4 months

The Beast is 4 months old!

At 4 months, Carter:
- is 15lbs (holy porker!)
- 24 3/4 inches short
- is now on formula
- is putting everything in his mouth
- is getting better at tummy time, but will usually last only a few minutes
- has found his feet, but prefers to use the left hand only
- survived his first cold
- went on a roadtrip to Calgary
- can sit on his lonesome for a few seconds
- still prefers to stand
- loves screens...TV, computer, cell phones
- is not sleeping thru the night anymore
- is in 3-6 month clothes, but some sleepers are close to retirement
- is moving in size 3 diapers
- always watches us eat, and will grab the bowl/plate
- likes to hear himself talk....especially at 4am
- hates being restrained (carseat, bumbo)
- will do a half sit-up to try and get out of his carseat, vibrating chair and swing

Tired

No one said being a parent was going to be the hardest job of my life.
And I've had a lot of jobs.



I am so tired.
I am so tired of being puked on.
I am so tired of people telling me its normal. Its not.
I am so tired of telling people my kid pukes a lot, and then he never pukes around people.
I am so tired of putting a clean pair of jeans on, or a nice shirt and having it puked on 2 seconds alter.
I am so tired of wearing the same old pukey pajamas for days on end.
I am so tired of my carpets and furniture and brand new $300 rocking chair being puked on.
I am so tired of doing laundry.
I am so tired of my cranky baby.
I am so tired of waking at night to feed him.
I am so tired of barely making it 2 hrs before he wants to eat.
I am so tired of breastfeeding and the dedication it takes.
I am so tired of trying to get back to sleep in the middle of the night.
I am so tired of feeling like a single parent.
I am so tired.
I.am.so.tired.

I dont know what I was expecting out of parenthood, but this wasnt it.

* DISCLAIMER:
I love my son to bits, and I wouldnt trade him for the world
I guess I am just having a hard time with sleep deprivation and still trying to adjust to my new world.

1/4 of a year?!

Here we are, January 18th, and my little man is 3 months old!
These 3 months have been an adventure!

Carter, at 3 months:

- is 23 3/4 inches long
- is 13lbs 13oz
- is wearing 3-6 month clothing
- is starting to teeth
- loves his hands(see previous bullet)
- is always eating his bibs or blankets(see above!)
- is finally starting to use his hands to grasp things
- can roll onto his side
- has taken his first road trip...to Taber!
- is in swimming lessons
- has boatloads of smiles
- has laughed a few times(at the dog, or when he's tickled)
- still loves mobiles
- loves to stand all the time
- hates to sit, he will launch himself out of his bumbo
- can sleep through the night most nights
- is still a huge puker

2 down

Here we are, another month gone by, and I cannot believe it!
I feel like an old pro at this parenting thing.
Some days are definitely a lot better than others, but I am loving watching this little baby turn into a little boy with a personality.
Its an amazing process!!

At 2 months, Carter is:

-12lbs
- 23 1/4 inches long
- wearing some newborn clothes, moving into 0-3 month stuff
- sleeping at least 4hrs a night, sometimes as much as 6 hours
- smiling and cooing a lot more
- still a redhead with blue eyes
- looking more and more like Dad every day
- staying awake for hours at a time during the day, sometimes all day
- wanting a soother to fall asleep with at night most nights
- wanting to stand all the time, which makes burping him on my lap very hard
- always swinging his hands
- holding his head up all the time
- sitting in his bumbo from time to time
- still not interested in hanging out with his play mat. It can hold his interest for about 5 mins
- loves all mobiles. He will cry when they stop moving
- still a puker
- moving into size 2 diapers
- too big for the bassinet in his playpen

Resolutions

My 2011 Resolutions:

Personal
- get my body back to pre-pregnancy shape
- do the 365 picture challenge again, or some form of it
- do 'Carter' scrapbook
- make scrapbook present for Amanda and Kevins wedding
- get a massage 2 times a year (1 /2)
- update blog at least once a month ( 8/12)
- volunteer at least 2 times (2/2)
- make more time for my friends (calls, visits)


Carter
- take Carter to the Calgary Zoo
- take Carter to the West Coast to meet the rest of his family
- take Carter to swimming lessons
- keep going to mommy and baby play dates to help Carter meet friends
- take Carter to surrounding historical sites
- send Carter for his 1st sleepover


Family
- go on a beach vacation
- go camping at least 5 times ( 1/5)
- go on an unplanned road trip
- go on a picnic
- go on a family walk at least 2 times per week (1/104)


Couple
- go white water rafting
- go on 1 date a month ( 5 /12)
- decide on timing of baby #2
- plan a surprise trip or event for my hubby



in process
complete

Grandparents

If your baby is "beautiful and perfect, never cries or fusses, sleeps on schedule and burps on demand, an angel all the time," you're the grandparent.
~Teresa Bloomingdale




Family is the most important thing in my life, and Carter is so lucky to have both sets of grandparents and uncles only minutes away.

Since today is the first anniversary of my Grandma Jean's death, I am very appreciative of the relationship I had/have with my Grandparents.


Grandpa Warren died the day of my Grade 10 Social Studies final. June 23, 2000. I was able to say goodbye to him, and I will always cherish that.

Grandma Jean died on a cold Monday morning. November 30, 2009. I was able to say goodbye to her, and I will always cherish that.



Some of my favorite memories growing up were days spent with Grandpa Warren and Granny Jean.

Spending the weekend at their house always meant white toast and eggs for breakfast, spending the night in my dad's old room, throwing clothes down the laundry shoot in the bathroom and playing in the sandbox underneath the big tall pine tree in the backyard.

Their house never really had any toys, but we made our own.
Using an old serving tray we would play restaurant, and the crawlspace was the kitchen.
Grandma's hair rollers would always end up in my hair.
Card houses were built on the carpet.
Old photo albums were brought out and a history lesson was given.


Christmas Eve was always spent at their house, the basement filled with family, food and laughs.
They were the best hosts.

Camping trips were plenty, and Grandma Jean taught me how to play Crib.

Grandpa could always be found in the garage, puttering around smoking his pipe, meticulously organizing shop supplies or making wooden tulips.
He let us mow the lawn, then put divots in the lawn teaching us to golf.

Many afternoons were spent in the sun, weeding and planting the flower beds with Granny.

Church on Sunday, followed by Pizza 73 will always be my favorite memory of Granny Jean.



I have a head full of memories of my grandparents, and I wouldn't trade them in for any amount of money.

I look forward to Carter making memories with his grandparents.

I want him to look back in 20 years and realize how lucky he is, and how loved he is.
Cuz nothing makes me feel better than when I look back and realize how lucky I am, and how loved I am!

1 month down, hundreds more to go!

Carter is 1 month old!

At 1 month, Carter:

-weighs 9lbs 2oz
- is 21 inches long
- sleeps in his crib (most nights!)
- holds his head up when he is actively awake
- kicks his legs and moves his arms all the time
- doesn't like to be swaddled anymore, since he is so squirmy
- is trying to smile
- has red hair and blue eyes
- still looks just like Daddy
- is very interested in lights
- loves watching mobiles on his crib and playpen
- has a reflux problem and the colicky times seems more frequent now
- still fits newborn clothes,they are small in the feet/legs, but is a little too big for 0-3 month stuff
- feeds every 2 hours, sometimes 3 during the night
-has been babysat by Grandma and Grandpa Mills for 5 hrs
- does not like to take his Vitamin D
- has days where he is awake for hours, and days where he sleeps all day