Mr. Mom & stuff!

So I am writing this blog because Shauna keeps bugging me to do so.

Being Mr. Mom... it was hard for me at first, not because it's actually hard to raise a child, but because it's not exactly what I had planned for my wife and family.  When Shauna asked me to quit Lowe's it was really hard and I fought it for weeks before I said yes.  She really needed help with Charley at night because while I was working she needed to get ready for work and also take care of Charley.  It was tough on her and she just had no time.  Due to the fact that I don't have a degree and my beautiful and intelligent wife does, she has a real job and I don't.  That will change hopefully by the next kid or shortly thereafter!  For those who don't know, I am buckling down and finishing a degree.  

Now that I've thrown my one and ONLY complaint about being Mr. Mom out there, it's time to talk about the joys and wonders of having a child.  Getting up early is a little rough, since for most of you who know me, I'm not a morning person.  The thing that makes it worth it is seeing him smile at me with my one eye open since all the lights are way to bright.  I want to say it's tough being at home and raising a child but I have sooooo much fun being with him and watching him that I really can't say anything bad.  I can see how some people would go nuts or not be able to handle it but I think some people just don't have the right head screwed on their shoulders.

My bragging time.  Charley Ryan has impressed me and amazed me since the day he was born.  When I was in the nursery with him and saw the size of his ahem, you know?!!!!  After I had gone back again and there were some other newborns I couldn't help but compare.  Of course, my sons was the biggest (Like 3, maybe 4 times bigger!)  I have no doubt my son will exceed me in that area, GEEESH!  Anyhoo, let's seeeeeeee, he was rolling over by 2 months.  He really doesn't like tummy time for very long.  He has been grabbing things since about 2 months also.  Apparently, according to some chart Shauna found on the internet, he is about a little over a month ahead of where he should be!

Well, I could really keep talking on and on about how great my son is but I won't rub it in that much.  I will try to put up more blogs of my daily adventures as Mr. Mom, but don't hold your breath.  Till next time.

By the way, if you want to see pics of Charley and stuff, send me or contact me somehow with your email and I can send you the pics we have on our Facebook pages.  If you are friends with us on Facebook then you already know about the pics.  Enjoy!

Videos..

So apparently I am just...slow. Don't ask me what the issue was before. Anyways, here are the videos I was talking about in the last post. The first one is Charley's happy place (the changing table) and the second is his "rolling" over. I'd like to note that whenever the camera is pointing toward that boy, he stares...and normally avoids anything that makes Mama and Daddy respond.

Charley's appointment and returning to work...

Charley is 9 weeks this week! Yay for getting older and doing things Mama isn't ready for her baby to be doing! But that's okay, it's out of my hands and I'm totally okay with that.

Ok, so about 3 weeks ago...he rolled over. We totally thought it was a fluke cuz I had layed him down on our bed face down and he somehow ended up on his back. We just thought that our bed was too soft. Second occurence...tummy time mat. We thought the pillow just was too high and he ROLLED off of it. Third occurence was last week when I put him on the floor. He fussed and then pushed himself over. Layed there on his back, content as could be. We thought there was no way he was doing this. We put him back on his tummy...cried/fussed and pushed himself over, contentment again. We have a video of it but have yet to figure out why we can't post it so that will be forthcoming. We have another video of him while on the changing table. Dad does this jackhammer motion with his arms and his reaction is funny. That too will be posted...eventually.

Charley had his 2 month appointment today. He is long and skinny with a big head. 23 inches long (50th percentile) and weighs in at 10 pounds 13 ounces (25th percentile). I can't remember what his head circumference is but it's apparently relatively large (50th percentile).

ON RETURNING BACK TO WORK...

MAD props to all full-time working moms who pump. I never thought this would be so hard. Not only being away from your child for 9 or 10 hours (sometimes more depending on what you do) but pumping itself can be the most stressful thing in the world. Knowing that if you don't get what you need out of this thing your little baby ain't gonna eat is STRESSFUL. (I mean there's always formula but for those of us wanting exclusive breastfeeding...eek!) Now pumping comes easily to some people but for me...you've got to be kidding me. After 3 weeks I'm finally warming up to the mechanical thing that sucks at me four or five times a day. The baby can do it so much better than this pump. I've spent the past two weeks struggling with: 1) getting enough milk, 2) clogged milk ducts - I think I've had 3 days over the past 2 weeks that I did NOT have a clogged milk duct, 3) not STRESSING about pumping. I'm finally kind of getting the hang of things this week but it's still difficult. I'm sure it'll get better but this is my venting so...get over it. I can see why they tell you to EASE into work. I'm still trying to figure out the mornings. I wake him up at 6am right now so I can feed him before I leave for work. He's been sleeping through the night off and on (he's teasing Mama) otherwise he'll sleep for 4 or 5 hours and wake up for a feeding at 3am.

Now I'd post about being home with the baby all day but I can't speak for Ryan. So I will leave that to his discretion. :)

7 weeks

I guess I could have waited until next week and posted a 2 month blog but...I got bored. There's not much to update except he's growing. I can tell he is heavier. He doesn't like to sleep and he will fight it til he passes out. He HATES being woken up, for food or otherwise. He sometimes "sleeps through the night" (from midnight to 6am) otherwise he wakes up once if he goes to bed at 10:30pm. I'm thankful for that. He loves being outside and read to. :) Yay! Though I have never met a child with ssssooooo much flatulence. On another note, this is my last week on maternity leave. I go back to work next Tuesday. I'm sad but I'm sure I'll get through it. I am very glad that we don't have to pay for child care. Ryan works at night so he will be watching him during the day. A double hooray there! I've finally got the clear to start running/working out again...slowly...ugh. 

I'm going to take a moment to brag...guess who fits into their Lucky size 0 jeans...whoop whoop! Barely...but they're on. I'd like to thank breastfeeding for that. On to another moment of complaint...dumb boobies feel like bricks. Though they are smaller than they were toward the end of my pregnancy <- thankful for that. I'm also thankful for a husband that totally helps out with the dirty diapers and burping duties! Kudos to Ryan! (Also for always thinking of me when he gets off work and brings me tea lattes and creamslushies!)

The shirt he is wearing below was Ryan's shirt when he was a baby. As you can see, he was very happy here...probably because seconds after I clicked that bottom picture, he spit up aaalllllll over himself. 

A month (and some days) old...

We said we wouldn't be the parents who would take a million pictures of our kid...bbbuuuttt it happened and I'm going to post them!! Heehee! Here are some fun ones!

Eeeehhh?

Daddy kisses Charley's neck and makes him squirm.

Just ate and content.

Hanging out with Papa.

Papa and Charley...

JJ and Charley...

He actually fit in this premie outfit. Of course after I washed it...who knows?!

Happy and being bounced on Daddy's knee.

Hanging on for dear life aaaannndddd being bounced on Daddy's knee.

2 weeks old...

Ok, so he was two weeks like days ago. I'm a little slow BUT he had his 2 week doctor's appointment on Thursday and he is 7lbs 2 oz and 20 inches long!! Hooray for weight gain (and length is good)!! And some more pictures!

Daddy was changing Charley...didn't get the diaper on fast enough. Projectile poop.

Grandma and Charley...

Grandpa and Charley...

Happy Charley...

Dad and tired Charley...

Charley in his swing...

Charley in Daddy's lap...

Just a couple of pictures...

Here are a couple of fun pictures. This first one was right after his bath. I brushed out his hair. He's got this permanent fro going on.

This second one, compliments of my mom, caught him smiling which he does a lot.