On Wednesday morning, Jay, Cindy, Christopher and I packed up the Pathfinder and journeyed to Columbia, South Carolina for my cousin's graduation from Basic Training. Once we got to our hotel after overshooting by about 10 miles, I fed Christopher and then we went to grab a bite at Cracker Barrel.
On Thursday, it was up at 6am so that I could be ready before we had to leave for the base for "Family Day". Traffic was horrible, but we finally made it for the briefing and the release of Leon to his parents. There was an absolutely awesome ceremony involving smoke grenades, simulated artillery, and attacking soldiers! Rousing music, which included Toby Keith's Angry American and I can't remember what else (hopefully Cindy or Jay will be able to remind me) had me covered in goose bumps and fighting back tears. Seeing those 1300 soldiers ready to fight for our country really made me feel proud to be an American. Once the ceremony was over, Leon wanted to go to the PX (base exchange for us laymen) to buy a laptop. That place was swamped!! After spending a few hours there we hung out at the bowling alleys for the rest of the day (yes plural...there were two) where we caught up with Leon while he fidgeted with his laptop and eventually shot some pool (Jay and Leon that is). Then it was back to the hotel for a good nights sleep.
Friday brought the graduation ceremony following which Leon was given an off base pass. Once we finally got him to his barracks so he could retrieve some of his stuff, we went to the on base Burger King for lunch and then Leon had his official graduation picture taken. Finally, it was off to the hotel for some R & R. Honestly, I think we were ALL ready for some down time. We ordered pizza for dinner and then Jay and Cindy took Leon back to the base. Oh and did I mention that I tweaked my back? I don't know what it was, but as I was getting off Jay and Cindy's bed something in my back pulled - Jay thought he heard it pop, but I wasn't sure. I'll I knew was I had to get Christopher on the bed before I dropped to my knees! I spent the rest of the night taking the 800mg Motrins from when I had Christopher. I can't believe how much they helped!
Saturday meant that it was time to come home. I dropped Jay and Cindy off at the airport and then headed towards Jacksonville. Christopher slept for the first 30 minutes, woke up and cried for about an hour, ate, cried for about 10 minutes, and then slept the rest of the way. It was a nice trip, but I was so happy to be home, especially with my aching back!
Sunday, September 9, 2007
August 28, 2007
Jay, Cindy, Christopher and I made it to the Jacksonville Landing today. Jay and Cindy wanted to take the water taxi across the St. John's River. Cindy had researched and discovered that the longest trip would occur if we started out at River City Brewing Company so we went there for lunch. I was a little concerned about Christopher being fussy, but he finally calmed down and we were able to enjoy a nice lunch. I was surprised at the quality of cuisine that we got for the price. What a deal! My understanding though is that the dinner menu is much more expensive and not much fancier (for lack of a better word). In other words, I HIGHLY recommend going for lunch!
After lunch we took the water taxi across to the Landing. I nursed Christopher during the journey. With a full belly, he fell asleep shortly after we got to the Landing. We walked around for a little while before we decided to make our way home. Unfortunately we stopped at the world's worst "Super" Wal-mart where they only carried about half of the items we were looking for!
Once we made it home, Cindy showed me how to make Lo Mein. We ate dinner and eventually played a riviting game of Pictionary. Cindy and I were WAY behind, managed to catch up and take the lead only to lose the game in the end. It was funny playing, even though it did get pretty late.
After lunch we took the water taxi across to the Landing. I nursed Christopher during the journey. With a full belly, he fell asleep shortly after we got to the Landing. We walked around for a little while before we decided to make our way home. Unfortunately we stopped at the world's worst "Super" Wal-mart where they only carried about half of the items we were looking for!
Once we made it home, Cindy showed me how to make Lo Mein. We ate dinner and eventually played a riviting game of Pictionary. Cindy and I were WAY behind, managed to catch up and take the lead only to lose the game in the end. It was funny playing, even though it did get pretty late.
August 27, 2007
August 27, 2007
Well, we ventured out to the mall today. It actually went fairly well. We waited until I finished nursing Christopher and then we left post haste. I took the front Snugli carrier with us, and although he was fairly fussy while we ate (which we did when we first got there), once we got to moving around he fell asleep fairly quickly and stayed asleep. I’m guessing that he slept for about 2 hours (maybe 2 ½) while we walked around the mall and shopped some. Jay and Cindy both got new shoes and I bought 4 nursing tops – and I only spent $51 for all of them! I can’t believe I went to the mall, bought 4 tops (specialty ones no less) and only spent $50 bucks. I just didn’t think that was possible!! Tonight, Chantelle is going to watch Christopher (not sure if she’ll have the girls or not) and Jay, Cindy, Tim and I are going to go out to eat and maybe shoot pool afterwards. I think we’ll have a good time.
Chris is in his swing right now, he’s been fighting sleep for a little while, but he’s finally calmed down and I think he might end up passed out…hey a girl can dream, right!
So I should finish some stuff before our double date. I need to fold/hang up Tim’s work clothes and I’m sure there’s other stuff I need to do too; There usually is!
***8:50PM – Dinner was great; we went to Carabbas and were going to head to play pool but decided to stop off at the house to drop off food and check on Chris. Chantelle needed to get her girls home (school night) so we decided to call it a night – besides, Tim needs to go back to work. Apparently it’s a job that has to be done by tomorrow morning. All in all, it was a great night.
Well, we ventured out to the mall today. It actually went fairly well. We waited until I finished nursing Christopher and then we left post haste. I took the front Snugli carrier with us, and although he was fairly fussy while we ate (which we did when we first got there), once we got to moving around he fell asleep fairly quickly and stayed asleep. I’m guessing that he slept for about 2 hours (maybe 2 ½) while we walked around the mall and shopped some. Jay and Cindy both got new shoes and I bought 4 nursing tops – and I only spent $51 for all of them! I can’t believe I went to the mall, bought 4 tops (specialty ones no less) and only spent $50 bucks. I just didn’t think that was possible!! Tonight, Chantelle is going to watch Christopher (not sure if she’ll have the girls or not) and Jay, Cindy, Tim and I are going to go out to eat and maybe shoot pool afterwards. I think we’ll have a good time.
Chris is in his swing right now, he’s been fighting sleep for a little while, but he’s finally calmed down and I think he might end up passed out…hey a girl can dream, right!
So I should finish some stuff before our double date. I need to fold/hang up Tim’s work clothes and I’m sure there’s other stuff I need to do too; There usually is!
***8:50PM – Dinner was great; we went to Carabbas and were going to head to play pool but decided to stop off at the house to drop off food and check on Chris. Chantelle needed to get her girls home (school night) so we decided to call it a night – besides, Tim needs to go back to work. Apparently it’s a job that has to be done by tomorrow morning. All in all, it was a great night.
August 26, 2007
August 26, 2007
Christopher had a pretty good night last night, even though I was certain he wouldn’t. I thought he’d be too tired to sleep well…that goodness for swaddling!!! Jay and Cindy came into town last night (Saturday the 25th) and will be here until Wednesday the 29th at which point Christopher and I will take them up to Columbia South Carolina for Leon’s boot camp graduation.
It’s going very well so far – we’ve really enjoyed our visit. We went to Dick’s Wings last night. They took my car this morning to go to church and then ate Chinese food at Mandarin Buffet. When they got back they went to look at Swivel gliders with me. I found the one I wanted, but Tim thought it was a little high priced. After looking around at 3 other stores we decided that the first one was a really great deal for the quality chair that it was (the other ones were either more expensive or REALLY cheaply built). Luckily, Jay and Cindy were my witnesses to this fact. I think we are going to get the first one that I really liked. Now it’s just a matter of if we get the floor model (a light, mint green that matches the room décor) or whether we wait and get another color. If we wait, it will probably take like 4 weeks for us to get it in….UGGGHHH!!!!!!
Before I was thinking we should get the green, but the more I think about it the more I think we might want to wait and get a color that is more likely to go with a future decorum – maybe blue (GO YANKEES)!
I guess I’m going to go hit the hay before the boy wakes up. Until next time!
Christopher had a pretty good night last night, even though I was certain he wouldn’t. I thought he’d be too tired to sleep well…that goodness for swaddling!!! Jay and Cindy came into town last night (Saturday the 25th) and will be here until Wednesday the 29th at which point Christopher and I will take them up to Columbia South Carolina for Leon’s boot camp graduation.
It’s going very well so far – we’ve really enjoyed our visit. We went to Dick’s Wings last night. They took my car this morning to go to church and then ate Chinese food at Mandarin Buffet. When they got back they went to look at Swivel gliders with me. I found the one I wanted, but Tim thought it was a little high priced. After looking around at 3 other stores we decided that the first one was a really great deal for the quality chair that it was (the other ones were either more expensive or REALLY cheaply built). Luckily, Jay and Cindy were my witnesses to this fact. I think we are going to get the first one that I really liked. Now it’s just a matter of if we get the floor model (a light, mint green that matches the room décor) or whether we wait and get another color. If we wait, it will probably take like 4 weeks for us to get it in….UGGGHHH!!!!!!
Before I was thinking we should get the green, but the more I think about it the more I think we might want to wait and get a color that is more likely to go with a future decorum – maybe blue (GO YANKEES)!
I guess I’m going to go hit the hay before the boy wakes up. Until next time!
August 24, 2007 - He really DOES roll!
August 24, 2007
11:15AM – Christopher had a GREAT night! It was his second night in his own room. Tim and I are loving it. I think we are all three sleeping better. Christopher had a bath last night and then we got ready for bed by saying goodnight to some of the things in Christopher’s room and some of the things that he plays with during the day. Then Christopher nursed while I read “Goodnight Moon” to him. I’d like to read to him before he’s nursing, but he just got too cranky. Tim and I are probably going to buy a swivel glider for his room for me to nurse him during the night, we just have to decide where we are going to get a good one. So I nursed Chris around 9PM and put him in his crib around 9:40. I grabbed him around 11:30 (didn’t wake him though) and nursed him for almost an hour – he slept while he nursed. He then slept until 4:30, nursed for about 1 hour, and then went back to his crib for an hour (at about 5:30). Normally this would have frustrated me, but I had gotten lots of sleep during the first go round AND I had taken a nice long shower and slept for about 30 minutes before I woke up and fed him at 6:30. He then slept until about 9:45. He’s been up since then – getting a clean diaper and outfit, eating and playing on his mat on the floor.
Now, the reason I’m writing this entry is because I was SO excited about his play time. I put him on his tummy and he rolled over onto his back again. Thinking it might have been the blanket underneath the portion where his head rests (for protection) that had given him a little assistance in the roll, I decided to remove the cushion. That didn’t stop my little guy; he rolled over 2 more times all on his own! I recorded some of the 2nd time (from side to back) and all of the third time so that we have some proof! Not bad for a 10 week old! And now he’s been playing on his back ever since that last roll over (that’s been over 15 minutes now)!
11:15AM – Christopher had a GREAT night! It was his second night in his own room. Tim and I are loving it. I think we are all three sleeping better. Christopher had a bath last night and then we got ready for bed by saying goodnight to some of the things in Christopher’s room and some of the things that he plays with during the day. Then Christopher nursed while I read “Goodnight Moon” to him. I’d like to read to him before he’s nursing, but he just got too cranky. Tim and I are probably going to buy a swivel glider for his room for me to nurse him during the night, we just have to decide where we are going to get a good one. So I nursed Chris around 9PM and put him in his crib around 9:40. I grabbed him around 11:30 (didn’t wake him though) and nursed him for almost an hour – he slept while he nursed. He then slept until 4:30, nursed for about 1 hour, and then went back to his crib for an hour (at about 5:30). Normally this would have frustrated me, but I had gotten lots of sleep during the first go round AND I had taken a nice long shower and slept for about 30 minutes before I woke up and fed him at 6:30. He then slept until about 9:45. He’s been up since then – getting a clean diaper and outfit, eating and playing on his mat on the floor.
Now, the reason I’m writing this entry is because I was SO excited about his play time. I put him on his tummy and he rolled over onto his back again. Thinking it might have been the blanket underneath the portion where his head rests (for protection) that had given him a little assistance in the roll, I decided to remove the cushion. That didn’t stop my little guy; he rolled over 2 more times all on his own! I recorded some of the 2nd time (from side to back) and all of the third time so that we have some proof! Not bad for a 10 week old! And now he’s been playing on his back ever since that last roll over (that’s been over 15 minutes now)!
August 23, 2007
August 23, 2007
Last night went okay after a rough start. That was our fault though. I put Christopher in his crib and he woke up, but rather than nurse him back to sleep, we let him cry and went in every 5 minutes to reassure him. We both agreed that this is what we wanted to do, but I think we’ll probably wait for a little while longer to do THAT again! I want to make sure Christopher knows he can trust us before we do that and besides, I don’t really care if I nurse him to sleep!
He’s having a blast in his bouncer chair right now…it is so much fun to watch him. I have those rattle socks on his feet for a little added fun and he’s about to kick them off because he’s kicking so much! He’s such a happy baby!
Last night went okay after a rough start. That was our fault though. I put Christopher in his crib and he woke up, but rather than nurse him back to sleep, we let him cry and went in every 5 minutes to reassure him. We both agreed that this is what we wanted to do, but I think we’ll probably wait for a little while longer to do THAT again! I want to make sure Christopher knows he can trust us before we do that and besides, I don’t really care if I nurse him to sleep!
He’s having a blast in his bouncer chair right now…it is so much fun to watch him. I have those rattle socks on his feet for a little added fun and he’s about to kick them off because he’s kicking so much! He’s such a happy baby!
August 22, 2207 - The Big Move
August 22, 2007
I didn’t sleep at all last night! Okay, very little. After Christopher’s big day (rolling over…kinda), I decided that I wanted to stop swaddling him so that he could really get a good start at trying to roll from his back to his tummy. Tim put Christopher down to bed at about 11PM or so. Of course Chris woke up right away. I nursed him back to sleep for about 30 minutes, put him down, and he woke up about 15 minutes later. We pretty much played this game until 2:00 at which point I decided to swaddle the little guy. I thought this would make my night more sleep filled – I was wrong. We got to sleep from about 2:30 – 3:30 then it was up again for another feed. I ended up falling asleep for about an hour after Christopher napped (from 3:30-about 5pm). Put him down again, he woke up again. I finally gave up and nursed him in bed….UUGGGHHH!!!! I SO wanted to avoid doing that. Oh well, there’s always tonight!
**A couple more things to add this evening. First, I noticed today that Christopher is really playing with his hands a lot! I’m hoping this means he’s gaining control of his extremities. I think when I swaddle him tonight I’m going to try to swaddle him with his arms up by his head so that he can get a hold of those fingers if he wants them – you know the whole self-soothing thing.
Second, I’m not sure that I’ve already mentioned this (and I don’t really have time to check right now), but during the last couple of days I’ve noticed that Christopher really loves his swing now. This is a huge relief because before when we would put him in it he would just scream. Now he looks around and will even fall asleep if he’s really tired.
Third, I think we are going to attempt to put Christopher in his own room from now on. After last night, Tim is ready to have Chris out of our room. I’m a little more apprehensive, but I understand Tim’s reasoning. Don’t get me wrong, I KNOW Christopher will be fine, I guess it’s just that I want to be able to be at his side as soon as he starts crying. I want him to know that he can trust that I’ll be there. Tim thinks we should let him cry a little more, and this will make that happen. I mean, I’ve been pretty much picking him up as soon as I hear him start to rustle around so that he wouldn’t wake Tim. So I’ve moved his nightlight back into his room and I put the noise machine/CD player in there too. I’m going to have Tim go start the baby lullaby CD right before I put Christopher in his room (so that there is a steady noise) and then I’ll set the “thunderstorm sound” alarm for about 30-45 minutes later. This sound is the most similar to the sounds of the womb that I have. I really hope this goes well quickly, especially since Jay and Cindy are coming on Saturday night (it’s Wednesday night now) and will be sleeping in the room right across from him. I also really want it to go well because, well let’s be honest, I’d LOVE to get some good sleep on a regular basis. I’m hoping and praying that this will help Christopher sleep better, although I’m not sure about that. I tend to believe he usually wakes up because he’s trying to poop or has gas or because he is spitting up and he chokes on it. I had Tim put a blanket under the crib mattress to help incline him and reduce the spit-up factor. Wish us luck. God I just pray that I can stick with this until Christopher transitions into his own room. I think this will help us establish more of a routine (I’m still working on how I want that to go). It will definitely be nice to have our room back!! I’ll update sometime tomorrow to share how it went.
I didn’t sleep at all last night! Okay, very little. After Christopher’s big day (rolling over…kinda), I decided that I wanted to stop swaddling him so that he could really get a good start at trying to roll from his back to his tummy. Tim put Christopher down to bed at about 11PM or so. Of course Chris woke up right away. I nursed him back to sleep for about 30 minutes, put him down, and he woke up about 15 minutes later. We pretty much played this game until 2:00 at which point I decided to swaddle the little guy. I thought this would make my night more sleep filled – I was wrong. We got to sleep from about 2:30 – 3:30 then it was up again for another feed. I ended up falling asleep for about an hour after Christopher napped (from 3:30-about 5pm). Put him down again, he woke up again. I finally gave up and nursed him in bed….UUGGGHHH!!!! I SO wanted to avoid doing that. Oh well, there’s always tonight!
**A couple more things to add this evening. First, I noticed today that Christopher is really playing with his hands a lot! I’m hoping this means he’s gaining control of his extremities. I think when I swaddle him tonight I’m going to try to swaddle him with his arms up by his head so that he can get a hold of those fingers if he wants them – you know the whole self-soothing thing.
Second, I’m not sure that I’ve already mentioned this (and I don’t really have time to check right now), but during the last couple of days I’ve noticed that Christopher really loves his swing now. This is a huge relief because before when we would put him in it he would just scream. Now he looks around and will even fall asleep if he’s really tired.
Third, I think we are going to attempt to put Christopher in his own room from now on. After last night, Tim is ready to have Chris out of our room. I’m a little more apprehensive, but I understand Tim’s reasoning. Don’t get me wrong, I KNOW Christopher will be fine, I guess it’s just that I want to be able to be at his side as soon as he starts crying. I want him to know that he can trust that I’ll be there. Tim thinks we should let him cry a little more, and this will make that happen. I mean, I’ve been pretty much picking him up as soon as I hear him start to rustle around so that he wouldn’t wake Tim. So I’ve moved his nightlight back into his room and I put the noise machine/CD player in there too. I’m going to have Tim go start the baby lullaby CD right before I put Christopher in his room (so that there is a steady noise) and then I’ll set the “thunderstorm sound” alarm for about 30-45 minutes later. This sound is the most similar to the sounds of the womb that I have. I really hope this goes well quickly, especially since Jay and Cindy are coming on Saturday night (it’s Wednesday night now) and will be sleeping in the room right across from him. I also really want it to go well because, well let’s be honest, I’d LOVE to get some good sleep on a regular basis. I’m hoping and praying that this will help Christopher sleep better, although I’m not sure about that. I tend to believe he usually wakes up because he’s trying to poop or has gas or because he is spitting up and he chokes on it. I had Tim put a blanket under the crib mattress to help incline him and reduce the spit-up factor. Wish us luck. God I just pray that I can stick with this until Christopher transitions into his own room. I think this will help us establish more of a routine (I’m still working on how I want that to go). It will definitely be nice to have our room back!! I’ll update sometime tomorrow to share how it went.
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