2 Months!

I often find myself looking back at pictures from Frankie's first days - I can't believe how small he was!  A mere 5 lbs 11 oz coming home from the hospital...and a whopping 12 lbs 2 oz at his 2 month check up!  He's growing up so fast and acted like such a brave little boy at his doctor's appointment, staying strong for his 2 shot vaccines and 1 oral vaccine...I think I had more tears in my eyes than he did!  It seems like overnight Frankie's become so interactive - He's smiling a lot and 'talking'...We've even gotten a few laughs out of the little man.  He's enjoying longer tummy time sessions and has pretty strong neck control.  We recently introduced his ocean-themed playmat and he's a big fan of "BO" (the stuffed blue octopus).  He's in such a playful mood when he wakes up and smiles and talks while we have him on his changing pad first thing in the morning.  He's really into watching our shadows on the wall while laying on his changing pad and has a blast watching our hand puppet shadows that we make for him.  We still haven't had any luck with the bottle but we keep trying...I'm not sure when we need to get 'harsh' and deny him from breastfeeding until he takes the bottle.  Frank and I just aren't at that point yet.  We have our good days/nights and not-so-good days/nights.  We went through a few weeks where Frankie was extremely fussy around 6pm, but over the past few nights that's drastically changed into one of his best moods of the day!  This past Sunday night was especially bad and Frankie was up off-and-on until almost 1am crying from what we discovered was gas pains.  Frank ran out and got gas drops which seemed to help a lot.  He's a pretty stubborn napper now that he's become so much more aware of his surroundings - While visiting Megan and her boys the other day he refused to nap but was actually in a good mood the whole time.  He had a few cat naps when we got home and once finally falling asleep around 7:30pm, he slept until 1:20am...his longest stretch to date!  His second wake up wasn't until 5:30am - What a glorious night that was!  However, the following night he put up a fight going to bed and didn't fall asleep until almost 9 and was back into his 2-3 hour wake-ups.  I keep reminding myself that we can't get frustrated with him because everything is still so new to him, so we keep rolling with the punches! 

We've been keeping pretty busy - between our new mom's 'playgroup', the breastfeeding support group, Christmas shopping, and visiting with friends - the days fly by. My favorite is when we have down time at home and Frankie's sitting in his swing and we have our little conversations and I get some of the biggest smiles. Gosh, that boy melts my heart already.

BO talking to Frankie

Morning play session on the changing pad - Check out those chubby legs! :)

Bath time!

Happy 2 month birthday to our perfect little man!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Per our tradition, we planned to cut down our Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving.  Frank, not wanting to be the only one to 'enjoy' the adventure, had a great idea and decided to make it a group event, so we met Chuck, Kristen, Mike, MK, Mark, Sarah, Greg, Eugenia, and all of their little ones at Ticonderoga Farm on Friday afternoon and came home with a beautiful tree.   

Chopping down our tree

Part of the crew

Us!

Frankie checking out his first Christmas tree

Happy Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving Frank & I decided to take the day just for our new family, just the three of us.  While it was a difficult decision to not spend the holiday with our extended family, we truly enjoyed the day and indeed gave thanks for our little blessing, Frank Thomas. 

I decided that even though it was just going to be the three of us, I still wanted a big Thanksgiving meal so I cooked my first turkey.  Buying the turkey proved more eventful than cooking it...Frankie and I went to the grocery store and half way through the trip, he had enough and really started crying.  Feeling as though everyone was looking at us and wanting me to 'shut that baby up', I panicked but then got my bearings, went down a somewhat deserted isle and was able to console Frankie and finish the trip!  I had visions of leaving my bird and all the other fixings and running out of the store!  After a full Thanksgiving meal, we enjoyed a long walk after dinner, and lots of quality time with our little man.  Indeed a day to be thankful for!

My Boys

Our little turkey



And this was before eating the turkey!

Our spread

Our family

Mommy & her little man

6 Weeks

Well, sadly 6 weeks does not equal 6 straight hours of sleep, at least for our house.  But it does equal a much more alert Frankie who is starting to be a tad interactive!  Twice this week I got a big smile out of the little guy when he saw my face...and I'm quite certain those smiles were genuine and not 'gassy smiles'!  He's starting to 'talk' this week, too!  He enjoys being in his swing and looking at the lights in the living room and coo-ing.  He's starting to focus on the sheep in his mobile, too!  And this morning while sitting in his bouncy seat, it seemed as though he was focusing on his reflection in the mirror above.  Another HUGE milestone this week:  Frankie rolled over from his tummy to his back!  Totally by accident of course, but during tummy time, he was kicking his legs so much that he rolled himself over.  Of course I tried to do everything I could to get him to do it again so I could capture it on video, but that wasn't going to happen! 

This week we've also encountered a few challenges:  1.  Despite taking his first bottle extremely well, Frankie has since decided that he's not a fan of the bottle.  He'll drink about one ounce and then cry and protest until he's breastfed.  We're heading to our Breastfeeding Support Group tomorrow to get some tips on how to get the little guy to drink from his bottle.  2.  Frankie hasn't been sleeping very well the past few nights, either.  He hasn't been sleeping for long stretches at night (even 2 hours would be a blessing!) and I've had some trouble getting him to nap.  I've read that at 6 weeks when babies become more alert of their surroundings, they tend to be more fussy but it should calm down after a week or two, so we are keeping our fingers crossed.

Frankie also had his first sleep-over this week - On Saturday we traveled to Aunt Laura & Uncle Jon's for 'Fakesgiving' and spent the night.  He actually did very well for spending his first night in unfamiliar surroundings.  And Mommy discovered it's quite challenging traveling solo with an infant!  (Daddy had a soccer tournament so Mommy & Frankie drove out in the morning and he met us later on.) 

This week I finally packed up Frankie's newborn clothes, something I admittedly should have done at least one week ago, but I was in denial that my little guy had outgrown them!  He's officially moved on to 0-3 months!  He's also on to size 1 diapers - Our little guy is growing up!

I have video of Frankie 'talking' but it's while he's in his swing and it really makes you dizzy watching it!  I'll try to get a better video to post, but for now, here are some pictures of the big guy:

Mommy's little stinker! His first jeans!

More tummy time!

Frankie met Santa!

5 Weeks

5 weeks = 5 hours sleep! For the past two nights, Frankie has had 5 hour stretches of sleep! Yes! Yes! Yes! However, those stretches have been in his Pack 'n Play bassinet which is set up in the living room...which means Mommy has been sleeping on the couch...but hey, no complaining here...I'll take 5 hours wherever I can get it! :)

I've noticed that Frankie is starting to develop somewhat of his own routine...mid morning he'll be awake and we get in some play time and he's also usually awake around 5-6pm. However, in the evenings he fights going back to sleep which results in over-stimulation and means the little guy can get very fussy!

Poor Frankie lost most of his hair on top of his head within the past week but he still has a descent amount around the sides and back of his head. I still can't get over how fast he's growing - He's getting little chubby cheeks and is starting to develop chunky legs. I think the chubby cheeks make him look a bit more like Mommy; Otherwise this kid is a spitting image of his Daddy.

We had another big first this week...Daddy gave Frankie his first bottle on Friday, 11/11! The little guy got the hang of it pretty quick - Here's a video of him in action...check out how he's holding the bottle! :)

Watching soccer with Daddy - In his authentic Fulham 'kit'

"Goooooal"

"No pictures please!"

"Ooops - Did you hear that?" 

Definitely our Big Guy - Check out that roll under his chin! (No offense, Frankie!)

Lazy morning in bed with Daddy

First bottle!

1 Month!

My intention was (and still is) to keep the blog going so our family (and friends) can keep up with the exciting happenings of Frankie's life...and so Frank & I can use it as a 'memory book' to look back on - I've just fallen a bit behind this first month! Hopefully I'll be better going forward!

First, how in the world did our little boy become 1 month old already?!? It seems just like yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital. Frankie had his 1 month check-up yesterday where he weighed in at a whopping 9 lbs. 1 oz! Remember, he was only 6 lbs 7 oz when he was born and then we had the scare in the hospital because he'd dropped more than 10% of his body weight, only weighing 5 lbs 11 oz when we brought him home...After supplementing with formula for the first few days and after several weight checks at the doctor's office that first week, we were assured his weight gain was on the right track. He was up to 6 lbs 11 oz at his two week check and now put on more than 2 lbs in 2 weeks! Phew!

During the past few weeks, we've started introducing Frankie to tummy time which he enjoys and is showing pretty good head control. During playtime, we also use an Old MacDonald finger puppet book which I think he likes (minus Mommy's singing) - and he's started to focus on the rattle and follow the sound with his eyes. Next week, we'll start him practicing his soccer moves...Kidding!

Some highlights from Frankie's first month:

- Lost his umbilical cord on 10/22
- First solo trip with Mommy (to Harris Teeter) on 10/25
- First real bath on 10/29
- First party on 10/29 (Oktoberfest at the Diviney's)
- First pacifier 11/6

This first month has been amazing - Frank & I are truly loving parenthood and could sit and watch our little guy all day! I can't wait for him to really smile and laugh for us - but for right now I'm content on the involuntary smiles and laughs I get...they just melt my heart!

Coming home for the hospital...look how tiny he was!



Flexing his muscles with Daddy!



Our little Libra...look how his face has started to round out:



Frankie's not much a fan of being naked...which means diaper changes, getting dressed and baths = crying


His Halloween lambie costume:


Since day 1, he's been a fan of sucking his thumb:


His first pair of overalls!

39 Weeks

Dear Baby D,

At exactly 39 weeks, Mommy had a regularly scheduled doctor's appointment in the late morning and was told that she was 3 cm dilated and that you could really come at any time, but also that many people hang out at 3 cm for awhile...Very much a wait-and-see game. That evening Mommy was getting ready to have dinner with one of her girlfriends when her water slowly started to break! Mommy called her doctor and was told to come into the hospital! Daddy left for work while Mommy patiently went through her bags one last time to ensure we had everything we needed for our hospital stay. Around 7pm on 10/5, we were officially checked into the hospital and around 8pm the doctor confirmed that my water had indeed broke. Mommy & Daddy alternated walking around the hospital and sitting in the labor & delivery room, managing through my irregular contractions. At around 11pm, Mommy decided to go for the epidural and was ready to begin pushing a little before 1am. Then, on 10/6 at 1:50am, Mommy & Daddy received the most beautiful, precious gift in the whole world...our very own little boy, weighing 6 lbs 7 oz and 19 inches!!! Welcome to world, Frank Thomas DeMarco!

Love Always,
Mommy

38 Weeks

Dear Baby D,

This week's doctor appointment was pretty uneventful - your heartbeat and all of Mommy's vitals were good - and that about sums it up! It's just a wait-and-see game now...many people have started to speculate about when you'll make your grand entrance and with a full moon on October 11th, the majority have their money riding on 10/11/11 for your birthday.

Things at home were MUCH more eventful than our doctor's appointment this week...your nursery is officially complete! Grammy & Aunt Laura came to visit and took charge of washing all of your clothes, blankets, etc, and judging by the pictures below, I'd say they did a great job! Mommy & Daddy also put together the stroller base for your car seat, the BOB, bouncy seat, swing, and high chair. You have officially started to take over the house (but we're ok with that)! Oh - and both my bag and your bag are packed for our hospital stay...now we just have to make sure Daddy gets his things together.

Tick-tock...when are we going to get to meet you??

Love Always,
Mommy



Front View this week:


Your Room!