I’m a happy kid

I’m a happy kid

Soren goes to town in his little Jumperoo now that he’s figured out how to actually jump. He’s such an active little boy; I wonder if he’s going to be hyper and full of energy like cousin Cameron. There isn’t much more progress on the crawling front, which is a relief. I’m hoping he holds out for another couple of months so I don’t have to start chasing him around the house yet.

I had my annual well-woman exam yesterday and my doctor was telling me how some women he’s seen have had two babies in one calendar year. Yikes! I am loving motherhood, but I can’t imagine what it would be like to be four months pregnant right now. How is that even possible?

Wedding Wonderland

We survived two weddings in one day yesterday. Jes and Brad got married at noon, and Angela and Graham at 7:30. We even entertained my family at our house in between. Soren was a trooper. He only went to my sister’s wedding, but he had gotten a really good sleep the night before, and when he is well-rested, he is super happy. My mom got to spend quite a bit of cuddle time with him, which was good, because she is getting a bit of a complex since Chloe and Soren do have a tendency to cry with her.

All in all a big love day. It was nice to see Brad and Graham make honest women out of my sister and Angela. (Just kidding, girls.) It was a nice reminder of love though — my sister got all choked up and Graham was beaming from the second he got to the altar. So despite having to schlep around in dresses and heels all day, it all put a smile on my face.

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said …

one little monkey possibly crawling at five months. Soren had his four-month checkup today. He’s around the 50th percentile for both height and weight (more on my paranoia in a second) — 24 inches long and 14 lbs 1 oz. The doctor went on and on about how healthy he is and how he has such a sweet temperament. (She should see him at his middle of the night diaper change.) She could even tell that he’s a stay at home baby. We were beaming through the whole visit.

On to the paranoia. So, you may remember that Soren was 75/50 last month for length and weight. 23.5 inches and 11 lbs 7 oz. So, when Nurse Angela (not to be confused with Kennedy-Angela) told us he had only grown half an inch, my mind went mad thinking about all the things wrong with our caregiving that could have stunted the baby’s growth. Despite reassurances from the nurse and an OK from the doctor, I went home and started looking up growth charts and checking the plotting.

Most of the Internet charts actually have him a bit lower in percentile for length at 4 months, but I’ve decided not to beat myself up about it. I’m still pumping a decent amount of milk, and he gained a good amount of weight. I actually now think that they measured him wrong at the last visit because he is definitely busting out of clothes from a length perspective. I guess the paranoia is all a part of parenting.

A Year Ago Today

It’s hard to believe that one year ago today I found out I was pregnant, and I now I have this cute, happy, goofy little four-month old. Soren constantly amazes me with his antics. He is now rolling around like nobody’s business. After a week long adjustment period, he is also napping in his crib instead of the swing, my lap, the couch, etc.

I’m so happy that Trevor is home with him; it really reduces the stress as I imagine I would be fretting all day wondering if he is ok and getting enough attention. Cynthis and Bud visit him just about every week too, so I know he is getting a lot of attention and love, and the opportunity to hang out with other people. He’s still a bit ornery around my family though, but I am sure that will change with time. My family can be a bit overwhelming at times.

Sigh. I have to go kiss his little cheekies now.

Travelogue

Well, we all survived my first trip to NYC. Since the expectation is that I’ll be traveling about on a monthly basis, I have a deal with my boss where I only have to stay over one night, and I can work from home the day after I return to catch up on breastfeeding. That arrangement has its benefits and all, but 6 am flights are BRUTAL. I woke up at 3:30, was out of the house a little after 4:30, and basically running around until about 9:30 pm that night.

My breastfeeding fears were fortunately unfounded. I was able to pump 42 oz versus the 50 oz Soren actually ate, so The Stash is safe, especially because there were two instances where I went six hours without pumping. If I had had those two extra sessions, I probably could have squeezed out the extra eight ounces. The stora question also turned out to be a non-issue as well. I threw a fit at the hotel to get my mini-fridge and of course I was able to use the office refrigerator. (Although, I have a sneaking suspicion someone got a little extra boost in their coffee on Thursday.) The ice packs I brought along stayed frozen through both flights so the milk stayed at a nice chilly temperature the whole time.

It’s a little ass carrying around all that equipment though — breastpump, cooler bag, laptop, suitcase. Imagine if I was traveling with the baby too. Yikes!

Next trip is around June 19th; by the time we go to Martha’s Vineyard in August, I ought to be a pro.

Working for The Man every night and day

There ain’t no big wheels here.

I can’t believe I haven’t blogged in almost two weeks. I’ve been addicted to myspace lately, that’s why.

Well, work is ramping up again. Does it ever ramp down, I wonder? I pulled a 10 hour day today, but at least got home before 6 pm. That’s kind of my threshold. I’m nearly willing to get up as early as I have to as long as I can be home by 6 pm. Soren’s asleep in the mornings anyway.

I left around 7:15 am this morning, so I sort of had to sleep feed him just before I left. He managed to sleep through the feeding, but eat enough so that I wasn’t bursting at the seams. I’m still pumping more than he’s eating so The Stash (it’s now so big it requires initial caps) is safe.

I travel to NY next week, so we’ll see how I handle separation.

Soren and Chloe, Take 1

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Developmentally speaking

Hmm, these must be my feet

I spent most of today with Soren in my arms. I missed him all week, and he was in such a great mood today; working full time ain’t all it’s cut out to be.

It was so fun to play with the baby today. I sort of feel like I’m missing out on his babyhood … during the week when I wake up in the morning, he’s still pretty sleepy so all I really do is feed him and then head out. When I get home, we have a couple of hours of cuddling, but he’s usually ready for bed by 9 pm at the latest. Sigh.

In any case, today was great. I put baby rattles on Soren’s feet and he was just kicking around and listening before he finally started to reach for them. It’s so awesome to see the little light click on in his head. Another first was the amazing hand control my baby has. Earlier in the day, he passed a toy from one hand to the other. Then in the car, he took his pacifier out of his mouth, waved it around a bit and then popped it back in.

It’s so exciting to watch all these little developments. Have I already said how jealous of Trevor I am?

I need a hobby

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF – The Survey
Name:	Connie
Birthday:	5/22
Birthplace:	A hospital
Current Location:	H-town
Eye Color:	brown
Hair Color:	black
Height:	5′ 3″
Right Handed or Left Handed:	Right
Your Heritage:	Filipino
The Shoes You Wore Today:	Michael Kors Carly X-Strap Wedge
Your Weakness:	Isn’t it obvious? Shoes.
Your Fears:	Okra
Your Perfect Pizza:	Bacon and Green Peppers
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:	I have no goals
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger:	I don’t IM
Thoughts First Waking Up:	One more hour …
Your Best Physical Feature:	Smile
Your Bedtime:	Whenever the baby sleeps
Your Most Missed Memory:	Floating in the womb
Pepsi or Coke:	Coke
MacDonalds or Burger King:	Sonic
Single or Group Dates:	Any date would be just fine
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:	Unsweetened Tea
Chocolate or Vanilla:	Vanilla
Cappuccino or Coffee:	Coffee
Do you Smoke:	Nope
Do you Swear:	Yup
Do you Sing:	Yes, but badly
Do you Shower Daily:	Yup
Have you Been in Love:	Ask my husband
Do you want to go to College:	I went; it was great
Do you want to get Married:	I did; it was great except for the cake
Do you belive in yourself:	Yup
Do you get Motion Sickness:	Nope
Do you think you are Attractive:	If I lose 30 lbs
Are you a Health Freak:	I try to be, but I love dessert
Do you get along with your Parents:	Yup
Do you like Thunderstorms:	I would except my dog hates them
Do you play an Instrument:	Clarinet
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol:	Yes, and it was delicious
In the past month have you Smoked:	No
In the past month have you been on Drugs:	No
In the past month have you gone on a Date:
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:	Yes
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:	No
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:	No
In the past month have you been on Stage:	No
In the past month have you been Dumped:	No
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:	No
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:	No
Ever been Drunk:	Yes
Ever been called a Tease:	Yes
Ever been Beaten up:	No
Ever Shoplifted:	Yes
How do you want to Die:	I don’t
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:	I’m already grown up.
What country would you most like to Visit:	Think ancient – Egypt, Greece, Rome
In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color:	Dark
Favourite Hair Color:	Dark
Short or Long Hair:	Depends
Height:	6′
Weight:	160
Best Clothing Style:	My husband is a fashionista. Kenneth Cole.
Number of Drugs I have taken:	None
Number of CDs I own:	Too many. 400?
Number of Piercings:	2
Number of Tattoos:	3
Number of things in my Past I Regret:	0
CREATE YOUR OWN! – or – GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

I have problems

I think the Internet was a terrible invention, and I especially think all the advances they’ve made in social computing (read Web 2.0) of late are clearly the devil. I would be a pasty computer nerd if genetics hadn’t already made me this lovely shade of mocha latte, which lately has been enhanced by Jergens Natural Glow. (Don’t judge, it’s not an actual tanner and I don’t want any skin cancer blotches!)

I’ve joined the cult of myspace, and I surf the Internet every time the baby sleeps. What’s wrong with me?