Bennett Week 8 (Sept 26-Oct 2)

Bennett in an outfit that was Jeff's when he was a baby!

Growth

• You are kicking your legs and moving your arms more and more! I put you on your playmat and your tummy was behind the bolster (see 1st pic). Went to tell daddy something, came back, and this is what you looked like (2nd pic)! You had scootched (sp??) yourself all the way forward! Silly boy!
  
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Sleep

• Wow! You slept for 6 hours most nights last week! What a champ!
• We are trying to put you down for the night at about 8:30 each night to get you into a routine. We bathe you, feed you, and sometimes read to you and then put you in bed. You're doing great with this routine and we love it because we get some time to ourselves!
  
• I have decided you sleep like daddy! We put you in bed at one end and you wake up at the other end, having scootched (sp??) down there during the night! You are our wiggle worm, that's for sure!

Eating

• Almost every bottle you eat now is 5 ounces! Sometimes you're sleepy and you leave 1/2 an ounce or so, but for the most part, you eat it all!

Personality

• You continually see new things that make you smile! A big source of these smiles is the many faces that daddy and I make for you--and we LOVE it!

Fun Fact

• Your very first diaper blowout was this week. While I was feeding you. All over my leg. Fun times! (What made me laugh is that when he actually tooted as I fed him, I exclaimed, "Wow! That was a good one!", but didn't notice anything until a few minutes later when I realized I'd meant to change his diaper before feeding him but forgot! Thank goodness I saved a diaper!)

Bennett--Week 7 (Sept 19-25)

A new category to discuss will be added this week. Are you ready for the thrill of this???

GROWING!!! Bennett changes SO much each week that I wanted to make sure that while I'm off on maternity leave, I document as much as possible. Hopefully I can keep this up when I go back to work b/c I want to be able to go back and look at this later on and feel I haven't missed anything (yes, I know I will, but still...). So here it goes:

Growing

• Neck strength--Well B, I didn't realize that babies can start tummy time from Day 1, but once I read about it in one of my "Your Baby at Week ___" emails, you've had it most days. Sometimes you like it, sometimes you don't. Sometimes it's for 2 minutes, sometimes 10-15. You have lifted up your head from week one, which shocked both daddy and me, and you continue to work on it during tummy time! I think we see the most neck movement when we're trying to burp you! You really hold your head up then and move your head around A LOT! (this goes with the squirminess I've mentioned in other posts!)
• Eyes--About 2-3 weeks ago (right around the time you turned 1 month old) you started having a few eye changes. Your eyes would get really big at times, which worried me. Turns out, it was just your eyes learning to work and adjust to changes in light/closeness to something/etc. Whew! Now, I notice that your eyes do this when we go from a dark spot to a brighter spot. A few days before your 1 month checkup, your daddy and I noticed you going cross-eyed at times. We knew this was normal, but of course asked the Dr. and he said you might do this up until you were 3 months old. Good to know! This week, I got some art cards in the mail from Similac (thanks to all the emails I've signed up for!), that have black/white images on them. We may make a mobile out of them for you! What I thought was interesting was the pamphlet that came with it: it had pics of what things look like to you at this stage in your life. Very interesting to see that! You also are loving looking at the lights/fans in the house--they keep you very calm!
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• Not sure if you had a growth spurt this week, but I think you did based on your days. Starting Tuesday afternoon and all day Wednesday, you cried after a bottle (not sure if it was extra gas or what...), but it made for an exhausted mommy (especially since I couldn't put myself back to sleep after getting up early Weds. morning with you--my fault...not yours!)

Sleep

• I'm sure this will change as soon as I get it typed, but for the past 5 or so days, you have slept for about 5 hours at a time. It may be a few minutes more or less, but it's the norm for the moment!

Eating

• You are still eating a solid 4.5 ounces at most meals--unless you fall asleep on us!
• You have not been burping like the champion you are, and we're hoping this is a phase too because now that you're not burping as much, you're spitting up more!

Personality

• SMILES galore! I actually caught one on camera this week and it is absolutely precious!

What I LOVE: giving you kisses when I've put you up on my shoulder to burp you. You lean in to them and give an open-mouthed smile that is to die for!

What I HATE: changing the sheets in your crib (yes, I'm doing it for the 1st time this week...don't judge (you're only in it for the night-time sleep!). Who the heck designed cribs, bumpers, sheets, etc. to fit together the way they do? Must've not been a parent!

Bennett--Week 6 (Sept 12-18)

Hi! My name is Bennett and I'm quite possibly the cutest thing my parents have ever seen! (This entry deserved to start out with this sweet pic!)

Mommy does exist! I wanted a picture with B where I looked at least somewhat decent!

Bennett meets BOB (Big 'Ol Bear). He is not exactly fond of him yet.

But after a little rearranging and a paci, he didn't mind him so much! BOB is a great help to keep Bennett sitting up after I've fed him and am looking for a new outfit, cleaning out something, etc.

One day I got tired of changing you and went the "white trash" way of just putting you in a blanket! You are truly a mini version of your father and I love it! I could stare at this face ALL day! This was "Manicure Day" and you passed out while I was trimming your nails! My precious angel!

Your 1 month checkup was a week late since the dr. was out on vacation. You weighed 10 pounds exactly! I'd like to say "Wow! What are you eating?"....but I already know that answer! We're so excited that you're doing well and growing like a weed! You are now 22.5 inches long--you've grown 2.5 inches since you were born! He told us that as long as you're eating at least every 3-4 hours, it doesn't matter how many ounces you're eating, which helped us out a lot since we could never agree/find what we were looking for online!

You got to meet your Uncle Evan this week. He's got lots of practice with little boys!

Personality

• Pouty Lip Appearance! All of a sudden, your bottom lip decided to show up and roll on out! It does happen when you're not happy, but to me it's so funny because you're so young! I wish I could get it on camera, but it happens so fast. One day I'll learn how to work the video camera and get you in action!
• SMILES have arrived for real--not just the "Oh, it's involuntary" ones! I got my first one on Wednesday and your daddy got his first one on Thursday and now we absolutely cannot get enough of them! You're becoming so much more interactive when we talk to you and we can't wait to see what's next!
• Holding the bottle. Yes, we know you're not really holding it, but you put your hands up next to it and sometimes you actually can hold it for a few seconds. What a treat for us--especially when we have an itch somewhere!
• Bath time is getting better! Out of 4 baths this week, you only screamed for 2 of them! The first time you liked your bath, you were VERY interested in that little boy in the mirror! (Too bad mommy was home alone and didn't have the camera! She'll be ready next time!)
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You are now mesmerized by the mobile on your swing! (This also means that mommy needs to find one for your crib....and the search begins!)

Eating

• You are now eating 4 ounces at almost every feeding. Sometimes you go 4.5-5 and sometimes you only eat 3.
• You are quite possibly the squirmiest little worm we've ever seen when it comes to eating if we've waited too long. You gulp and then gasp for air because you're so thrilled to be eating!
• You are NOT a fan of burping! This is especially true when we have to remove the bottle to burp you and you're wanting food! You cry to let us know what you think of our parenting techniques!

Sleeping

• We're still getting 4 hours most nights--and we'll still take them!
• Sadly, we do turn the volume on the monitor off at night because you grunt so much while you're going to sleep and then again while you're waking up that we can't sleep. Then, when we finally hear you from upstairs, usually you're REALLY not happy--
  -so I'm sorry that we do this! We definitely don't mean to make you frustrated!
• You've found that Gram is a pretty good sleep partner too! This is what happens when mommy lets her feed you!
  
  
  
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"The Necessities"--Installment #1

I've realized that in my first 5 weeks of being a mom/parent, there are certain things that you NEED and certain things you THINK you need. Believe me...there IS a difference! I have a lot of pregnant friends right now and I won't remember the important stuff when they ask, so I figured I'd write it down (that way if a Little Dickens #2 comes along, I'll also have this to look back on!).

1. Washcloths--the little baby ones. I had lots and washed them all thinking, "I'll NEVER use all of these!" Yeah right! Not only do I use them for bathing, but I use them when feeding Bennett b/c he is one messy eater! At a friend's house today, she also used a wet one for a toddler's bleeding mouth instead of ice...adding that to my bag 'o tricks!
2. Multiple changing locations for a 2 story house. Sometimes we're upstairs, sometimes we're downstairs. Enough said! Diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, pacifier, etc. at each station. Just do it = you'll thank me later!
3. Burp cloths -- LOTS! Do I even need to explain why? If I do...you're in trouble!
4. Newborn clothing --I thought that since most newborn clothing tags said "5-8 lbs" they actually meant it. They don't! I truly thought I'd have a bigger baby that I did (Bennett was 7 lbs 4 oz), and although I had a lot of things that people had donated, if we got something new that was newborn, I exchanged it for a bigger size. Don't get me wrong....my child still has clothing, but in the past week or so, I've realized I'd like a few more things!
5. Mittens -- I knew these were handy, but just didn't "get" how handy! When you want to show off your precious child and they have scratches all over their face because mom forgot to cut the nails (again), you'll put them on!
6. Bouncer/swing/playmat/etc -- BUY them! They will truly save your sanity!
7. Sleep Sheep/Sleep Giraffe -- otherwise known as "white noise machines", these are truly a sanity saver as well! We don't use it all the time and they don't work all the time that they are used, but in general, Bennett does like them. You may think that you'll get annoyed at the sounds they make, but you eventually get used to it and like it!

This is it for Installment #1. Hopefully I'll keep on finding things I LOVE and remember to write an Installment #2! :)

Bennett--Week 5 (Sept 4-11)

You are changing more and more each day. This is quite possibly my favorite face--I mean...how can you not LOVE it???

Sleeping: You still are sleeping in 3-4 hour spurts, but we did get one six hour span this week (and we'll gladly take it!) You are quite the "Houdini" when you sleep and get out of your swaddle. This is just one of many ways that I find you when I check on you or get you up!

Eating: We're not sure how much we need to be giving you right now. Sometimes you gulp down 3 ounces and wail for more and sometimes we give you 4 ounces and you leave some behind. And...every now and then you only want 2 ounces! Talk about confusing! Nursing

you is at a standstill because of my impatience: I want to give you the benefits of breast milk, b

ut don't want to be bound to nursing. So...I'm trying to pump enough for you and I'm not sure that's working out fabulously either....I'm only getting JUST enough for you and no extra. So...that's still a work in progress.

Personality: As soon as you wake up, you're ready to eat. Sometimes I can make it almost through a diaper change before you realize you're up and not eating....and then I have to hurry! You don't mind tummy time for a few minutes and if we're lucky, you sometimes nap that way!

On Labor Day we got to hang out with the Dunagans out in Fulshear. Here are some cute pics: you're trying hard to catch up to Claire!

I took you to a MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) meeting on Friday at church. Well, you didn't go to the meeting...you went to the nursery for the first time! You did great in there, which made me feel good about taking you! You ate, had a diaper change, and napped in someone's arms. Made for a happy you!

And....most importantly...you officially turned 1 month old this week! I can't believe how fast it's flown by! I want so much to see you do the fun things older babies/toddlers do, but I want so much for you to stay this age too--we absolutely are in love with you and all that you do (you know....except those screaming/crying fits and all!!) Nah--we even love those!