Hands Full

I have three other friends who gave birth to baby boys within a month before Graham was born, and in each our own separate ways, we are kind of over the newborn thing. It's hard. Last night, when Graham would not stop eating and I was falling asleep sitting up, I thought that I was so tired I would barf. I literally felt nauseous. I guess it's these memories that fade when people decide to have more and more babies. Not for me, though. #neverforget

All things considered, Graham is a pretty good little guy. Besides the keeping me up all night and the constant need to eat, that is. He's only three weeks old though...his true nature may not have been revealed quite yet. I was talking about this with Dawn and we were both remembering how Gavin drove us both about crazy as a baby, so fingers crossed we have an easy-going guy on our hands.

I feel like everyone talks about 6 weeks as some major milestone. With Gavin, I remember counting down to that day and thinking things would be easier, but they weren't much different. Even so, I'll continue to think that 6 weeks actually means something, and so hey...we're half way there! The breastfeeding thing is supposed to get a little easier (meaning less time consuming) and maybe Graham will spend less time awake in the middle of the night. And that's all I can really hope for! Also, I'll start pumping and then can hopefully take a minute away. I have visions of getting on the ski mountain by mid-February with a midday break to pump in the car. (Or on the chairlift?) Maybe this is unrealistic, maybe not. But if I can't pump enough to get away at all, that might be a #dealbreaker. (Thanks for keeping the Similac on standby, friends!)

Who is that seven-year-old in the pool with Dylan?

Dylan scored a sandbox on Craigs which has proven to be highly entertaining for Gavin. When it's not so cold outside, it will be nice for all of us to hang out on the patio.

Tiny man, big bed.

Dawn sent Gavin home with this "construction site" to borrow until we can make our own. When it's too cold for the sandbox, we dig inside! He wears the hat every single time to and calls it "Dawn's construction site."

Bonding with Luke over motorcycles and crackers.

Taking a field trip to Mesa. We called him a hood rat, and he said, "No, I'm a hood mouse."

Train exhibit at the i.d.e.a. Museum in Mesa.

Changing the timetables just like Curious George.

Making a masterpiece with glue.

Captured a sleepy smile.

He must be having good dreams.

Hanging with Nonna.

Loves his snacks!

As for Gavin, if I wasn't strongly convinced that he'd break everything of value in our house, I would try to not ship him off as often while I'm alone with the baby. I spent two full days in a row with the baby, and it was so nice and peaceful. I grabbed a half hour catnap and caught up on some things around here, and while he ate I watched Today or read a book. Gavin is still having a little trouble with not getting the full attention from us. I sit and dig with him and his trucks while nursing the baby because he constantly asks, "Can you dig with me for a minute?" It's so sweet, and of course I cannot say no. I try to do his bath and bedtime routine each night so at least we have that. But he still is chucking everything in sight...from the baby's car seat to rocks to computers. I hope it's just a phase. And Graham, of course, is the sweetest little thing. Sometimes, for the last portion of our night, I'll keep him next to me in bed because he's just so tiny and cute and I love to kiss his head and tiny nose.

So we are good and healthy. I can't complain about anything outside of the normal newborn prison phase. (A term I adopted from my favorite blogger, Emily Henderson.) Oh, and the dairy thing. No dairy means most definitely no baked goods or anything prepared with butter. No yogurt, milk, cheese, no half & half in my coffee. I haven't fully (or really even partially) adopted it yet, but Graham's poo is only becoming more fluorescent green, and last night he passed more gas than I think any of us has in our entire lives...so it's probably something I should do. I'll give it a try...I hear it helps to drop the baby weight, and I think it's better than paying for 11 months of Nutramigen or Alimentum. I'm going to make an effort to get to the store this weekend and pick up some of non-dairy non-soy substitutes that some of the girls at the Inn groups were telling me about. Apparently dairy and soy are in lots and lots of prepared things. It's too bad I stocked my freezer with TJs frozen meals (mac and cheese, lasagna, etc.) One of the girls had to go dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free, and like three-other-things-free for her kid. Yikes. My FIL and SILs might be able to lend me some dairy-free-hacks, too.

On another note, Nora asked me how I get the chance to keep the blog updated, and honestly, I started this post a couple days ago. When I said I was "up last night doing blah blah blah" that was like three nights ago. I squeeze a paragraph in here and there in the rare moment that both hands are free and nobody is looking. Or screaming for me. It's not easy, but it's the one thing I do for myself. That, and drink coffee. And shower. (Sometimes.) #wantmylifeback

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves as far as what else we've been up to these days. Mostly, Dylan keeps very busy during the day, Gavin hits Dawn's twice a week and has hung out at my parents' house another time or two, and somewhere in-between we all hang out as a family. Luckily, I've had Dylan at home at night for this week. He provides some great moral support when I'm up for the 50th time in a night and start crying about it.