I'm having trouble controlling the VOLUME OF MY VOICE!

Our blog has faltered these last few weeks thanks mostly to a seriously slow computer. Now that I've got that problem all fixed up we should be back bloggin pretty regularly! So what have we been up to while on a blog hiatus?


Jaxon's update:

He's learned how to make increasingly louder sounds with his mouth. The books call it a happy squeal but I call it hilarious. I've been trying hard to catch it on video, but here's the best I was able to do (this does not give the full effect). If he sees I'm taping him, he stops & 'poses' which is great for taking photos, not so much for video.




He's not into tummy-time really so we haven't made him stay on his tummy much. He's got a great new mat that has toys in just the right spot for tummy-time, but even that only keeps his attention for a few minutes. He'll only tolerate the tummy for less than 5 mins right now before getting fussy. He'll get there eventually.


I'd posted about his fondness for his fingers before, but it's taken on a new level lately. Now he pretty much has at least one finger in his mouth at all times. Usually though it's several, maybe even a few from each hand (pretty goofy looking).


Watching the animals is his newest pastime. Raven was the first dog he smiled at (she the only one that doesn't lick his face when he gets near). But Max is the most fun to watch. Probably because he's got so many spots and moves so fast. Jaxon will watch any of them, even the cat, if they don't run by too fast.

Last week I had a lacatation consultant come to the house again to help out. I am continuing to fight soreness and JP has been increasingly uncomfortable while nursing. Unless he's really starving or sleepy, then he is arching his back, kicking his legs, and pushing me away (all while still latched!). Towards the end of a feeding, he started letting go & talking to me. It was cute at first, but then he started 'diving' back on. He would do this several times if I didn't stop him. I feel like I'm trying to wrangle an octopus. Needless to say this is no fun for either of us. Within minutes of seeing what was going on, the consultant said two important things.

1. My soreness is not thrush! Thank goodness! After going thru every treatment out there, I don't know what I'd do if I still had it. The soreness is from all the thrashing around he's doing.


2. All the problems are a classic sign of reflux. I explained that Jaxon has been treated for reflux for a little over 2 months and gave all the details. She believes his current medicine is not controlling the reflux. She recommended having the peditrician change the dose or switch to a different Rx. Our doc opted for increasing the dose which we've been doing for nearly a week now. We go tomorrow for his 4mo checkup so we can discuss it further then. I think we'll end up on a different Rx because I've not seen much of an improvement this week.

Mama & Daddy update:

Not a lot going on with us really. We've gotten into a pretty good routine with both of us home. Unfortunately, I do have to go back to work soon (exact date not yet decided) so our routine will change again. My job is somewhat flexible, so I should still have time to see my boys during the day. We also got to view the portraits that we had done awhile back. They were SO good that I had a really hard time deciding. I'm actually picking them up today & cannot wait!

Jumpin' Jack

Jaxon just recently got big enough to use his Jumperoo and he loves it! (Thanks B!) I had tried putting him in it a couple weeks ago & he still sank down too far in the seat & couldn't get his hands out to play. Now his feet just touch the ground enough to jump a little & he can reach some of the toys. I'm always amazed when I notice he's managed to turn himself around (the seat swivels 360)! He still gets a little stuck sometimes & just ends up sucking on the seat (thank goodness we can toss that part in the washer). Jack added an elephant toy to the hanging part so it would be within his reach. Like most toys, he has limited tolerance for it right now, but he still loves it.

We ended up with several pieces of this Rainforest set just by coincidence & they seem to be really great. We registered for (& got from a friend in VA) a small folding swing that we use in the kitchen. Then B offered up this Jumperoo that P no longer needed (I had to move it down to the smallest setting, P is a lot bigger than Jax!). Then SB picked up an activity mat for us at the last consignment sale that looked brand new & just happened to be the same set.

Saturday Fun

This is what happens when Daddy picks out my clothes...

We met up with family for lunch and I managed to snap a few quick pics of the kids. Jaxon had already lost his patience with the carseat by that point. Cousins C & L weren't much easier to catch smiling & holding still.

Portraits

I can't wait to see Jaxon's portraits! He did so well for the majority of the session, only getting fussy toward the end. It was supposed to be an hour but ran over, so I am not surprised he got tired of it. I was a little surprised when I showed up that the studio was in the basement of this woman's house, but it was a full studio with everything we needed. She even had a changing table, diapers/wipes, tons of stuffed animals, a mini-fridge and a full bathroom in addition to all the photography stuff. It was a neat setup.

She started off with the 'naked' pics with just his white diaper. Then I changed him into an outfit that I had been given recently and she did a ton more. Last we tried to do some where I was a 'prop' in the picture. Basically JP was the focus but I was in the picture holding him or whatever. We did some where I was kinda tossing him up in the air & I had to sort-of pause in the air so she could take the picture. Oh my gosh! My arms are so sore! I started that just to get him smiling but then she liked it (my own fault) and had me do it a dozen or so times. She wanted to get some of him sleeping since he was tired, but he just kept fighting sleep & finally I just said he's had it. No more.

The portraits will be ready for viewing next week but I still won't have them until a few weeks later. I didn't get to see any of the pictures fully today though I did see a few on the camera as she was working. I know I'm going to have a hard time limiting my choices!

The Odd Couple

Only in the country...

Shortly after I woke yesterday, my husband said "Hey, there's a goat in our yard! And it's wearing a collar". Huh? I got to the window just in time to see a brown & white goat dart around one of our cars and off into the road. I couldn't get to the camera fast enough unfortunately. As I stepped out onto the porch, he was just trotting down the street following a black Lab mix. Then this morning as we pulled out of our neighborhood, we saw the strange couple again! The dog was running alongside the road, tongue flapping, with the brown goat in tow. Apparently the goat & the dog are buddies! I swear they looked so happy to be playing together, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

Even though we're outside the city limits, seeing a goat in our yard is not normal! We live in a small one-street neighborhood that is relatively new (less than 7 years), was previously farmland, and is now your typical young family neighborhood. Though we do pass horses on our way to the main road, usually there are no goats for at least a few miles. I don't know where this guy came from, but he sure did give us a laugh this week!

You're turning violet, Violet!

Flashback from Willy Wonka, anyone?

I've been struggling with thrush on/off (mostly on) throughout most of my breastfeeding experience and getting desperate. I've been trying everything & anything to get rid of it. Today I called my doc and asked them about using gentian violet. I'd read it was effective & had a few people recommend it. They agreed it would be ok to try so Jack, JP & I went off to the drugstore. Who can beat a $2 over-the-counter solution if it works?

After the next feeding, I swabbed up my nipples per instructions. It was bright purple.. even looked kinda like that weird car paint that looks purple one way & green another. Jack was thoroughly disturbed but I could care less if it works. Instructions from my doc said to make sure it was dry before feeding again or pump. My breastfeeding books say to apply to the inside of the baby's mouth once a day to make sure they don't have it either. Dr. Jack Newman says apply it to the baby's mouth & then breastfeed so that it gets applied from the baby to the nipple.

I nursed Jaxon well after the medicine had dried. He latched on with no problem. No concern about taste or appearance for him apparently. But when he was done & pulled away, I could not stop laughing. Jaxon even laughed with me though he was looking at me like I had lost it. I couldn't get a pic with his tongue showing. He looked like a kid after a grape popsicle disaster.

It's really purple and really doesn't come off very easily. We have a date with a photographer on Thursday morning so I quickly decided we need to hold off on this remedy until then. Hopefully he'll be back to pink lips in time!

LOL

Jaxon starting laughing in the last week or so. It's so cute but very fleeting. He opens his mouth up wide showing all his gums and makes a short giggly sound. Every time he does it we try to get him to do it again but no luck (apparently we're not that funny).

First Steelers Game - sort of

It's just preseason. But Jaxon saw his first Steelers game tonight, well part of it anyway. Jack propped Jax up on the couch next to him and I sat on the other side. Of course it didn't last because the little eating machine got hungry!

Mr. Preppy

My friend AH gave Jaxon this adorable romper (and the orange hat you saw in all the beach pics). He was so cute & preppy looking it was cracking me up! We met AH and her 3.5wk old son for lunch at Jersey Mikes today. It was fun to see the differences between the boys. Baby H slept pretty much the whole time and JP was awake & alert (and thankfully quiet). Both of us ending up holding the boys in our laps while we talked the afternoon away (who spends 3 hours at Jersey Mikes? LOL). It's so nice having friends nearby to hang out with so I'm not always driving into Raleigh.

Date Night 2 & 3

There were so many movies out this summer that Jack & I wanted to see and Jaxon is old enough that we don't mind leaving him for a few hours. So we had date night two Fridays in a row! Grandpop & Grandma were happy to keep him for us of course.

I had planned the dates based on the release dates of the two movies we wanted to see, X-Files 2 and Mummy 3. But a few days before the first one, Jack said he'd rather see The Dark Knight (Batman). I love anything with superheroes or paranormal so we decided to see that instead of the X-Files. That was last Friday and first we went to a nice greek restaurant. It was so good! Then off to see Batman. Tonight, Jack had a craving for pizza, specifically UNO Chicago Grill, then we saw Mummy 3.

We had fun on both dates, but I'd say if you are deciding between the two movies, go see Batman. I loved the first two Mummy movies, but #3 leaves a lot to be desired. Batman however was very good. I'd still like to see the X-Files too, but that one will have to wait. Today was Jack's first day at home, so we won't have any paychecks coming in until I go back to work.

Jaxon was sooo tired when he came home both times from his grandparents! Last Friday he was so tired he barely woke up for anything (except food of course). They must keep him good & awake the whole time! And this time they had all the baby stuff from the consignment sale already at their house to keep him entertained.

First Beach Trip!

Jaxon's first beach trip went really well! It only took us about 3.5 hours to get there on Sunday(including stopping for a diaper change & bottle). We were staying with Papi & GiGi at their usual vacation spot, Pawleys Island. The condo was on a little lake & a short walk from the beach.



Monday morning we headed down to the beach for Jaxon's first time in the sand & surf. He's still too young to really enjoy it, but at least he wasn't miserable. I'd say 'tolerant' is the right word. He didn't smile or laugh at all, but didn't cry either. At one point, he did have a wave wash over him while GiGi was holding him. It was quick but did splash his face pretty good. I was ready for screaming, but he just made an awful face (like 'ewww what was that?') and then he was over it. Mostly though he slept on the beach in the stroller or on a beach towel. He would get fussy after a few hours. I'm sure the sand, salt & heat were a bit much for him. I know I was glad to get all that sand out of his diaper & clothes each day!



It was a lot easier to have him up at the pool. It was really close (just across the parking lot) so we could just run back for anything we needed or to feed him. They had this nifty little float thing that held the baby in one end & then wrapped around me. So we were kinda in it together. But I think the pool is where we got him a little sunburned. My pediatrician told us we couldn't use sunscreen on him til 6mos so we tried very hard to keep him covered. But I forgot that the sun reflecting off the water can still be very strong. That's about the only reason I can come up with for why his little cheeks were red & his nose peeling a bit when I brought him home (first thing Jack noticed of course!). Most of the time he was under the umbrella or stroller (or both). Other times he always had his hat.

With Mama in the surf -


With GiGi & Sophie - Pretty funny because Auntie Soph would not sit in the sand. We wouldn't let her hold JP without sitting down.. thus this picture...


Here he is with Cousin A.

This is how he spent most of the indoor-time - with kids surrounding him! I think he loved it! He smiled at them so much & then was a spoiled boy by the time we got home.

With Mama before dinner Monday night