Checking in, and celebrating firsts!

Karson's one month checkup was today.  As I expected, the doctor said he was doing great!  He has a cold, but is dealing with it better than his mama did.  (Yes, I gave him a cold...I'm a jerk.)

Here are his stats:
10 lb 3 oz (75 percentile)
22.5 inches (90 percentile)
Head (90 percentile)

So he's a healthy growing boy!

Some of you may know, and some of you may not, but Karson does have a heart murmur that we are keeping a closer eye on.  He has a follow up appointment regarding that later in April.  But we are praying for and expecting the best.



We've also celebrated some firsts this week. 

Karson celebrated his first St Patty's day:

All partied out



The three of us enjoyed our first dinner out.  Granted it was Mexican, which is so fast it might not count.  But the outing was a success nonetheless!


And thanks to some warmer weather, Karson and I went for our first stroll around the neighborhood yesterday.  It was good to get out in the sun!  Right Karson?

Karson?

Karson???


"Are we outside yet?"

I guess he can't see the sun.  But he'll have to take my word for it. 

Wordless Wednesday

One Month!

Karson is one month old!

He's growing and changing every day.  Just this morning I watched him on the video monitor as he slowly opened his fingers over and over again, rubbing them against the edge of his bed.   As I type this, he is playing contently on his floor play gym. He bats and kicks the dangling toys and rattles. Likely more on accident than anything, but he's starting to discover the world around him nonetheless.

As of Friday, he weighed 9 lb 5 oz.  He continues to do well with nursing. 

His cries are starting to become more recognizable, and mama can usually figure out whether he's hungry, tired, has a dirty diaper...or is working on dirtying a diaper.  And in exciting news, cries are not his only sound now!  He's started to coo a bit as he finds his voice.

He still likes his swing and bouncy seat for napping, sleeps in his own bed at night, and loves to stretch out on the floor for play time. 

He continues to be a very alert little guy.

Karson is still wearing mostly newborn clothes, but small 0-3 clothes fit as well.  We just bought one more box of newborn diapers.  Same issue as I've mentioned previously....his belly has grown, but his legs and rear end aren't ready for a larger diaper yet.

Our goals for these coming weeks include continuing to pump and store ahead for when I go back to work, increasing his awake play time during the day, and getting on a more consistent schedule for feeding, bath, and bedtime.

Here's the updated shot of our little monkeys.

And here are some photos from his one month "photo shoot":

At first, I was frustrated because I didn't get a "good one".  He's never smiling (obviously) and will not stop staring at the ceiling fan and fidgeting around.  There's even a sneeze in there!  Upon further examination, I love every single one of these!  I literally couldn't choose which ones to include.   These silly faces ARE my baby, and I hope you enjoy some of these facial expressions as much as I did!

 My favorites are "Karson has a question" and his "shocked" face.  :-D We LOVE this little guy so much!

Wordless Wednesday

Three Weeks!

Karson was three weeks old as of yesterday! 

He's had a big few days.  He met his Kentucky cousins over the weekend, and got lots of new hugs and kisses.  It was great to introduce him to more family!

On Friday, he had a newborn checkup.  His circumcision and chord have been healing well, so he got the go ahead for a real bath.  All signs of jaundice are gone.  And he's a healthy GROWING boy as he weighed in at 9 pounds and measured 22.5 inches long.  That's right, I said 9 pounds!  One and a half pounds is a good chunk of weight to gain in two weeks...but as Papaw Cook pointed out...he could afford to gain a little weight to catch up with that long body!  He's filled out nicely and is pretty perfect if I do say so myself.  (And I do...often.)

Karson also went to church for the first time yesterday.  He did great!  And he took his first bottle feeding while we were there!  Here he is waking up from a nap in his Sunday best.

And to top off the weekend, he got his first real bath!  He loved it!  It went much better than his screaming sponge baths.  :-)  Although, as it turns out, he hates getting OUT of the bath, and getting dried off.  But it was progress nonetheless!

Other TIDWTF:
Karson has rolled on to his side on his own.  Already?  Yikes!
He sleeps in his bed, but we are still using the travel bed to help put him at an angle, and we're still swaddling him. 
He is eating more often now, eating every 2.5 to 3 hours during the day, and 3 to 3.5 hours at night. 
He is wearing newborn clothes, but they are starting to get a little snug on his belly and there's no room left for growth lengthwise either.  One piece footed PJ's are too short for his long legs. 
He sleeps in sleep sacks, and while they are some work to get on and they swallow his arms...they certainly make 2 am diaper changes easier! 
He's wearing newborn diapers.  While his belly has grown, he still has a tiny rear end and skinny thighs.
He now makes and maintains eye contact on a regular basis.  Such special moments!
Speaking of those eyes, they are taking on a blue tint.  They seem bluer every day!

Here's his three week pic.  Next time I do one of these updates...he'll be ONE MONTH OLD! 

Wordless Wednesday

Two weeks!

Ok, ok.  Two weeks...and two days.  Mama is still getting the hang of time management with a newborn.

Karson is doing great!  He's filling out and has the cutest belly ever.  We had a fussy Saturday night, followed by a very hungry Sunday, and an even hungrier Monday.  Many websites claim babies have a growth spurt at two weeks...and we are believers!  He has certainly gained weight, and Justin even swears he seems longer!  Maybe it's just that he's finally stretching those long legs out more.

Karson hates being changed, getting dressed, being bathed, or anything other than being warm and snuggled.  He loves eating, napping in his swing and bouncy seat, and of course...being snuggled (which his mama also enjoys.)

He now focuses in on our faces, will look toward overhead lights and ceiling fans, and has taken an interest in his hands.  He eats them more than he looks at them, but it's fun to watch him discover them.

His eyes have lightened, but I still consider them gray.  It does look like they'll turn blue or hazel eventually.

He eats every 2 to 3.5 hours during the day, and is starting to be awake more during the day.  At night he eats every 3 to 4 hours, sleeps well in between, and still lets us put him back in his bed even if he isn't asleep yet.

He goes back to the pediatrician on Friday for his checkup.  He'll also get to meet his remaining cousins this coming weekend.  So he has a big few days ahead of him.

Speaking of "big day".  I was officially allowed to drive, and lift more than the weight of just Karson as of yesterday.  So he and I celebrated by getting out of the house today.  We went to the bank, and of course...Walmart.  He did well!  

He's a good baby, and brings joy in to our lives each and every day! 

Here's his two week pic!

And here are a few other pics:




Doesn't know what's coming...




Bath time is torture!




Seriously mama...enough with the photos...