Carter's Dedication

Last weekend was busy, busy, busy!  We decided to have Carter dedicated on Mother's Day Sunday.  Mother's Day has been a hard day for me for years, with all the infertility.  So I thought it appropriate that we dedicate Carter to the Lord on that day.  We promise to raise this little guy in a Christian family and teach him about Jesus the best we can.  The big day came and we had a chance to take pics with our pastor, Chuck Swindoll.

It was a bit nerve-wracking because babies are just plain unpredictable (at least ours have been!).  I was praying he wouldn't projectile spit up all over the church's carpet or us!  And he'd had a few days of blowouts in a row, so that was another possibility, too.

 And then we just happened to be right in the middle, so everyone watching Chuck also pretty much watched us.  Eek!

Thankfully, Reid was absolutely perfect during the dedication (not so much later on--he ran around like a maniac, which he knows is NOT okay at church, especially!) and Carter waited until his name was called to have a huge poopie, then promptly began screaming and spitting up as we were walking out the door of the auditorium.  Fun times.  He and I spent the rest of the service in the nursing mother's room where I frantically changed him (yep, turned into a blowout), fed him, and he finally napped in my arms.  Reid and the cousins went to Sunday school, and everyone else who came to support us got to hear the sermon.  Everyone fetched their kids and we took advantage of extra hands to take pics after the service.  Four generations of fine French men!

Our complete family of four

 Grandpa French, Marilyn (Mimi), and the grandsons

We'd also gotten together the day before, when Papa, Grandpa, and Marilyn came into town.  I was proud that I actually remembered to take pictures!  They were so sweet to bring Reid a neat little car, and Carter a cute little train.  Reid immediately decided he'd play with Carter's toy until he was big enough, too.

That evening, everyone came back over for a little dinner and chatting.  Steve brought over Campisi's (yum!) salad, pizza, and goodies.  The cousins all played in the backyard.  Reid had already had a bath, but he promised to stay on the porch since he was in his pj's.  Riiiiiiiight... He and Harrison ended up filthy because they somehow made it into the sandbox and had it everywhere...along with black feet from running around in the mulch.  Aimee and I bathed them and the tub looked like the beach later on! Double trouble, these two...

  

Everyone was totally tuckered out.  I found these three cuddled up on the couch.  

And this little guy just keeps getting cuter and cuter.  If he could only sleep like this through the night, we'd all be good!  ;)

2 Months

Our big guy took some fabulous pictures at school.  With his hatred of the camera being so evident, we coached him on smiling and made it a funny game.  But just our luck...something was wrong with the file when it went to the printer and it wouldn't print correctly.  I was so bummed because it's probably one of the best pictures he's taken, but the photographer was very apologetic and sweet about it and ended up giving us the digital files of the other pics she took.  Cute, but not adorable like that first one we'd loved and ordered...

Two months!!  Our little guy isn't quite so little anymore.  It's good because it means that, despite ALL the spitting up, he is indeed getting the nutrients he needs.  I'm very curious to see how much weight he's gained since his reflux appointment two weeks ago, when he was about 10 1/2 pounds.  We ended up switching from Zantac to Prevacid.  If he is still having bad reflux issues, we have a few other options: switching from breastmilk to formula (in case of a milk protein sensitivity), adding rice cereal to his milk (which they don't like to do this early on), or switching meds again.  But for now, I am just thankful he seems to be a bit better.  How do they grow so fast??  This is our last baby, and the time is flying even faster than it did with Reid.  I mean, look at those long legs!

So I actually had this entry ready to go last week, before my first week back at work, but then I realized I didn't use the cutesy monthly stickers I'd gotten.  So yes...you've been waiting a week for this one pic.  He looks like a little baby doll!!

In between all the spitting and screaming (poor guy!) we are getting more and more coos and smiles.  He seems to be a very social little guy and LOVES it when anyone smiles at him.  His coos crack me up, too, because he's said real words somehow (yes, I know it's not on purpose).  I've gotten "mama" a few times, Reid heard him say "no" today, and a few more shockingly recognizable words in among the goos and ahhs.

"Guh!"

Sometimes the little guy smiles so big that I'm afraid he might hurt his face.  Love it!!

But we do still get a lot of crying and some screaming...especially during the "witching hour(s)" of the afternoon.  You can't help but giggle when he gets out the pouty lip or a chin quiver.  The worst part is trying to give him his Prevacid on an empty stomach so he doesn't spit it up (but he does spit it up and/or spit it out...it's a little dissolvable pill that you mix with a little water, cross your fingers, and try to gently shove it down his throat).  Easier said than done...he eats all the time!  So it has to be about an hour after he eats or 30 minutes before he eats.  And inevitably, no matter what the time, he will decide he wants to eat, and eat NOW.

Reid continues to be a wonderful big brother.  We'd been praying about it for months before Carter's arrival and he continues to shock us with the cute little things he does, like taking Carter a paci, saying "I think Carter likes that!" and including Carter with our bedtime prayers each night. ("Carter, what do you want to pray for?")  Aunt Laura got them adorable matching shirt/onesie...I couldn't resist snapping a picture.

One of my goals on maternity leave was to finish Reid's baby book.  Yes, it's nearly four years in the making...my art and "outlet" of sorts.  But it's hard to squeeze time in between constant pumping/feedings, time with Reid, and the normal household cooking and cleaning.  But I finally did it!  Only problem?  No way will it fit in the actual scrapbook, lol.  I also feel a little bit guilty because I'm thinking Carter will probably never have one of these.  Just a baby book, most likely, which I have already worked hard on and filled out all I can so far.

Another guilt-inducing issue is making sure we're still remembering to take pictures of Reid!  I just wish I could clone myself (or at least grow some more arms so I can quiet Carter while still preparing Reid's breakfast or packing his backpack, etc.)  Our handsome church goer...

Cowboy Day at preschool!

And later...naked cowboy evening at home!

Reid's imagination is wonderful and so innocent.  I sure hope it stays like that!  My little buddy cracks me up every day.  I'm going to miss our somewhat leisurely wake up and breakfast times we've enjoyed during my maternity leave. 

From last week...before I actually got around to finishing and posting this:  Come Monday morning, I am officially back full time.  Not exactly sure how that's going to work with me having to get all three of us up, dressed, packed, and ready to drop off early at Holli's so I can race to school to pump before the students come.  I also already have meetings during my planning time three of the five days next week, too--eek!  (another pumping issue)  So I would love any prayers you can send up for me.  I'm very thankful my class is so sweet and I look forward to seeing them.  The meetings, red tape, and paperwork...I have definitely not missed ;)

Update:  That first day back was absolute hell.  I'm sorry...there is literally no other word for it.  I am grateful for the prayers and that (plus a Dr. Pepper a sweet mom ran to Sonic to get for me) are the only things that helped me survive that day.   The rest of the week was a little better.  I pumped my bootie off (too bad THAT isn't literal...I'm still in maternity pants...boo!) and after a complete meltdown after church today, I decided I'm done.  I can't survive pumping around the clock, having a full time job (where you have to be "on" ALL day), having an almost four year old and 2 month old, sleep deprivation, cooking, cleaning, etc. any longer.  Come 12 weeks and I am done!!!  Something's gotta give.  A friend of mine said her neurologist told her that if she could feed breastmilk for 12 weeks, she was golden.  Good enough for me.  I can't make Carter sleep any longer, I can't quit my job, I can't avoid fixing meals or cleaning the necessary stuff (believe me...the non essential stuff has gone by the wayside!), but I can transition him to formula knowing that I gave it my best. 

Easter

We have been sooo busy with Easter festivities!  I wanted to post them asap on Monday, but I seriously don't know where the time goes.  Oh, wait...pump, feed, clean, repeat 7 or 11 more times.  That's where!  I have been so excited to be a pseudo stay at home mommy for the past two months.  Ironically, the only unusual thing Reid's preschool had going on that I got to see (that I'd normally miss since it's during working hours) during that time was their Easter egg hunt, but it's been great just to drop him off and pick him up.  Their egg hunt was last Thursday.  I am amazed that his wonderful teachers can get eight three and four year olds to actually get in a line.  Some of my kindergarteners still have issues with that.  It had rained only a few minutes prior and sprinkled on us outside for a minute, but thankfully the hard rain held off until later.

On your mark, get set, go!  The teachers had coached the kids on picking up twelve eggs (the same number we'd filled and sent in) so everyone would have an equal amount.  It was really cute to watch the kids counting and hunting.  One of Reid's friends came over and sweetly shared and plunked three eggs in his basket (but we had to toss them back out for someone else to find since Reid had 12).

This Dollar Tree quick fix basket I got last year has come in handy for so many things!  I didn't want his nice Easter Bunny basket to get dirty or grassy.

Reid's preschool class

Ms. LaLinda and Ms. Shannon had ladybugs and butterflies they'd been studying and watching in class.  They released them to symbolize new life (just as Jesus' resurrection symbolizes our chance at new life if we trust Him as our savior).  It was really cute to listen to how another teacher explains this to 3 and 4 year olds...and how wonderful that they can talk about God and Jesus at school every day!!  Sure wish I could...

"Look, Mommy...the ladybug tickles me!"

Since it would basically be my only chance, I went ahead and took Reid home with me instead of having him go to Kids Klub (where he stays and plays from 2 until whenever I come before 5:30).  He was SO excited to open his eggs and see what treasures they held.  He ended up with five erasers, "One for you, Mommy...one for Carter, one for Daddy, one for Dixie, and two for me!" two stampers, a popper, a slinky, and stickers.  Happy, happy, happy!

Our neighborhood puts on an annual egg hunt the Saturday before Easter each year.  We made sure we were there way ahead of time to get a good spot and scope out the eggs and candy they'd put out.

Reid was super excited and waited very patiently.  We made the mistake of telling him about the special golden egg (he spotted it...right in the very center of the field) that he could get that would earn an Easter basket treat.  But once the hunt began, a four or five year old girl ran out and got it.  Rather than just picking up the other eggs, Reid burst into tears and ran back to us as all the eggs were being snatched up.  At the end, he ended up with four eggs...and the two pieces of candy he'd gotten fell out because he was pouting and crying about the darn golden egg.  He has been so into "winning" anything competitive lately!  Hoping he grows out of that pouty part of it because you can't win everything in life, as I keep trying to explain.

The line for bunny pictures was chaotic.  The lady wasn't set up at 9:30 like planned, she was all by herself (her young daughter did end up assisting, which helped out a little), then they chose a location where cars could drive/park behind (and yes, that happened in two of our pics, of course).  But she emailed them to us (free!) so then I felt bad for griping to Jason...

After church, Steven and Aimee invited us over to their new house for brunch.  Steven had smoked a ham...and dare I say it's the best one I've ever had!!  The icing on the cake was that he also made us eggs Benedict.  SO good :)  The big boys all had fun playing and our little one was such a good napper.  We enjoyed catching up and spending time with them all, plus I actually remembered to bring our camera so we could get the rare family pic.

The French cousins (who can sit up)

Our little bunny was such a cutie on Easter.  Along with the new beginnings you always think about on Easter day, it was extra special this year with a new little life in our family.  We are so thankful for Carter, but most importantly we are thankful for Jesus and what he did for all of us. 

1 Month

I actually started this post last week, but it's been crazy!!  I feel like every day is sleep (haha...I wish!), change, feed, pump, eat, play with my other kid, try to squeeze in some hubby time in our (only) hour and a half together in the evening, shower, repeat.  I'm literally having trouble keeping up with my days.  Remember the movie Groundhog Day?  ;)  Kind of reminds me of that.  Luckily, I know the feeds will eventually space out some, he will sleep through the night someday, etc.  Wouldn't change any of it for the world, but wow--I think you kind of block this part out after you have your first kid.

Well, I can't believe it, but in the chaos after we got home from the hospital, I totally didn't think to take a newborn picture in Carter's chair.  Too late now...but it would have been nice to compare and see how he's grown.  So far he's gained exactly a pound from his original birth weight and grew three inches (something tells me they didn't measure so accurately at the hospital, lol).  Here's our little guy:

But a more accurate picture of how the last week has been would be:

Carter has had feeding issues and latching issues since day one, but it's just gotten increasingly worse.  I am determined to give him the best start I can with breast milk, but wow.  I was hoping that since Reid was seriously hard to feed, this one would be easy.  Wrong!  I won't bore you with the details, but this poor little guy has gotten fussier and fussier...pulling up his legs, screaming after feeds, horrible gas (even with copious amounts of simethicone), and starting last week he began spitting up.  Don't get me wrong--all babies spit up, but this is not normal.  He seems to be in pain and screams/cries, especially at feeding times, yet he's seriously hungry.  But he's gone from eating about 3oz on most feeds to barely finishing 1oz at a time (which takes an hour to wrestle down)...which is scary.  He also no longer sleeps much.  So I couldn't wait for our one month check up to see what was going on.  Turns out he most likely has GERD, so we began baby Zantac on Wednesday afternoon.  It has been heart-wrenching to watch my little baby writhe around in pain and wake up screaming repeatedly (if he even gets to sleep at all).  But it also makes me realize there are sooooo many other babies out there who have way more problems than acid reflux, so we are sure hoping that's all it is and praying that the Zantac works for him!  He's only been on it since last Wednesday afternoon, so it hasn't quite been a week.  I think he generally sleeps a bit better (he was waking up screaming multiple times a night and virtually didn't nap longer than 10 minutes during the day), at the very least, so that's something.  I thought giving him the medicine wouldn't be so bad after the first few days were pretty much a breeze, but he's since figured out how to spit it out.  ALL of it.  So I'm getting little tips here and there in hopes that I'll be able to get a full dose in his tummy once again!  We covet your prayers for this little guy, and for us so that we'll learn what helps him (and what does not!). 

As March comes to an end, we had some fun pictures I wanted to be sure to share.  Carter's first St. Patty's Day was pretty sublime.  I realized he's exactly a size or two off from all of Reid's cute holiday outfits.  At least I found a bib and this cute hat!  I offered Reid green eggs and/or ham...no takers.  Maybe next year.

  

Papa and Mamare (sorry about the different spellings, Mamare--I've got it, now :)  came up to watch H3 while Uncle Steve and Taunt went to New Orleans for a wedding.  On Friday after a marathon of dropping off the H's in their respective schools, they came to say hi and see how Carter was doing.  I felt bad because he screamed most of the time, but I sure enjoyed the adult company during the day!  How cute is this picture??

We went to see Papa and Mamare one more time before they left town.  On Sunday after church, we swung by to visit.  Reid was in heaven with three cousins to play with and their "awesome" toys (his words!).  I'm thankful Mamare thought to get a picture of all the boys...so cute!  It did occur to me how funny it was, too...four adults, all with their phone cameras, making cheesy faces and insisting the five little people smile.  They were such good sports.

And this one really cracked me up because no one was looking in the same direction...and Hayden was the only one actually listening and saying cheese ;)

 

We really do get this guy to sleep sometimes.  He would prefer to sleep ON me all the time if it were up to him.  He passes out when he does that.  But Mommy has a few things that require both hands (as in, everything!!) and I'm slowly figuring out what he needs to sleep for an extended period of time.  He seems to hate when I swaddle him, but he sleeps so much better. 

He also grunts and moves around way more than I remember Reid doing.  I read a ton of literature online (only from reputable sites, of course) and apparently that's pretty common with reflux babies.  In retrospect, I kind of wonder if Reid had a mild case of silent reflux when he was really little.  He fit the description of a lot of that, but rarely spit up so we wouldn't have known.  Here's how Carter will start off at night in his bassinet (pic below): pj's, Snuggle Me swaddle blanket with velcro (think baby straight jacket, lol!), then a big, light swaddle blanket on top.  But by the next feeding, he's worked himself down the slope in the bassinet (it's angled up now to help the reflux), unswaddled the exterior blanket, and worked his arms out of the bottom of the Snuggle Me, and isn't happy that he's not warm for some reason.

And in some of the most exciting firsts, we are officially getting smiles!!  This is the best picture I've gotten so far, but we've gotten some great gummers.  There's nothing more gratifying than your baby sending the "I love you, too!" message in between the fussy moments.  Melts my heart.  It's like baby crack...you just can't get enough!  Can't wait to see more!