Two month pictures....

We have some really awesome pictures that Aunt Kristeen took during their visit. Here are a few of the black & whites that I really love. The first two are not posed and I just love his facial expressions!

2 Months old...

Ethan is "celebrating" his 2 month birthday today! He must not be happy about it, because he has been a little fussier than normal. Uncle Marc & Aunt Kristeen have been visiting from Texas and we've taken LOTS of baby pictures (over 500)... maybe he is getting tired of smiling for the camera! Here he is showing off his adorable face...

Cuddling with the pups...

Ethan cuddling with Mocha & Maverick in his froggy PJ's... he looks a little confused and sleepy!

Growing up so fast...

I was looking back on some pictures this morning and I can't believe how much Ethan has grown in the last 8 weeks. Everyone keeps telling me that it will just get worse and the months and years pass too quickly. I've been trying to take lots of photos, so I have plenty to look back on and hopefully scrapbook (one day). Here is the start of another heart-melting smile...

He must love Target...

When getting ready to run some errands this morning, I showed Ethan a picture of the red and white Target logo and he started smiling. We had fun doing some shopping!

Discovering his tongue...

More than ever, Ethan is interested in playing with his tongue. He sticks it in and out like a lizard and now that he has begun smiling a lot, it is cuter than ever!

Much needed sleep...

Ethan has been resisting the naps and ends up pretty cranky by the afternoon. We went to visit the Zika's and Ethan found a comfy spot to nap after falling asleep in my arms. He looks so peaceful!

Getting bigger...

Our little boy is getting big fast! He is almost 11 lbs now at 7 weeks and his face is really filling out. He is definitely more alert, smiley and talkative - all fun things for Mom & Dad!

Reflections on being a Mom...

1. Mommies are superheros. Seriously. When I pictured being a mom during pregnancy, it was all of the rewarding times - looking down on him while he was eating, knowing that he relied on us for his care, watching him smile in his sleep, going on walks and taking trips to the park. All those things are great, but boy, being a mom can be overwhelming! Mother's Day should be once a month and should consist of a full 8+ hours of uninterrupted sleep and getting waited on all day (no cooking or cleaning!).

2. Being out of your comfort zone is OK. After having Ethan, I began to realize that I rarely get out of my comfort zone. I've been married for 6 years and had the same job for 8 years; I was perfectly happy living in that comfy zone. I have rarely been around a newborn and all the baby books and research could not have prepared me for being so scared of the "new" things. Add an overload of homrones and I was an emotional wreck for the first week.

3. Guilt is unnecessary. I struggle with this the most. It is so hard to know if you are doing things "correctly" and sometimes it feels like a good Mom should know what the right thing to do is. It's pretty scary to be solely responsible, as parents, for another person's life. I worry about every little thing and find myself questioning my abilities. I know it isn't productive, so I'm trying to work on just doing the best I can and leaving the guilt behind.

4. You need a partner. I cannot imagine going at this alone. It takes both of us, committed to the work, to care for Ethan and keep the house running smoothly. Thankfully, I have a wonderful husband that doesn't mind changing diapers, feeding the baby, doing laundry, provides reassurance (the most important thing!), and will give me a break when I'm stressed.

5. Sleep isn't overrated. I am surprised by how my body can function on such little sleep, but emotionally, I need that sleep to not be cranky. Broken sleep, even if he naps (something he doesn't do much of!), definitely isn't as refreshing, but these days I'll take what I can get. I had no clue I would began appreciating naps so much.

The many faces of Ethan...

I love it when he wrinkles up his forehead, puckers his lips, frowns, or stares around intently. Here are just a few of his common facial expressions...

Loving his books!

We did a short photoshoot with Ethan and a few of his books. We have been accumulating lots of books and try to read a few in each day. He might not have any idea what we are saying at this point, but I think it's good for him to hear us speak and it seems to soothe him to sleep in the evenings. We hope Ethan will develop a love for reading!

Why not do some tummy time on the books? We think he has great head control for being 6 weeks old!

Ethan & Maverick

Maverick loves hanging out by Ethan and is rather curious about his smell and the sounds he makes. The dogs have adjusted really well and have even become a bit protective. Here is Ethan with Maverick cuddling together on the couch.

Tummy time & Crying it out...

Ethan and I had a pretty rough day! He hasn't been sleeping well and routinely stays up for 5-8 hours with no naps. Thank God that it usually happens during the day, but it makes for a VERY sleepy baby who can't seem to fall asleep (or takes several 10 minute naps) and ends up fussing for hours. At our 1 month doctor visit, Ethan got his first shot and coupled with not sleeping much that day, he was upset and cranky all afternoon. The Dr. suggested we put him down sleepy and let him "cry it out" for 10 minutes before holding him. Pat is strong-willed and totally on board, but I cannot stand to hear him cry (wail/shriek might be a better word) - I feel like I've tourted my helpless child. It has been a very emotional day, but we will get through this!

Here is a picture taken this morning of Ethan taking a break from tummy-time on his boppy pillow (in a much happier state):

One month old, 7/30/11

Ethan turned 1 month old over the weekend (July 30th) and now weighs 9 lbs 12 ounces and is 22 1/2 inches long. He is quickly becoming a big boy! Since we see him day to day, I don't really notice many physical changes. However, over the last month he has a lack of interest in sleeping, is now filling out NB clothing, and has much better head control (can lift up several inches and turn to each side). Happy one month, Baby Ethan!

(...and Happy 31st birthday to Daddy!)