Spring Fun

Spring in Florida is such an amazing time!

It is perfect for pool days, festivals, and beach time, and I feel blessed that Alexander is happy to go along for the ride!

We went to Adventure Zone for some putt putt and arcade fun

We were thrilled to find out that my cousin Craig and his girlfriend Heidi had rented a beach house in Destin for a week with a bunch of friends.  It was so great getting to spend time with them!  I had more social things going on in the week they were here than I have in the four months since I've become a mom.  Instead of exhausting me, it energized me!

Little man did so great the whole time we were playing putt putt and at the arcade.  He was such a happy baby this whole week.  He is always happiest when we are go-go-go.  Daniel had to work that night, so he missed out on the fun.  We'll have to head back to Adventure Zone soon because he's been wanting to check it out since it opened.

After fun and games, we headed out to Cuvee Bistro.  I have been wanting to check out this restaurant for three years and finally got to go!  It did not disappoint.  They even had a back room for us and the only other family with a baby.  The room kept the babies away from the rest of the patrons, and had a door that led directly outside so I could've easily stepped out if Alexander had gotten fussy.  The only time he thought about it was when he got hungry and I tried to give him a bottle.  Lately, he will not take a bottle from me.

Luckily, Heidi and Lauren stepped in!  He was in heaven getting to look up at aunt Heidi while Lauren tickled his feet.  He drifted right off to sleep.

Our server was fun, the food and drinks were great, and the company was the best.

On Saturday, I hosted our monthly team building at our house.  We got the cracks in our pool filled, so the pool is much easier to upkeep now and I was eager to have a pool day.  Everyone brought yummy food and drinks, and once again little man was happy to soak up all the attention.  He is sleeping better and so much happier in the daytime since we stretched his feedings to every three hours.

Baby loved some Lauren snuggles

Baby rash guard cuteness and baby in the pool!

He just couldn't get over seeing Pia show off her dance moves!!

On Sunday, we headed down to the T-Docks with the Pryors and Nicole.  All the dogs played so hard, they were wiped out!  

Alexander really enjoyed feeling the sand between his fingers and was not deterred by the cold temperature of the salt water.

Milestones
Alexander had a week where he was blowing raspberries almost constantly.  The next week he began squealing with delight.  Last night, he produced a brand new cry that totally freaked me out!  He is definitely exploring the sounds he can make!

We finally started watching our hands, but he is much more interested in watching his hands do things than to just watch them on their own.

He can officially roll over back to front and front to back.  He doesn't roll front to back very often, but he has the skill.  He is much more keen to roll back to front, and then get frustrated that he wound up in self-inflicted tummy time.  Silly goose.

He doesn't seem quite ready for attempting solids yet, but we are trying every few days.

Daniel has done bedtime routine twice in two weeks now so I could go to spouses events.  Both times were not without tears, but overall successful.  Sounds like every night with mommy, too!

I had a blast at the squadron Clemenza's cooking class and at Michelle's surprise going away party.  We are going to miss her so much.  She is such a force of support for the spouses group and a great friend.  I'm excited to hear how Boston life is for her and really hope our paths cross again.  It was so fun getting to celebrate her last night, and to be a part of a genuine surprise!  I feel like someone usually lets the secret slip, but last night was a success.

I failed to get pictures at either of these events.  I think I was too relaxed from being baby free to even think about picking up my camera.

All in all, Florida spring is shaping up to be a memorable season!

Photo Drop

I ran before work 3 of four day this week! (action shot)

Tummy time with Cow

Mirror tummy time

 Tummy time is exhausting!

Family photo

He loves Cow and being outside

Fox playtime with daddy

Four months

Our little man is four months old!

Exactly a year ago, I found out I was pregnant.  Aunt Jan was turning 60 and I was driving home for her birthday party worried about how I was going to be around my whole family and not say anything, as I was very early in the pregnancy.  I failed!  My mom recently said it was the best day of her life.

We had our four month appointment on the day he turned four months.  

Alexander is growing wonderfully and met all of the developmental milestones other than watching his hands.  He watches everything else, and constantly watches the things he is holding in his hands, but he doesn't just watch those little fingers wiggle.

He weighed in at 15.3 lbs (62nd percentile) and measured 25.3 inches long (54th percentile).  He's not nearly as big as I thought he was!  However, I do wonder if the data is skewed since it was taken at 4 months, 0 days, whereas many kids probably have these appointments later in their fourth month.  Just saying... he seems like a BIG boy!  Daniel guessed 64th percentile, so maybe little man just wanted to help daddy out by proving him right.

He got the next round of vaccines and is not feeling well today because of them.  He ran a high fever and I was about to take him to the ER, but thankfully it dropped back down.

Our boy still enjoys tummy time for short periods.  We play baby airplane on my shins while I do crunches, mirror tummy time with the mirrored closet doors and on his play mat that our neighbors, Jenny and Don gave us.  Alexander does have a small flat spot on his head, so we will be increasing the time on his tummy!

His favorite activity is still neighborhood walks either in the Ergo or in daddy's arms.  His eyes are always searching for new and exciting things, like, oooh look! a street light! He will turn his head like a little owl to keep his eyes on the street lights.

We recently pushed him to go further between feedings (after a tough love pep talk from my bestie Petty), and he took it like a champ!  He is now eating about 5.5 ounces every 3-4 hours and is again sleeping for 4-6 hours at a stretch during the night.  Thank you, Lord, for that!  Life is so much easier with a little sleep and more than 2 hours between day feedings.

He will take a pacifier, but only if he is very tired.  He much prefers his index and middle fingers.

He is sometimes picky about who he will take a bottle from, refusing to eat for Ms. Celia but gobbling it up for Ms. Lisa at school, and only eating for daddy at home if I'm not offering the direct source.

He is beginning to be able to sleep without his swaddle and soothing himself to sleep.

Parent date night at ECAC after his four month appointment.  He certainly didn't need to do any attention seeking!

 Cute Picture Time!

He wants to sit at the table during dinner now

Even with the straps he isn't quite big enough to hold himself up in it

Is there a return policy?

Gammie and Ganny Pay a Visit

'Tis the season for spring break!

As much of Atlanta is on spring break, my mom and aunt Jan had time to come down.  Well, let's be honest, being retired, Jan has a lot more time than she did as a teacher, but I guess spring break mindset sticks with you!

The sisters loaded up Jan's camper and headed down to Emerald Coast and brought the beautiful weather with them.

Enjoying Gammie's silly voices in the camper

Ready for the Sunshine

Being at the campsite is a great way to forget a mile long to do list!

Gammie loves her boy

We had a big night in the Martin house... Daniel ate salad and Alexander had a bottle of formula

I have struggled to keep this growing boy fed, as he's been eating every hour and a half throughout the night for nearly three weeks.  Needless to say, I have been exhausted.  Though the formula didn't increase the sleep very much, it seemed to relax me enough that I have dramatically increased my ability to provide for him and therefore haven't had to continue with formula at the moment.  Hopefully this growth spurt won't last too much longer, as I go back to working four days a week next week!

Safe to say it's a growth spurt keeping us up at night.  

Our big boy gained 1.6 lbs since last week!

I ended my work week with an ice cream social for our spouses group.  My mom, Jan, and my 

co-host, Karlee, made it possible for me to zombie walk through the social on no sleep

Laura is awesome with babies, soothing little man at his fussiest while keeping her smile!

Meeting Minutes

Good times!

We've had a lot of visitors lately.  It might actually be strange to have the house to ourselves next week.  It's been a great visit with Gammie and Ganny and I hope they bring the camper down again soon!

Cute Picture Call!

Life is rough

Grandpops Comes to Town!

What a wonderful week!  My dad headed down for a visit on Tuesday and left on Thursday, so we made the most of the time together.

All dressed up for Grandpops to visit!

When my dad got into town, I was at work, so he stopped by the daycare to see Young Master Alexander (the British way of addressing a young boy).  He timed it perfectly, by chance, and got to play with him for a bit, feed him a bottle, burp him, and then rock him into nap time before leaving the school and heading to the beach.

Nap time at school (he was asleep for an hour and a half after hanging out with Grandpops!)

Finally the weather participated and on Wednesday, we loaded up and took Xander on his first beach trip.  It was really windy, but my dad set up his beach chair to block the wind, and I swaddled our little man with a beach towel and he fell fast asleep.

My dad is a fantastic gardener (though he won't admit it), and he shared his knowledge to help me plant our tangerine tree.

Our little Cabbage Patch Kid...baby in a hole!

Before he left on Thursday, we had a yummy breakfast and headed to Lowes to pick up a couple tomato plants and cucumber plants.  I am so excited to see if they survive my black thumb!

While my dad was here, Alexander began grabbing his feet, watching his hands, and holding his toys for an extended period of time.  My dad was impressed by his strong leg and back muscles, too.  It is so interesting to watch as this little guy changes on a near daily basis.

His first school photo