Fun in the Bumbo

Today, I decided to let John Harrison try sitting in his Bumbo. He did fairly well! I think he enjoyed trying to chew on his worm more than he enjoyed the Bubmo. I bought worm recently and he seems to like it. At 2 1/2 months, there is only so much "playing" a little guy can do:)

The top picture is one of my favorites that I have taken yet; how can that smile not melt your heart!!

10 weeks old!

This past Thursday, we drove to Birmingham for my brother and his fiance's college graduation. We were able to spend some time with my friend Carlyn and her sweet family while we were in Birmingham.

Being out of town meant staying in a hotel....which, between the change of environment, change in routine, long car ride to get there, and lots of extra "gear" to bring, is no simple feat with a baby! On Thursday night, John Harrison did not sleep well at all. We went to James' graduation on Friday afternoon and David spent most of the ceremony in the lobby with crying John Harrison. Thankfully, we sat at the back of the auditorium and David was able to get John Harrison out before his crying became loud. After that fiasco, we decided that it would be best for everyone involved if we skipped Caroline's Saturday morning graduation. Friday night around 4 am, John Harrison needed a diaper change; he felt the need to scream rather loudly. David jumped out of bed to help me calm down our crying child. David stays in hotels so frequently and knows what it's like to be in the room next to a screaming baby; thankfully, John Harrison stopped crying. By that point, we were both wide awake and decided to take showers, pack up, and get on the road. Suprisingly, John Harrison made the 4 hour drive without needing to stop . . . and we got home early enough to have the rest of the day to enjoy. Well, for David, as enjoyable as doing yardwork and running errands can be while already quite exhausted. In spite of the challenges, we were so glad that we were able to see my brother graduate (well...David technically only heard him graduate:).

Thankfully, the past three nights have been pretty good. My friend Erin, who has a son close to John Harrison's age, told me that her son sleeps in the swing at night and does well sleeping through the night. When John Harrison was first born, he slept some in the swing; but, until Erin suggested it, I had not recently tried having John Harrison sleep in his swing. The past three nights, John Harrison has woken up once one night and twice the other two nights....a drastic improvement over 3-5 times a night!! I'll keep trying the swing as long as it works!

More Two Month Pictures

John Harrison has been holding his head up really well for a while now and so I decided to put him in his jumperoo. He was quickly getting lost in the seat so I helped him out by putting a pillow behind his back to fill in the extra space in the seat. He stayed happy for a few minutes at a time and would even move his feet around to bounce himself. Overall, I don't think he knew what to think of this new source of entertainment. He does, however, still really enjoy his swing and is starting to notice and stare at its moving mobile. I think that the swing has been one of our best baby gear purchases yet.

8 week pictures

John Harrison was not too happy about Dad leaving for work.

These pictures are from about 2 1/2 weeks ago, but I still wanted to post them. John Harrison has been smiling for several weeks and the picture above shows one of the first smiles we were able to capture on film. Babies seem to like smiling at faces, not at cameras so when I bring the camera out, the smiles seem to end, making it quite difficult to get a good picture of John Harrison's sweet smiling face.

Two Months Old!

Classic poochy lip....so pitiful!! This is John Harrison's way of letting us know that if we don't intervene, then crying is just around the corner. I think that babies are truly capable of frowning. Adults may get mad, angry, and upset looks on their faces, but babies really frown :(

Grandad holding his grandson.

My mom took these pictures yesterday; John Harrison is 2 months (+1 day) old in the pictures. I have some other "two month" pictures I took over the past week that I will post soon. John Harrison is napping as I type. We are both happier when we are each well rested :)

This week has been a fairly challenging one. David has been out of town and John Harrison has been showing signs of having reflux. I think he has had it for a while now, but it seemed especially bad this week to the point that the pain was really interfering with his eating and sleeping. I took him to the doctor yesterday and now John Harrison is on a preventitive medication; the medicine has already seemed to be helping some and hopefully, things will continue to improve. My parents have been over several times this week to help out and my mother-in-law has kept John Harrison several times for me. I have been thinking a lot lately about how having a child has taught me a lot about humility and how I am quite dependent on others to help me along in this new adventure of caring for a baby. I never could have imagined before we had a baby how one tiny little creature can require so, so much care. I think it is one of those things that you hear people say and you know in your head, but can't fully understand it until you experience it. Thankfully, I have an amazingly helpful, supportive, patient, and loving husband. David and I have wonderful, supportive families who are eager to help out and often volunteer before we even ask. When John Harrison looks up at me with a huge smile on his cute little face, it melts my heart and makes me realize even more that I can't imagine life without him! Happy Mother's Day to all the other moms out there. Being pregnant for nine months and now having a child of our own, I definitely have a new appreciation for my moma.