Welcome Grandma!

Grandma Chris has arrived! This summer, she will watch Jack while Peter and I are at work (spoiling him rotten, no doubt:-).

Finding Jack a spot at nearby daycare is a near impossible task. The waiting lists are MILES long. Peter and I worried about it for months. We were sure he wouldn't be admitted anywhere until the end of the summer.

But, thankfully, Grandma Chris will pitch in. No caregiver could love him more!

A New Friend

A couple weekends ago, our friends -- Jason, Becky and their son Finnegan -- dropped by for a visit. It was a jam-packed weekend that included repairing our front porch (We no longer have to worry that it will collapse under the weight of our stroller. Hooray!) and a visit to the Dulles Air and Space Museum.

But, most importantly, Jack made a new friend. Finn is two and a half years older than Jack, but we're sure there was a connection. In a couple years, these two will be TROUBLE. In fact, when this photo was taken, Finn said he was giving Jack a kiss. But we think they actually were whispering conspiratorially.

My First Visit to a Bar...

...and I threw up.

About a half hour before my parents snapped this classy photo, I regurgitated a good fraction of the contents of my bottle all over myself and my father's shorts.

What can I say? Things got a little out of hand, and I drank too much. It certainly won't be the last time it happens.

Growing Like a Weed

Though his onesie says otherwise, it seems Jack is not at all vertically challenged. At this week's doctor visit, he measured 23.5 inches long -- a return to the 95th percentile. And he weighs in at 11 lbs., which puts him somewhere around the 80th percentile. Geez!

We were really happy to learn that he is growing so quickly. Not because we are planning his sports career, but because it indicates that we might be doing at least one thing right. All those late-night feedings seem to be paying off. As new parents without a clue, this is a very exciting revelation indeed:-).

Back to Work

Today marks my third day of work; I returned to the office on Monday. Not surprisingly, I miss Jack like crazy while I am away. At the conclusion of my first day, I practically sprinted home. As you can see from the photo, I was pretty eager to hold him as soon as I walked through our front door.

Thankfully, my manager has been very understanding, and, for a while, I will work from home two days a week. Also, Peter is watching Jack this week, and he sends photos of him to me every day. So, the transition has been better than expected.

In other news, I visited the doctor yesterday for my six-week check-up. I have been cleared to begin working out. Oh joy.

Onesie Monster

Why is it always so difficult the get a onesie over the head of an infant? I often have trouble squeezing one onto Jack.

When this happens, the dreaded Onesie Monster attacks. It is a flailing, shrieking little creature that paws at me until it is properly dressed. I try to reason with the Monster, telling it that the process would be faster if it held still, but it never listens to me. Good thing the Onesie Monster is so cute.

Lessons in Sharing

Today, I set up a new play mat for Jack. Before he had chance to enjoy his new toy, Ozzie parked himself on it and promptly fell asleep. Jack may not have any brothers and sisters, but he has to share just about everything he owns. Baby toys and bottles (as we quickly learned after finding a gnawed bottle nipple in our sink) are endlessly fascinating to our kitties.

If Jack is allergic to cats, we are in big, big trouble...:-)

An (Almost) Smile?

OK, OK... so it might be gas. Parenting books warn first-time parents that, during the early weeks, a newborn's smile is the result of digestive issues (not affection or excitement).

But lately, Jack's smiles seem to be the real deal -- most of them, anyhow (he still smiles when his stomach gurgles or he is preparing to soil a diaper:-). These days, when I talk to him, smile at him, or tickle him, Jack seems to respond.

It may be the wishful thinking of a rookie parent. But, today, this arrived in my inbox from "What to Expect": "By five weeks of age, when the corners of your baby's mouth curl up, you can safely attribute it to an actual social smile." Hooray!

I remain just a little bit skeptical, though. It is hard to capture Jack's smiles on film -- the photo above was the best I could do. I am leaving it up to all of you... is this a real smile?!?!

Rat Tail

What, exactly, is a rat tail?

The Urban Dictionary defines it as such: "A fashionable hairstyle of the late 80s and early 90s; a cousin to the mullet." It's essentially a disturbingly long clump of hair at the nape of someone's neck who has an otherwise short haircut.

Thankfully, rat tails fell out of style before we completed junior high. In fact, a true rat tail is rather hard to find these days. We haven't seen one in years.

Until Jack arrived. He was born making a fashion statement. Simply put: The rat tail is back.

Jack is sporting the beginnings of a REALLY sweet rat tail. It's odd -- it's the only part of his hair that seems to be growing. Jack is all business in front, but a party in back.

Big Boy!

Early this morning, Jack reached the five-week mark. And, the other day, we realized that he had outgrown an article of clothing -- a first! He is changing rapidly... even from one day to the next.

I took this picture yesterday while trying to help Jack overcome a bout of hiccups (Jack gets them all the time, poor guy! Tips for dealing with them are welcome!). He looked like such a big boy in this photo -- I couldn't resist posting it on the blog. Enjoy!

Signals

Every day, we get a little better at reading Jack's signals. Tonight, he made it very clear that he was NOT interested in his bottle... he really just wanted some tummy time before bed.

It will be a challenging week for me and Jack. This is my last week of maternity leave (I miss him already!), so I am trying to ensure that he is very comfortable eating from bottles. Next week, Peter will take the reins, and, the following week, Grandma Chris arrives! She will be watching Jack this summer until he manages to secure a place at a nearby daycare center.

I plan to publish lots of posts this week -- before life becomes even more hectic. Check back often!

Story Time

Jack may not yet be aware of much -- he still doesn't realize that he can control his arms and legs -- but we are determined to read to him as much as possible anyhow:-). We don't often reach the end of a book in one sitting, but we try.

Tonight, however, he was a very captive audience as Peter read "Mickey Mouse's Picnic." After hearing his mom blather all day long, he was excited to listen to his dad for a while.

You've Got Mail

These early months are filled with important milestones: First smile, first words, first steps...

And his first piece of mail! And not just any mail... his Social Security card. Jack officially can apply for a job, open a bank account, and collect Social Security benefits (eventually, of course).

Welcome to legitimacy, little man!

The Bouncy Chair

Jack becomes more alert and interactive every day. Yesterday, for the first time, he enjoyed spending time in his bouncy chair (and I can't blame him -- it looks pretty comfortable!).

I tried to teach him to kick the hanging toys with his feet, but, alas, he wasn't quite ready for that. He did, however, enjoy the music and flashing lights... for quite a while (and his mom got a little break!:-).

Happy Mother's Day!

Today, we salute all of the wonderful moms we know. We never realized how challenging (and rewarding!) parenthood can be until we tried it out ourselves.

Jack extends extra good wishes to Grandma Chris, Grandma Babb, Great-Grandma Hoffmann, and Great-Grandma Leaf. Without you, he wouldn't be here!!

Tummy Time

These past few days have been tough for Jack. He has been very fussy, and his doctor thinks he may be suffering from a slight case of acid reflux. It seems his digestive tract needs to work out a few kinks.

As a result, sleep has eluded Jack -- and his parents! -- recently. When I walked past a mirror at Target today, I almost didn't recognize myself. Calling my eyes puffy would be a serious understatement. I honestly don't know how Peter has survived the work week.

Despite his belly issues, Jack is gaining weight (he put on nearly a pound during the past week!) and thriving. He holds his head up fairly well, and he really likes tummy time (see the photo above:-). And, one of these days, he is going to roll over -- his early attempts to do so have been surprisingly successful!

Hurricane Jack Takes a Heavy Toll

At 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Hurricane Jack wreaked havoc on his bedroom at 533 N. Piedmont Street, defiling a changing pad, his dresser, the wall, the floor, and his mother's shirt. The damage from the storm will require a massive clean-up effort, which is expected to take at least 30 minutes.

"I didn't realize a newborn could make such a mess," said Patty Babb, age 29. "Every time I tried to change him, he would relieve himself before I could completely strap on a new diaper." (The photo above captures only a fraction of the destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Jack.)

As of 10:20 a.m., the category 5 weather system had been downgraded to a tropical storm. After making landfall, Hurricane Jack traveled 20 feet west of his bedroom to his parents' bed, where he is now sucking on a pacifier.

"Hurricane Jack could strike again at any moment," said Babb as the distinct rumblings of yet another storm sounded nearby. "You try to stay prepared, but, sometimes, these storms get the better of you."

First Night Out

Unfortunately, this photo isn't especially clear... this is Jack, sleeping as we eat dinner out for the first time as a family. If you strain your eyes, a bowl of pho, two beer glasses - all empty - can be seen in the background. We walked to Minh's, a terrific Vietnamese restaurant several blocks from our house.

It was a success - thanks in large part to his passing out while we were en route, and his staying asleep for most of the meal! We were able to sit outside, far away from other diners, and in a portion of the patio that provided plenty of space for us to gently rock his massive stroller if needed to quell any stirring. Jack was great until the very end -- when we were about three blocks from home, he finally had a meltdown. Hooray!

Free at Last!

We haven't given up swaddling, but, a few nights ago, we gave sleep sacks a try... and Jack loves them! Look at that wingspan! He needs to stretch out those crazy long arms (he can thank his mom for them).

In other news, Jack already has had a taste of awkward adolescence. He has developed infant acne!! Yes, that's right... acne. Once again, he can thank his mom for this newly acquired trait -- apparently, my late pregnancy/breastfeeding hormones are to blame.

So, until the acne subsides (hopefully, in just a few weeks!), we will avoid taking close-up shots. When Jack actually reaches adolescence -- and his first girlfriend wants to see baby photos -- we're sure he'll thank us for our discretion:-).