8 Weeks

Happy 8 weeks little homie! These pictures were actually taken last week, but my phone ran out of storage and my camera stopped working until I put all the pictures onto the computer. Oops! I've become that parent with a million pictures of their kid in the same position with slightly different facial expressions who can't bear to delete even a single one (unless it's blurry).  Get it together, girl.

At 8 weeks, Jace is...

Stretching out! Colt had him in the shower the other day, and I commented that Jace's rolls didn't look quite as roly as they did yesterday. Colt agreed, and added that he thought JJ looked a little longer. His clothes fit differently, too. He's still rockin' some serious chub, but he's getting taller and allocating some of that baby fat to the appropriate locations. But we still get comments on how "healthy" he looks. Haha!

Talking up a storm. Well, not so much talking yet, but definitely giving us some very purposeful coos and baby noises. He loves when we look him in the eye and say hi, and he answers right back! We took a trip to my parents house this weekend, and Colt's sister's last weekend, and he isn't shy. He wanted to talk to everyone, and talk to them a lot! He's such a social butterfly.

Still catnapping during the day, although we sometimes get one REALLY long nap in the late morning or early afternoon.

Being such a sweetheart and sleeping well at night (knock on wood). Friday and Saturday night, he slept from about 8:45 pm-4:00 am, then went back to sleep until 7:00-7:30 am. What the?! I mean, I'm not complaining, but now Colt and I are totally spoiled and anything less than that makes us a little bit sad. Fingers crossed he keeps at it! I'm seriously a little scared to write this down, like documenting it will jinx us somehow.

Not really loving books. I know he's only two months old, but my mom says that's when I started loving to read. I can't help but feel a little bit like a failure-but then I remember he doesn't even know he has hands yet, and I feel better.

We sure love this little peanut. It's so fun to see his little personality starting to peek through. Being a mama is hard work, but I can't imagine our little family without him in it. I guess we're keeping him! ;)

Tricky Tricks

At 7 weeks, Jace's new tricks include:

Spitting up or blowing out his diaper at very inopportune moments-then smiling up at mom or dad afterwards, like he knows exactly what he did and is a little proud of being naughty. He's kind of an imp.
Lifting his head and chest during tummy time, and keeping it there! Like a boss.
Conversing with mom and dad. It's so cute. He looks us right in the eye, smiles at us so big, and then he'll give us a very distinct coo-the one he uses when he wants to talk to you. So we say "Hi! Hi Jace!" and he coos back with the same intonation, so we say "Hi Jace!" again and he coos back exactly the same way, etc. We do this over and over again, and it's just the best; he smiles the whole time and you can tell he loves the interaction. 
Starting to grab and hold on to mommy's hair, shirt, and necklace. And, might I add, he's got a pretty firm grasp.
Smiling and cooing at mom and dad. He purposefully tries to get our attention by establishing eye contact and smiling, because he knows those smiles get a big reaction from whoever is wiping his bum at the time. ;)
Launching himself backwards in my arms if I am trying to burp him and he wants to keep eating.
Getting himself to sleep when I put him in his crib when he is tired but still awake (knock on wood! This is a great new trick). 
Tracking people and objects with his eyes as they move in front of him.
Growing his hair back! The softest little peach fuzz you've ever felt has replaced all of the bald spots, and I love to run my hand over the back of his head. It looks white right now because it's still so short, but it very well may end up being the same strawberry blonde color he was born with. We just have to wait and see. The anticipation is killing me! 
Crossing his feet at the ankles while he's eating.
Officially taking naps in his swing and chilling in his bouncer for prolonged periods of time.
Being cute as a button.

It's crazy how much babies can change in a week or two. Each day, I can tell his awareness is increasing, and he acquires new skills and builds on existing ones so quickly. My baby is growing up!

As Of Late

Jace is now a big, bad six week old, weighing in at 13 lbs 2 oz! We took him into the pediatrician a few days ago, because he was spitting up a lot and seemed quite congested, especially at night. He also had a couple of choking episodes when he was sitting in his bouncer. They were quick, but scary! The doctor said Jace has some reflux, so we're trying a new medication that may or may not help him out. So far, I've seen some improvement in his breathing, which is great. 

He has definitely started to keep us up more at night-we aren't sure if it's gas or a growth spurt, but whatever it is, I wish it would go away. Poor little bug screams or cries out in his sleep, which doesn't always wake him up but definitely rouses me from the deepest throes of slumber. Also, here's something weird: I always wake up about two minutes before Jace starts crying. I think he's sleep-trained me; I've been at least half-awake since 4:00 am. Colt got up to help me, but I feel so bad when he does that-he has to get up early for work.

Jace had a few firsts this weekend! He had his first shower (he LOVED it! He isn't the biggest fan of baths because he gets cold, so I think we've found a great alternative), and it was also his first time going to church. During Sunday School, the teacher asked a question and the room became very quiet and reverent as everyone contemplated the nature of God. So of course, Jace chose that exact moment to let out an earth-shattering shart. In front of all his new friends! Sheesh. He played it pretty cool, though. He was all: "Oh man,who was THAT? How embarrassing for THAT person!"

 Otherwise, he did really well. He slept all through Sacrament meeting and didn't fuss much when he was awake. 

He is starting to smile at us a lot more, and even answer us back with coos and squeals when we talk to him. He is also starting to tolerate his swing and bouncer, yay! That's been nice, because I can put the seat in our room while I get ready, or on the kitchen counter while I cook, and he stays happy for a bit. And I can't tell you how much nicer my days are when I feel like myself. When I'm able to get out, or do something I did before Jace was born, like make dinner or exercise and get ready for the day, it helps me feel like a person and not just a milk machine (yum). 

JJ is still loving to be swaddled nice and tight by his daddy, and he really seems to like music-especially country. He calms right down when I turn on my Eric Church playlist on Pandora. I love it. I'm hoping we have a little cowboy!

I also finished my six week round of blood thinners, so no more giving myself shots in the tummy every morning! Woot woot! So glad that's over. I also have my six week post-partum checkup this week, and hopefully I'll get the all-clear to start running and playing again. Fingers crossed!

And now, I think he's waking up from his nap. When do I get one of those?! ;) Love my boys.

4 Weeks

At four weeks, Jace...

Has chunked out. We're loving the thunder thighs, triple chins, and chipmunk cheeks!

Has no more hematoma (a big lump/bruise on his head from being birthed). It disappeared literally overnight. 

Smiles at his daddy all.the.time. He smiles at me too, but more so at Colt. And the fireplace.

Fits in his 3 month onesies and wears size 1 diapers. He's outgrown a lot of his newborn clothes. No wonder he wants to eat all the time.

Loves laying on the ottoman and smiling out the window at the sunshine, being rocked in the glider, taking naps on mom and dad, eating,  being swaddled, white noise, his duck paci, when I sing to him, and when dad whistles. I need to stop listing this stuff because I feel like I'm jinxing us, and he will wake up and hate everything.

Does not love when mom puts him in the Moby Wrap or the stroller, but usually conks out in it once we are outside walking around the apartment complex. 

Also hates being put in his swing. He tolerates it for a few minutes at best, then cries to be free.

Also hates his bouncy seat. And his bassinet. And pretty much anywhere other than mom and dad's chest, the ottoman, and his crib(knock on wood! Please keep liking your crib). :)

Sleeps in his crib at night, usually about three and a half hour stretches at a time (this varies). We've started putting him in there for naps as well, but...

Has been more fussy and sleeping shorter stretches during the day. He's also been spitting up more lately. May have some tummy troubles, we're trying to figure it out.

Started cooing at his dad last night.

Sometimes likes being given a bath, sometimes does NOT.

Snorts exactly like a pig when he's really hungry. It's adorable.

Is losing a lot of his baby hair and rocking the old man haircut: long on the sides and in the back, almost completely bald up top. He looks like Friar Tuck. He wears it well, though.

I can't believe he's a month old. He will be five weeks on Monday! It's flown by. He's a pretty needy little fella, but he makes up for it with those smiles and snuggles.

Colton

I need to take a minute and tell you a little bit about this Colton of mine. 

As happy as we are about this new addition to our family, we are still adjusting to life with Jace. Newborns are a lot of work, and every day is different. C and I are still trying to figure him out. In the midst of getting to know our little man and, through trial and error, understanding what he needs, my body is still healing up from the whole childbirth thing. It's going pretty well, but there's been ups and downs. At one point I was pretty sick and we were afraid I had mastitis (luckily, I did not). I was feverish and achy and so overwhelmed. And even now that I'm better, I definitely get frustrated and feel a little in over my head. Pregnancy, labor, recovery, being a mommy...it's hard. People tell you it's hard, but that concept is so abstract. It's the kind of hard you can't fully comprehend until you experience it. And then when you're experiencing it, you're all: "Why didn't anyone tell me about this?!"  

Colt has always been the kind of person you want on your team. He works hard, takes charge, and is unfailingly willing to serve the people around him. When I was sick those few days and he had two babies to take care of, he did it. He took care of us both, and even though I know he was probably stressed out, he didn't let it get him down. But it doesn't end there. While I sit on the recliner all day with a small human practically fused to my chest, he cleans the house, goes to the store to get groceries, pays our bills, makes meals (and goes and gets me green smoothies from Panera), and does the laundry. When he gets home from work, he changes diapers, holds JJ when he cries, swaddles him after 3 am feedings because I suck at it and Jace wiggles out of my swaddles in about two seconds, gives me a breather when he can tell I'm about to lose it, and a million other things-all while encouraging me and staying positive. He goes to work all day to do his job, then comes home and does mine too. I honestly get a little bit teary when I think about this guy-I'm so grateful for him. 

There's no better.

So About This Growing Up Business...

Jace was within half an oz of his birthweight four days after he was born. He gained over a lb in a week (the nurse couldn't stop laughing in disbelief). The hematoma on the side of his beautiful little head disappeared literally overnight, and I can only barely squeeze his cute little rolls into his newborn diapers and jammies. 

I'm pretty sure by next week, he will be 13 years old. 

Blessing Day

Jace's baby blessing was held in our home last Sunday on February 8th, 2015. In our church, babies are usually blessed in front of the congregation when they are about six weeks old. Jace was only two weeks old, but it happened to work out that Colt's sister and brother-in-law were going to be in Seattle for a dental conference that weekend, and his mom, Terri, was going to be staying with us at the same time. My parents only live a few hours away, so it just made sense to have the blessing when so many members of our family were able to be there. 

It was such a special day. Colt gave Jace a beautiful blessing, and Jace wore the same outfit that Colton was blessed in when he was a baby. It was so nice to hold the blessing in our own home, surrounded by family members who love Jace. We wish everyone could have been there, but we're grateful that so many were able to make it.