8 weeks old, already?!

It's hard to believe that 8 weeks ago we were just welcoming baby Stratton into the world!! He has grown so much over the last 8 weeks! We had to move the straps to the car seat up a notch since he has gotten so much longer! And we have finally (finally!) graduated from the "newborn" size and he is now wearing 0-3 month clothes. We don't own scales but I am pretty sure he is over 10 lbs now, probably closer to 11. I am almost afraid we might skip right over 0-3 size and go straight to the 3-6. His torso is so long that 0-3 onesies are almost too short! The pants are still really big in the waist, but I don't for see that problem getting any better, maybe I need to be looking for a baby belt?!

[see how long and skinny he is!]

We are trying to feed him 5 ounces again. His eating has been really sporadic lately. Sometimes he would suck a 4 oz bottle down in mere minutes and seem like he was still hungry. Then other times we would be forcing him to at least get a good 3 oz.?? So we are going to try to up the amount again and see how it goes. We also have starting feeding him a special "nightime" formula. It's Enfamil Rest Ease. It's supposed to digest slower and make them feel full longer which will hopefully translate into longer sleeping for mom and dad, too! I think it's working ok, I mean I am happy with a good 6 hours. . . he's just not going to sleep 10 hours yet. I read that it takes preemies longer to sleep through the night, too.

 

[chillin' on his belly]

In general he is a great baby. Not a lot of fussing and carrying on, and we have learned some tricks when he has random fussiness . . . like he likes to lay on his belly, or sometimes we swaddle him up like we do at night and put him in his crib and he's fine. He loves taking a bath, especially in the big tub where he can be neck deep and really flop around. He moves his legs like a little frog in he water. I think he will be a good swimmer just like mom and dad! We have been hearing some different cries and sounds coming from him lately, too. I think he has figured out that it's HIM who is making that noise and he like to hear himself! We are patiently (not really) waiting for him to start smiling at us.  I just know he'll do it for the first time with Kayce and Cooper. . .probably at Cooper, who can be pretty funny to me too!

[Stratton's first visit to Gigi's office]

Friday Jarrod and I had dentist appointments in Wynne at my mom's office, so we took Stratton. His first visit to the Dentist went well. Dr Weatherford took a look in his mouth, and while there are no teeth yet, he still got a good report! He got to meet the girls in the office (minus Jana and Laura) and after Jarrod and I got our teeth cleaned we went out to lunch with mom.  We left from there and went to Searcy where we stopped by Ultimate Outdoors (for those of you who don't know Jarrod worked there for a couple of years in college. The owners are so nice and Jarrod goes by the store almost every time he's in Searcy). It was the first of many trips to the store, I'm sure, for Stratton and his daddy! We got to introduce him to everyone at the store and they were excited to meet him. We had dinner with Terry and Margie and Jennifer and Daniel at Who Dats. Then after visiting with them at their house for a little while, Jarrod and I left Stratton to stay the night with Nan and Pa for the first time! They kept him till Sunday afternoon, so we had a great relaxing weekend with not one but TWO nights of uninterrupted sleep!!

  

[ready to go to Who Dats in his Rock n' Roll outfit]

Tonight we went to church, and Stratton did get a little fussy towards the end. Then we went to Firehouse and ate with some friends from church. Stratton got to wear the polo romper that Bubba, Derek and Steven got him. It looked so cute on him. I hope it stays warm so he can wear it a couple more times!

  

 

 

What's been going on ~Week 7

Monday was not a very good day. Stratton fussed and cried all day long. Nothing made him happy! I was so frustrated. I don't know what I would do if we had a child that was like that all the time! It would drive me crazy!! Luckily that didn't last but a day. The rest of the week has been so much better. Wednesday afternoon Stratton and I ventured out to Old Navy. I had a coupon that was about to expire so we went and bought a few new things for the little man. He has lots of play and sleep clothes, but not many nicer church clothes. I ordered a few things from the Dillards web site last week. Our Dillards doesn't carry Ralph Lauren baby clothes anymore, so I have to order it online now! I got him the cutest outfit to wear on his first Sunday church service. And I also got him a pair of Sperry Top-Siders, they are TOO cute!! Jarrod is mad that I wouldn't let him get some for himself last year, but I bought them for Stratton! ha! They are much cuter (and cheaper) for babies!! I am having a hard time with the pants. He is so long and skinny that most 0-3 month sizes are just a little short, but they are about 2 inches too big in the waist!! Why do all baby clothes seem like they are made for short, fat babies!!

Wednesday night we decided to take Stratton to church. The doctor recommended that we keep in out of crowds for 8 weeks and since Sunday will be his 8 week birthday, we decided what's a few days really going to matter? He was so good, actually he slept through the whole thing! And surprisingly we weren't mobbed like I was anticipating! I think since it was Wednesday night and there weren't as many people there made a difference, and he was in his carrier and that made him less accessible, because lots of people looked but not many touched. Which is a relief!!

[here he is in the outfit he wore to church, thanks Matt & Carla!]

[going to church is tiring!]

 

[Stratton and Jarrod relaxing in their favorite chair]

He still hasn't been sleeping any better. He's waking up every 3-4 hrs. We thought maybe we should increase the amount we are feeding him, from 4 oz to 5 oz, and see if that helps him sleep longer. And it didn't work, if anything he slept less!! In spite of that, today was another good day. When Jarrod got home we went to the mall. Our intention was to go to JCPenny's so Jarrod could get some work jeans, and we ended up closing the mall down! We walked all down the mall and ate at Shorty Smalls. We feed Stratton while we were at Shorty Smalls and I changed him. . .his first time to get changed in a public restroom. And he didn't scream like he does when we change him at home? After he ate he stayed awake the whole time we were shopping. He just looked around all wide-eyed and alert. I think he likes shopping! That's my boy!!. . .We got him the cutest camo pants at Children's Place and then had to stop in at Gap and get a t-shirt to wear with it!  Jarrod made the comment that he paid more for the t-shirt for Stratton than he would pay for himself a t-shirt!   

Tomorrow we are going to Wynne to get our teeth cleaned and taking Stratton to visit Gigi's office for the first time. {Sorry we'll miss you, Laura!} Then we are meeting Jarrod's parents at Who Dat's tomorrow night for dinner and leaving Stratton with them for the night. They are bringing him back on Saturday, so we will have some time to catch up on our sleep Friday night and get to sleep in on Saturday! I hope we can go look for a rug on Saturday. I think we are just going to have a piece of carpet cut and bound, since the size we need is so large and such a funny size.

We don't have anything planned for Monday. I hope we get to stay home and relax since it's my last day of maternity leave. I am going back to work on Tuesday! My cousin Kayce has so kindly agreed to keep Stratton on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays until the church gets their daycare built, which will be 5-6 months. I am really happy she agreed to keep him. I was so worried that we might have to leave him with a stranger. It makes going back to work so much easier when I know he will be well taken care of. And it will be good for Stratton to spend time with his cousin Cooper, too!

Party! Party!

[He can wink ; ]

 

Friday night at Isabella's 8th birthday party

 

[since it was "her day", she got to hold him as much as she wanted]

 

[Isabella and Alexandra with Stratton]

 

[Isabella was such a good helper feeding Stratton]

 

Saturday night at Nanny's party

[Isabella and Alexandra making Jarrod their prisoner]

[Stratton eating Gigi's fingers]

[My Aunt Judy and Cooper sitting with Gigi and Stratton]

[Look what they did to my poor baby. . .]

Stratton's 6 weeks old and we're staying busy!

Friday night we went to the Redbirds game in Memphis with some friends. We had a really good time. It was my first time to visit AutoZone Park and I was really surprised how nice it was! I also indulged in my first BBQ nachos (with jalapenos) and had to have a funnel cake before we left. Yum! And unfortunely the Redbirds lost, but it was still a lot of fun, and it was nice to get out and do something different.

  

[Alicia, Carla & Amy]

Jarrod's mom stayed with Stratton while we went to the game and decided to stay the night, too! She let us sleep Friday night while she got up with him. It was so nice. Saturday we ran some errands and rented a movie. My friends Amber and Andrea came over later Saturday night to meet Stratton. We had a great time visiting and I couldn't believe how good Stratton was while they were here! Then that night after his 10pm feeding he slept till 4am!! Wow! We were shocked. . .and in a good way!

   

[Stratton at 6 weeks! He's ready to go see Gigi & Pops]

Sunday we went to Hickory Ridge and had lunch with my family and left Stratton to spend the night with Gigi and Pops. So, Sunday night since we were "childless" we got to go to church together and then out to eat with some friends. Then we went home and went to bed! Gotta love another night of uninterrupted sleep!

Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment, my 6 week follow-up, which went really well. She gave me the all clear, so I can go back to work and back to everything else, too. . .even vacuuming. Boo. I have been having some leg numbness and pain (that started when I was pregnant and hasn't gone away) and she decided to send me to a neurologist to have it checked out. I spent the rest of my day running a zillion errands and shopping for birthday presents. My Mom and Dad said Stratton was really good for them, but what could he do wrong, right?? They brought him back to Jonesboro last night and we ate supper with them. Today I went to the neurologist (they got me in really fast, huh?) and they ran some tests. Have you ever had a "Nerve Study" done on you?? Yeah. . .not a fun thing! They hook you up to a computer and then shock the fire out of you! I don't know what they are measuring, but I was normal. They told me that if it didn't go away on it's own in a month or two to come back for further testing. Stratton stayed with Kayce and got to "play" with Cooper while I was at the doctor. Kayce said Cooper tried to give Stratton his toys to play with, isn't that sweet!

[Kayce took this one of the boys]

We don't have anything else planned for this week. I am planning on enjoying my last two weeks at home with Stratton. I am going back to work on Sept. 8th. I am ready to get back to work and back to a routine, but I am anxious to see how it's going to work with a baby in the mix! We do have another busy weekend ahead. Isabella's 8th b-day party is Friday night and then my Nanny's 74th b-day party is Saturday night. Sunday Stratton will be 7 weeks old, which means only one more week and we are bustin' him outta here!!

 

[See, he can throw a pretty good fit when he wants to!]

Unexpected blessings

Today was my "due date". It's weird to think that today is the day Stratton was expected to be here, and yet today he is five and a half weeks old. I always had a feeling he would be early, but I was thinking more around August 12th. . not July 12th.  There isn't a lot that has happened with his birth that was "expected" though.

So, I guess it just has me thinking about the things that happened and how I really feel about it. I think most women have some sort of mental picture of how their pregnancy and child birth will go, I honestly didn't. I am such a worrier and was really afraid that I would be overwhelmed with worry during my pregnancy. So, I went into this pregnancy with the attitude of taking it one day at a time and just rolling with the punches. You can never know for sure what is going to happen next, there are so many complications that can occur, so why get wrapped up in "expectations". I starting praying everyday (even before I got pregnant) that God would give me peace and let me "let go" so he could be in control,  and he really did. I guess that is why I wasn't really surprised when things turned out the way they did.

I remember the day I went to the doctor and she told me I might be having contractions and they hooked me up to all those monitors for the first time. Mom was with me that day and she looked really worried, but I honestly wasn't. I could have never anticipated the events that followed that day, but throughout it all I don't think I was ever really surprised at the circumstances or worried that things wouldn't turn out just fine. Was it a struggle? Well, sure everyday was hard. It put a lot of stress on me physically and emotionally.  I think I cried (and prayed) more in that month than I have in my whole life combined! But thanks to our family and friends we were constantly reminded of the love they had for us and knowing that they were praying for us, well that somehow that made it all easier. It wasn't an accident that when Stratton was delivered he was so big and was more like a full term baby rather than a preemie. And it's not a coincidence that we both overcame complications and are now perfectly healthy. Prayers were answered. I have no doubt that the Lord was working in our lives.

Now, I look back and sometimes can't believe all we went through in that long month and yet we made it and are actually blessed because of it. I have always believed that you appreciate things more when you have to endeavor through hardships to get them. I don't think that could be any more true in my life right now. I count my blessings everyday. I truly appreciate the healthy baby boy that the Lord has blessed us with, and I appreciate more than ever the circle of friends and family that Jarrod and I have, we are so very lucky. I want to make sure you know, those of you that were praying for us, you made a difference in our lives and we thank you. I appreciate my best friend and husband. Talk about commitment. Jarrod was so supportive and loving through it all. There was a lot asked of him and he never once complained. Without his love and understanding (and help to the bathroom!)I don't know what I would have done. And mostly, I appreciate my heavenly Father, who loved us enough to listen to our prayers and answer them, to Him we are most grateful.

Week 5 with Stratton

We had such a great weekend. The baby shower in Searcy on Saturday was really nice. We received  a lot of gifts!! Stratton got a rocking cow (not a horse a cow. . . it's so cute), a swing, a bathtub (yay!) and lots of clothes and toys and other good stuff!! Stratton got to meet lots of family Saturday afternoon at Terry and Margie's house. We stayed the night at my mom and dad's and my mom got up with him so we could sleep. . .ahhh so nice! Sunday we took Stratton to church at Hickory Ridge. We just got there late and left early to avoid a crowd of people that I am sure would want to see him and might want to touch on him. Then we went to my grandma and grandpa's house for lunch and celebrated my Aunt Kay's birthday. Stratton got to meet more family. Before we headed back to Jonesboro Sunday night we took Stratton by to visit Nanny and Papa, and they were glad to see him again. Nanny like us to put him in the bed with her and I guess he likes it too because he went right to sleep.

We haven't done much so far this week. Stratton has been really fussy and not eating as well. I have managed to clean a little and I rearranged the living room furniture (and I got in trouble for that, too). Mostly we've just been hanging out.

Stratton loves to lay on his tummy.

 

I rearranged the living room (can you tell I am starting to feel like myself again) to accommodate the new rocker recliner we got back in June. It's going to take some getting used to, and I think I need a new larger rug. . . what do you think??

    

Jarrod is such a good Daddy,he's not a bit afraid of those stinky diapers!

We have to wrap him up in a swaddling blanket so he will sleep.

Tomorrow night we are going to a Redbird's baseball game in Memphis with some friends. I am excited to get out and do something fun! Other than that we don't have anything planned for the weekend. I have a doctor's appointment on Monday and hopefully will get the "all clear".

He's a growing boy!

We had to take some paperwork by Stratton's doctor's office today and while we were there we asked them to weigh him. . .guess what he weighed?? He has gained almost 2 pounds in 2 weeks, he is now a whopping 9 pounds and 7 ounces!! I knew those newborn diapers were getting awfully tight on him! ha! And to think he isn't even supposed to be here for at least another week! I don't know if babies gain more weight outside the womb or not, but I am glad I didn't have to deliver him at this point! I bet he'll weigh 10 lbs by next week! Whew!!

And for the last 3 nights he has gotten us up twice at night! After being put down around 9:00 pm he has only woken up at around 1:00 and then again around 5:00. Not bad!! I really hated that 3:00 am feeding! . . . Now to just cut out the 1 am feeding. . . .

It's going to be a busy weekend! Tomorrow I have a baby shower in Searcy and since Stratton can't go to the shower, I bet we will stick around so some of Jarrod's family can come by and see him later Saturday evening. Then Sunday we are celebrating my Aunt Kay's birthday at lunch, so we will probably just stay Saturday night at my mom and dad's house (and let them get up with him all night~ ha!) so we don't have to make another unnecessary trip. It will be Stratton's first trip to Searcy (not counting the stop we made on the way home from the hospital), first night at Gigi and Pop's and first family birthday party.

I am not posting any pictures today. . .mainly because it looks like Stratton got in a cat fight. He has scratched his poor face to pieces! I have refrained from covering his hands up so far because he likes to suck on his thumb and fingers and it seems to make him mad, but I may have to rethink that since he is being so rough on his face. He also has some spots of baby acne on his chin and cheeks, and all I have been able to find out by researching online is that there isn't much we can do besides wash his face frequently. I know it's from the milk dribbles, but you can't very well stop that from happening! Any other suggestions?