George tried cereal for the first time this morning.  The doc recommended a VERY liquidy ratio for his first time, so I wouldn't say this was rice cereal so much as maybe rice flavored milk.  Anyway, he didn't love it.  Didn't hate it.  I think more than anything it was good practice of eating with a spoon.  He did pretty good in that department.  We'll keep trying.  

XOX

Mom

Yesterday, 5/22, we got our first official laugh.  I had the AC on too high in the back of the car and didn't realize it.  Ooops - bad mom.  When we got home - Jeff was here.  George's hands and feet were chilly.  Jeff cupped his hands over George's foot and blew to warm him up.  I guess that was pretty funny!  He heee.  Soooo cute!

We had just gotten home from the mall where we had some new pics taken of the little guy.  They turned out super cute!!  Which one is your fav?

XOX

Mom

We had a big development yesterday.  I helped him a little at first, but eventually George grabbed a teething ring and held it himself.  Then a little later he put it in his mouth himself!  Progress!!

Today Wendy weighed George.  He tipped the scales at 14 pounds, 5 ounces!  Grow George Grow!

In the next few days we may try some rice cereal.  I can't wait to see that!!

Mommy went to New York and all I got was this crummy T-shirt!

I have a great husband and a great baby.  There is soooo much to be really thankful for around here.  Today Jeff and I took Judi and George and headed to Castlewood Canyon State Park for a picnic.  Jeff worked really hard and made all our picnic treats.  He fried chicken yesterday and made some super yummy macaroni salad.  It was all delicious!  The chicken was super crispy - even cold and a day old.  The macaroni salad was carefully constructed with the perfect combination of vinegar, mayo, milk, carrots and green onions.  YUMMY!!  While at the park we sat in the sun and took a little stroll with George in his stroller.  It was such a perfect day.  The weather was amazing.  

Also today Jeff is changing every diaper, giving George every bottle and helping keep up the house.  I got a belated Mother's Day gift - THREE charms for my pandora bracelet.  I'm having Mother's Day all over again!  He's sooooo good!!

George is still fantastic.  He's napping good, sleeping through the night GREAT, eating well and smiling and talking more than ever.  He's growing and looking really healthy.  We're very blessed.  

Tonight Jeff is taking me out for a nice dinner to a restaurant I've been wanting to try for some time - Fruition.  Next on our restaurant wish list is Mizuna and Olivea.    

What a great day!!  What a great hubby!!

XOX

Mom

Shhhhhh . . . he's still sleeping!

;)

Oh happy day!!  George is such an amazing little guy!  Here's the scoop . . . We had a VERY exciting day yesterday.  George and I went with Wendy and Mason to our first baseball game.  The Rockies lost, but we had a great time.  I was soooo impressed we stayed through the entire game.  I didn't think I would make it, but I managed great.  We saw the first pitch, we sang the national anthem and Take Me Out to the Ballgame, we cheered and clapped.  It was good fun.  George was supposed to nap during the game, but that clearly wasn't happening.  He was super alert and interested in everything that was going on.  He loved it!!

After my trip away this was a good chance for me to catch up with Wendy on how George has been eating - kinda poorly - and why we thought that was.  Are you ready for THIS . . . it is a GOOD thing!!  We came to the conclusion that maybe he was ready to drop a feeding. WoooHoooo!!  So last night the plan was to go from 8 pm - 8 am with no feeding in the middle there.  So, we would NOT be waking him up between 10 pm - 12 am to eat a "last" bottle of the day.  I was a little nervous I'd have a 4 am wake up call, but Wendy and I thought maybe he was ready.  Ohhhhh yeah!!

So, while Jeff & I ate dinner, George was dozing in his swing a bit.  We finally decided to wake him up at 8:30 pm for the last bottle.  He easily ate it and went right to sleep in his crib.  Not a peep!  Off to bed we all went.  Jeff and I woke up a little after 6 am.  I turned on the monitor and could hear him in there - peep peep.  He was gurgling and babbling a little, but not upset at all.  I was sooooo proud of him - and us for figuring this out.  I couldn't stand it!  A little after 7 am, I went in there to get him.  We played for a little while.  He's always so happy in the morning.  I took some cute pics of him.  Around 7:30 am Jeff gave him his first bottle of the day.  At 8:30 am he went BACK to bed for his morning nap.  He's a sleeper.  We clearly learned the rules on how to sleep like a Manthe Baby!!

He went ELEVEN HOURS!!  GO GEORGE!!!  Now I can go back to my 9 - 10 pm bedtime!  ;)  It only took us 14 weeks to get here!!  Oh happy day!!

Well, I survived my first work trip.  I was away from George for two nights and I managed OK.  Of course I missed him and was anxious to wake him when I got home last night.  My main personal goal for NY was SLEEP.  What was I thinking?!?!  I hadn't seen these people in some time and we needed to catch up, socially.  So dinners started at 8 pm and went easily until midnight.  Then work started at 8 am.  So much for all the sleep.  I sleep better at home.  But, it was fun, good to see everyone, and excited to start thinking about WORK again!

One interesting point . . . there was a lot of work drama.  You know, the usual political work stuff.  What's interesting for me is how much less it all matters now.  Some are upset about the change in things for our team, but I am excited!  I'm rare I guess because I usually embrace change.  With the right attitude, change can be fun.  In this case, I get to work with some new people, focus on some new projects and learn some cool new things!  That's exciting!!  I just want to keep earning my same salary, stay working/living in Denver, and START CONTRIBUTING again!!  Now, who I work FOR is important as well, but I REALLY LOVE the new boss-lady I will have and I'm excited about her energy and her ideas.  It will be a fun time and a good way to come back to work.  I hope between the two of us, we can inspire others with our optimism and ideas!!  ;)

We've had a great weekend with George (Sr.) and Jackie this weekend.  Grandma and Papa spoiled little George rotten and we all loved every second of it.  George has a serious crush on Jackie.  His little face lights up when she talks to him.  It's very sweet.  It was soooooo nice of them to take the time and spend the money to fly to Denver to spend the weekend with us.  We celebrated Jeff's birthday in style with a lobster bake with all our friends.  Then today we all celebrated Mother's Day together.  The moms all got pedis this morning and then we met up with the boys for brunch.  We spent the afternoon lounging around the house.  It was nice.  

I have posted some fantastic pictures from the weekend.  Check out the link on the right menu bar for "May 2009" pictures.  Here's one of my favs from the weekend:

Tomorrow I am headed out of town for my first work trip since I returned to work.  It's a two nighter, so not too bad.  I have spent a night away from George before.  So this is only one more, right??  The difference is, I usually drop him off late in the day and pick him up early the next morning.  In this case, I am gone three FULL days - from 8 am one day until 10 pm the third.  UGH!  Also, in this case he's not a mile down the road.  He'll be a four hour plane ride away.  Double UGH!!  I will be strong and I'm sure I'll be fine.  ;)

I hope all the moms out there had a FANTASTIC Mother's Day!

XOX

Mom

George is very chatty this morning.  

Happy Monday!  It's week number two of work and Wendy.  Things are going really good.  Work is still pretty slow, but I hope things will pick up starting next week.  

Today we confirmed the date for George's baptism.  Mark your calendars for July 12 in Fayetteville.  We're hoping that most of our family can attend with this location and date.  We're excited!!

Feedings are still going good.  I think tomorrow we may try three bottles with formula.  Did I mention that he's getting 7 ounces at each feeding??  With five feedings a day that's about 35 ounces in a day.  Woa!!  That's the top end of most suggested ranges for his age.  It won't be long before we decide to add in cereal and hopefully then we're sleeping from 7 am - 7 pm.  Crazy!  He's such a great baby!!  Sooooo pleased with his progress. 

Well, I actually have some work work to do.  Gotta go!

XOX

Mom

George and Mason hanging out at playtime:

Happy Baby!

Happy Sunday!  We're doing great out here.  Friday George stayed home with Jeff and me during the day.  Jeff has Fridays off now.  Long story.  Friday afternoon we took George to Mom's for a bath and then an overnight.  Jeff and I went to see a friend's band play their CD release party.  We had a VERY fun night and are SOOOOO lucky to have Mom here to watch George.

I would say he's consistently sleeping through the night, so that makes it easier for us AND for Mom when she's watching him.  He gets a bottle between 6 - 7 pm and then straight to bed.  Then we wake him between 10 - 11 pm for the last feeding and it's right back to bed.  He has been waking up between 6 - 7 am in the morning.   

This morning I went to get him up at 7 am to start our day.  If he eats much later than that it messes up the rest of the day.  When I went in today at 7 am he was wide awake and soooo happy.  It was very cute.  I got him up and changed him.  Usually during this, he's crying already - super hungry.  But not this morning.  He was smiling and gurgling on the table while I got him ready.

We started adding in some formula.  Right now he's getting 2 oz in two bottles a day.  We do one at the 10 am feeding and then the other at the 10 pm feeding.  That keeps him happy longer through the night I imagine, hence his 7 am happiness this morning.   We'll give that a few days and then add 2 oz to another feeding or two.  He doesn't seem to have an allergic reaction to it though, as we were afraid.  Today Jeff bought a BIG container of formula while he was at the store.  So, here comes the transition!

XOX

Mom