8 Weeks - Back to Work

So back to work this week.  I was pretty upset about it last night but today actually went very well.  I got in some morning snuggles and he did great at the sitter's.  She said he was very good and very gassy!  Yup that's my boy.  

This is going to be a short post but as promised here is my new haircut 

Before:

After:

Had quite a few inches chopped, bangs cut in and color !  Hard to see in this light but I've got red!   It is a little thick still for my liking but overall I really like the change!

Julie 

7 Weeks

Only one week of maternity leave left :(.  I hope to make the most of this week and get as much baby time in as possible.  He's getting so big!  Here are his "big" baby feet!  They are so long and skinny just like his Momma's feet!  I got kicked several times trying to get this photo and he kept curling up his toes.  It was so cute.

 I also was able to catch this smile in a picture.  Usually right after eating I get about :30 minutes of coos and smiles, that is if he doesn't get fussy right away which happens sometimes too.  Then he is ready to be bundled up in his swaddle, pacifier and into his swing for a nap.

Sunday was his baptism affirmation service which basically means family commits to help making sure he is raised in the Christian faith and also affirming he was baptized 12/5/13.  We had a wonderful service and a small get together after at the house.  Again Richard was spoiled with gifts!

Here he is with his Godmother Kendall and Godfather Stephen.

 Here he is with Grandma Suhr and Grandma & Grandpa Goss.

He was good the whole service and slept in his Godmother's arms.  What a good baby!

Here is the update on my volunteer project.  I've finished 13 of the clothing protectors which will go to 4 guys who are being moved out of Bethesda into a group home.  I was told to buy these would be $10-12 to buy so it was wonderful to have someone who can make them.  I have to credit my mother-in-law for supplying me with some of the material that I used.

This week I have a haircut scheduled for Thursday which I am going to go for a little bit different of a look.  Stay tuned next week for a before and after!  That is all for now!

Julie

6 Weeks

This week has started out kind of rough.  The good news is Richard has been sleeping longer at night...the bad news is that I wasn't woken up and ended up getting a clogged duct in my left breast.  Needless to say it is extremely painful and it still hasn't resolved.  I've experienced almost flu like symptoms, chills, sweats, body aches and pain in the area.  I've been trying everything the nurse recommended, heat, showers, vitamin C, massage and on and on and I just can't seem to get it to open up.  I have an appointment with the OB today so I'm hoping they can help me or let me know what else I can do.

So last week I broke doctors orders of no exercise and did a Zumba class.  I was really excited about it because I didn't get out of the house much due to the extremely low temperatures (-30-40) so as we got started I realized every time I jumped I was peeing my pants and there was no controlling it!!  It was funny but embarrassing and uncomfortable.  So the rest of the class I skipped all the jumping parts.  I guess I better work on my kegels!

Also last week I started doing my volunteering.  I am volunteering at a place that takes care of the mentally disabled.  To get started I am using my sewing skills to make clothing protectors at home.  Then once I have a few made I will drop them off.  There are also some other opportunities that I may volunteer for later in the year.  This cause is very special to me because my Dad had always talked about volunteering at this place when he was retired, but he never got the chance.

Richard Bear is doing really well.  He still loves being swaddled during naps and at night and now is sleeping between 8 or 9 until about 5 in the morning.  Sometimes he wakes up around 12:30 or 2:30, but not always.  Unfortunately I don't get to enjoy this extra sleep because I am up pumping, but I'm happy he is such a good sleeper.

Only 2 weeks of maternity leave left.  Very bitter sweet because I love spending my days with him and all the smiles I get to see and just watching him sleep, but I'm excited to get back into more of a routine.  I've been able to save up 40 oz of milk that I have frozen which should help while we transition to day care.  On that note we found a woman who does daycare out of her home and we really connected with her.  I'm very comfortable with her watching Richard and she seems flexible enough to fit with our schedule.

Last thing for the week is we are having a baptism affirmation service on Sunday with our families present.  I'm still very happy with my decision to have him baptized right away, but it will be nice to also have a service with our families present.

Julie

5 Weeks

Here is my big boy!  Time is flying so fast with this little guy around.  I just feel so lucky every day and especially days when I have gotten some sleep the night before.  I have to say how thankful I am for my husband.  He has done such a wonderful job allowing me to get some sleep at night.  He has still been taking the PM shift so I usually try to get to sleep by 9:00-10:00 BUT last night I fell asleep at 8 and only got up to pump at 12:30 and up at 4:30 to feed and then slept until 8:30 AM!  I feel amazing today!


This week we are still working on strengthening neck muscles which he has great control, lots of tummy time and starting to play with some toys in his play gym.  He seems very alert and can follow with his eyes.  I even got some little smiles earlier this week!  I'm waiting for the big SMILE!


This week I really am starting to focus on planning my goals that I wanted to achieve in 2014.  I am going in this week for my volunteering opportunity which I will share more in my next post.  I have my trip to MN planned for the first weekend in June and I also started doing some small workout activity while Richard lays on his tummy and watches me.  Today I did the sit up and kiss!! He was on my tummy and I would do a crunch and kiss the top of his head. 

I have 2 1/2 weeks left of my maternity leave and some big changes brewing at work.  I'm not going to go into detail, but it leaves me with a few questions left on my future there.  What a frustrating thing to think about when I'm just ready to get into a routine when I get back.  Only time will tell.


That's all for now!


Julie

One Month - Happy New Year 2014 Edition Goals

Richard brought in the New Year in style and comfort in his Tuxedo Tee Onsie courtesy of Dick's bowling friends.  I just love this picture.  The New Year was bitter sweet as I assume most holidays will be without Dad around.  We've spent the past years going up to my parents cabin and bringing in the New Year the same way.  We always go out to the same restaurant for all you can eat crab legs and seafood buffet, eat way to much and make pigs of ourselves and then go back to the cabin for an early toast and almost always to sleep before midnight.  As years past we still followed our tradition, but this year I had a crabby little boy to contend with.  It was funny eating crab legs with a little boy wrapped up in a moby wrap below me.  I was eating carefully so I didn't drip on him.  Needless to say I ate way less which was probably a good thing.

Everything is going very well with Mr. Richard.  He got a bit off schedule being up north and all the activity and very little naps so he is making up for it since we've been home.  He is still eating like crazy and I was proud last night I pumped over 5 oz which is a new high.  Oh the things that get you excited.  He also proceeded to have his biggest blow out ever.  LOL!  This week he discovered his tongue.  He has been doing this adorable little lizard tongue where he peeks it in and out while smiling in between.

Anyways...on to my 2014 goals!

          1.    Run a 5k by the end of May.

2.    Get weight under pre-pregnancy by June 28^th (30^th Birthday Party).

3.    Do a volunteer activity.

4.    Visit Grandma 1x per month.

5.    Plan a fishing trip with Dick.

6.    Visit MN cousins.

7.    Learn more children’s songs on guitar (at least 3).

8.    Enjoy each day with Richard (both of them :)

9.    Plan 5 year anniversary.

10.           Plan meals, eat at table at least 2x per week.

Happy New Year all and good luck with all your goals!

Julie