My Favorites

Lately, while spending my days with Harrison I'll find something about him that's just so cute I cant stand it.  I've decided to start a list of these adorable characteristics so that one day he can read about just how obsessed his mother is with him :)

* His feet.  This is a huge surprise to me, as in general I HATE feet.  Daniel and I have been together for over 7 years and I still freak out when his feet touch mine.  Its absurd really.  But there is something about Harrison's feet that are just so cute.  Every time I take off his onesie to change his diaper I kiss each of his feet. His little baby toes just make me want to bite them off :)

* This is kind of an add-on to the feet. Every time he gets a bottle, if you look at his feet he sits there and wiggles his toes until the bottle is gone. 5 minutes of just sitting there wiggling his toes. I love it.

* His pouty lower lip.  Simply stated, this kid can work the lower lip.  He is still discovering all of his facial expressions and it melts my heart to see his lower lip pout out (usually for no reason).  Its even cuter when he pouts it out and a second later he has a huge smile on his face. I have full confidence that one day he will begin using it to his advantage.  It has become my mission to capture a picture of it.

* The quiver. When Harrison sucks on his pacifier or bottle there is a pattern of suck, suck, suck, quiver.  You can see the whole pacifier quiver in his mouth.  If you're feeding him, you can actually feel it in the bottle.  He's been doing it since day one.  I have no idea why it happens, but it makes me laugh every time.

* His morning smile.  This little boy wakes up happy.  This in turn helps me to wake up happy :)  His bassinet is still located right next to my side of the bed so I quickly hear any change in his breathing, movements and have no trouble waking up to the sounds of him stirring.  We have a mesh breathable bumper pad on the sides of the bassinet--the bars are regulation so there's no real need for it, but we wanted something there just so he would have his own little space and could limit his distractions once put to bed.  Since it is a mesh bumper it is still see-through in the daylight, which means that each morning I look over to him looking at me with a smile. Melt my heart.

I'm sure there will be more to come :)

Shots! Shots! Shots! (and no, not those kind)

Harrison had his 2 month appointment last Thursday. An event I was both excited and scared for.  Excited in that I was anxious to see how much he has grown since his 1 week appointment, and scared because of the 4 vaccinations that were coming his way.  Harrison has been growing steadily since his last appointment, but has definitely slowed down in weight gain since he made his arrival. Daniel and myself both knew he had to plateau at some point, we don't exactly come from families with big/tall genes :)  He is now weighing in at 11 lbs 13 oz (25th percentile) and measuring 23 1/2 inches (50th percentile).  He is healthy as can be.  Everything from the straightness of his spine to reflexes checked out perfect. Another check off the list of a worrisome mommy! Harrison did not enjoy his appointment. Massive understatement.  Poor kiddo screamed bloody murder from the time we walked into the exam room until we were back in the car.  At one point the doctor and myself were having to shout questions to each other just to be heard.  Harrison also received all of his 2 month immunizations (TDaP, Pneumococcal, Rotavirus and Polio)  He received his Hep B vaccine at his 1 week appointment, so I had at least a little idea of what to expect, unfortunately that didn't make it any easier.  Unlike most parents, my fears and discomfort wasn't due to his reaction to the shots themselves.  I've heard many times about parents being in tears and not being able to watch as they're giving the vaccinations.  Not me.  Instead, my instinct to protect my baby skyrockets. I am watching that nurse like a hawk.  Every move she makes.  Instead of not being able to watch, I would actually feel more comfortable if I was able to give the vaccination myself.

I scheduled back-to-back appointments for him and myself--I was having my final c-section check up so I could be cleared to start working out.  That turned out to be the worst idea ever.  I have vowed never to bring him to one of my appointments alone again.  It was heartbreaking to hear the little man crying in his carrier (hysterically, I might add) and not be able to do anything.  There was actually a point while the doctor was checking my incision that I looked at him with "hurry the #@%! up!" look in my eyes.  Needless to say the moment the exam was done, we were out of there fast.  Harrison usually loves car rides, but this one required static on the radio the whole way home.  Poor guy :(  He was finally able to sleep and got to spend part of the evening with Nana. Thankfully, he was all smiles and chatter by the time we got home. Now we just wait and dread the 4 month appointment!

So sleepy!

2 Months

Month 2 Reflections

Tomorrow, Harrison will be 8 weeks old! I cant believe how fast time has been flying by.  In just a few short weeks, we have seen him begin to smile, talk, hold his head up without assistance, and begin to scoot his legs when on his stomach.  The reason for the scooting is yet to be determined, we've narrowed it down to either an eagerness to jump start the "army crawl" or an act of desperation to move as he HATES tummy time.  In either case we have had so much fun watching him!  It also makes staying at home a lot more enjoyable since our relationship is a little more balanced when it comes to interaction :) Last week I brought Harrison to my parents' house and he was able to spend some time with Papa Gregg.  They were laying on the living room floor chatting with each other for the longest time. It was the cutest thing, you would have thought they could understand what was being said, it was like an actual conversation going back and forth.

Harrison and Papa Gregg

He is still growing like a weed (we have our 2 month appointment tomorrow and I'm anxious to see what his height and weight are at!) Just the other day I re-organized his dresser and went through ALL of his clothes again, separating things once again into "fits" "doesn't fit" "wont ever fit" piles.  It breaks my little heart to see all the clothes he wont be able to wear, its just another reminder of how fast he's growing up.  Its also a reminder that we need to buy more clothes!  Before he was born I remember thinking "We have sooo much clothes!! We are set!"  This may have been the case if he wasn't such a big boy, he's already sporting a lot of 3 and even 6 month clothes.  Even the 6 month clothes we had purchased prior to his birth may not work--we were thinking 6 months would be spring, not winter!

Playing with Daddy

Using his big boy chair

Harrison seems to be in another growth spurt, his once routine eating schedule has turned into cluster feedings.  He sometimes eats between 6-7 oz at a time (WHAT??) This seems ridiculous to me, but I've been told again and again that if he's not spitting up to let him eat until he's satisfied. 

Also new? Harrison has discovered his hands.  I read that its very common around week 8 for babies to distinguish between objects (toys, bottles, pacifiers) and their hands.  Ever since he made this distinction he is  CONSTANTLY putting his hands in his mouth. Apparently the double sensation in both his mouth and his hands helps him to understand that the hands are apart of him and not another object. We've tried really hard to limit the use of mittens on him for this reason, using them only to keep his hands warm if they feel cold. I know this sucking is extremely important for his development but it drives me nuts.  Everyday I'm terrified he will have figured out how to unclench his fist when bringing it to his mouth and he will turn into a thumb sucker.  Eek.  One cool thing I've noticed about it is that he is favoring his left hand...do we have another lefty in the family??

nom nom nom

More to come tomorrow after our appointment!