Life is full of change

Ryder is 8 Weeks old:

Ryder was 8 weeks old on Monday. How time flies! He is really interacting with us and having baby "conversations." You know, you make a noise or talk and he responds with a noise. This is SO much fun. He really gets into it at changing time. Sometimes he gets so into the giggling that he throws his head back in delight as we are laughing and interacting with him.

He is also learning more about those 5 fingers attached to him. I find him taking his fist towards his pacifier if it falls out. I've noticed in the car that he is completely content playing with his hands. Just moving them and watching them move in amazement.

Photos:

I've been trying to learn more about how to use my camera better with Ryder. A few friends started a great blog to share their knowledge as photographers:

http://shuttermomma.com

And one of the pictures of Ryder I took is posted. His are the cute little hands (7th)

http://shuttermomma.com/index.php/2011/03/homework-round-up/

Back to work:

On Monday we also went back to work. It has definitely been an adjustment. Ryder was quite alert and aware of the new surroundings Monday. I could tell he was taking in all the sounds and smells that are associated with work. A new house, new people, new animals...etc.

Grandma's Week

Grandma Time:

A month ago I got a much anticipated call from my mom. "I can't wait 2 months!" She had plane tickets to come see Ryder every two months. I knew she couldn't wait that long, but I wanted to see if she could. Sure enough I got the call that she was missing her little guy. She gets to see Weston and Hunter a lot, so I knew it would be hard for her with us living so far away. She came up for a quick trip to hold Ryder as much as possible. It was such a fast trip we never took a picture :(


After my mom left, Cathy Colombo arrived for her Ryder time. She too held Ryder every waking hour he was awake and not nursing. She hadn't seen him since the day he was born, so she was itching to spend as much time as possible with the little guy. He has gotten quite talkative. He loves to make noises in response to talking. He really had a blast babbling to Cathy and showing off his giggles and smiles.

Diaper Date Night:

We had a great date night out with Ryder last Tuesday. A local theater designates four shows per month as baby friendly. They advertise it as Diaper Days or Diaper Date Night depending on the time of day. Jason and I hadn't been out to a movie in a while, so it was a welcome treat. There were only 6 families there. Most of them with small children that weren't walking yet. There was one little guy that was walking, but he never bothered anyone.

We saw Rango and Ryder enjoyed most of it. I was surprised to see how interested in watching the screen he was. He sat on my lap and started at the screen for half the movie. The other half he nursed and slept, but I'm sure he doesn't mind missing the movie.

7 Weeks

We are still in the midst of our growth spurt. Lots of eating and growing and fussiness. It is great to have Jason home in the evening to take Ryder for a bit. But it typically doesn't last long. He wants to nurse within an hour and I get a few things done and then I'm back on duty.

Changing time is getting to be so much fun. Ryder coos and giggles and plays. We have fun taking turns. I make a noise, wait and he responds with a noise, smile and giggle. I love the interaction that we are beginning to have. You can see him wanting to respond and be a part of our world.


Ryder is beginning to use his hands. He tries to put his pacifier back in my using his fist close to his mouth. I've been told that the WubbaNub will help him get his pacifier back in his mouth. What a great invention !

He is able to entertain himself a little bit now. This quiet alert time is fun to watch. He is just looking around the room exploring everything with his eyes. I even got out of the shower one day (thinking he was asleep) and came in to him smiling and looking around the room. Wide awake and totally content.


We have introduced the bottle to Ryder. I am scared about this a little. We waited until he was 6 weeks old to try it. I want to be able to feed him a bottle at work between 3:30 and 6:30 when I have the boys. I think it'll make me more available to the boys and allow me to get my work done in a more timely fashion. We tested out LOTS of nipples to find the slowest flow possible. Wish us luck...lol

The pictures in today's post are from out newborn session last week. These were the few decent ones we got in between screams. Shannon did an amazing job with the few minutes of quiet we had. Shannon Cassidy Photography, San Carlos CA

6 Weeks

"Right around the 6 week mark you may want to flush your baby down the toilet. Please don't. This too shall pass." These were the words our pediatrician told us in the hospital. It is all about the ebb and flow of the developing little guy we brought home 6 weeks ago.

I have been hearing it for weeks from other mommies in the groups I have started attending in our town. It seems like everyone has experienced a huge change in sleeping, eating, socializing, crankyness...etc. right around the 6 week mark. Typically there is a growth spurt around 6 weeks that spurs this all on. So, right when there seems to be some sort of a "normal," they change it up on you.
Take for instance today, Ryder slept and nursed through most of the Sequoia New Parent group for 2 hours and then coffee afterward for an hour. Normally he has long awake times with me during the day to play and interact and smile. Then we had a newborn photo session planned. (Not to self - planning with a newborn doesn't work) He cried through 90% of the session. So, we'll see what the photographer can cobble together from the few moments of silence that we had.
These changes will continue to come when I least expect them. I have been enjoying the company, companionship and knowledge of all the women i have met in my Redwood City Mothers Club and at the Sequoia Hospital's New Parent Group. I encourage any new mom to find a group to be a part of. The knowledge that is learned is amazing and the reassurance that this is normal is usually all you need to get back on track.

Ryder and Odin's playdate late last week:

The boys enjoyed staring at each other in the mirror

Baby Thoughts:

Smiles reward the sleeplessness

Independence begins early. Ryder entertained himself under the play gym for 15 minutes. (used to be 2)

Ryder responds to our voices and watches our faces when we talk

I'm used to not brushing my teeth and showering ( and Jason hasn't complained ... Lol)

Bathtime is more fun, he enjoys it for longer and longer


Cloth diapers are amazing and he doesn't blow out of them like disposables

My two meetup groups here locally have been a great support

First Target trip was a fail, but the first Trader Joes trip was a success.

First overnight a success. Then again we brought a weeks worth of stuff just in case

1 Month Old

All of my fellow mommies that said time flies were sure speaking from experience. We have been enjoying every moment with Ryder and watching as he changes ever so slightly each day. I am half way through my maternity leave and can't imagine going back to work. I am lucky that Ryder gets to join me at work, but trying to get everything done will truly be a balancing act. There are still days that I don't shower until Jason gets home and that is with me being home all day.

We went to Ryder's 1 month well check today. He is right at the 50th % on length and 60th % for weight. He is 21.5 inches long and weighs 10 lbs and 7 oz. He continues to hold his head up for longer periods of time. He looks at us when we talk to him and sometimes even gives us a little smile. He takes a few short naps throughout the day, but has some really enjoyable awake time with us too.

My mom's birthday was when she was here visiting. Ashley had a great idea to make a photo of all her grandchildren. We each took a photo with a black background and Jason worked some photoshop skills:

My mom's Grandchildren:
(clockwise from top right)
Taylor, Ryder, Hunter and Weston

Feb 19, 2011