Working Mom

I went back to work on Monday. After all the stress and tears in the weeks leading up to Monday, I'm actually very surprised at how well I handled it. There were no tears.... until Tuesday. Ha. I RUSHED home on Tuesday to see him and he barely looked at me. Then he gave my mom (the one watching him all day) a huge smile and giggle. Jake gets home a few hours later and Parker does the same smile and giggles for him. Oh, I did not handle that well. All the emotions/hormones/stress/lack of sleep got to me and I just started bawling and thinking I won't be able to bond with him. (My mom reassures me that I've already bonded with him and I know she is right, but at the time I was very upset.) It has been hard to adjust to not seeing my little guy all day long, but I keep reminding myself that it is not permanent. Summer will be here is six weeks and I'll be back to seeing him all the time!!!

Here is Parker eating some rice cereal for the first time. We tried and he loved it!!

Parker is Rolling

So, Parker has rolled over only a few times (three to be exact), but I was able to capture one on video! We just happened to be in my classroom getting ready for my return to work next week (yes, gasp, I go back on Monday to finish the school year - 6.5 weeks - and I'm extremely sad to leave the little guy) when he did this. I put a blanket down and put him on his belly for a little exercise. I looked at some graded student work and then looked down at Parker and he was on his back! I ran and got my iPhone and put him on his belly to see if he'd be able to do it again. Success!

I'm so proud of my little guy. It is so neat to see him reach these mini milestones!

We came home and he was rolling some more!

Parker Laughing

I was able to capture a little giggling from Parker. It might make you nauseous to watch... that's because I'm whipping my ponytail back and forth and trying to hold the camera. Parker seems to love to it... I had to sit down after. hahaha whatever works!

Lazy Weekend

Just channel surfing with dad...

Projects Around the House

We've been busy the past few months... not just with a newborn, but with moving into a new house. Jake (with help from his step-dad and my mom) built a cabinet/bookcase in our living room. There was a small alcove that we had no idea what to do with. The built-in turned out great and I'm so proud of Jake's hard work!

Here are before, during, and after photos:

Now I get to go shopping and look for a few more things to fill it with!

Three Months Old!

Our little boy is growing up so fast! It has been such an amazing week for little Parker. He finally giggled on Thursday (at his mom whipping her ponytail around and singing Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair"), but he hasn't giggled since... at least we know he can do it! He has been smiling a ton and that provides us with hours of entertainment. Here's the little guy while I'm trying to burp him:

Oh, that lil' Popeye...

Saturday morning we went to an Easter activity for the "mommy group" I'm part of. Jake, Parker, and I got to meet after other families and see what we'll get to look forward to as Parker gets older. The Easter activity was definitely geared towards older toddlers/kids, but we met families with babies that were Parker's age. There was an Easter egg hunt, small petting zoo, and the Easter Bunny!

Dad and Parker

Me, Parker, and local teenager dressed in Easter Bunny costume...

We also were able to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather! We tried putting Parker in his "big boy" stroller (versus using the car seat attachment we have) and went on a walk along the creek. There is a really nice path for strollers/bikers/runners.



So, at 3 Months here is what Parker is like:

- weight (as estimated using the Wii Fit): 14 lbs 6 oz
- babbles a lot
- is starting to smile more
- makes a serious/quizzical face more than anything (we think he ponders the problems of the world)
- still needs to be rocked to sleep (oh, my aching back)
- only takes 20/30 minute cat naps during the day (all the hard work rocking him for nothing, ha)
- a good night sleeper (usually a 5 or 6 hour stretch combined with another 2 or 3 hours)
- starting to hold his head up better, but not quite there yet
- has taken a bottle twice (very hit or miss... need to get better at that before I go back to work!)
- loves rattles
- has discovered his hands and loves to chew/suck on them
- we think his eyes are staying blue!

- he already has us wrapped around his little finger... oh, we're in trouble