thing to do these days. He did do a better job of helping open the presents than I thought he would. Having him sit in his chair really helped.

The Man with the Beard

On Monday, I took Collin to see Santa at the bike shop. He was not too interested in Santa or what he represented but he sure was interested in tasting Santa's beard. Collin is in that stage of putting everything in his mouth that he can get in his hands. Santa's beard was no exception Monday. He did manage to stick a few strands of the beard in is mouth a little and then make the funniest face that said, "yuck, what did I just put in there". But, he kept trying to eat the beard no matter what it tasted like. Santa kept moving him around and Collin still managed to find his beard. I was proud to see that Collin did not cry and was very happy to be held by a stranger (well, not a stranger because he works at the bike shop).

That night, we went over to some friend's house for dinner. Collin was a hit because he was in a really good mood, laughing and constantly smiling. We thought that would have worn him out and he would have slept most of the night, but he fooled us. I even gave him a tbsp of rice cereal for dinner but he still woke up hungry around 11pm and then again at 5am. We have a growing boy on our hands for sure. Maybe he was waiting up for the man with the beard.

Mommy! There is another baby in the house!

This evening during tummy time, Collin noticed himself in the mirror for the first time. He was starting to get a little grouchy until he turned his head and saw "the other baby". He stopped whining and just starred. I watched his eyes move up, down and around checking his reflection out. Pappy came over and tried to get him to turn over on his back. Collin was too busy looking in the mirror.

Most of the day, Collin was grouchy still from his shots Thursday. This is what he did after his 2 month shots so this might be typical for him. I finally got him to take a nap around 2:30pm for about 1 1/2 hours. He was a little better when he woke up which is when I put him on his tummy.

Matthew and Collin Update

Remember Matthew? He is Collin's buddy. I introduced you to him about 3 months ago. Matthew's mom and I met in 1980 (Maria, is that really right? Geez). We met his parents for dinner this past Sunday night to see what another sleep-deprived couple looks like and to exchange stories. The little guys let us eat most of our meal before they wanted to go home. What's new...not finishing a warm meal. I am used to that now days.

Here is Matthew and Collin when Collin was 4 weeks and 4 days.

Here are Matthew and Collin with their daddy's at dinner Sunday night. They have really changed, huh?

Updated Stats for Santa's Little Helper

Collin had his 4 month appointment today. He showed up in a Christmas outfit that Grandma Esch gave him and was the hit of the waiting room.

He now weighs 14lbs and 8 oz. He gained 5 lbs in 2 months. He was in the 25% of his age group on weight and now he is in the 50% group. No wonder he is wearing me out trying to keep him full!!! I KNEW he was a hungry boy. He is 24 3/4 inches long (still in the 25% of his group) and his head circumference is now 16 1/2 inches which is 50% of his group. He also got his second round of shots. There sure is nothing wrong with his lungs. I think that was the loudest I have ever heard him cry. He seems like he is feeling OK this afternoon after all of that.

The "vet" did say that he can start on a tsp of rice cereal tomorrow. If he does not have an allergic reaction to it by tomorrow night, then we can increase the serving to 2 tsp the next day until we reach 4 tsp a day. She only wants us to do this once a day mainly to see if he seems satisfied from being hungry late at night/early in the morning and to get him used to using a spoon for when he does start other solids in about 2 months. I sure do hope that this will help him sleep through the night longer than he does right now...although, he slept over 6 hours last night. His first ever....at least that I can remember. Mommy brain has truly set in these days.

Updated Stats - Wild Guess Anyone?

Thursday morning is Collin's 4 month check up. I cannot believe that he will already be 4 months this Thursday. He will be getting his next round of shots, weight and height update. I am guessing that he will weigh at least 14 lbs and 5 oz and be 24 1/2 inches long. Just a guess since I have not weighed him in about 4 weeks now. I plan to let the doc (I have been calling her the vet...I am still not used to having a pediatrician) know how much Collin is eating lately to see if she thinks that we can start giving him some cereal at least. Since he is still waking up in the middle of the night at drinking up to 5 oz at a time sometimes, I don't know if he is getting enough to eat during the day. You cannot feed him more than what he wants though. He pushes out the bottle nipple with his tongue and turns his head away. If you keep trying, he will even start to kick a little. So, I am crossing my fingers that he is ready for solid food so maybe he will sleep longer at night.

Can I Taste It?

Collin is in the stage of putting everything that he gets in his hand into his mouth. He especially likes one of his burp rags that has now turned into his comfort blanket that we use to sooth him to sleep. Because he is into "tasting" everything, he slobbers and drools a lot these days. He even enjoys blowing bubbles. He was doing that in this picture but, of course, stopped when I tried to capture it. He got bored with his activity gym so I put him in his chair which he really likes....at least this week. If I have learned one thing about raising a baby, what works one day, or hour, might not work the next day or hour. hahaha

Santa's Little Helper

Last night, Collin supervised me wrapping Christmas presents. He really liked the crinkling noise the wrapping paper made. We discovered he liked this noise when Mimi was opening the mail this weekend and the "window" in the envelope made the crinkle sound. Collin, who was crying before the noise because he got bored with what he was doing, stopped crying. Mimi made the noise again and Collin turned toward her direction. She gave him the envelope and he studied it and started to smash it and make the noise himself. He laughed a few times when he did it and made the noise. Speaking of laughing, we have noticed that he will laugh a few times during his sleep. He is not awake when he does this. It's SO cute, he will laugh and then smile.

Standing, Sorta

Daddy has figured out that Collin LOVES it when daddy holds him up enough for Collin to stand up on his legs. He gets the great be smile on his face, giggles and even blows bubbles sometimes. Collin gets a kick out if when daddy rolls him backwards then around to the front like Keanu in The Matrix. Anything active and Collin loves it. I think we are going to have our hands full when he gets older.

I have noticed that Collin might have a little temper when he does not get his way. I hope that is not what it is but it sure seems like it. For instance, if we are not paying attention to him, he starts to fuss so we will at least look at him. Also, if he is hungry and we pull the bottle out of his mouth to burp him, he throws a fit until we put the bottle back in (he's been doing this tantrum action for a while actually). At night, when I am reading him books, he lets me know he is through by kicking his legs and hitting the book with his arm. If I don't quit, he keeps on doing it more. He stops only when I put the book down. Is this the Leo coming out? Great....

Tuesday's with Chris(Daddy)

It was a great day, we started early with a trip to starbucks. Then we came home so Collin could take a nap and then eat before we ventured out to meet Laura for her Birthday Lunch. We met for lumch at the same place I told her we were pregnant 1 year ago today. Of course we told Collin all about the signifigance of the place. He seemed to be interested who knows what he thinks. I spent alot of time watching Collin today and talking to him. I would really like to know what is going on in his head. I really like when he smiles at me and hope it is not just Gas like Grandma H says.
After lunch we met a friend of mine in the woodlands and I fed collin in public. I really like doing this because I get the strangest looks and it really throws the soccer moms for a loop to seeing me do it. A couple of them talked to me as if I were one of them and were amazed at how skilled I was in the art of public feeding with no mess. So we talked a little about our kids and I think they thought I was a stay at home dad. I had to step away from the table for a few seconds and asked my friend Mike to watch Collin for me and it was funny the look of fear he had in his face. I probably had that same look when Tom used to do that to me with his kids.
All in all it was another great day with my son. I am already looking forward to next Tuesday. Not sure where the day will lead us but I know it will be great. Collin is a good running buddy.

Family Day

Yesterday, Daddy had off work so we had Family Day together. What a treat! In the morning, both the boys took a much needed nap. Collin could have taken a longer one (he only slept 2o minutes) because he was up about 5 times that night (really just checking to see that we were still there). We ran errands once the stores opened. One errand was to FINALLY get a little baby chair for Collin to sit in. Other friends have it and say that it's great to help teach Collin to sit up on his own and to develop those muscles. When we got home and I put him in the chair, I thought he would be ready to get out after 5 minutes or so. He stayed in there for over 20 minutes sucking on his hands (his almost hourly thing to do these days) and playing with his rattle that Mimi got him.

Daddy also got the Christmas decorations out. I at least wanted to put up the tree this year so we could get some good pictures of Collin's first Christmas. Plus, I will admit, I needed to have a tree up. I spent about 20 minutes putting the ornaments on the tree while both of the boys provided support by watching TV nearby (see pictures).

Rolling Over

Collin has been consistently rolling over from his belly to his left side and then all the way to his back in the last week. During tummy time, he rarely stays on his tummy these days. He can hold his head up 90 degrees and looks around when he does. He does not fuss immediately either when he is put on his tummy. He likes this for about 15 minutes and then he is ready for a change.


Week 2 of work is going well. I still forget little things like my watch, earrings or cash for lunch. I hope one day I will remember to bring everything. Hey, I have not forgotten Collin, to pack his bag for the day, make sure that he has milk while I am away, bring the pump to work with all of the necessary supplies, or my laptop. Those are a BIG deal if I forget any of these.


Here is a picture of Collin and mommy this morning before I left for work. Happy baby isn't he?

Social Hour

This morning, Collin and I met Terry and her little girl, Melia, for a walk around Rice University. Melia is 2 1/2 months older than Collin. Terry and I know each other from many road rides together. Anyway, the walk was really nice around the campus. It was hard to believe that we were that close to downtown because it was really quiet and peaceful. Collin enjoyed looking around. After the walk, we wanted to weigh the kids and get some "momma" supplies so we went to A Women's Work. With clothes, Collin weighed 13 lbs and 11 oz. If I guesstimate that his clothes were at least 9 oz, then he has probably gained a pound in 2 weeks. Some growth spurt, huh?

While I was at A Women's Work, Michelle and her son, Brady, came in to get a sling. We had not seen her in awhile so it was good to see her. Then, when Terry and I were feeding our babies, Nathan came in with Addison to weigh her. Who knows...if I stayed all day there how many other people Collin and I know would have come in. It was fun to see everyone today. I felt like Chris when he is out on the town and usually runs into someone he knows.

Attention Hog

Today was my day to work from home. My mom came over for most of the day to watch Collin while I worked and was on conference calls. This is the plan for her to come over on Thursdays (or the day I work from home that week) to watch Collin. She had to leave early this afternoon though to take my grandmother to an appointment that was scheduled over a month ago and before I knew which day I was working from home. Well....that's when I ceased to be efficient and able to really work. Collin is an Attention Hog! If I was not in the room with him, he let me know what he thought about that by cooing at first and then yelling for me if the cooing did not get my attention. He played under his gym for a little while which let me work for about 15 minutes at a time. Then, he acted hungry. I got set up to feed him and then he did not want to eat. I would put him back down and then he changed his mind. Spoiled....I know!

Swimming to Sleep?

Collin has been a big boy the last two nights by putting himself to sleep without needing our help. He looks funny doing it though. Instead of laying there in his crib cooing and then falling asleep, he does what looks like the breast stroke (on his back) while moving his head from side to side. He will do this a few times, rest and do it again. He "talks" while doing this too. Weird as it may look, he usually falls asleep within 15 minutes and has stayed asleep for at least 2 hours before stirring again.

He has been moving his head from side to side rapidly at night before when we put him in his crib after we swaddled him. I thought the head movements were him trying to get out of the swaddle and letting us know that he did not need that anymore. He still moves his head but does not need to be swaddled to fall asleep.

I am working from home tomorrow and looking forward to spending the day with him. Mimi is coming over to help me so I can work most of the day.

Daddy's Day Off, By Chris

Today, Tuesday was a Father and Son day. It started out great, Collin likes to play and talk in the morning. I knew it was going to be a good day when Collin told me that he was going to take care of me like he does Mommy. So the day began with a diaper surprise that seemed to be the theme of the day. After clearing that all up I was told rather emphatically that it was time to feed Collin, NOW! So I did.

Then we were off running around doing stuff just being out together. I realized that a few of the older women that we came across were puzzled to see me out with my son and they had a strange look on there face while looking around for the Mommy. I also thought they were wondering why I was not at work. On the other hand the younger women really were captivated by my son, as he is a real charmer. Something about that smile that makes you melt. This would have been a good thing had I been single. Anyways after a few hours out we headed back home for food and a nap(both of us). We quickly awoke when Collin very loudly told me he was VERY Dirty and needed a change. He was not lying. Then we headed out again. While out we went for a walk him in the stroller and me pushing him around, it is amazing how time gets away from you when you are looking at your son look around at everything. I am real excited to see him view the world around him with wonder, and I would really like to know what he is thinking.

Back at home for another feeding and this time we decided to play in the swing and on his floor blanket with the dangly things. This was a good time to read a couple of books as he really enjoys reading time. I will tell you I am not sure if I was doing the reading or if he was telling me what was on the page, he talked so much. At this time we took a couple of pictures so we could show Mommy how he was dressed, and let her know he was alive and happy. Collin asked to be dressed just like daddy so we wore matching Maroon shirts.
The day ended with a trip to the grocery store then dinner with Mommy while Collin Slept the whole time in his baby seat. He is so much fun and such a joy to be around, I can not wait until the next day I get to spend with him. I look forward to our Tuesdays together and watching him with wonder growing up in this world. When I wake up tonight at 3am to reset his pacifier I will look down on him with a smile knowing the great day we had, our first time together, alone.

Survivors

I am happy to report that both Collin and I survived my first day back at work. Based on what grandma told me when I picked him up, Collin's day was relaxing and uneventful compared to mine. She said that other than eating and a little "tummy time", Collin slept most of the day. Is this the same kid? He rarely took good naps for me when I was off work. He better NOT be getting his nights and days mixed up now.

My day was not the same and I sure did wish I could have taken a nap like Collin did. After getting to work uneventfully and not panicking when I left the house without him (dad has the morning shift now), I arrive in my office and wonder if I locked the car or not. After taking 30 minutes out of my day to the car and back, I discovered that I DID lock the car. That put my mind at ease checking though. Next was the joy of pumping at work. My office does at least have a room set aside for this but I have to go to another floor which includes changing elevator banks. When I arrived at the room, there was another mommy already in there so I had to wait about 10 minutes. So, that round trip took about 45 minutes. The afternoon session was much better. Other than the extra work-out walking to the car and back this morning and pumping twice, I was busy working on a deadline I have tomorrow. This did help my mind not wonder to thoughts of Collin too much. I only called grandma once....so did daddy I found out. I left the office to pick up Collin this afternoon and ended up being in the car for an hour and 45 minutes. I have to find another route or a different meeting point because both Collin and I were WAY hungry when I got home tonight. Overall, not a bad first day back at the office.

Let's see how the rest of the week goes.

Shopping

Collin and I sure don't like shopping in the rain. I had to get out today though to buy a few clothes for work since I start back to work Monday. The only thing I was excited about this morning was dressing him in his long sleeve outfits since it's 45 degrees today. I have been waiting for him to wear something different and the long sleeve onesies are really cute! He did wear overalls on Thanksgiving and looked like a big boy that day (see the Thanksgiving post).

Tonight, we plan to go to Saige's house and bring dinner to her parents after working at the bike shop. Saige is not even a month old so I am sure they will welcome some help with dinner. I hope Collin does not decide to have too many dirty diapers since I only have 2 left in the diaper bag. He has been busy today in that area today because he has eaten more than usual. I thought 6 diapers would have lasted longer.

Thanksgiving

I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving yesterday. Collin's mom and dad sure do have a lot to be thankful for this year. While everyone was eating...and eating....and eating, Collin slept most of the afternoon (as you can see from the picture above). I finally woke him up to eat and so he could see some of his relatives he does not get to see often. Unlike probably everyone else yesterday, Collin must not have eaten too much because he was up, again, last night twice. Once at 3:30am and then again at 5:45am. This was after he at at 11am and then dad had to put him to sleep. After he at at 5:45am, he was wide awake but not hungry. It took me another 45 minutes until he went back to sleep with help from me. Unlike most of his friends his age that are sleeping at least 8 hours at night, Collin barely gets 5 if you add up the hours between each time he eats. Thank goodness Grandma Holmes was here for a visit. I slept in a little this morning while she watched him.

I am going to be exhausted by the time I start work and even more tired once works starts since I can't sleep in anymore or take naps (not that naps happened too often).

Mr. Talkative

I have been reading to Collin since he was a week old. Lately, when I am reading to him, I have to compete with him "talking" to me. He can "talk" for an hour at a time sometimes. I wonder what he is saying besides "thanks for the milk", "when are we eating next?" or "don't change my diaper yet because I am not finished".

Lately, his favorite books are Hands, Hands, Fingers, Thumb, Okie-Dokie Artichokie!, Moo Baa La La La and Ho, Ho, Ho Tucker. I have read several Dr. Seuss books to him but he gets bored halfway through the book so I start there the next time. I love to read to him especially when he lets me know he is interested. I am sure that his recent "discussions" are from all of the reading and talking to him I do. He certainly will fit in with our family and even have competition for being the most talkative.

Ceiling Fan Fasication

We recently discovered that Collin LOVES to watch the ceiling fan go round and round. We are happy with this discovery because it's cheap entertainment and Collin does not have that many toys right now. When I am by myself and I need a few more minutes to finish my lunch or get ready to feed him, I can turn on the fan and position him on the floor underneath it. The "roundy-round" (as Dad calls it) captivates him long enough for me to get ready.

Another development (or back track) is Collin does NOT like to be put in his car seat now. For the first 10 minutes or so, he lets me know what he thinks about it by crying and getting mad until I get going in the car. He is fine for the rest of the car trip, thank goodness. He has done this for the past several days. I was hoping that staying at home a day or two would help but it didn't.

I LOVE the mornings!

Hey there everyone. It's Collin. Mommy is still sleeping right now because I am still getting up around 3:30am. She gets mad at me sometimes when I wake up this early but she does not understand that I am not hungry, cold, scared, nor do I have a dirty diaper. I just want to see her and make sure that she has not left me. I get to see her ALL day long and then she disappears when it gets really dark. She has been trying to figure out why I get up at the same time even though she or dad puts me to sleep at different times. They are not going to figure it out though because it's my secret. Don't tell her but it's because she is going to work soon and I want to see her as much as I can because I love her lots.....and she has the food! :)

Tummy Time

Collin usually does not like tummy time. Tonight was an exception. He lasted over 10 minutes before he started to wine. During the time he was on his tummy, he held his head at a 90 degree angle a few times. I tried to get a picture of it but there is enough of a delay in the camera that I was not able to get the shot I was looking for. I was excited to see how much stronger he is on his tummy this week. I was even more excited that he did not spit up like he usually does.

Collin Loves His Hands

Collin has found his hands in the last week. He loves to hold them in front of him, put them in his mouth and suck on them. The picture above is him getting caught with his hands in the act. I actually have had to master the art of pulling his hands away from his mouth while I am holding the bottle or other "feeding source" so he can eat. haha

Speaking of eating, he is doing just that. He is 12 lbs and 4 oz today. Usually, he eats about 3 oz at a time, or even less, and he is satisfied for at least 2 - 3 hours. Last night, after nursing, he ate an additional 4 oz from a bottle. The next time, he nursed and then drank 5 oz from a bottle. I would have thought he would have been full and sleep through the night after all of that eating. Nope....he was starving at 3:30am so I fed him...again. I checked today how much he is eating while nursing and he is getting at least 3 oz so he is just a hungry boy lately. Maybe he is going through his 3 month growth spurt early. Overachiever......

Rolling Over

During "tummy time" last night, Collin rolled over onto his back for the first time. We were both surprised and excited that we started clapping and laughing. I am so surprised that Collin did not start crying from the sudden excitement. Rolling over possibly shows his competitive side because rolling over at his age is early and he heard that his friend, Matthew, did it at his 2 month appointment. For whatever reason, we were excited. Of course, he did not do it again when we wanted to take a picture of it.

First Bike Ride....Sort Of

This morning was Collin's first bike ride....well, he rode in his cart behind daddy. He was awake for most of the 30 minute ride until about the last 10 minutes. The ride must have felt like he was in the car (since he WAS in his car seat) and he was enjoying the ride so he fell asleep. Of course, he woke up as soon as we got home because he was hungry again. We plan to go bike riding every Sunday morning if daddy is home.

Collin is cooing and more active everyday. He has found his hands and loves to look and them but especially chew on them. Watch out the next time you hold him...his hands will probably have his slobber on them. haha He continues to be very active in the morning. He weighs about 11 lbs 11 oz now and is eating more especially in the afternoons so it won't be long until he is 12 lbs and more. He is now wearing 0-3 month clothing which does not fall off of him anymore. As this rate, he might be able to wear his Christmas sweater in...hmmm....early February. Oh well. :)

I have not written everyday because there has not been much to update regarding Collin. He went to his first baby shower yesterday, besides his own, and flirted with all of the ladies. See, he does take after his dad...very social. He was not fussy until he got hungry. I fed him and then he went to sleep...not before he filled his diaper though. Nice....

Friday, he helped mommy look for work clothes. We did not get any because I still have 2 more weeks to try to lose some of this extra weight.

Culture Anyone?

Yesterday morning, we met Maria and Matthew at the Museum of Natural Science to get the babies out of the house and some entertainment for the mommies. Apparently, Matthew has a thing against culture because he was NOT interested in the museum and displays. He wanted his mom to keep pushing and pushing him in his stroller. When that did not work, we went outside to give the babies a snack. Matthew was very satisfied after that. Instead of potentially experiencing the "sounds of Matthew" again, we all sat outside and had lunch at a nearby Greek place. I found that more enjoyable than the museum anyway. We all did!

Trick or Treat?

Addison invited Collin to go trick-or-treating in her neighborhood today. Since it was 85 degrees outside when we got there, Collin only wore the hat of his pumpkin costume (it was made of flannel). To look a little more dressed in costume, he wore a "boo" bib his Mimi got him recently. We made it about 15 minutes around the block before Collin started to get fussy so we turned around. Imagine that, he was hungry. Addison and her parents continued to go around the block while I feed hungry Collin at her house. I thought he would last a little longer since he had just eaten 1 1/2 hours before we started trick-or-treating. He acted like he had not eaten all day. Oh well, we managed to get SOME candy for mommy before we had to turn around.

Zoo

Since the weather has been so nice lately, we went to the zoo with Kristin and Addison this morning. I am not sure how much the babies enjoyed the zoo but the mommies sure did. It was nice to get out, walk around and look at the animals. Our favorites were the meerkats and the giraffe. I will post some pictures of our visit soon.

For lunch, dad met us at Berry Hill. Addison and Collin ate and then played with each other. This was new for them because they usually lie next to each other in the Thursday class. There is not that much time for interaction and play. I think they enjoyed checking each other out.

Halloween Party

This morning during the Birth, Baby and Beyond class, Collin and his classmates got dressed up for the annual Halloween costume party. Collin wore a sleeper that had pumpkins with witch hats on it. Although most of the newborns where either crying or sleeping during the group picture, he was wide awake, cooing and smiling. Matthew was there and Collin tried to even cheer him up (not really, he just put his hand on Matthew's arm while Matthew was crying). Once I receive the pictures, I will be sure to post some to this site.

Yesterday afternoon, we met a friend for coffee and sat outside since it was so beautiful. He was really good while we were out (two of the pictures of him in his car seat are from the outing). We did have to borrow some long pants from Addison because we don't have any in newborn size. He has PLENTY in the 3-6 and 6-9 month sizes. He is getting bigger (10 lbs and 4.8 oz today) but not big enough for the next size.

Collin continues to be fussy at night between 5pm and 9pm. The pediatrician suggested Gripe Water which I have used the last 2 nights. This seems to help but only temporarily. He does still sleep through the night (for at least 5 - 6 hours which is good for 9 weeks old from what I understand).

Mommy's Work

Collin went to my work today so I could show him off. He did really well and was awake most of the time we were there. I was there longer than expected so he let me know he was hungry a little before 3pm....right on time as usual lately. That was the only time he was a little fussy. During the time he was awake, he was very playful and flirting with the ladies. That will probably not change when he gets older either...hahaha. He is a charmer like his dad. He was a hit at the office, of course.

Dad's Birthday

Today is dad's birthday....yep, all day. Collin greeted him in bed this morning (with the help from his mommy) to wish him a Happy Birthday and to watch him open his present. After Dad left for work, I helped Collin make a birthday cake to bring to dad's work later today. While at the bike shop later that morning, Collin laid around in his pack 'n play while I worked a little. He was still a little fussy from his shots yesterday but otherwise did really good. We went to lunch with dad and then showed him the surprise birthday cake. He was surprised and loved that we brought it. Dad loves sweets.....especially chocolate!

After I finished working at the shop, we met Maria and Collin's new bud, Matthew, at a local coffee shop for a little over an hour. It was fun to catch up with both of them at to see how much Matthew had grown. Collin is the same length as Matthew now but still weighs less. That's my Munchkin!

Two Month Check Up

Collin had his 2 month check up today and did great! He weighs 9lbs and 15 oz which means he has gained an ounce a day since his last appointment. The doctor was really happy with this weight gain. This still puts him at 25% of his age group. He is 22 inches long which is also 25% of his age group. His head circumference is now 15 1/2 inches which is 50%. This is up 10% from his 4 week appointment. We know he gets his big head from his dad...haha. This was also shot time and I am glad his dad was with me today. Collin had to have 4 shots that had 2 inch needles. He did cry when he first got the shots but dad was able to calm him down. I was proud of myself because I did not cry when I heard Collin crying.

Walk Along The Beach

This afternoon, we took Collin and walked along the beach. Dad had him in an infant carrier and Collin was facing his chest. He loved to hear the ocean and be against his Dad. It relaxed him so much that he fell asleep.

Road Trip

Collin took his first road trip yesterday and did so good. He slept most of the 4 hour trip except after we stopped so he could eat. We plan to be here for a few days to spend some much needed quality family time.

He weighs about 9lbs and 9 ounces now...getter bigger at least.

Wedding

Last night, Collin attended his first wedding. He, of course, was a hit besides the beautiful bride, my sister. He wore a snazzy outfit friends of ours gave him and got so many compliments on it. He slept through the wedding ceremony in Chris' arms and was really well behaved at the reception. He got to "met" several of his cousins, his other great grandma, and....his other grandfather. Yes, for those of you that know of the relationship with my dad, I walked up to him last night and asked if he wanted to meet his grandson. He did (who could not resist Collin) and he held him for at least 20 minutes. If it were not for the music playing in the background, I am sure you would have been able to hear a pin drop since it felt like all eyes were on us.

Despite being overstimulated at the wedding last night, Collin did really well early this morning. He got up at 2:30am and then not again until 6:45am. He is still hungry every 2 hours so I don't think we are through his growth spurt just yet. I have not weighed him this morning, but he weighed 9 lbs and 7 oz yesterday when I weighed him after his bath.

6 Week Growth Spurt

I am happy to report that Collin is not only eating but he is in the middle of his 6 week growth spurt. Figures that a baby that shows up ON his due date would start his growth spurt the day he turned 6 weeks (yep, he has been doing this since Monday). He wants to eat every 2 - 3 hours and let's me know exactly when it is time. He can be sleeping one minutes and then crying 5 minutes later because it has been 2 or 3 hours since he ate last. This does include the early morning hours...again. So much for sleeping through the night like he was last week.

He weighed 9 lbs and 2.4 oz. yesterday and weighed 9 lbs and 4.5 oz today. He should be gaining at least 1/2 an ounce right now and is already gaining almost 2 ounces in ONE day. Let's see if he keeps this up. I bet he is trying to catch up to Matthew since he heard some of us talking about how small he looked next to him. :)

Doing Great!

Sorry for not posting the past few days...Internet issues. We are back online and I am happy to report that Collin is doing really well. He is about 9lbs now (I did not get a chance to weigh him today) and he is eating at least 2 ounces or more from me when he nurses. This is an improvement from .5 ounces just 2 weeks ago. It must have been the thrush that bothered him and the insides of his mouth for him to not eat as well. He is SO much happier now that he is getting enough to eat.

He still does not like "tummy time" but we try to do it at least every other day so he can build strong neck muscles. He is able to hold his head up for a long period of time when I put him on my chest to burp him. His smiles are great! I am really enjoying them...especially the dimple.

Happy Collin...and Mommy

Collin is doing wonderful today. He is getting more from me when he nurses (from 1.5 to 2 ounces) which makes me happy. I do still have to pump and feed him a bottle because he is still hungry after he nurses. We are getting there though. He did not used to get that much from nursing. I think his mouth is feeling better now that the thrush is cleared up so he will slowly get more from nursing. Yeah, I won't have to pump as much.

Since he is eating enough to be content, he is a happy baby and is not very fussy between nursing. He stays alert more and let's grandma Holmes and I play with him......and pick on him. Hey, I cannot help it.

He did well last night again. He went at least 4 to 5 hours between being hungry after 11pm. Grandma Holmes did have to get him out of his crib a few times because he woke up and was a little fussy. She was able to calm him down and he quickly went back to sleep.....as long as she was laying next to him. I am in trouble when she leaves.....and so is she. hahaha

Musical Bath

This morning during Collin's bath, he decided to play some body tunes for grandma and I. He warmed up with several "small notes" and then ended with a long, loud "note" and a few small "souvenirs". The end of the "song" was followed by a "clear fountain". I am so glad I decided to bathe him in his tub bath instead of a sponge bath in his crib.

Collin essentially slept from about 12:30am until 7:30am today. He did wake up around 4:30am and acted like he was hungry. I tried to nurse him on both sides and he fell asleep so I put him back to bed. He was probably worn out from the adventures yesterday and the feeding frenzy the last two days. Now, after nursing, he will drink at least 3 ounces from a bottle. Yesterday, he was averaging 4.5 ounces and even had 5 ounces one time. He must be in a growth spurt. I weighed him this morning and he still weighs 8lbs and 9.6 ounces (different scale from the doctor's office so him might have gained some weight).

We are going to class again this morning and get to see Addison and her mommy. The rest of the day, we plan to hang around the house which is fine with all 3 of us.

Out On The Town

Collin is very warm natured like his mommy and daddy. This morning, when I first started to nurse him, I thought he really warmed up fast against my side. Turns out the little squirt peed on me and him. I guess that was his way of telling me that he did not like the outfit that grandma picked out for him to wear this morning.

Collin got to see a lot of Houston today. My sister's wedding is next Saturday so I needed to find a wedding dress that I can nurse in. Yep, I am crazy because I plan to bring Collin to the wedding. Well, all of his potential babysitters will be there so I really don't have much of a choice. Plus, he is eating like crazy now days so I doubt I will have a reserve of milk built up by then for anyone else to be able to feed him while I am gone anyway. We did find some potential outfits for the wedding. I plan to have a "fashion show" tonight to see if overall outfit looks good. Then, it was time to eat and we went to Houston's because I knew it would be dark enough to nurse there. Well...it was so dark that Collin ended up giving me a hickey on my boob because I could not tell that he was actually latch on the side and not on the milk source. Can you believe it? WAY too funny. After lunch, we were off to the dentist for me. Then a quick stop at Target before we met my sister, Lisa, for a wedding dress fitting. She sure did look beautiful....even in the flip flops she plans to wear under her dress. We made it home in time for Collin to eat....again!

The best news of all for today is that Collin slept from 11pm until 6am. Grandma said he woke up around 4:30am but went right back to slept. I FINALLY got some really good sleep. After the 6am feeding, he went back to sleep after a little while and I got another nap. I still feel tired but I bet I will feel this way until Collin is 18 years old.

He is eating like crazy now. After nursing, he will typically drink another 3 - 4.5 ounces of expressed milk. I was hoping to be able to start storing some milk by now but he is eating everything I have.....even the stuff I had already frozen a few weeks before. His growth spurt came early for sure.

I have not heard back from the lactation consultants yet. I guess they are so stumped that they are too embarrassed to call me back. I will show up to the support group next Monday to see if they have an answer if I have not heard back from them by then.

Weight Update

We went to the pediatrician this morning. Collin now weighs 8lbs and 9 oz which is over a pound from last week. The doctor was really happy to see the improvement in his weight but still wants me to check in with her this Thursday to make sure that he continues to gain weight. This is good for Collin but means there is no change to the schedule we have been keeping. Last night, he slept from 11:15PM until 4:45am. However, he did not go back to sleep until late this afternoon. During that time and after the doctor appointment, he was hungry every 2 hours or even less. He was also more fussy today. I am sure it's because he is exhausted from not sleeping since this morning. I hope this means that he will sleep good tonight too.

Daddy is out of town this week so Grandma Holmes flew in from Dallas to help out. She will be here until Saturday morning.

Stump the Consultant

Collin and I went to the lactation support group this morning at the hospital. I explained to the lactation consultant the problems we were facing (not getting enough milk while nursing but having enough milk supply) and she was stump about what the problem could be. She said that Collin looked and sounded good while nursing and was surprised to see that he only ate .3 ounces in 40 minutes. However, he gulped down 3 ounces of expressed milk I had brought with me. She took notes about our situation (week by week events) to talk to her peers to see what they could think of and call me back with suggestions. I have not heard back from her yet.

I guess Collin heard our conversation this morning with the consultants, because this afternoon, he ate more while nursing. He got 1.6 ounces (up from .5 to 1 ounce) but still not the 3 ounces he needs regularly to continue to gain weight. So...I continue to pump to make sure he is getting enough milk. Possibly, his mouth DOES feel better from the thrush and he will continue to nurse better and better each time.

I have an pediatrician appointment in the morning to follow up with the doctor about his weight gain. Since he is gaining weight, I am sure she will be happy with the progress.

All Smiles

Collin sure is smiling a lot these days. He has the cutest dimple on his left side. He is probably smiling because he is eating more and feeling more satisfied these days. He also knows he is seeing Addison tonight. We are meeting his parents at the Saltgrass Steakhouse for dinner once daddy gets home. I sure am smiling a little more because he is gaining weight and is more happy in between the times he is eating. He will actually lay in his pack 'n play and look out the window for at least 20 minutes. He really likes to listen to the birds and looks toward the sound of the train when it goes by. There is nothing wrong with this boy's hearing!

This afternoon, ex-neighbors, Brad, Rachel and Rowan, stopped by for a quick visit. Collin had just finished eating and was in a really good mood.

More Suggestions

I still had not heard back from the pediatrician yesterday regarding Collin's weight gain and lack of sucking while nursing. I did, however, hear back from the lactation consultant. Because I am producing enough milk, she thinks that Collin is not being efficient when nursing because his mouth hurts to suck because of the thrush. She said that we need to clear that up first and then worry about what to do about his sucking if that continues after the thrush clears. Many moms in the hot climate are facing thrush with their babies so she said that it's really common right now. So, to help clear up the thrush, I sanitized and washed anything that Collin or I touched in the last week: sheets, towels, burp cloths, clothes, bottles, pumping supplies, etc. This took half the day but I am sure it will be worth it. Then, she said that I am still extremely sore because we are passing the thrush back and forth. She recommended for me to not continue to wear the breast pads I am wearing but to air dry. Now, I am back to living in a dungeon again because I cannot have the blinds open and air dry. Also, I did notice while pumping, since I am doing this up to 8 times a day now, that my nipples turned purple after I pumped. She said that this is likely because I am swollen from the thrush so the pumping cone is probably too small now. I had to buy a larger one yesterday and this seemed to help some. I still turn purple but only half the nipple now.

Now, I have to wash mine and Collin's hands, wipe off the medicine from my nipples, weigh Collin, nurse him, weigh him again to see how much he ate while nursing, pump, feed him what I pumped, sanitize everything, put medicine on my nipples, wash our hands again and then have about 20 minutes before I do that all over again. I can't say I am bored these days.

He IS gaining weight though so it's all worth it. Last night when I weighed him, he was 8 lbs and 6 ounces on the rented scale.

New Friend

Collin and I had lunch today again with Dad. Chris really looks forward to these times when Collin and I spend some time at the shop. Afterwards, we were going to visit a friend that is on bed rest while expecting her second child. We did not end up going because her husband came home sick. I was not interested in exposing Collin to whatever he husband had so we did not go. Instead, I visited a high school friend of mine that had her first child about 3 weeks after Collin was born. Her name is Maria and her son's name is Matthew. Collin slept most of the visit which I did not mind when we got back in the car. ;) I have posted a picture of Matthew and Collin. Matthew was 8lbs and 1 ounce when he was born and is now a pound heavier. Collin is about the same length as Matthew (they are both really long) but about a pound less. Collin will catch up soon.

I called the pediatrician to see what she had to say about Collin's progress and if she had any suggestions. We played phone tag. I also called the lactation consultant to see what she had to say. I left a message and never heard back from her. The pediatrician will be at the office tomorrow so I will call her again.

Collin's thrush appears to be clearing up with the new, stronger medication. I am happy about that. My hands are getting really dry sterilizing the bottles and pumping supplies every time I use them.

Lots of Quality Time

Sorry I have not posted an update since Tuesday. Since Collin is eating every 1.5 to 3 hours and I am pumping at least 6 times a day, there does not leave much time to sit at the computer. Since Collin is still hungry when I am pumping, I have to play with him to keep him calm instead of being on the computer. Chris is home right now so I have a little free time.

Since I wrote last, I have found out that Collin is not eating as much during nursing. I have the supply but he is not getting it for some reason. I am calling the doctor tomorrow to see what she has to say about it. Even though he is not getting enough nursing, I am feeding him a bottle of breast milk to make up the difference (he should be eating at least 3 ounces at a time). This has helped increase his weight and kept him happy. He actually takes naps now during the day and is usually content between eating times without much interaction and comforting from me. As of this morning (and a different scale), he weighs 8 lbs up from 7lbs and 7 ounces. Yeah Collin!

New Feeding Routine

We went to the doctor today to check on Collin's weight gain. He now weighs 7lbs and 7oz which means he has only gained 2 ounces in two weeks (forget what the scale at the hospital says for now since the doctor is going by her scale). The doctor would like to see him gain at least an ounce a day so he can start gaining more weight. To monitor his weight gain, she wanted us to rent a baby scale. She wants me to weigh Collin (with clothes on) before and after he nurses to see how much he is eating while nursing. She would like to see him eat 3 ounces each time he eats. I also get to weigh him once a day (without clothes) to determine his actual weight gain. So far, I have been able to determine that he is only eating a little over an ounce after nursing for 40 minutes (which is too long anyway according to the doctor and lactation consultants). I then pump and still have at least 3 ounces left. This means I have the milk supply but Collin is just not getting it while nursing. So, I now have to nurse (to keep my supply up) and then pump afterwards to make sure that he gets at least 3 ounces per feeding session. Oh, the best part is that he is still hungry every 2 hours. Maybe if he is eating more, he will not be hungry as frequently. Let's hope so. I have to do the above until this Friday and then call the doctor to discuss the results. Based on the results and the discussion with the doctor will determine if we need to change anything with his eating routine.

He also still has thrush so we are on new medication that he has to take for a week. I like this one already because I have to administer it once a day instead of 4 times a day. I also have to apply some on me to not transfer the infection back and forth. This might help with his sucking abilities (this is my comment and not from the doctor). There is also special diaper rash ointment we have to use 3 times a day for a week because the infection could spread to the diaper area. Oh, the joys of parenthood, right?

Play Date

Collin had his first play date today with Addison. She is 6 1/2 weeks old. I met her and her mom (Kristin) at one of the lactation classes a few weeks ago. The four of us met for lunch today. Collin was all excited and stayed awake during the car ride. I guess Addison was not interested because she slept the entire time we were eating lunch. She must not be into younger men. ;)

He continues to want to eat every 2 hours. Loads of fun let me tell you. I did actually get some things done in between him wanting to eat even though he did not sleep the entire time. Maybe he will sleep tonight.

We went for another walk today. He now stays awake for these and looks around during the walk. I like this much better than the screaming-his-bloody-head-off walks we had when he first came home.

Feeding Marathon

Most of the day today, Collin was hungry every 2 hours. Since he usually eats for at least 45 minutes, this did not leave much time in between for napping, eating, etc before he was hungry again. Maybe he is going through a growth spurt. I think he got enough to eat during each session because he did not cry afterwards and pulled himself off most of the time. I hope this does not carry into the night tonight.

So far, his favorite books are Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Touch and Feel Kitten. I have read these to him when he is wide awake during the day.

Tomorrow, we were going to have visitors from out of town. They called tonight to cancel because one of their kids had the sniffles. I was appreciative that she called because I don't want to expose Collin to anything that could get him sick....at least as long as I can help it.

Chris is off work tomorrow. Should be fun to spend time with the family. :)

Nights

The nights with Collin are getting better and better. He is still awake for some of the time (usually after the 3am nursing session) but he is not usually crying during this time like he has the previous nights. He is wide awake cooing and looking around. A customer of the bike shop gave us this musical thing that connects to the crib. It plays lullabies and has lights. Collin enjoys looking at this. He did this for about an hour last night and still was awake after that. I will take this any early morning over having to pace the floor with him because he is crying non-stop.

He is also going longer between getting hungry in the early morning hours. This morning, he at at 1am and then not again until 6am. Thank you Collin! During the day though, he is now hungry every 2 - 3 hours. I feel like I have just feed him when he gets hungry again. This makes it VERY difficult for me to get my rest and that is catching up with me. I was not feeling so well last night and went to bed earlier than usual. I did get some good sleep last night since Collin did not get hungry when he usually does during the early morning.

We are going to stay home today because I think yesterday at the bike shop was a lot for him. We were there over 4 hours and I feed him twice there. I don't think he ate as well as he normally does at home because he had to eat under a blanket while I was at the shop. The kid runs hot anyway (like his parents) and the blanket made it worse. I am sure we will go for a stroller ride though because it's another beautiful, warm day today.

New Class and Weight Update

Yesterday morning, Collin and I went to a Birth, Baby and Beyond class at the hospital. It's every week on Thursday morning. Each week, there is a different topic and there are occasionally outside speakers for the topic. Yesterday's topic was taking better baby pictures. Collin and I met a friend and we plan to have lunch together occasionally. Her name is Addisson and she is 5 weeks old. Her mother's name is Kristen. Collin is already scoping out the older woman...oh no!

While we were at the class, there was a baby scale there so I weighed Collin to see if he had gained any weight since Monday. According to the scale, he has gained 4 oz since then. That is awesome! He should be gaining an ounce a day so this means he likely gained 2 oz a day since Monday. I know this made me happy to see that he is gaining weight now. He sure is eating a lot so I hoped that he was gaining something.

Yesterday afternoon was a spit up session for Collin. He spit up three different times in an hour. I was glad I was not going out that day because he managed to get my shirt, pants and the floor messy with spit up.

This morning, we are going to the bike shop at Diary Ashford to work on taxes and then have lunch with Dad. He was really excited about this when I told him our plans this morning.

Gifts and Lunch with Dad

Collin sure has had a good day today. First, he had a bath again this morning to wake him up to eat around 6:30am. He was not as fond of it this time as he was the last time. Then, Tracey came for a short visit around 10am. She brought some gifts: 3-6 month sleeper, really soft blanket and a Peek-A-Boo Soother (hangs on the crib and plays music with water noises). While she was visiting, TWO more gifts arrived in the mail. One was from Great Aunt Darlene. She sent the most adorable outfits: a onesie with ants on it (hmmm...is that because she is an aunt again?), a jumper with ants and some overalls. I cannot wait for Collin to be big enough to wear these. Grace sent us a baby carrier for me to wear and hold Collin once he is able to hold his head up on his own.

We just got back from having lunch with Dad. We all really liked this time together so I am going to try to do this at least every Wednesday because this seems like a good day for Chris.

Last night was not a bad night. Chris helped with one of the feedings. I am pumping again after Collin nurses because he is still hungry and has eaten all of the reserves. I am tyring to catch up with him and have extra but he keeps eating it. Maybe he will actually start gaining at least an ounce a day like the doctor wants to see him do.

Tomorrow, we are going to a Birth, Baby and Beyond class at the hospital. The topic is "Taking better baby photos". There will be a speaker and a chance to meet other parents that live in the area.

All Three of Us

Chris was home most of the day so we got to hang out as a family. After breakfast (at 11:30am), we went for a walk for about 30 minutes. Collin and I really like these walks because we get outside and away from the house. Chris made lunch and then we all took naps (yes!).

Last night, Collin did not want to sleep much. He was awake from 10am until 4:30am. I had him during this time. Fortunately, he did not cry much but did not want to go to sleep either. I read 4 of his books to him which helped a little. He really liked Puff the Magic Dragon that grandma Holmes brought with her when she came to visit. I think he liked it because I sang the book to him instead of reading he. He really likes singing (Chris sang to him everyday while we were still in the hospital). I feed him during this time too which I thought would help put him to sleep but it did not. At least he is latching on and eating much better these days.

Weight Gain - Not Me :)

This morning, Collin and I went to a lactation support group sponsored by the Texas Women's Hospital where Collin was born. They have scales you can use to either weigh the babies or weigh the baby before and after eating to determine how much milk they are drinking. I did both this morning. Collin weighed 7lbs and 9 oz. which is 4 oz more than what he weighed last Tuesday at the pediatrician. I was also able to determine that he ate 2.2 oz during the hour that I was there. Right now, he should be eating at least 3 oz. so I am going to give him a bottle with at least an ounce of breast milk after he nurses. This should help him gain the recommended weekly weight of at least 7 oz. Our next pediatrician appointment is next Tuesday and we will find out if he has gained enough weight by then to make her happy.

He is starting to make cooing noises which are really cute. He focuses more on mine and Chris' face when we hold him close. He really likes looking at light (like out windows or at the skylight in the kitchen). If he is crying, I use this to help soothe him...sometimes it works at least.

Walk

The walk sure did help....me at least. :) The rain this week is really messing with walking regularly. I cannot even look out the window and tell if it's going to rain or not. It was raining earlier this afternoon when the sun was out. Go figure.

Well, I thought he was napping....gotta run.

Grocery Store

Yesterday was a little better than Friday. I am listening to my new mother instincts instead of the doctor and the lactation consultant. Instead of waking him up every 3 hours, I am letting Collin let me know when he is hungry. Friday was every two hours and yesterday was every 3 hours. That was better and what the doctor wanted anyway. He did go for four hours between eating through the night. I was actually able to get 2 1/2 hours sleep between each time he ate.

I am also letting Collin eat until he is full or falls asleep. He has not been as bad and when we first started nursing. Instead of marathon eating for 1 1/2 hours, he is eating for a little over an hour or even less. Hey, maybe we are both getting the hang of this.

Yesterday, Chris heard in my voice that I was not having a good afternoon so he came home early. After Collin ate (and dad took a nap), we all went to the grocery store. This was Collin's first grocery store experience. He sleep the entire time. Yeah! I am sure that had to do with the car ride on the way there. He does love a good car ride and this usually puts him to sleep.

Today, September 9th, he got another bath this morning to help wake him up a little. I think the baths are helping keep the diaper rash away. Let's hope so at least. It was a photo opportunity as well.

Collin is napping right now, hallelujah. We plan to go for a walk much later this afternoon. I might try to take him to CVS to print some pictures since I have not had a chance to do this yet.

Hungry Little Man

After not getting much sleep last night, Collin has been eating every two hours today so far. I have also given him a bottle of breast milk (at least an ounce) after most of his "meals". Between eating, he is really restless and does not want to sleep. After not sleeping much last night, I thought he would at least get in a good nap or two today already. I have tried everything that I can think of including walking outside in the stroller to using the car seat inside as a rocker. Just as I think it's safe to put him in either his crib or pack and play, he starts to cry. This is not helpful if I am trying to fix me something to eat or use the restroom. I just finished pumping so he could have some extra milk after the last nursing session and he is sleeping on my lap. I have not tired to get up yet fearing that he will wake up again. Oh well, he will be hungry in about an hour based on wanting to eat every two hours so far.

I thought about going for a car ride next if he does wake up. I will be in Friday traffic so it might not be too helpful because of all the starts and stops.

He did have his first real bath yesterday morning in the newborn tub. He did not like it at first but settled down after about 5 minutes. He sure did smell good. Later that night, he threw up after eating so he does not smell that great anymore. :)

As instructed by the pediatrician, Collin is now eating every 2.5 to 3 hours. It did take two sessions for him to figure out that he will not be waiting 4 to 5 hours between eating and not getting a bottle with breast milk. He is now nursing for a total of 40 minutes and then we play for about 15 minutes. During the day, he does fall asleep after that...most of the time. At night, we do have to stay up with him for at least an hour after he eats. I do think his early mornings are better than they have been. Maybe he is growing up and getting the hang of it. However, since he eats every 2.5 to 3 hours, this does not leave much time in between meals to do much of anything else. I thought I would run an errand early this afternoon but have not been able to make it out of the house. It's been raining most of the afternoon, so that has not helped.

We went for a walk this morning for about 20 minutes. He was awake for most of it.

This evening, we plan to see Mimi for her birthday dinner.