Saturday

We just hung around the house last Saturday. I was pretty exhausted and so was Ben. We focused on getting rest for both Ben and me. His routine is to eat and then be awake for an hour including eating time and then he goes down for a two hour nap. We do that three hour cycle all day (though he's started skipping one feeding in the middle of the night). We did get out for a walk and a trip to Target in the afternoon. Ben loved the walk, but he doesn't really care for staying in the car seat during errands.

During one of Ben's wake times we took the play gym in Sam's room so Ben could "play" and get some tummy time while Sam got dressed. Sam loves showing Ben how to play with the toys. He's especially fascinated in a set of play keys that are each a different shape, color, and number. He tells Ben all about them.

Chris saw this onesy at BabiesRUs the week Ben was born and had to get it. It reminds him of the calavera dolls from this computer game that we used to play called Grim Fandango. Aaahhh, computer games ... I almost remember Saturdays about ten years ago when Chris and I "fought" over the computer and you'd look up and realize you just spent hours in the same chair without moving anything but the mouse. Of course spending a Saturday with the boys is much more rewarding!

School Portraits

They had a photographer come to Sam's school to take Fall portraits. I think this was shortly after Ben was born. I love the way they turned out! I especially like that they offered the option to get the photos on a CD.

He looks so grown up in these pictures. It's hard to believe he's only three and a half years old. We haven't gotten to spend as much time with Sam since Ben was born of course. My favorite time of day is when we put Sam to bed and I get to lay down with him and chat about his day and sing him songs. I'm pretty sure Chris enjoys reading him his books just as much. Of course we still have some nights that end with a three year old fit, but I cherish the nights that end quietly with a kiss and a hug and an "I love you bunches and bunches."

Reflux

Kinda looks like Ben is smiling here, huh? He seems like he's getting close to flashing us a grin on purpose, but he's mostly still just smiling in his sleep. He's got the cutest smile with a face full of dimples, so I just can't wait!

Last week was quite a roller coaster. After weaning Ben, he was 100% on formula, but he was still only taking 2 to 3 oz per feeding, and crying during and after most feedings. He also was waking early from his naps and crying a lot then too. He cried all day the Sunday after Thanksgiving and it was just terrible. I took him to the doctor last Monday and she determined that he has reflux. They usually don't do any tests to confirm that diagnosis. They just give you medicine and see if the baby gets better.

After a week on Zantac, Ben wasn't making much progress so we switched to Prevacid. After two days on Prevacid, Ben was a completely different baby. He's consistently eating about 4oz per feeding, eating every three hours, and taking two hour naps. He even slept a 5 hour stretch last night. We'll see if he keeps that up ... he'd only been making it three hours or four hours between middle of the night feedings before that.

All that said, we decided to start Ben in day care this week. We hadn't planned on putting him in day care until mid January, but I have postpartum depression and really need the break. He'll be in there for two weeks before the school closes for two weeks for Christmas. At first my doctor prescribed some antidepressants, but they made me feel worse. So after talking to Chris and me, she decided that what I really need is some sleep. The problem is that every little noise keeps me awake on the baby monitor. Solution? I'm sleeping with ear plugs and Chris wakes me up when it's my turn to feed Ben. I feel pretty lame about that, but I really need to get better. Chris has been taking the first middle of the night feeding and then I've been taking the late night "dream feed" and early morning feed. We've been doing this routine since Friday and I felt really good today - a huge improvement over yesterday.

Here's a picture of Ben all bundled up and ready for his first day at day care.

Out For a Walk

We've been dealing with freezing weather this week and even got some snow! But, last week was beautiful weather while everyone was home for Thanksgiving. We took advantage of it and got out for a walk/ride each day. We put Ben in the stroller and snuggled him up in a blanket.



Sam was all smiles on his tricycle ...



until he crashed! He wasn't really phased. He crashes every now and then when he gets going really fast. Tricycles are like that.



Just a boy and his dog.

Dinosaurs Alive!

One of the little girls in Sam's class had a birthday party at the Heard Museum the weekend before Thanksgiving. We were excited because they were having the Dinosaurs Alive exhibit again and we had been wanting to see it, but never made it last year.

The party started out in the main building with a tour guide trying to explain expected behavior and safety to a bunch of 2 to 5 year olds. There was a lot of interaction from the kids and they came up with some pretty funny stuff.

Before we went on the trails, the tour guide brought out a bunny and a bearded dragon for the kids to pet.

I knew we'd be walking dirt trails so it was time to bring out the Baby Bjorn. Ben is big enough now that he is at least 8 lbs and at least 21 in. It will be more fun when we can turn him around so he can see out. He slept from the minute we put him in it when we got out of the van until we got back from the hike and I woke him up to feed him.

This was the first dinosaur that we encountered on the trail. It moved and roared and the kids weren't quite sure what to think of it hiding in the trees.

Here are Stephanie and me chatting on the trail.

Here's a close up of another dinosaur. (I didn't write down any of their names, but the Heard web page has more info if you are interested.)

It's kinda hard to pose for a picture when you're looking into the sun.

This dinosaur looked cool (and scary) with the sun coming from behind and lighting up his wings.

A shot from another angle shows that this display makes it look like one dinosaur is attacking the other.

Sam, watching his shadow as he runs down the trail.

Back to the main building for cupcakes, juice, and chips.

We had a lot of fun, and I was very glad to get out of the house!