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!

John on: Why We Don't Have Nice Things

Not that a 20 year old t-shirt from someone else’s family reunion is nice. But it’s been in my possession for forever, since I stole it from my sister, who bought it for a sawbuck at the Salvation Army when we were in high school. Seen here in happier days with young, smiley, non-breaking stuff Jack:

But alas, the strong grip of an 11-week old boy took care of it being the one vintage tee I’d been holding onto for the last 15-20 years. Jack’s natural place to grip when he’s sleeping on me is the front neckline of my t-shirts. (If I’m wearing a V-neck, which I don’t usually do as a hairy man, his secondary grip is usually a hunk of my chest hair. I might have to start wearing turtlenecks. Or at least a dickie.)

Anyway his superstrong kung-fu grip did this:

And I can only imagine this is the beginning. I’m pretty sure we’re just going to stretch out barbed wire fence in the entrance ways of the front room, where all our books and my records are exposed, to keep him out of there. I don’t want to walk into the house one day to see Jack sitting on the floor with two halves of my Mission of Burma “Forget” LP on red vinyl in his wee little hands. That thing is worth money, kid!

Where does one buy barbed wire these days? Or is there an ehow video about making your own?

heart,
John

"You take the good, you take the bad..."

"You take them both and there you have the facts of life."

A funny thing happened last week that I thought was interesting and thought I'd share. Within about 48 hours, I had two friends send their condolences because they had read my blog and was sorry that John and I had to go through all these hard, difficult times with Jack. Then a different two friends saw me and complained that my blog was too happy and made motherhood seem too easy. The really interesting part? All four of these people were new moms. So I was confused. Previously I was worried that I was complaining too much about the little guy and all the trouble he was giving us. Then I thought twice and thought that maybe I posted too many smiley pictures of Jack. So, I don't know. Here's what I've come up with. By some miracle, I know about 10 women who have had babies in the past 6 months. And of course I read some new mommy blogs. As far as I can tell, Jack is definitely not an easy baby. Some of these babies sleep for most of the night, love being thrown into a carrier on their moms chests, and will nap in their car seats. But, while he's not easy, I also don't think he's the most difficult. He's not colicky, doesn't have acid reflux or any health problems, and he doesn't really cry that much. Well, he will cry, but not if we hold and bounce him. (that's another blog post for another time.) So he's rarely inconsolable. He gets fussy in the evenings like every other baby but he's also all smiles and laughs for certain parts of the day.

So what do I think? It's just fascinating how completely different the motherhood experience is. How many variations there are in new baby behavior. I hope no one reads this blog and thinks that John and I are suffering too bad. Yes, the lack of sleep is rough but Jack is so alert and so happy that it's a fair trade-off. And of course I also don't want anyone to think that I'm making motherhood sound easy. That's ridiculous! In fact, I'm already brainstorming a post about all the ways that motherhood is hell. But I'll save that for when Jack is really behaving badly. :)

Greatest Day Ever

I'm happy to announce that the little guy slept 7 1/2 hours last night, his longest stretch ever! This translated to 6 whole hours of uninterrupted sleep for his parents. What bliss. Of course, I did the same thing I always do yesterday as far as his schedule. I guess sometimes he just feels like sleeping 3 hours and sometimes 7 hours. I'll take it!

Other milestones? He took a bottle from daddy and continues to enjoy his Baby Bjorn. Success! (at least for now.) :)

Let's talk about genetics again

Recently a lot of people have commented on how much Jack looks like my husband. Well, to be honest, we've all said that since he was born. And it's true. Sometimes they look so similar it's crazy. Though, lately, John has decided that Jack looks like him in every area but the eyes. He may have my eyes. (and of course my ears.) So I dug out a few photos of John and I from when we were the same exact age as Jack is now. What do you think?

(not sure why I'm dressed as a boy)






Not really similar but he is throwing my patented pissed off side glance.

First Mother's Day

Yesterday our little family celebrated our first mother's day. Well, more accurately I suppose MY first mother's day. It was a great day. I'd like to say that the little guy slept 8 hours in a row for me but, no, he slept his usual 3 hours and then another 2 or so. But, my awesome husband made breakfast for me bright and early to start the day off right. A little later, father and son surprised me with a great present. I saw John push the stroller around the corner with this surprise.

Jack was a little dubious about being covered in flowers but he held it together. He even managed to present me with this cool frame full of pics.

And, because it was Mother's Day, I figured why not have a few firsts? Crazily enough, Jack took his first bottle. Sure, he would only take it from me (not helpful) and only take it while I soothed him while bouncing on a ball (guess we have to take the ball EVERYWHERE) but, still! What a milestone. He finally took it. The kid certainly is picky and stubborn.

The other first was a putting Jack forward-facing in the Baby Bjorn!

He loved this. He was fussy and mad we were taking him to Vons and once he got in there and could see the whole store and all the pretty aisles of food, he was great. What a champ. (and, no, he didn't seem scarred or anxious). ;-)

Thanks to my amazing husband for making my first mother's day very special. I can't believe this time last year I had NO idea that mother's day would have a new meaning for me in 2011.

Today Jack is...11 weeks old.

This week I got to learn how hard it is to take care of baby when you yourself are sick. I came down with a nasty flu on Thursday and I just felt terrible. And you know what? Any sickness is ten times more unbearable when you have to take care of a baby. I know this will happen about a billion more times in his life and I'm already not looking forward to it.

Ever since the little guy's vaccinations (or maybe that's just a coincidence) he has slept even worse than usual. His normal routine has become: sleep in a moving swing from 10pm to 1am, then nurse, then sleep in my arms for about 90 minutes at a time with breastfeeding in between. Doesn't make for a lot of restful sleep for Mom but that's all he'll stand for at this point.

This week he got so much better at grabbing things. He'll grab the rings that hang off his toys and his rattles. He's also really discovered how awesome his hands and fists are. And how delicious they taste in his mouth.

Jack's been getting some quality time with daddy. He doesn't get home from work until after 11pm so he makes the most of every morning with the little guy. And it makes for some cute father son pics.

And now, here are some more pictures from the week. Lots of smiles!