Weeks to Months

Tomorrow Hayden will be 2 months old. At times, 2 months has seemed like an eternity (what was life really like before he was here!?) and at other times it's been like the blink of an eye. I guess this is the point that I stop keeping track of his age in weeks. . . and that makes him seem so old.

At 2 months, Hayden:

-Loves his playmat, especially staring at that handsome baby in the mirror.

-Likes to swat at the monkeys while relaxing in his lounge chair.

-Smiles more and more each day. And "talks" to us--and his toys--pretty frequently.

-Likes to be held upright, so he can look over your shoulder. Don't dare cradle him in your arms unless he's very tired--he just doesn't have a good view of the world that way and will let you know it.

-Although, he is still pretty interested in what's happening on the ceiling--lights, windows, fans. . . that is some fascinating stuff!

-Is in the middle of a growth spurt. Perhaps his skinny legs will get a little beefier, but as of today, they are still pretty skinny.

-Now fits into most of his 0-3 month size clothing. Except the pants. Way too big in the waist.

-Has become a pretty good sleeper at night (although we still have some rough ones).

-Has a Mommy and Daddy that love him more and more each day!

After seeing a segment on the Today Show this week about how to know when you're ready to have kids, Rich commented to me that if we had known that this is what it would be like, and that we'd have this wonderful little guy in our lives, we wouldn't have waited nearly so long!

Spring Break!

Rich has spring break this week, so we headed back up to our condo in the mountains for a few days. We got a few more days of skiing in, but unfortunately spring has hit and the snow is quickly melting. Still, as the saying goes, a bad day on skis is still better than a good day at work. Not that the skiing was bad, it just wasn't our typical lovely, fluffy, Colorado snow.

Besides being surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountain scenery (and all the recreation that comes with that), the thing I love about going to the condo is that with only 800 square feet, there's just not much to do when you're inside. Which is absolutely perfect! No laundry, cleaning, chores, or household projects loom. . . we can just kick back and relax. So, after playing outside for a few hours, we spend the rest of our time lounging, catching up on our reading and sleeping.

Hayden has quickly settled into the condo routine. Here he is, reading one of his favorites with Dad:

And no afternoon at the condo is complete without a catnap on the couch! The condo is truly the place for his R&R . . . he "slept through the night" twice! On Saturday he slept from 11:15 p.m. until 6:30 a.m.! Then, he did the same on Sunday night!! Monday night he decided he needed a snack around 3:00 a.m., but 2 out of the last 3 ain't bad. . .

Reach Out and Touch Someone (or Something)

Hayden started grabbing for his toys yesterday! I was putting laundry in the dryer while he was asleep in his lounger. When I finished, I realized he wasn't asleep afterall. He had woken up and decided he was very into the colorful monkeys that have been hanging there for weeks, so into them, that he just had to reach out and touch them.

With the smiles I've been getting (and hoping to capture on camera soon!) he's starting to be more interactive, which is sooooo much fun!

After Dinner Drinks

Rich gave Hayden a bottle last night so I could enjoy a night out (thanks, Dad!). Before I headed out the door, I snapped a few pictures of Hayden's typical after-dinner antics. We think he looks sufficiently drunk.

At least he's a happy drunk!

On a different note, we had playgroup at my house this afternoon. As you can see, Delaney and Cara were very attentive students during story time!

Why I Love the Weekend. . .

Because Daddy is home! I enjoy my time alone with Hayden during the week, but it's just so much better when the whole family gets to hang out. . . and I love seeing Rich and Hayden together. Hayden really does have the best Daddy in the world!

Here are a few shots of Dad and son from last weekend at Fox Run Park and during playtime. Today I'm happy that it's already Wednesday, which means half way until the next weekend!

Aunt Laura

Hayden's Aunt Laura flew in from Florida to visit for the weekend and he was in love!

A new set of arms to hold and cuddle him was a wonderful thing! Laura elicited a brief smile (we think it was among one of his first real smiles) and he had lots to tell her, cooing and ehh-gaaing.

Since life right now revolves around Hayden's need to eat every 3-4 hours, Laura's visit this weekend wasn't quite as busy or adventurous as some of her past visits. We did manage to get up to the mountains for a night, though, and got her out on cross-country skis. After some time on the snow, Aunt and Nephew took a breather in the lodge while Mom and Dad got out for a ski together--it was almost like a date (thanks, Aunt Laura!).

Even Maggie was happy to have some extra attention for the weekend (although she wasn't thrilled with being relegated to the back of the Subaru!). Thanks for a great visit, Aunt Laura, come back to play again soon!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Okay, we're a day late, but I just had to get up a picture of Hayden dressed for the occasion!

His shirt says, "Mommy's Good Luck Charm" and I couldn't agree more. Look at that chubby little face and neck he's getting, too. His legs are as skinny as ever, so it's good to see him beefing up somewhere!

March Madness

We are ready for some college basketball action! Since we’ve been home a lot more than usual in the past 2 months (wonder why!), we've had the TV on quite a bit. Rich has taken possession of the remote and if there's been a college basketball game on any channel, he's found it.

So, the Big Dance has begun, and Hayden is ready for March Madness! He's a bit upset that Air Force didn't make the NCAA tourney, but he's rooting for them in the NIT.

Since Aunt Laura is here for a visit, and Florida did make the NCAA tournament, he's decided to root for her team. GO GATORS!! He's pulling for a repeat of last year's championship!

Runner's High

Hayden is 6 weeks old today! A milestone for him and a milestone for me--the doctor's o.k. to resume exercising. So, when Rich got home from work today I went out for my first run in 14 weeks, and my first "solo" run since last April. My 26 minute jaunt through the neighborhood was a far cry from my sub-3 hour marathons, but it still felt great. I even made it all the way home without stopping to walk (a feat that involved running up a pretty decent-sized hill)! My legs may be stiff when I wake up in the morning, but the elation at getting back to doing what I love will make it feel like I'm floating!

While I was out working up a sweat and getting myself back in shape, the men in my life were hard at work at home. I found them like this when I got back:

They fell victim to "the chair". Rich should have known better. . . It sucks you in and won't release you until you've sacrificed a few zzzz's. They quite obviously obliged!

Who Needs Sleep?

We had a breakthrough last week. I got 5 hours of sleep. In a row. Two nights in a row. Heaven.

Hayden was 5 weeks old last Wednesday and that very night, we went a whole 6 1/2 hours between feedings (that's 6 1/2 hours from the start of one feeding to the start of the next). It still takes him an hour + to nurse, but as soon as he was finished, he fell right asleep in his crib. It was 1:00 a.m. I assumed I'd be up again between 2 and 3 a.m. (like every night for the last 5 weeks!) because he usually only lasts 3-4 hours between feedings. I was stunned when we heard him stir and the clock said 6:18 a.m. I felt like a new woman!

Every night since then (it's now been 6 nights), he's gone for at least one 6 to 6 1/2 hour stretch between feedings in the middle of the night. I haven't gotten 5 hours of sleep each night, since some nights it has taken us a good 45 minutes to get him to sleep after nursing, but it's still a move in the right direction. Not sure if it's just because he's getting older and bigger or if I can give some credit to the pacifier. He hasn't had it at night, but he was much more content during the day when he did have it. And last Wednesday was the second day that he used it. Or maybe he was just tired from all of the working out we did last week (see the Ski Baby post, below).

Whatever the reason, I'm elated (and a little more coherent during the day!). it happened just in time. The chorus from a Barenaked Ladies song had been running through my head for days. . . "who needs sleep? yeah, you're never gonna get it"

Not only has Hayden been sleeping more at night, he's gotten in some good naps during the day. Daddy caught us here in an after breakfast snooze on the couch:

Later that day, Maggie even got in on the nap action:

And this is how he spent the entire 2 hour drive home from the mountains on Sunday:

On a slightly differnt note, we really did have a great week away from home up in Winter Park. And just to prove that Rich did have some official duties and it wasn't all play, here's a few more photos of the cross-country skiing action. First, the team photo, with Rich on the far right:

Two of the cadets pushing strong to the finish of a 15 km race:

Double-poling at the start of the relay race:

And finally, Dad discussing ski technique with his son!

Ski Baby

We just got back from spending a week up in Winter Park for the USCSA Collegiate Cross Country Ski Nationals and took the opportunity to get Hayden out on the snow in the gorgeous weather. The area got several inches of fresh snow the previous week and once we got there, the sun came out and the temps were extremely warm for the mountains (high almost each day was 49!). The trails were in perfect condition for introducing Hayden to the sport of XC Skiing!

We bundled him up, loaded him in the Chariot, then Dad took him for a ride, getting quite the workout in the process!

Just as we hoped, Hayden loved it! Good thing, cause he’ll be in this rig quite a bit whether it’s over snow, rolling on the trails behind a bicycle, or running with Mom!

To Pacify or Not to Pacify. . .

. . . that is the question. The debate is fierce among the “experts” and among parents: should you give your baby a pacifier? My plan was to avoid giving him one, but I had a few stashed away, just in case.

Well, after some strong lobbying from Dad, the pacifiers came out this week. Rich has found that Hayden likes to suck on his (Rich’s) pinky finger. This goes back to those first few hours they spent bonding right after Hayden’s birth, while I was recovering in the ICU. Hayden also goes for his own hand. . . he just hasn’t figured out how to release his thumb from the fierce grip of all his other fingers. So, Daddy has been doing “Thumb Training,” trying to coax his thumb out of his fist and toward his mouth. It’s going to take at least a few more weeks until I think he really gets it, so in the mean time, Daddy went for the pacifier.

The next morning, after Hayden had breakfast, he rolled right into his irritable and fussy mode. This usually last for about an hour or so until it’s time to eat again. Well, Rich pulled out the pacifier and we got content baby, happily gazing at his toy in the pack-n-play for almost 30 minutes!

Being of the mind that “everything in moderation” is okay, I’ve relented. Hayden can’t have his pacifier during every waking hour, but one or two times a day, I think it will be okay. After all, back in the day, I had a pacifier for a long time. In fact, I have vague memories of standing in front of an open trash bag one day as my mom asked me if I was ready to say goodbye to it. After having had it for several years, I must have felt it was time to let it go and threw it into the open trash bag. I must have been 3 or maybe even 4 years old. Did sucking on that pacifier so long negatively affect my development? I don’t think so! Nor did it affect my teeth. . . I’ve got a pretty straight set and I never even needed braces.

So, since he seems to like it and it makes us all a bit happier when he has it, I think we'll be pacifying (in moderation) for a while! This looks like a very content baby to me. . .

Rise and Shine

On nights that Hayden actually sleeps between all of his snacking, he's generally in a pretty good mood in the morning. We hear him stirring and go in to find him like this, quietly staring at his toys or the stripes on his crib bumper.

I'd say he's a morning person! I took some video, too. He's got the hiccups and it's just too darn cute. . .

Sleepy Head

I know I post lots of Hayden close-ups, but he just makes the best faces and I feel like he'll be big before I know it, so I better document his cuteness while I can! So, my latest cuteness capture was Hayden waking up from a morning nap.

Looks like he really needed that nap (I know Mommy did!).