Growing

Last night we went to visit Joy. She just had her adorable baby girl, Brielli. She was born 2 weeks early and weighs almost as much as Patrick did when he was born, but oh my God she is so tiny! I swear Patrick was never that tiny!

I can't believe how much he has grown already! And now he is so very close to rolling over. He babbles, he grabs at everything (on purpose) and puts it right in his mouth. He is just amazing and I feel so blessed to have him. He's this perfect little creature and I can't believe he's mine. Ok, yes I do share him with Drew, I promise! So - I can't believe he's ours =)

People always say children grow up so fast. It is so true. I swear it was just yesterday that I was holding him for the first time, feeling so uncertain, so overwhelmed with this tiny thing I was now responsible for...and soon he'll be sitting up all on his own and eating solid food, and really talking...then walking...then going off to school...

But, today, right now, he needs to be snuggled. So I'm off to go do that =)

My first time alone with Patrick!

Yesterday, I spent my first afternoon/evening with Patrick all by myself. It was so much fun! I was a little nervous about running out of milk (which I did, right at the end), and whether or not he would be crying all the time. That last one I knew wouldn't happen, but that doesn't mean I wasn't worried about it. True to form, we had a great time together. He watched me play video games, and even helped a few times (grabby little hands)!!! He even slept a nice 2/3 hour stretch which let me just kind of relax by myself, which was nice. All in all, I'd say that I passed my first real test of handling a baby all alone. I can't wait for round 2!

Alone with Daddy

So Drew got to watch the baby for 5 hours yesterday. It was actually only supposed to be 3, but you know how life works. Thank goodness there was enough milk!

I came home and the baby was happy, dry, fed, and smiling. And Drew says they had a blast together.

Wonderful =)

Ma...Ma...Ma

Ok, they are just sounds. He's not actually saying "Mama" and it certainly isn't something he's associating with me...

But tell that to my little heart. Whenever I hear him say "ma...ma...ma" my heart just pitter-patters.

Dr. Franz

We had Patrick's 4 month check up today. By some fluke we ended up having the appointment with the very sought-after, difficult to schedule, Dr.Franz. What a fantastically awesome lady!!!

It was such a great appointment, we got so much awesome information, and mom and I will be going to a Chinese medicine seminar there this Sunday (Drew gets to babysit for the first time! Which I am sure will make for a great blog post this weekend - from both of us.)

I know we won't always be able to get an appointment with her, but I do hope we will get another one soon. She also has done more research and has new views on vaccinations so I get to do more research on that subject, but we all know how I love to go research crazy, so it'll be fun =D

Alright, and now the moment you've all been waiting for...the data...

Patrick is once again off the charts - 17.5lbs and 26.5inches. That is quite the gain and growth since his 2 month check-up. Dr. Franz said he's just perfect!

I love it when people say that =P

A Date

Drew and I went out on a little date today. We had a little breakfast together, watched Alice in Wonderland Imax3D (Awesome!!!) and drove around a bit with the windows down and chatted. My mom babysat for us. We had a really great time together, but we both found it funny that we really could have had the baby tag along and it probably would not have been much different. I mean, there was not this huge sense of relief with having a break from the baby. Regardless, we had a very nice time and I know my mom was excited to get to babysit.

I know it is important for us to be able to spend time together, just us. I feel very lucky to know that we will be able to do that on occasion, no problem. But it is also nice to realize that we really do get a good amount of "us" time even with the baby.

And yes, we did miss him while we were out =P

It was a really nice day with Drew. And when I got home I had a baby fall asleep in my arms -that was really nice too.

4 Months a Mommy

Patrick is 4 months old. Obviously this means that I have been a mommy for 4 months. I enjoy being a mommy. I actually really do. But, I feel very unmotivated, unfocused and a bit lost. Sometimes I find myself wondering "Now what?"

I spent 9 (10) months being pregnant and preparing for the baby, 14 hours bringing the baby into the world, and now, 4 months later...now what?

Of course there is a huge focus on Patrick, taking care of him and snuggling him like crazy. But what about me? The thing is, I have no idea! My wonderful acupuncturist has said that I need to find things to do just for myself, and I need to give the baby to other people to take care of. I thought those would be easy tasks, but they are not.

So now I need to figure out what I want to do. That has never been easy for me, and nearing 30, I really should have an idea shouldn't I?

It's funny to think I have been me for almost 30 years and have no idea what to do with myself, but I have been a mommy for only 4 months and seem to be doing that really well.

Mommy, don't leave me!

For the last couple of days Patrick has decided that if I am not snuggling him every moment that he is awake, there is something very wrong in his world, and he cries...screams really. He'll play in his bouncer, or kickin coaster for a few minutes, and then he'll realize I am not holding him and he starts fussing. God forbid I am not in the room when he wakes up from naps, that's when the screaming happens...

And then he sees me and it's like the sun is shining again. He smiles so big and happy and wiggles around hoping I'll pick him up (and I better too, or that smile quickly turns into the cutest little pout, and then the crying starts)

It is actually pretty cute, and makes me feel way loved...but I wonder where it came from!? It just suddenly started, and will probably go away just as suddenly...until then, forget about getting anything done! The only reason I am able to post this is because the cutie is passed out next to me.

I guess he's juts feeling a bit unsure and lonely. How lovely to think that while he's so young, I can fix that! How I fear the teenage years...

I will gladly get all my snuggles in now until then, when even if it would make it all better, he'd never admit it. LOL*

Life...

I'm a terrible poster. I feel like sometimes I never have enough hours in the day to get everything done. I always want to make Sandi happy, but I don't want to do diapers! *laughs* I do do them, but I know I'm getting off easier than most guys. So I'm definitely trying to get better about being proactive with Patrick.

Patrick is the most wonderful baby I've ever known (bias notwithstanding). Just an unbelievably happy baby, and it makes me feel like such an amazing guy to have even had a say in this baby's development and life. I really am so proud of him already.

School is going well, and I'm ready to take a break, which is good because spring break is up in 8 weeks! Woooo! *laughs again* I'm shooting for another A, and I have no idea how I got a nice solid B in stats. :\

Regardless, I love my family and I love my life and even with aches and pains and everything else, I am so extremely happy at this point in my time here on Earth.


Love to everyone.

Love to Sandi and Patrick,

Daddy D.

Happy Birthday Blog!

The blog is officially 1 year old!

One year ago yesterday I made my very first post here. It is amazing to me how much my life has changed since then, how much I have changed.

In honor of this blog's birthday and all those life changes, I have made a few changes to the blog. =)

I hope you all like the new look!