Happy Birthday

I'm surprised I'm still married.  That first sentence doesn't really go along with the title of this blog, but I hope to get to that.  It started with the birth of our son, John Henry.  I was told by every woman I know to get a "push gift" for Amanda.  I thought fixing the dent in her car was a pretty good idea and something she's wanted for a long time.  Mandy Crawford did not agree.  According to her, jewelry was the only answer.  Well, December 16th rolled around and no push gift for my wife.

Christmas rolls around and we both decided not to get any presents for each other.  That's typically a trap but we both did what we said for once.  Okay - moving on to my favorite month or should I say Amanda's favorite month, February.  February 14th as some of us men know is Valentines day.  This is not a couples holiday - it's the girl's holiday.  Well, Amanda wakes me up Valentines day morning with a new pair of sunglasses.  What did I have for her?  Nada.  Of course I went to get her some flowers before I came home from work - but there is a premium for buying flowers on Valentines day...even at Costco. 

This brings me to our Anniversary which falls on the 16th of February.  According to my family, I should already have left Amanda - it should be grounds for divorce for making me feel guilty by springing a Valentines day present on me first thing in the morning.  So, Amanda decides to debunk that philosophy by giving me an iPad the day before our anniversary.  Make sense?  So, not only did I not have anything for her the day before our anniversary, but I didn't give her anything on the day of our anniversary. 

It's February 23rd, the day before Amanda's birthday.  Do I have something prepared?  No.  The only thing that I can give to her is a happy birthday wish.  I hope that's enough.  I plan on making it up to her if we're still together next week.  Right now, we're in Breckenridge, Colorado skiing.  Well...at least I'm skiing.  John Ramsey is coming over from Denver to ski with me on Amanda's birthday while she stays in the Condo taking care of John Henry.  That's almost tough to write.  I'm lucky to have her.  I have no present, but until I do - Happy birthday, babe.

Nap time

My friend Lauren and I crack up when people or the baby books refer to an infant's day sleeping as nap time.  In the very beginning the sleeping intervals during the day are as long as the sleeping intervals during the night.  So calling it nap time sounds a little silly.  Now at almost 10 weeks it sounds a little more appropriate.  John Henry is sleeping anywhere from 6 to 8.5 hour stretches at night and 10 minutes to 2 hours stretches during the day.  Those 2 hour stretches can definitely be classified as naps.  The 10 minutes, not so much.  I can't figure out why some naps are more successful than others.  The one thing I have figured out is that John Henry will not nap in his crib.  Apparently the only acceptable places for a nap are pictured below:

In the swing.  But only sometimes and it's never for very long.

On the couch surrounded by a blanket and pillow.  During the late morning and mid afternoon times this is the most successful napping place.

In our bed but only between his 6 AM wake up and his 9 AM feeding.  It's the weirdest thing.  He goes back to sleep in his crib during the 2-3 AM wake up with no problems but after he wakes up at 6 AM and eats, he only stays asleep in his crib for 30 minutes.  So when he wakes up again, we put him in the middle of our bed and he almost always falls right back to sleep. 

On his belly.  This is more wishful thinking than reality.  He's only napped on his belly twice and it only lasted for 20 minutes.

After posing for pictures...

In my arms.

On Daddy's shoulder.

He also naps in the car seat but I don't have a recent picture of that. 

Like I said.  This kid naps anywhere but the crib.  It's a mystery to me and I pray I can figure it out sooner rather than later.

2 Months!

Our baby is 2 months old!  It's crazy to me.  That stupid saying about time flying by is so true and I have mixed emotions about it.  I love seeing our little boy doing new things, developing, and getting a personality.  At the same time, he will never be as small as he once was and I know that one day I will not be his favorite person.  I may not be his favorite person now but since he can't say otherwise I tell myself that I am. 

At John Henry's 2 month check up he weighed 10 pounds 7 ounces. (When I looked at the scale I thought it said 10 pounds 11 ounces but that's not what the technician put in the computer so we'll go with what the computer says).  He's also 22 1/2 inches long.  Our doctor said he is doing great and she is very pleased with his growth.  And yes, she did comment on his strength again.  He really is a very strong boy!

At 2 months he looks so big.  And then you back up and get the full picture (see below) and you see he is still very tiny. 

Loving his bouncy seat.  Especially if it's on the kitchen island under the lights.  I hope those lights aren't bad for his eyes because he stares at them all the time.

Sitting time in the bumbo.  He can take it or leave it at this point.  I wonder if it's because it's purple...

Doesn't this kid look Irish?

He looks so old to me in this picture.  I love it but at the same time it breaks my heart to think of him all grown up.

Starting to enjoy the play gym. 

Practicing karate on the changing table.

This picture was taken after a big day out.  We went to my doctor's appointment and then to work for a few hours.  He was such a great baby to be out all day.

John Henry has become quite the little talker and he's the most talkative after he's been fed and changed.  We carry on semi long conversations and occasionally they are so funny that I get a laugh from him.  We don't really have to hold his head up since he has no problems holding it up on his own and he LOVES to look around at everything.  He really is a good baby and we love him to pieces!

The Great Outdoors

Since John Henry was born the weather has been interesting.  For the most part its snowed, rained and been ridiulously cold by Georgia standards.  However, Mother Nature has felt sorry for us and provided a day or two of much needed sunshine every couple weeks.  On those rare days we've been outside.  Actually, we go outside as long as it's not raining.   Cold or not, we've got to get out. 

John Henry's first trip to the river.

Right after this picture John Henry lost it and we had to jog back to the car.  I know they call it a jogging stroller but I really had no intentions of actually jogging with it.

Sweet Lady.  She loves to roll in the grass when it's dry.  As much as I hate sweeping it up inside, she's too cute to be upset with!

Testing out the Baby Bjorn. 

I realize this picture is inside but I had to post it anyways. One of my best friend's Diana came to Atlanta for a job interview and we were able to meet up to go walking at the river.  We had such a great time and she is truly one of those people that knows exactly what to do with a baby.  It must have been all that babysitting she did when she was growing up.  If we get a vote in her career choice we vote for the Atlanta job!   

Then and Now

Jay is one of those rare people that made lots of friends growing up and has kept up with those same friends his entire life.  It's not even that he kept up with them, it's that he's still very close to all of them and we now live within a 10 mile radius from at least 7 of his childhood friends.  However, there is one friend that has been around longer than the others.  It's the one that could easily be Jay's brother.  They don't look a like or have matching personalities but they have that brother type of bond.  The one that connects them and makes their inside jokes or fights just different from the others.  It's not any better than the other relationships, it's just different. 

And now both of these friends have boys.  Boys that I'm sure will grow up together, and if they're lucky, have that similar bond.  All I can say is pray for us.  Because if John Henry and Hunter are anything like their daddies, we are in for a lot of trouble!

Clint and Jay back in the day...

 

Hunter and John Henry

Attack of the Frogs!

Anyone who knows Jay and his family knows that everyone in the family has animal nicknames.  Jay's dad is Bunny, Jay's mom is Hog (don't ask), Sherridan is Snake, Wendy is Gorilla and Jay is Frog.  So when Jay's family learned that we were having a baby we got lots of very cute froggy stuff.  After John Henry was born he got an animal nickname - Tadpole.  Very fitting!  So in honor of the nickname John Henry decided to represent in the best way possible.  In the baby froggy gear, all compliments of Aunt Wendy.  Thanks Aunt Wendy!

Stuffed frog, frog Kissy Kissy outfit, and frog slippers!

Man's Best Friend

Our little man and Lady have started to bond.  After watching them together this past week I know that he will end up loving her just as much as we do.  And she in return will love him as much as she loves us and more if he happens to have food in his hand!  I can't wait for the day that they run and play together.  I remember the dogs I grew up with and Jay definitely remembers his.  Children and dogs have an unconditional love and so it's no surprise that they make such a great pair.  Every child should have a dog and I'm glad that John Henry has Lady. 

 Nap time in the Starr House

Lady guarding JH as he sleeps

My first dog, Matthew

Jay's first dog, Dusty

Be careful what you wish for...

When Jay and I were trying to figure out what our baby would like before he was born, we agreed that he would look like a little old man.  Not because we wanted our baby to look like a little old man but because we feel that almost all newborn babies look like little old men.  Wrinkly little old men to be precise.

And what does John Henry look like?  He looks exactly like what we expected.  A little old man.  Although me hiking his pants up to his chin doesn't do anything but help the stereotype!