Merry Christmas from Samuel!

Samuel gave us this picture in a frame for Christmas - so Cute!!!  I think he had a little help from all the ladies at Daycare!

Sam's onesie says it all!!

Fun Weekend

We had a pretty chill weekend mostly staying at home.  I love getting to be with Sam in the morning as he is always SO animated - weekends are a joy!  He talks and coos and babbles so much and it is fun to listen to him.

One new toy/gift that Sam LOVES is his 'tag-blanket' - he loves to sit and play with it and it also goes in his crib with him.

Mom also decided to get out a toy saucer we got at the GM sale to see what Sam thought of it.  He was in it for a short time and seemed to kind of like it, but wasn't quite sure what to think!  Most things we get out for him take a few times for him to warm up to!!

This Sunday was the first time we put Sam in the nursery at church - I didn't expect to feel so guilty and unsure about it.  I feel like I leave him all the time for daycare so it felt like leaving him again :)  He did fine, though, and I actually got to stay in church for the whole sermon. I didn't expect to feel so constantly guilty as a mom!  I know I shouldn't and have no reason to as Sam is SO loved (by mom and dad), but I do sometimes. 

I also have been doing A TON of fun and different projects.  I will post the big one later as it's almost done, but today, when I took a break from my big projects, I made a cute little onesie for Sam!  I'm sure more to come as mom has the major "crafting/sewing" fever these days.  A long Minnesota winter will ensure endless hours inside to feed the fever.

The coolest thing lately is Sam and sleep.  I don't know if all the books I've been devouring such as "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and "Babywise" have helped, but I feel they have.  I also think I'm just more confident in what to do and how and when - Sam is getting older too which helps.  Anyway, on the weekends, we have a great routine down - Sam wakes up, eats and then plays, but once he's been awake for around 2 hours, we wind down and I put him in his crib - awake - and then he's been taking a 2-3 hour nap.  Then he'll wake up, eat, and we'll play and then repeat with a nap, leaving him in his crib drowsy and he falls asleep.  The latter naps after the morning aren't as long, but they are naps. And the fact we put him down and he doesn't cry - maybe a little talking or cooing or light fussing, but then he goes to sleep, is awesome!  So, this is our routine and he is so alert and happy when he's awake, plus I feel he is getting the sleep he needs.  The one area we still could use some help in is more sleep at night.  I wonder if because his crib is right next to the bed, that I hear everything and respond too quickly or too often - I don't know, but Sam still wants to eat a couple times each night.  As far as the day, though, it's been great to feel like we have a routine and Sam is getting the sleep he needs - of course, the best part is being able to just put him in his crib for a nap and he sleeps without an hour of rocking and holding him!  The only challenge is that this is the weekends and it's not happening at daycare yet.  Some days he only takes 2 - 20 minute naps there and is exhausted when he gets home.  I'm hoping to work on that in January.

It did melt my heart this weekend, though, to see Sam sleep with his soft blanket that Grandma Vander Stelt made.  He loves to hold onto it and wrap his fingers in it.

Otherwise, we are looking forward to a short week this coming week with the holidays and a whole week of vacation the following!

Oh.... So cute :O

Daycare sent us a picture of Sam they have hanging up - what a chunk!  ...and what a cute smile!  Momma misses her little man!

CHUBBA - WUBBA

I finally weighed Sam last night - not official, but approximate as I stepped on the scale without/with him, but Bubba weighed 16 pounds!  He is a healthy boy!  I read online that 16-17 pounds is average for four months (double the birth weight) but we are still 2-3 weeks out from the 4 week mark.  Once Sam can move and crawl, though, there will be NO stopping him and I'm sure his weight will slow down! 

Last night when I picked him up at daycare, we discussed upping the ounces from 4 to 5 for each feeding.  Ms Stacey asked me, "Is it unusual that Sam wants to eat every two hours?"  I laughed - welcome to my life and nights where he will eat every 2-3 hours!!!  Sam loves his milk!  It could be if we gave him big bottles of formula we'd have longer intervals, but we are not going there yet until we need to or mom can't keep up.

Snowed in !!!

We had a huge storm that started Friday night after work and continued through Saturday - we were happy to stay indoors and avoid the cold and snow!  Poor Sam got smothered by momma as it was the first full week back at work and five days of very little Sam time! We pulled out new toys, got in some tummy time, and just played!

 

Sam also got in some really good naps which he doesn't always get at daycare yet - too many fun toys and stuff going on! 

 

We ended up getting 17 inches of snow in Minneapolis!!  The fifth largest storm total!  ... A great day to stay indoors!

It's not hard to get smiles from Sam these days - in fact, just looking at him and he'll start grinning - it's pretty cute!

 It seems in just the last week, we are seeing lots of changes in Sam - he has definitely found his hands and they spend a lot of time in his mouth!  He's also been holding onto toys - he loves to hold and shake his keys!  He's also very social and loves to make noises and smile at everyone and everything - all the ladies at daycare have been completely charmed by Sam's smile! ... Understandable!

Daddy's boy

Dad gets to take Sam to daycare every morning - here is my bunny getting ready to go!  So cute!

Big Boy!

Sunday afternoon we set up Samuel's crib as he had way outgrown the bassinette and was kicking up against the sides of it!  We went to Babies'RUs to get some bumpers and then moved it behind our bed.  He loved laying in it and watching his musical mobil from Auntie Mary, but I had medium expectations about him going to sleep in it!  And..... I was right..... He slept in his swing and with me but he also wasn't feeling well and had a really rough night (so did mom before work on Monday!) and it wasn't the best night to break him in!  I can't believe how small he looks in his crib - so cute!

First Week of Daycare for Sam

 

December 1st was the official day for Sam to start daycare and for mom to head back to work.  Bradley and I both brought the little monster in on the first day for dropoff as we also had a lot of stuff to bring in and mom HAD to be there!  I had a really hard time and cried... several times.... I knew he was in good hands, but it broke my heart to drop him off for the whole day.  We have been together for basically 12 months nonstop (I'm counting pregnancy in there!)so I think a little separation anxiety is expected.  You just love the little guy so much and you want to protect them and make them happy - you know he will be okay, but there is some guilt in leaving him with someone else.  So, although mom was a little bit of a hot mess,  Sam was a champ and seemed to be okay with everything.  

A little bit into the morning, the center sent us the above picture which was much needed by mom!  I think I looked at it 20 times at work and showed or emailed it to at least 20 people!  By 4pm, mom was CHOMPING AT THE BIT to pick up her little man and even walked out of her 3-4 pm meeting that was going late so she could leave.  It is just like Christmas everyday getting to go pick him up and any delay of traffic or red lights or slow drivers are magnified on my way there!  

Needless to say, we survived Day one.  Sam had two blowouts and went though two outfits so they had to provide one for him and suggested we bring in four extras - that's our boy we know and love!  I also think it was a lot of activity for him as he only took 3- 30 minute naps the first day there and he was wiped out.  Once we got home, he fed and slept solid until nighttime.  The teachers absolutely adore him, which is understandable, and to see their joy and excitement talking about him makes my heart feel happy!

As for being back at work, it felt kind of weird the first day but I'm now getting back into the swing of things.  The first day was a little rough, but I am enjoying the challenge of work again as well as all the interaction with my colleagues and friends at work.  My boss has been more than great so I feel really blessed!  

So, here's to week one and on to week two.  We are enjoying the weekend just hanging out at home.  I got the biggest smile from Sam this morning without even working for it while feeding him and it made my day!  I think we'll all be okay :)