Someone discovered his lips

The last couple of days, Jack has been making this face over and over again. It's as if he just discovered his lips and mouth and what he can do with it. It's pretty funny.

Today Jack is...14 weeks old.

Besides our ongoing nighttime sleep battles, Jack has been really cute during the day time. This week his face sort of cleared up...no more eye goop, no baby acne. I don't know if it'll come back, but right now he looks like a very handsome little boy. He's even getting some real hair.

We've been trying new things every day (mom gets bored) and so far most of them have been successful. His head is almost strong enough for the Bumpo Seat.

Though he still refuses to sleep in his crib, I've started to put him in there to "play" so at least he'll get used to it. He loves it in there, looking at the mobile, at the tree wall decals, at the colorful decorations. Now that the weather's warmer, we've also started hanging out outside more. Jack LOVES the backyard. We got a picnic blanket and we lay out there for about 30 minutes every day. He really likes looking up at the trees (and at mom and dad).

He likes going on walks in the Baby Bjorn (the stroller is on the "no" list for him right now). Of course, it's been a bit sunny so a hat is required. Which pretty much means people can only see his eyes. But strangers still comment on how cute he is.

It doesn't work all the time, but he is getting really good at just sitting with us. No bouncing, no walking. Of course, those things are still required when he's upset but it's so nice just to sit and chill with him.

And now, more pictures from this week!

Sleep deprivation is used as a torture device.

Remember in my pregnancy updates where I complained that I couldn't sleep well? I knew even then that I'd regret saying that and I sure do. Having a beach ball on my belly, an aching back, and heartburn from hell was a paradise compared to sleep now. For some reason, Jack has decided to get worse at sleep rather than better. The past week and a half has been a tremendous downhill slide. I figure if I write it down here, it might, shall we say, jinx it in reverse and it'll get better. (Because the day I posted that he slept 8 hours it all went to hell.)

So here was our night last night. Nursed at 7:30pm. Bath at 8:30. Nursed at 9:00. Put down to sleep (in his moving swing, the only way he'll sleep) at 9:30. Giant screams at 10:15. I assume I'll only have to soothe him and he'll go back down. Wrong. After as much crying as I could take, nursed for another 30 minutes. Back to sleep at 11. 3 glorious hours of sleep for mom and dad. Crying at 2:00am. Nursed for 30 minutes. Crying because he didn't want to go back to sleep. Fell asleep on me at 3. Woke up at 4 crying. Bounced on a ball until he fell asleep. Woke up at 4:30. Nursed for 30 minutes. John decided to take him so I could sleep. But Jack didn't like that too much. Cried from 5 to 5:30. Finally fell asleep on John at 5:30. Woke up crying at 6:15. After my nice husband attempted to soothe him for 30 minutes, finally caved and nursed him again for 30 minutes. And now it's 7:15. And he's wide awake. And so is mom. Sort of.

I know Jack's future friends Leo and Violet are also bad sleepers but I have to ask their moms, how do you survive? I know he'll eventually get better but he is so sensitive to every little thing. And he's so stubborn that he outlasts us at crying it out.

The bright side? When the sun comes up and we get a good look at him, we realize he's one of the cutest things in the whole world.

"A Swiss Boy Went Yodeling"

So lately Jack has been a bit manic. He'll go from happy to screaming and wailing at a moment's notice. All the time. And more than the tiny baby stuff he used to do. After a feeding, in the middle of playing, etc. Does this happen to other babies or is he overly sensitive?

Anyways, one thing that has been working really well to make him happy is to sing to him. Now, I can't sing at all (AT ALL) and John was getting mad at me for seeing the first songs that popped in to my head which always seemed to be terrible pop songs...Jason Mraz, Train, etc. I know, I know. I can't explain it. I know they're terrible. They just popped into my head in the middle of his screaming. So lately I've switched over to camp songs. And, guess what? They work great!! More than great. The little guy is delighted by them. I think it's the sing-songy rhythm and the big hand gestures that go with all the verses. But, man, it's working like a charm. I even got the hubby to start singing them because they work so well. Let's hope it lasts!

Babies, babies, Everywhere!

My sister's birthday was this past weekend (happy birthday leslie!) and she had a little party at the house. Turns out that all of her friends had babies recently so it was a baby extravaganza!

Not sure why Jack looks the most disheveled (bad mommy?) but he's still cute. From left to right, Liat (9 months), Jack, Will, and Rhys (all 3 months), and Finn (1 week).

Best Bath Ever

This picture might not lead you to believe it, but Jack has been loving his baths recently. I think it has to do with the fact that he recently graduated to a big boy tub. Or, rather, we took out the newborn net and he gets to just hang in the tub.

The other day we captured what we SWEAR is laughter. It was the greatest sound we had ever heard. Of course, he hasn't really done it again, but I'm hoping he will soon. Here's the video...blurred private parts brought to you by the professional editor in the family.

Today Jack is...13 weeks old.

I LOVE this picture of Jack this week. So darn cute. 13 weeks, 3 months old. I thought that maybe magically he'd get a billion times easier once he turned 3 months but that's not quite the case. He is developing new skills really rapidly though which is a joy to watch. This week he started babbling and cooing a ton. It's the cutest sound ever...music to my ears. He'll sit on the changing table, in the bath, or in bed early in the morning and just blabber away. He's also now grabbing at things and, though he usually can't quite connect, sometimes he gets lucky.

Between cooing and grabbing, he's drooling up a storm. A constant stream of drool down his chin and he proudly blows spit bubbles. He's enjoying tummy time and, though he's had a few accidental roll overs, he really can't roll over yet. Though, John and I decided we have to watch him more closely on the changing table now that he may be developing that skill. That fact was hammered home when we went to the doctor's office and the nurse ran over to the table once she saw we took his hands off him. He doesn't roll YET! We're not THAT bad of parents. Though I did forget diaper wipes and had to use paper towels at the doctor's. Okay, we're sort of bad parents.

The bottle thing is still going well.

Though my problem is that I can't pump enough to even make a full bottle for him. So that's not very helpful. I've gotta work on that.

And now, more pictures from this week!

Playing in the mirror

If you look closely, he's proud of himself because of his awesome spit bubbles

Lounging by the pool

3 Month Doctor's Visit

Yesterday the little guy had his three month check-up and it was fairly uneventful. We had mistakenly thought there would be no shots but we were wrong. Two this time but Jack took it like a champ. A big wail when the needle was jabbed in his thigh but 20 seconds later he was quiet and even flashed the doctor a smile.

He didn't grow as much as we'd hoped but he's still doing great and completely healthy. Here are his stats:

Weight: 12 pounds, 3 ounces (45th percentile)
Height: 24.5 inches (75th percentile)

We got high marks for his constant cooing, his eye movement, and his hand grabbing but we sort of failed in the sleep department. I can't believe that she wasn't impressed that he still has to sleep in a moving swing or that in the past week he's only slept for about 90 minutes at a time at night. We promised to try better before his next appointment.

In the mean time, maybe we can solve our sleep problem with vaccines. After his shots he slept all afternoon.

3 Months Old!

Well, we made it. Fourth trimester is over. And every day he does something new and fantastic that makes us smile and gets us through his fussy times.

"Mom, this is boring."

"Are we done yet?"

"Aaannndddd....I'm done sitting."

The good thing about being pregnant...

(Well, one of many good things...)

Your giant pregnant belly makes your butt and thighs look smaller. This leftover stomach pooch thing? Not so much.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: The Weekend That Was

Well, okay, there weren't any planes. But there were trains and cars and lots of friends and family. Our first family trip was a jam-packed weekend in San Diego. Jack's hatred of the car has been well documented here so we were dreading the drive. Which is why we decided to leave late Friday night. We thought we'd do his whole bedtime routine and put him to sleep in the car seat. We did the bath, the breastfeeding, the soothing, and he was fast asleep when we put him in the car seat in the living room. Then we clicked it in the car and, bam, wide awake at 10pm. We got literally one block from the house and he was screaming so we decided to pull over to the Vons parking lot to calm him down. We took him out, shushed him, calmed him down and put him back in. We got on the freeway, drove 5 exits, and got off the freeway due to screaming. Here's John on the side of the road trying to bounce the car seat.

He worked on the side of the road and we put him back in the car. A little quieter crying and then John (in the back seat) seemed to calm him to sleep. SCORE. We were home free, so I thought. I was exhausted so I pulled off the freeway (again) to switch with John so he could drive. I got in the back with the sleeping guy. About 15 minutes later, he woke up. And started screaming and sobbing. Nothing would calm him down. At that point we had about an hour and a half left in the drive but we decided to press on. We really wanted to go to San Diego and there's no way he could cry for 90 minutes so late at night, right? Wrong. He could very easily cry for that long.

Most people don't seem to understand why we're so bothered by crying in the car. And I respond that it's not crying. There's a difference between his normal crying and what he does in the car that is sobbing and screeching and choking on his own saliva because he's so worked up. I have video of it but I've decided not to post it because some people said it was too upsetting. But take my word for it. John and I are not wimps, it's just really bad.

We pulled into my parents' driveway at midnight and once we pulled him out of the car he was fine. He crashed hard and slept for 6 hours. Awesome I guess?

The rest of the weekend he was great as we visited a lot of people. Sure, the car rides to those places sucked, but he behaved once we got there. First up, we went to our friend Strasser's birthday party which was filled with newborns. The amazing hostess Amy was busy running around with her little girl Lilly so she missed this picture, but here I am with new mom Cara and her son Ethan (or Ethan's arm). He and Jack are sure to be friends in the future.

Then we drove over to my aunt and uncle's house so they could meet the little guy. Even though it was the evening "witching hour", he managed to hold it together.

Jack with the Schmidt family

Uncle Glen and Aunt Margie entertain the little guy

Cousin Christy calms him down

On Sunday we inevitably had to go back to Los Angeles but the idea of 2 1/2 hours of screaming was too much for us to bear. I didn't think I could make it. So Jack and I decided to jump on the train while John drove the car back. I was excited to avoid the car ride but I was bummed that I had to tackle his first trip by myself. I had no idea if he'd behave or if I'd be "that person". With a screaming baby. Turns out I was both. He started screaming the minute the train started and I could feel the death stares from the crowded train car. But then I got him to sleep and I got to enjoy the beautiful view.

So much better than the traumatic Friday night drive. Of course, as we pulled into the LA station he woke up and melted down. As I fumbled to gather everything to get off the train with a squirming crying infant, a woman looked at me with pity and asked if I needed help. I politely declined and hightailed it out of there, wearing a Bjorn, straps flying everywhere but holding Jack because he refused to go in it. I was thrilled to see John at the curb, even if it meant we had a 30-minute car ride with screaming Jack in our future.

But here's the upside. After such a traumatic weekend, our little guy broke another record and slept for 8 1/2 hours!!

Jack happily sleeping under the beautiful blanket that my cousin Christy knitted for him

Today Jack is...12 weeks old.

Jack had a banner week and we're slowly starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel as far as him becoming a little baby who we can take places and play with. It's pretty cool actually. He's become more okay with just sitting on our laps and hanging out. The forward-facing Baby Bjorn is certainly a game-changer. For the first time, John and I got to sit in a restaurant and eat at a table with him in the Bjorn. Sure, we ate as fast as possible, but that's okay. It was fantastic.

I've ditched the stroller a few times and just taken off with the Bjorn. Of course, the minute I stepped outside, sans stroller shade, I realized, Oh crap, the sun's in his eyes. I darted back into the house and grabbed the one and only baby hat we own. The little guy seems to like it.

This week Jack seems to like tummy time more and more. He's done a few half-rolls on the couch but no real roll-overs. He also has discovered how awesome blowing drool bubbles is. This is fairly amusing though it does mean anything and everything near his mouth is wet at all times. Including his grey onesie that he got to match daddy.

He will now begrudgingly take a bottle (usually) but our main dilemma is still the car. He still hates it. And by hates I mean he cries, sobs, shakes, chokes, and sweats. This weekend we're heading to San Diego for the first time and I'll already dreading the drive. Twenty minutes breaks my heart so I can't imagine 2 hours and 20 minutes. I'll let you know.

Even with all the car drama, it's hard not to just adore this kid. He's so so expressive and that is so fun. He makes the funniest faces.

This furrowed brow unfortunately comes straight from me. But it's pretty rad.

And now, more pics from this week!