Vacation in Florida

Well as I expected, now that I'm back to work my posts are even less frequent than they were before. But thats ok. I'm spending time on what is important and that is being present for my family. :)  

So here is a photo-overview of our vacation in Florida....which was back in March....but the photos are fun to share :)

Family Photo on the plane. Jacob's first plane ride!!

            








Looking Cute with Nolan's Sunglasses on

View from the patio doors of the house my parents rented.Jacob's first ride on a swing.

Mommy and Daddy had a bike ride up the beach for an hour to themselves.

We watched the beautiful sunsets every night!

Dad golfed with Gramp 3 or 4 times and Mom even got out for a few holes. 

Jacob loved touching the sand and watching it fall through his fingers.

And every day Mom, Grammie and Jacob went for long walks on the beach looking for shells and sand dollars.

And after those long walks.... Jacob liked to lay under the umbrella.-ella-ella.

Hanging with Daddy at the house

Jacob's first parade was for St. Patty's day. They had two camels, two alligators and some long neck geese.  Ok. maybe not. But they did have two camels and an elephant.

We went to Busch Gardens and Jacob loved it almost as much as Mom and Dad :)

More beach fun!

Jacob cried the first time we put his feet in the water (it was after our long day of travel...) but he enjoyed it the second time

This was Grammy and Grampa's seats for watching the sun set.

And that about sums it all up! It was fun, relaxing and the weather was much better than being in cold, snowy Maine!

Well...this sure is overdue!

Has it really been TWO WHOLE MONTHS since I have updated this blog!? Well.... I would love to blame going back to work. But I can't. I would love to blame going on vacation....but that was only a few weeks. So. I guess it's just new mom busyness. Yes....busyness, not business ;-)

Jacob and I have really started to get into a nice routine during the week. I have learned that Jacob gets SUPER bored when he has to hang out with me and only me all day. So we try to get out of the house as much as we can, especially now that it is *almost* feeling like spring. On Monday's we either go to a Mommy/Baby workout class or an Eat/Sleep/Nurse support group. On Tuesdays we try to meet up with friends for a walk or a jog/walk. Wednesdays we usually spend at home doing laundry and cleaning the house. Thursdays we try to get out for another walk and recently discovered a story time at the Lewiston and Auburn Library. We went today and Jacob had a BLAST. It was actually singing/story time, which Jacob already loves music so this was right up his alley. Then Fridays is our (ok MY) favorite day of the week. We do Baby/Mommy yoga and then find a local cupcake to taste and sometimes meet up with Tracy at work after that :)

So what has happened in the last three months, you ask? Wow...what hasn't happened. in February Jacob went through a BIG sleep regression. It lasted all.month.long. He was getting up between every 45 minutes and 2 hours. All night. Every night. Chris was convinced he woke up just to make sure his feet were still there. 

He has learned so much between the 3 and 4 month mark. Playing with his hands, licking/sucking on his fingers/thumb/hands. Grabbing his feet/sucking on his toes. Grabbing and playing with toys. Chewing on toys. Chewing on everything, including me! Drooling on everything. Rolling over, and over, and over. He loves it. Starting to sit with support. He is absolutely in love with Lexie. he watches her all the time and giggles when she makes any sudden moves or noises. Especially when she rolls on her back on the floor or barks.

He is so strong now, holding up his head, pushing on his arms during tummy time, trying to stand on his feet. He looks like he wants to crawl too. I think he's at that point where his mind wants to just go-go-go but his body isn't quite coordinated enough to keep up yet. :) He sits in his high chair during dinner and tried bananas this week! It's the only solid he has had so far but I think we'll try applesauce or pears next. 

And of course our vacation! Jacob went on an airplane for his first time! He did GREAT! His ears didn't bother him one bit. I think he did get a little bored, but nothing a trip to the bathroom to 'find the baby' in the mirror couldn't fix. :) We went to Florida to stay with my parents for 2.5 weeks! (thanks snow for canceling my flight home). I'll put up a post next week dedicated to Florida since I have lots of cute photos to share.

So... that's what we have been up to. April is my last month of this baby vacation. I'm equally sad and excited to go back to work and so glad it's only 3 days/week. After seeing Jacob watch some of the bigger kids (1-2 year olds) at story time, I know he's going to LOVE the kiddo's at his daycare. Oh...yes, we put our deposit down on a GREAT local home daycare. 6 kids, 2 adults and LOTS of outdoor play. I'm very excited for Jacob to go there. 

Three Months Tomorrow!

My baby will be three months old tomorrow. This has been a week of major development, I can't believe all of the new things he is doing! I am amazed by all of the things he has learned to do this week. 



















I don't have photos for all of them (wish I did) but in the past 8 days (or so) Jacob has done all of the following for the first time:

- Started holding onto soft toys
- Sucking on his bottom lip- Grabbing one hand and feeling it with the other hand. He has officially found his hands!- Watching Lexie as she walks around near him. He knows she is his puppy and I'm pretty sure he loves her :)


- Sticking his finger in his nostril. The cutest 'nose picking I have ever seen!
- Grabbing his clothing. Today he grabbed onto his zipper on his shirt and un-zipped it.
- Rolled over from front to back three times. Although he can't do it whenever he wants, his arms get in the way and prevent him from rolling, but he will figure that out soon, I'm sure. 
- And drumroll please.......... He's officially sleeping in the crib all night! No aids...no pads, nothing. I don't expect this to be the norm, but he did sleep 8 hours last night! I'm blown away. 

Still working on it....

Ok I have decided to devote this whole post to our current "challenge". I mentioned it in the last post....but we are still trying to transition Jacob from his bassinet to the crib. I feel bad for him, he's definitely too big for the bassinet. His legs cannot stretch out in them. And when he pushes on the bottom, he can smoosh his head into the top. It's still the place where he gets the most sleep so it obviously isn't bothering him too much, but it bothers me. :)




So initially I just put him in the crib. And of course... that might have lasted 5 minutes. 

My second attempt was to put a blanket on him (maybe he's cold??) and tuck it underneath him to snuggle him in. No go. 

The third idea came from Grammy. She suggested putting some pillows in the crib next to him so he feels nestled in like in the bassinet. She suggested pulling them out once he was asleep since the current recommendation is to put NOTHING in the crib with your child. I'm not worried about pillows. He has great head movement, and that plan was only for nap time when I can check on him frequently.  This worked on the first try. But hasn't worked since :( 

So Onto something else... next I tried the little infant insert in the bassinet. I took it out and laid him on it in the crib. Thinking maybe the smell, texture or anything really, would help. Again, it worked once, but then not for the next 3 or 4 tries. 

The latest thing... and the one that seems to be working best so far (like 80% of the time... until now because I'm sure I jinxed it) is to put the changing pad in his crib and sleep on that. He loves being changed and laying on that pad has always been a positive and happy experience for him, so I figured I would try it. For the most part, it's working. I also decided to start chanigng him on the pad in the crib too, just to show that the crib can be a 'happy' place. 

Wish me luck.... we're not out of the woods yet. :)

Welcome 2014!

Well we made it through the first week of 2014. So far it has been cold and snowy, kind of like the end of 2013. Imagine that :) Jacob and I have spent way too much time inside and I'm getting cabin fever. At least we went for a walk yesterday while it was above freezing and the sun was out. Better than nothing. Plus I want to get my money's worth out of my new stroller!

Daddy has been busy at work. They are installing one of his new machines this week and it will continue for the next month or so. Unfortunately that means he'll be working longer days than he has been. Today he's actually working a spit shift, so he'll be home during the middle of the day and then off to work again this evening.

This week Jacob is trying to learn how to sleep in his crib, instead of the bassinet. It has been a slow process. He did great the first two days, sleeping in the crib twice those days. Then the next two days, he wouldn't go to sleep in it. And now it's been hit or miss if he will go to sleep or not. I think it's just big and lonely and isn't as snug as the bassinet. We will get there eventually, it just takes time and getting used to.

Jacob is still trying to master his hand-to-mouth coordination. He tries to suck his thumb and fingers and often is successful. Other times, you can see him concentrating on his hand and trying to put it into his mouth...only to hit himself in the face, poke himself in the eye or smash his nose. It's kinda cute to watch :)

We are also getting more and more used to the carrier that Aunt Val lent to us. Jacob used to scream bloody murder when I tried to put him in it, even if he was dead asleep. Now if I see he's getting sleepy I can put him in it and he falls asleep on my chest. I'd like to be able to put him in it while he's awake so I can grocery shop or whatever, but we're working up to  it :)

I think that's it for now!

2013: What a year it was!

Well I can't believe that 2013 is almost over. Just a few hours left and we'll be onto the next exciting year. We had a very nice Christmas and saw a lot of our family. Some of the extended family got to meet Jacob for the first time and we spent lots of time with both sets of Grandparents. I wish I got a few more photos during Christmas, but I was more focused on being a Momma than being a photographer this year :)   We are very excited to see all that 2014 will bring including two new cousins and I'm sure countless memories and firsts for Jacob! 


Thank you to all of our friends and family that made this Christmas so special. It was really nice to have a weekend with Grammy and Grampa at the lake and see all of the George family at Corinne and Bill's house. We also loved having Grammy Sue and Grumpa come to our house on Christmas eve and spend the night. Having Aunt Kim, Ma and Maureen over on Christmas day was very special for us too. 

I tried to start some Christmas traditions with our family, but the only one that really was completed was making an ornament for Jacob. I would like to do one each year for him to hang on the tree. I'm sure we'll find other traditions for our family as the years go by. 

Jacob's newest trick is he is trying to suck his thumb. Sometimes he misses his mouth completely, pokes himself in the eye or sometimes he gets the thumb in the mouth, with a finger, or two...or his whole fist. It's very cute to watch him try to figure out exactly what he wants to do. Lately he has also been laying on the floor and entertaining himself by looking at the fan. Lexie is VERY good and knows she is not allowed on Jacob's blanket on the floor. I am pleasantly surprised how well she is adjusting. 

At Jacob's 2 month appointment last week, he was 10lbs and 9oz and 22 3/4" long. He is growing right on track! Keeping with the 25th percentile on weight and 50th percentile on length. He's a long skinny baby :)

Jacob and I went to a Mommy and Baby fitness class in Portland just before Christmas. It was a great class and I wish it was a little closer, or I'd go all the time! There is also a Mommy and Baby Yoga class there....although I prefer fitness (cardio and strenth) to yoga. We have been meeting up with other babies from time to time including my friend Sheanna who had her boy, Jude, the day before Jacob. I am also in the process of setting up a "volleyball mommies from 2013" meet up for all of the girls I have played volleyball with that had children over the past year. There are 7 of us! Very crazy. Jacob will get plenty of social time, and so will Mommy :)

I'm usually sad to see Christmas go, but this year I'm just glad to get back to focusing on being Mommy and not worry too much about presents and wrapping and preparing food and cleaning my house for guests. It was fun, and very special but the best part of all was having Jacob here!

Top Ten.....

Top 10 Things You Learn As a New Mom......

10. How to do everything with one hand

9. 3 hours of sleep in a row is "doing pretty good"

8. You can love something more that you ever thought possible

7. Having a puppy REALLY is nothing like having a child

6. You are now on baby time and nothing else really matters

5. How to get a workout AND hold a baby at the same time

4. Major diaper blowout = immediate bath

3. Sleeping more than three hours in a row concerns you "should I check on the baby??"

2. How to take the fastest shower known to woman

1. Showering, changing your clothes, dishes and laundry are actually all luxuries. They don't HAVE to be done today!

7 Weeks already

Tomorrow marks 7 weeks since Jacob was born. Wow does time fly. Right now I am feeling extremely thankful that I work for a company that allows me to take six months to focus on nothing more than being a Mother and will hold my job until I return. Of course I'm not getting paid for it all (about half) but I'm very fortunate to have the opportunity.

Jacob has been sleeping a little more at night, but not every night. He usually goes to sleep around 9:30 or 10pm and wakes up again anywhere between midnight and 2am. One night he slept until 3:30! However once he has his "long" sleep it's typically only 2 hour blocks from there on out. So if he's up at midnight, it's a three-feeding-night.  But if he makes it to 3am, then we're only getting up twice that night. And that has happened about 3 times in the past month. Overall I think he's sleeping well at night. I think we'll keep him :)

As many people know, I was convinced Jacob would be at least 8lbs, if not 9lbs. Especially since I went a week over my due date and the smallest baby in the George family was 8lbs. I was so convinced, I didn't think he'd ever fit into newborn clothes. I bought a size 6 month fleece winter suit, assuming it would be just the right size. Well.... Jacob had other plans when he was born at 6lbs 12oz. He might be around 9lbs now and he's just shy of 2 months old :) The reason I bring this up, is that his Halloween outfit was size 3 months. There was NO way it would even remotely fit on Halloween (a week after he was born). So I finally put it on him. And it's still too big, but much closer to fitting.

Lately one of Jacob's new things is giving Mom and Dad a HUGE wide-mouth smile in the mornings. When I get him in the mornings to feed him he's so excited to see us! It started about 2 weeks ago when Daddy got him up and he wouldn't stop smiling. Daddy had to come into bed and show Mommy and he smiled for her too. It's the most adorable thing. 

Jacob has been going Christmas shopping with Mommy too. He's been a little angel. Fortunately he loves riding in the car (this picture was from the day home from the hospital) and he usually is asleep while in the store. He has been to Cabela's, Bed Bath and Beyond, WalMart, Kohls, Home Depot, Craft Mania, JoAnne's Fabrics and Big Lots. I think that's about it. He has also been to the farm 4 (maybe 5?) times. Most recently for Aunt Kim's birthday dinner while Daddy sent Mommy to get a manicure and massage with two of her friends. That was her "push present" from Daddy. 


On Christmas Day Jacob will be 2 months old! Christmas is so much more exciting with a Baby around, even if he can't interact very much and won't remember it. It just makes it so much more special. I'm sure each Christmas to come will get more and more special.