Happy Boy!

 

We are seeing a lot of smiles lately, and a few times I think I am hearing what is soon to be a laugh. . .we'll see.

So, as most of you know I am not a "baby-talking" kind of person, however it's amazing the things you will do and say to get your baby to crack a smile. . . even just a little one! 

Why is it that he is a ball of smiles until I turn the camera on??

[thanks for the cool pj's Nan! We love Zutano!]

[I think this picture is funny!]

Stratton slept through the night 2 nights in a row this week! On Tuesday and Wednesday night, and we were shocked! Boy could I get used to that. . .but of course last night he woke up right on schedule at 3am. Jarrod has had to work late almost every night this week and I have learned that it isn't easy doing it without him at night. Whew! I gave him a bath by myself for the first time and it wasn't too bad, but it's definitely easier with two hands! Poor Jarrod I don't think he even got to see Stratton on Tuesday. I had him bathed and put down way before Jarrod got home (at 10:30) and he wasn't about to wake him up! There isn't much else going on with us. Just work and taking care of Stratton. Jarrod asked me the other day if it was just him or did it seem like the time between when we get home from work and the time we go to bed seemed like it was shorter now days. . .uh, yeah!  We don't have the luxury of doing things on our schedule anymore!  We started a new evening schedule and have been putting Stratton down around 9pm, after feeding him (usually around 8pm) we do the whole "night routine" of a bath, lotion, jammies, read a book and then we swaddle him and put him in his crib while he is still awake. I hope that having a routine will be a contributor to him sleeping through the night more! 

Future of Cullum Seeds. . .

Haha! We're grooming Stratton to take over Cullum Seeds in about 30 years. Gotta start 'em early!! I think he looks really at home behind the boss' desk?! I was working late the other night and Jarrod & Stratton were with me (Jarrod doesn't like me being in the office by myself at night) and I thought this would be a funny picture.

Just a Swingin'. . .

Stratton really enjoys his swing, he naps in it quite a bit.

7 hours of sleep!

Last night we fed Stratton around 8:45. Then we gave him a bath and put him to bed. He did cry for a little while, so it was probably about 10:00 before he actually went to sleep. He slept until 5:15 this morning. And Jarrod had to wake him up so he could start getting him ready! I am sure this won't be an every night occurrence but it would really be nice!! This will only make the 3rd time that he has slept more than 5 hours straight, so hopefully it will gradually start happening more and more!

Poor Taki?!

You may be wondering about Taki and how she is adapting to the new addition. . .well , she has lost her place as an only child and has been taking it really well. At first she didn't even act like she knew Stratton existed,(I think she was just happy to have us home!) but in the past few weeks she has gradually gained a little more interest in him. If we put him in the floor she will sniff at him but that's about it. She sits close to him and stares at him a lot. She has the best vantage point to do this from  from her spot on the back of the couch. She'll give us these looks when he's throwing a fit,  I'm sure she is thinking "why won't you people shut him up!!". She has been spending a lot more time outside, too. Not sure if that has something to do with the noise level change in the house or not?! But don't feel too sorry for her. She isn't being neglected by any means. She still gets plenty of tlc from us and is still sleeping at the end of our bed every night.

[everybody wants to sit in daddy's lap!]

[Taki really does look sad in this picture]

9 weeks

We have been at home with Stratton for 8 weeks now, or roughly 56 days! I guesstimate that in the past 2 months we have made about 400 bottles and gone through around 380 diapers!  The past week was  a big week for us. . .my first week back at work and yesterday was Stratton's 2 month birthday! I am amazed at how much Stratton is growing! It seems like in the the past two weeks he has had a major growth spurt! We measured him last night at he is almost 26 inches long! We should really get some scales, I wouldn't be surprised if Stratton weighed 12 lbs by now, he has really started to "fill out" some of his clothes!

Here are some pictures from the past week!

[Wednesday night after church]

[Friday, first visit to the hair salon. . he slept the whole time!]

[Saturday, first night in footie pj's]

Stratton's first week with Kayce and Cooper

Kayce took this picture of the boys on Tuesday. Stratton looks almost as big as Cooper, but then again Cooper only weighs 20 lbs and I bet Stratton is at least 11 or 12, now! Things are going well. The mornings are a little hectic, but it's something I will get used to. Stratton has been good for Kayce this week, or so she says. I was worried that she might be run ragged keeping up with Cooper and watching a baby at the same time. But she told me the only time she has her hands full is around lunch when they both want to eat at the same time, but other than that it hasn't been that bad. Whew! I am relived!  So for now, Kayce will keep Stratton on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I will not be working on Monday's for the time being and since Jarrod is off on Fridays he can stay home with him. I think things have worked  out great, which is such a blessing! I was really worried about what we would do with him when I went back to work. It's so great that we can leave him with family and I think it will be good for Stratton to be around his cousin Cooper.