Our Little Man

This darling outfit was given to us by our neighbors when Wes was born. At the time I just couldn't imagine our little tiny newborn fitting into those (seemingly) huge clothes! Already he not only fits into them, but it is almost too small!! Doesn't he just look like a cute little man?

Wahoo!

Wes slept for 7 1/2 hours last night!!! I am so happy I could just shout it from the roof tops! Of course, I didn't sleep that long, unfortunately. I woke up after five hours and had to check on him.... then I had to keep checking on him every 20 minutes just 'cause I am paranoid like that. Anyway, it was a good night and a good sign that he might sleep a whole 8 hours at some point. I don't expect this to repeat anytime too soon. It seems like he sleeps for a long stretch one night then goes back to waking up every few hours for a couple of nights before he will do it again. I am so happy to know that he can, and probably will very soon, sleep through the night!

Chubby Baby!

Wes just had his two month well-baby visit and he has become a chunk! At his first newborn appointment, he was in the 95th percentile for height, but very low on the weight. Well things surely have changed. He is still in the 95th percentile for height at 24.6 inches, but now his weight has caught up! He is now in the 95th percentile at 13 lbs 12 oz! I can't believe how fast he is growing.

Lots of Stuff

My First Mothers Day
I had a great 1st Mothers Day this year. Grant was so good to me. He gave me a dozen red roses, and a fishing pole, complete with gummi worms and swedish fish (get it?) I know that you might be thinking: a fishing pole? Sure... every mother's dream gift! But it was just what I wanted. Ya see, Grant was telling me how much he was looking forward to taking Wes fishing someday, and I said that I would want to go, too, seeing as I have never caught a fish. You can't grow up with an outdoorsy dad and five brothers without going fishing at some point, but I had never actually caught a fish. I forgot all about that conversation until Mother's Day. Grant gave me the fishing pole and said that he had a dream that is what he got me for Mother's Day, so he decided to give it to me in real life. I love it and I really can't wait to use it!

I have to say that having a child has given Grant and me a new, HUGE appreciation for our own mothers. I have no idea how my own mother had seven (SEVEN!!) children and not go crazy. Not only that, but to do such a great job! I just have to say that I love my mom very much!

Smiles and Five Hours

Wes has started sleeping five hours at night! Hot diggity dog! The American Academy of Pediatrics defines sleeping through the night as a stretch of five hours. That isn't my definition, but whatever. I'll take it! Grant usually takes his late evening feeding, so I am getting a lot more sleep these days and loving it.

Wesley has also started smiling more. We have been trying to capture the allusive smile on camera, with no real success... until we got this picture--

Workout Motivation

Since I have been getting a little more sleep, I decided it would be nice to start exercising a bit. Grant and I decided to run a 5k this fall so we would be motivated to train for it. It is really hard to get started with a work out program, so we both thought having a goal would help. As it turns out, I found something that motivates me even more...

Let me just say that Wes has a hard time napping during the day. He usually takes two shorter morning naps, and a longer afternoon nap. I discovered that if he doesn't get that first morning nap, he won't sleep (and is extremely cranky) the rest of the day. That first nap is the key to his day. You can usually find me holding him, rocking him, carrying him around in my baby front carrier thing, or anything else that will get him to sleep for that first nap. Yet there still are days where he will refuse to go to sleep.

Anyway, I decided to run on the treadmill the other day while Wes took that first nap... but he decided not to take that nap, so I gave up and just put him on a blanket with some toys near the treadmill so I could run. Well, within a few minutes he was fast asleep! Something about the sound of the treadmill put him to sleep. So, when it was time for his nap the next day, I tried it again to see if it would work... and it did! Within about three minutes when I am on the treadmill, he is fast asleep. I also don't want to leave him alone on his tummy (what with the SIDS risk and all) so it also forces me to work out for a long time! You better believe that I need no more motivation to work out than that!!

Getting Big

I took this picture of Wesley yesterday, and I couldn't believe how much he has changed. Since I see him everyday it is hard to tell, but looking at the pictures for some reason made me really see the difference.

I have to say, it is really exciting to watch Wes grow and develop. He is smiling more and more (I tried to get a picture of him smiling, but I only got the end of the smile,) he is getting more head control, he is getting closer to getting that thumb in his mouth, and he is trying hard to roll over from his stomach to his back (mostly because he hates to be on his stomach.) He did it once, but I think it was on accident because he looked as surprised as I was that he did it, and he hasn't done it again since!

Wes is such a sweet baby. Grant and I are spoiled with the fact that he is a pretty good natured little fella. I have begun to realize that if he really fussy or cranky, it is generally because of something I ate that is disagreeing with him. We're just getting to know his quirks and personality one day at a time. It is fun to get aquainted with this little guy.

Wes, meet Grover

When we brought Wes home from the hospital, Wes's Aunt Heather brought him a stuffed Grover. I put it in the corner of Wes's crib to wait until Wes was a little older and could play with him. One day I put Wes down for a nap, and he woke up a little, but seemed to fall right back asleep because he was really quiet for several minutes. After a bit, I could hear him making noise, so I went to check on him. Apparently he had discovered Grover, because he was wide awake just staring at him. Whenever we put Grover down in front of Wes he just stares and stares. It is the first toy he has really taken an interest in. Just yesterday he reached out and grabbed Grover's hand. It was so cute, I had to grab the camera!! He loves his Grover!

-Kate

We Have a One Month Year Old!

It is amazing what comes out of the mouths of exhausted parents! We were sitting on the couch the other night when Grant asked me, "Can you believe we already have a one month year old?" Nope, I can't believe that Wes is already a month old. Each day goes by so quickly, and he is growing like a weed. My favorite is that he has been sleeping better and better... four hour stretches at a time, which mean that I only have to get up once in an eight hour span! More sleep for everyone!

Wesley has also started smiling more. I got four big grins out of him this morning. Other days I get nothin', but I love it when he smiles.

-Kate

Three Weeks Already

An interesting thing happened to me this morning. Wesley started crying and when I went in his room to get him up.... I found that my little newborn with his funny, dry, wrinkly skin, his perpetually closed or unfocused eyes and his orange jaundice tint were all gone. There instead was a darling little baby with plump, smooth, rosy skin, chubby cheeks and eyes that were wide awake and focused. It seriously seems like he changed overnight! He seems to be going through some kind of growth spurt at the moment (at least that is what my book tells me.) He went from three and four hour stretches between feedings at night, back to two or less. Oh, the fun.

I just thought I would also mention that Wes is currently sitting in his swing trying REALLY hard to get his thumb in his mouth, but his little motor skills just aren't that developed yet. So every once in awhile the poor kid lets out a cry of frustration. It looks like he gave up and is going to sleep. Funny baby!

Two Weeks Old!

Time flies when you are having fun (or not sleeping-- and we are experiencing both!) Wes is two weeks old today, and life is starting to get back to normal. We are slowly figuring out this parenting stuff and getting into a routine. We are loving every minute of our little baby boy. He is growing fast already! We had his two week check up today, and he now weighs 7 lbs, 8 oz. He gained 11 oz. in less than a week. Good golly, that boy likes to eat... and I have the sleep deprivation to prove it!

Our dogs are finally adjusting to the new baby as well. The first few days were a little hard on them, but they are coming around. Oscar's take is more of a "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." He loves to be by the baby and always wants to rest his head on him. He also frets when the baby cries, and runs into the nursery and looks anxiously at us as if to say, "Well, aren't you going to do something about this??"

Scooter more or less ignores the baby, or tries to sneak licks of Wes's face when he thinks we aren't looking. He seems to still harbor a little resentment. Of course, Scooter was the "baby" until the real baby came along!

We are so thankful to have this precious baby boy come to our family. He has brought us so much joy. We are so grateful for our family and friends that have helped us so much with everything. We can't thank everyone enough for your love, support, meals... the list goes on. We are truly blessed.

-Kate

Daddy's Boy

It is so much fun to watch little Wes grow and change, and to discover the new personality traits that seem to emerge everyday. It is pretty clear that Wesley takes after his dad in a lot of ways. For example, I used to tease Grant about being a multiple sneezer. I have never in my life sneezed more than once at a time, but Grant ALWAYS sneezes at least twice in a row. Not long after we got home, we discovered that when Wes sneezes, he almost always sneezes twice in a row!

Also, shortly after we got home, we were told that Wes's jaundice was so bad that he had to be put on a belibed (a bed with fluorescent lights in it.) Since the belibed had to be in the crib in the nursery, Grant decided to "camp out" in there just to make sure everything was ok with the baby during the night, as well as to help me sleep since every noise the baby makes wakes me right up.) On the first night, at around 3 a.m., I went in the nursery to check on things. I looked in the baby's crib and saw Wesley sound asleep with his arm thrown over his head. I had never seen a newborn sleep like that before and I thought it was cute... but also familiar. Then I looked over at Grant on the blow up mattress next to the crib, and he was sound asleep in the exact same position! Yep, Wes is definitely his father's child.

-Kate

Happy 1 Week Birthday Wesley!

Our little Wesley is already one week old! Here are some recent pics. He's doing great! Isn't he cute!?

-Grant

Our Baby has arrived!

Hello Everyone!

Great news! Our baby has arrived. We are so excited as this is our first baby! His name is Wesley (middle name Grant). He's so cute! We love him so much and it's such a blessing to have him in our lives. He was born on 3/25/08 at 6:15 pm. He weighs 6 lbs 14 ounces, and measured 21 inches long. Both mom and baby are doing great! I'm sure that Kate will write more details later, but I wanted to get this posted.

Thanks to everyone for their love and support!

-Grant

Getting Ready for Baby

We have been super busy lately preparing for the new little addition to our family. Grant put together the crib, changing table, glider and even painted the nursery. (I know, that sounds like a lot of work. But I'm the one growing the baby. Grant had to do something, right?) Grant had an old white dresser that we decided needed a makeover. My aunt came over and the two of us painted little animals on the drawers to match the crib bedding. Our wonderful family and friends helped us prepare by throwing some awesome showers and giving us some much needed and appreciated gifts. Here are a few pictures of us getting ready for the baby!

It's about time!

I know, I know, it is about time we posted to our website. It has been months! We have been so busy preparing for the baby, that we just haven't had time. My last day of work was yesterday, and the baby hasn't made his grand entrance yet, so I have no more excuses.

Under Construction!

More to come soon!