Splish Splash!

One of my favorite (and most anticipated) baby purchases was the baby Wash Pod. The Wash Pod is different from other baby bathtubs in that it resembles a small trashcan, and submerges the little one up to their neck in water, offering a "womb-like environment".
We were drawn to this product with visions of screaming goose-bumped babies at bath time, and liked the idea of making it more enjoyable.

Before today, Roscoe and I have just taken our baths together, which he LOVES! As soon as I bring him into the water, he completely relaxes, and practically falls asleep!

But, Andy and I were excited to try out the new tub as part of our routine for tonight. So we brought out the Wash Pod, filled it up, and plopped Roscoe in.

He really loved it, at first.

We had some issues with the water level and realized we needed to pour some of it out. So out came Roscoe who had to wait while the water was readjusted, which he didn't like at all. Once we put him back in, he gulped up some water and had a coughing fit, so I had to pull him back out again. Then we washed his hair, but by the end of it he was screaming so much we felt like we were torturing him, so we called it quits.

We have decided to stick with bath sharing for now, and will bring out the Wash Pod when Roscoe is just a little bigger (and has better head control).

A picture taken before the bath time melt down occurred:

Happy 27th!

This year in celebration of Andy's birthday, we opted for low-key with an early dinner at a local hot spot. It took us an hour and a half to get out of the house, but we made it before the dinner hour, and despite the customary Happy Birthday song--sung with exuberance and emphasized with vigorous clapping (which elicited only a few stirs from Roscoe)--we enjoyed a sleeping baby, and a dinner out on the town (new-parent style).

9,861 days and many more!

As I sit in the car on the eve of my 27th birthday (Wow, I thought I was turning 26 until I typed that!) waiting for Jacqueline and R to return from a much anticipated La Leche League meeting, I am feeling nostalgic and thankful for life as I currently know it.

I have an amazing wife, a happy little son, and a lot of extras that so many others are not as fortunate to enjoy right now. So much has changed in the 10 years Jacqueline and I have been together, and yet the really important stuff remains the same.

Jacqueline is still the beautiful, bouncy-haired, California girl I met in high school—incredibly strong, independent, and free spirited.

We're still having so much fun, living the life we (more or less) dreamed and worked together to create.

And now, to top it all off, we have Roscoe, who brings with him a different set of challenges to navigate, but mostly happiness and joy, and a new appreciation for the fact that life will never again be what it was before he arrived.

I'm looking forward to the coming year and all that we get to experience as a new family of three.

2 weeks and counting...

Topics discussed at my two week postpartum visit:

How to tell the difference between "normal" baby poop and diarrhea
(FYI, one's more watery)

Infant hearing screenings--I still need to schedule this.

Postpartum weight loss: Susan says I probably won't lose any more weight without some effort on my part. Boo!

Exercise: not recommended until 6 weeks. Double boo!

Bottle feeding expressed milk: not recommended until 6 weeks. ugh....

That is all.

TGIF!

Friday night has been reduced to a trip to Toys R US in order for me to "get out of the house".

Once there we perused children's books, newborn onesies, and a selection of games with the hope of finding some adult entertainment.

We triumphantly returned home with SCRABBLE SLAM! and Yahtzee Free for All, and played both while baking and eating M&M cookies acquired through a fundraiser.

Our little star!

Roscoe was again the center of attention on Monday when Mel came for his 2 week photo shoot.

Despite the use of a space heater, poor Baby Roscoe was not happy with mom and dad who wanted to pose him naked and in a variety of outfits. He fussed a majority of the time, and (like mom) required lots of "snacks" in between shots.

Despite the challenges, we're sure Mel captured something great!
Stay tuned! The pics should be in next week!!

Yipee!

With the help of this I pumped 3 whole ounces of liquid gold. Who knew something so ugly could be so useful!

While pumping "hands free" I enjoyed a bagel, a banana, a nectarine, and a magazine. Prior to pumping, I even managed to take a shower--all this and it's only 7:00 am!

Today is going to be a good day!

No small feat

Roscoe and I experienced our first successful (solo) outing today!

After a morning of preparation that included two diaper changes, two feedings, one change of clothes and a half-nap interrupted by another feeding, I managed to safely transport a sleeping Roscoe to the mall (of all places) where I met up with Katie and Heidi for a suburban mom power walk...

We also got to try out the stroller for the first time. With only one desperate phone call to Dad, I figured out how to open the stroller and attach the car seat adapter.

Roscoe was a gem and slept for the duration of the walk, in fact, he remained asleep long enough for me to stop in at Wegman's to grab a few items. Ahhh....right now, the small things in life are highly rewarding. I've been feeling very cooped up and unproductive the past two weeks :(

But, today was a good day in that I had a reason to get dressed and out of the house, and we proved that with a little planning it is indeed possible to venture out of the neighborhood for a little fun.

In the near future I hope to
1. Get my butt back to the gym
2. Start pumping so I can earn some time that won't be spent attached to my son
3. Enjoy a date night with Andy--I'd love a restaurant meal and a rated R movie