I'm Sleepy!

I tried taking Barrett's 4 month pictures but he wasn't having it...we took 2 and he was done! The 2nd picture is right before he pitched a fit!

This past week has exhausted me! I don't have Barrett on a "set" schedule or anything but he generally eats every 3 hours, goes to bed between 9 and 11 pm, and wakes up between 8 and 10 am. So he has a "general" schedule. When he spends the night away from home, he gets off schedule for a few days, after he returns home. He spent the night with someone last week and has been off schedule since. He has woken up multiple times a night for the past week. Luckily, I think he's finally getting back in the swing of things. He only woke up once between 11 pm and 9 am last night. To top things off, he got his 4 month shots on Monday. I figured it would be easier this time around but it was much worse. He didn't want to eat until late last night and ran fever until this morning. He's been really fussy the past 2 days but today was much better and he's eating better too.

Barrett and I went to Baker's Rack with my best friend today and spent the rest of the day with her. She's a teacher and on Spring Break this week, so we took advantage of it and had a great time. I attempted feeding Barrett cereal again tonight. We tried it once when he turned 3 months old and it didn't turn out well. He was constipated and gassy from the cereal, which led to him crying for practically 2 entire days. He sat in his high chair for the first time tonight too. He LOVED his high chair and looked like such a big boy in it. The cereal on the other hand...not so much. I couldn't spoon it in his mouth quick enough for him. I figured I'd try it when he wasn't "starving" so that this wouldn't happen but it really didn't make a difference. Oh well. We'll probably try it again in a week or so. His pediatrician said that he would wait until 6 months old to give him cereal but that it wouldn't hurt if I just wanted to give it to him. Barrett weighed 18 pounds 6 ounces and was 26.2 inches long! He isn't really fat, he's just built stocky. His measurements put him in the 97th percentile. I love my big boy and can't imagine him being a little baby! Everything else is going great with Barrett. His doctor did notice that his head is pushed in more on his left side, so we have to prop him on his right side, when he's lying on his back, playing. That way, his head will even out in the back. Barrett HATES lying on his stomach so that's not an option. I can't blame him though...what's interesting when you're looking at carpet? He plays alot in his Pack n' Play, Bumbo, or in his walker. He likes sitting up like a big boy, on his own.

He will be starting Mother's Day Out at Englewood next week, hopefully. I've filled out all of the paperwork and am going tomorrow to tour and finalize everything. It will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am-2:30 pm, which will be nice and convenient for me. Englewood is just down the road from work. Ty's mom is going to keep him on Wednesdays, so that I have 1 more day to work or run errands. He goes with me to work sometimes but it's hard to get anything done with him there.

Anyways, I am exhausted and better go to bed while I can. Between keeping up with Barrett this past week and having a rough week with my pancreatitis, I haven't gotten much sleep. I can't wait for my appointment at Vanderbilt in May or possibly sooner! Good night!

No News is Good News

Barrett will be 4 months old on March 21st and I can't believe it. He just started trying to roll over today. It's so weird. He showed no interest at all and suddenly today, he's almost completely rolling over. He can get to his side but can't master the full roll. I figure he's teething because he's chewing on everything still and gets fussy randomly. He talks ALOT now. Literally, he's usually either talking, laughing, or crying. He's hardly ever quiet. Right now, he's in his swing having a good conversation with himself :). I called Englewood today about Mother's Day Out, which would be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 to 2:30. They weren't sure if they had an opening, but I'm hoping she'll call me tomorrow and say they do. It will be a very nice break for me. I'll actually be able to work at work! He's been saying "mama" alot lately. I know it's just coincidence but I love it anyways! He's doing great sleeping at night still, too. He usually goes to bed around 11 and sleeps til atleast 8am. He won't go to bed any earlier than that but that's fine with me!

As far as my ongoing situation goes, I'm still just waiting. A doctor I recently saw has called 3 different hospitals in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Washington, to see if they can fit me in quicker than Vanderbilt. As of now, I have an appointment with Vanderbilt on May 10th and that's all I know. Hopefully, I'll get a call soon, saying that one of the other hospitals can get me in quicker. The problem is that this isn't considered "urgent" yet doesn't need to wait another almost 2 months to get fixed. So, I'm kind of put on the back-burner I feel. Luckily, I've got 2 doctors here that have been awesome at helping me when I need it. The others just brush me off as usual.

Besides that, everything is going smoothly. Therefore, I have no other news... ;) No news is good news, right? I'll update later.

March 3, 2011

To start, Ty's grandmother passed away today. It's been a sad day, for sure. I thought alot of her and hate that she had to go so soon. I really hoped Barrett would have her around longer because he would have loved her. Anyways, visitation is Saturday and her funeral will be Sunday. We've closed work tomorrow as well. When a close relative or friend dies, it somewhat puts things in perspective-what/who's important and what/who are not. You need to live every day like it is your last.

On a different note...I had something happen this week that scared me. I laid Barrett on my bed, with his blanket while I got ready. All of a sudden, I heard him making a gasping noise so I looked over and he had the blanket wrapped around his face. You always hear stuff about SIDS but I just never thought my "big" boy would be susceptible to it. I was obviously wrong. It's not like the blanket was smothering him either...supposedly, when something comes close to a baby's face, they just THINK it's smothering them and they quit breathing. Needless to say, we won't be using blankets at all anymore, unless he's in my lap with it. That may be overreacting a bit but it's getting warm outside anyways, to where we won't need one. I'd rather be safe than sorry. He moves and shifts alot at night in his crib now, so the blanket would be everywhere, including his face. When he was smaller, we could wrap it around him and it'd be the exact same the next morning...not anymore. The picture below is Barrett in his Bumbo earlier this week. He loves laughing now!

Anyways, that's my update for the week. I've got a busy weekend ahead. My sister's supposed to be coming Friday and then visitation Saturday and funeral Sunday. Everyone have a great week.

"Mother Knows Best"

Mother knows best...I have definitely found this to be true! My mother always knew what was best for me as a child, even though I may have not thought that at the time. The same applies to me, as a mother. I know what's best for Barrett and I feel like I've done a pretty good job of parenting so far. He's healthy, happy, and loved, which is what's important. A mother shares a special bond with her child that no one can come close to. A mother is irreplaceable. I can only dream for Barrett to love me as much as I love my mother. I've had some critiquing lately, which has brought up this subject. I feel for other new mothers that have to go through this. I'm sure at some point, every parent has the same issue. Anyways, I'm through with my rant for the day ;)

Barrett started losing some hair today :(. I was rubbing his head and noticed I had little hairs in my hand and all over his face. It's so weird how overnight, it decided to start falling out. He had so much to start with though, that it won't be a big deal. He has gotten so observant. He really likes watching his hands and feet lately. He mocks facial expressions too. He just started using his bumbo last week, since he's finally able to hold himself up completely. Time is flying by. He goes for his 16 week shots in about 2.5 weeks. We'll be equipped with Tylenol and his swing though, so we'll get through it! He's just an overall happy baby. He sleeps through the night and hardly ever fusses. I have to make sure he naps alot or he'll fuss. He doesn't get tummy aches much anymore. He spits up but what baby doesn't? He weighed 17 pounds the other day, according to our scale at home. That puts him in the 90-95th percentile! He's wearing 9 and 12 month clothes right now. I can't believe how big he is! I can tell in my back too, that he's getting bigger, from toting around his carrier.

I'll update again soon!