weeks 14 & 15 // father's day!

These past weeks have been really busy for our little family. Hubby has started his final quarter in grad school, which includes a clinical immersion component at a suburban hospital. We have been juggling our schedules so that we're each home with L 1-2 days per week, and then a family friend has been babysitting him for us 2 days / week. So far, it's been working out just fine. It's all going to change again when Hubby graduates in August -- when we will look for a more permanent childcare provider and have a more predictable schedule. I've been enjoying my days with the little guy, though some are better than others, depending on whether or not he complies with napping. He still fusses just before falling asleep, and sometimes he skips the naps altogether, but we just try to take it as it is. He's been sleeping well through the night, though occasionally waking between 12a-2a, 3a-4a, and then around 6a.

He has been spending more time in the Bumbo seat, and playing with his friends on the floor gym. He's started trying to put everything he can get his hands on into his mouth. He also has been drooling like a fool, which causes him a little rash around his chin. Overall, he's a happy little guy. Papa started doing a new move with him "chest bumps" which he loves - he squeals and smiles.

We celebrated Hubby's first father's day with Chicago-style dogs and I got the boys matching Darth Vader bicycle t-shirts. It was a good day. I just love watching the two of them interact. And the way that L smiles when papa talks to him and smiles at him? It's the sweetest thing.



 



Things I've learned in the past two weeks:

• Levi does not {I repeat ... does NOT} like the pacifier. I've tried, Hubby has tried, Grandma and Grandpa have tried. He just doesn't want it. I know that this will save us the difficulty of "taking the paci away day" when he's six months old, but sometimes I think it would be nice if he would just take it. Instead, he loves shoving his fingers and tiny little hands into his mouth.


• Cloth diapering may not be for us {gasp!}. I {we} simply cannot keep up with the laundry as-needed for cloth diapering. There are days when we do better than others, but I've resigned myself to the fact that it's okay. I'm holding on to all of our diapers that I have in the stash to hopefully resume when we have a better handle on our schedule. For now, we are using Seventh Generation disposables {which I love}, and have tested out The Honest Company disposables as well {which we will likely purchase in the future}.


• Breastfeeding, pumping, etc. is a lot of work! Not only is it difficult to figure out timing for pumping at work, I spend more time washing and sanitizing breast pump parts than I even imagined possible. Before I went back to work, I pumped consistently before bedtime, but that was it. Now, I pump about 3 times per day if I'm gone the entire day, plus once before bed. This week, I pumped twice in the car ... which is just awkward. Although it's challenging {again, some days better than others}, I am so grateful to have this experience. Breastfeeding is very important to me, and I'm hopeful that we'll make it to a year {or maybe longer}.

More updates to come!

xoxo,

PJ

weeks 12 & 13

These last few weeks L seems to be changing every day. Whether it's a new noise, movement, or simply the fact that he looks exponentially bigger to us. It's just amazing! On the day that L turned 3 months, I officially returned to work. Although my schedule was a bit sporadic for the first two weeks because of coordinating child care, so it was really like I returned to work part-time. It was nice to ease into it a bit.

L is really starting to show more of his personality - he loves being entertained by mama and papa. We make silly faces, noises, and perform anything we can think of that might make him smile, giggle, or coo. It's hilarious. Yes, we are THOSE people.



 

L rolled over from front to back a few times at 13 weeks. It's hilarious how exciting this little milestone is! I caught part of one of the roll overs on vine. He just rolled over and then smiled. It was the cutest little thing. He's still been sleeping pretty well through the night. We had a few rough nights around 12 weeks when he started waking up 2-3 times / night again. But it didn't last long, and we're back to our little routine of nighttime sleep from 8pm - 5/6am. Sometimes he wakes around 3/4 am for a feed, but then goes back to sleep until 6:30a. I don't mind this, since it's keeping my breastmilk supply up, and then it stretches the morning sleep a little longer. He's still nursing like a champ and doing well with the bottle during the days when I'm at work. I really treasure the times when I'm nursing him, especially now since I'm back to work.

xoxo,

PJ

8 weeks

i start all of these updates the same {or similar} way: "it's hard to believe ..." BUT it is hard to believe how much our little dude has grown over these past weeks - he's officially outgrown all of the newborn sized clothing, and now in 3 month sizes though they're a little big in the legs. his cheeks kill me. levi now coos and says "goo" {so now i keep saying he will someday be the CEO of Google}. he's more alert, tracking objects and faces with his eyes. it melts my heart when hubby sits next to him and plays the guitar during tummy time, or makes up a song and sings to levi about "milkies".

he's also growing more interested in his bouncy chair / rocker where he hangs out with his "friends" aka the animals hanging overhead. now that the weather has been better, we've been getting out for more walks, and trying to get a schedule going for our day. it pretty much starts around 6am - 7am, and then he snoozes every 2 hours for 30-45 minutes until the afternoon when he naps for 1-3 hours.

these last two weeks have been a bit challenging as levi's periods of fussiness seem to have increased - and a few really difficult overnights with him waking every 1-2 hours to nurse and/or waking because of gas. we've tried gripe water, gas drops, and now trying some probiotics to see if it helps. we also have to burp him frequently. he's just a gassy guy. i've also cut dairy out of my diet completely to see if that helps at all. so far, i can't tell - but i'm going to give it a few more weeks and then see how he responds to it. these past few nights, he's done better - and last night he slept in his longest stretch so far: 7.5 hours. i almost cried.

even bleary-eyed in the middle of the night, i can't help but smile when i see this little guy who needs his mama. it's a feeling that is hard to describe, and i wouldn't trade it for anything.

xoxo,

PJ

PS: hubby dressed levi for the day ... cracks me up mostly because he's wearing little socks that look like high tops and a  onesie that says "mommy rocks" {and he knows how i feel about the cheesy onesies ...}.

PPS: it was extremely windy today, hence the hand on the head and the fly-aways. but levi's facial expression in the second photo is my favorite.

easter 2013

 

this year, we celebrated easter for the first time as a family of three {four with lennon}. we took L to church for the first time and he got to meet more of our friends and family. although it's super distracting taking a newborn to church, it's important to Hubby and I that we introduce L to church and teach him the importance of faith in our lives. hopefully this is something that L will incorporate into his life as well. i find myself overwhelmed with the responsibility to teach him about love and faith; also blessed that this is something that i get to share with him.

after church, we continued the celebration of easter with dinner, a family nap, and then opened easter baskets from both sets of grandparents. although L didn't get any easter candy {mama did, so i guess he got to taste some cadbury chocolate} - he did get some new toys, a few outfits, and a book about easter from Hubby's parents.

it was a special day made complete by L wearing his very first "outfit" put together by mama - a white button down, cardigan, and pants. this prompted our first easter family photo {see above}.

i will just make one more comment about how husbands suddenly become 10x more attractive when they're holding your baby?? dang.



xoxo,
PJ

38 weeks ... and our little dude's arrival

So, I totally expected to be one of those 41 weeks and still pregnant ladies. But our little dude had other plans! He decided to make an early appearance into the world at 38 weeks. Birthing was one of the most powerful experiences of my life, and I'm so grateful that I was supported by Hubby, my mother, our doula, and our midwife. I still get emotional thinking about how it was up to me to labor and push and finally deliver this little person into the world. Although my delivery didn't go quite as I planned, at the end of it all this tiny little perfect person was placed on my chest and the first words out of my mouth to Hubby were "he's just so beautiful".

He's two weeks old now, and I've already had a few meltdowns about how he's growing up so fast. I'm working to savor every moment I have with him, even if it's at 3am and I'm exhausted. Oh, and cluster feedings? They are no joke. Hubby has become quite the expert swaddler and diaper changer - also rocking it out at 3am. I'm impressed!

Here are a few photos from birthing day and the last two weeks that our Levi has been in the world.







xoxo,

PJ

oh boy oh boy oh boy

Last week we had our milestone 20-week ultrasound. I was so nervous {because working in a hospital full of sick children makes me think that there is something wrong with each child} headed in to the ultrasound. I'm happy to report that little bebe was moving around and looks to be right on track with growth and development! Little bebe measured in at 14 ounces, 61st percentile for weight at 20 weeks {which is just an estimation, but still ... that's great!}.

Our ultrasound tech was a rockstar and did just what we asked by not revealing bebe's sex to us during the ultrasound; instead she printed off the gender revealing ultrasound photo and tucked it inside an envelope for Hubby and I to open privately together. She also packed our little gift to open later in the evening with our family.

Hubby and I went to dinner together after our appointment at one of our favorite spots: Uncommon Ground. We knew we couldn't wait until the end of the meal - so we opened it immediately after we ordered, and toasted to the little one {with our ice water}.



I teared up a little bit thinking about our little dude and the fact that now we know a little bit more about the little that's been moving around inside me.

Later in the evening, we gathered our family members in person, via Skype, and Facetime to share the news. We opened our little package that the ultrasound tech packed for us with the onesie and the envelope labeled "BOY" with the little photo tucked inside. It was a fun way to share with our family our news about the baby's gender.



The next day, Hubby and I took the photo to announce to extended family and friends. My initial idea fell through because of the madness of Halloween weekend in Chicago. I planned to get lettered balloons to spell out "BOY" but the party stores were a nightmare. Alternate plan included what was available at our local grocery store. It was incredibly windy so it didn't turn out quite as nice as I'd hoped but it was still fun.



Though Lennon didn't behave well for the photos, we got him at the end by promising him some treats.

This photo shows what he was really like during our attempts ...



Though I am a little freaked out about having a boy {I've only got sisters, and lots of females in my side of the family}, I know that this little dude is going to steal my heart and the heart of his papa. That's a pretty sweet feeling.

xoxo,

PJ

October

 

 

I am almost half way through this pregnancy and FINALLY starting to feel *normal* again. These are the photo updates that I post on Facebook and Instagram every few weeks to show the growing baby bump. In addition to the growing belly and expected arrival of this little bebe in March, I also changed jobs and left my position at the hospital. It was an extremely hard decision but I think it will be best for me and for our little growing family - allowing flexibility and freedom to have an open schedule. I had one week off in-between the position change, which ended up being a challenging week as my grandmother passed away.

We spent a weekend in Michigan to celebrate Hubby's cousins' wedding. It was nice to get out of the city for a night and visit with extended family members we haven't seen in a long time. Oh, and we stopped and picked out a few pumpkins and some delicious cider donuts. Also, we're officially an aunt and uncle! Hubby's sister Jen had her baby girl! This means that little bebe and Stella will be just a few months apart. How great is that?!

Dad ran his 9th marathon this month! And our friend P ran his first. Marathon weekend in this city is just so much fun - and even more amazing when you're able to cheer on friends and family during their 26.2 mile journey.

It's been an exciting month among these parts, and the end of this month will bring even more news as we find out little bebe's gender! 

 xoxo,

PJ

six years.

Last weekend Hubby and I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary with a dinner at Grange Hall Burger Bar. It's our little tradition to celebrate with a nice dinner. Hubby has had his eye {appetite?} set on this little place for a while, so we thought we'd give it a whirl. Pretentious spots aren't really our thing, anyway. This year we went two days early for an early dinner to avoid a long wait. We snagged an outdoor spot in some great weather.

Grange Hall Burger Bar is what happens when small-town-Americans and big-city-Urbanites have a baby. {Did that make any sense?} I adored it. It made me want to transplant myself into an episode of Friday Night Lights. Literally. From the country modern decor complete with mismatched napkins and flatware to the lunch-tray serving style, this place delivered the concept well. It literally feels like a slice of small town USA in the heart of the city.

As a farm-to-table establishment, their seasonal {fried} veggies and pies are a highlight. We shared: the fried veggies, macaroni and cheese, onion rings, burgers, and their homemade peanut butter and jelly ice cream. It was all delicious. We took home a strawberry-rhubarb pie with homemade whipped cream for the rest of the family.







When Hubby and I were first married, I often referred to him as my PFL:  "Partner for Life". After six years of marriage, I can say that this has been an honest description of our life together. Partners growing, loving each other, and enjoying this life we have. Together. As any honest married person will admit - marriage is hard work. And it's absolutely worth the effort.

Part-ner {noun}: a person who shares or is associated with another in some action or endeavor // either of two people who dance together





Cheers to us. And to small-town-Americans making babies with big-city-Urbanites.

xoxo,

PJ

Weekend Update

This past weekend:

• I ran the Race to Wrigley Fun Run 5k with dad {and ran my fastest time, yet!}


• I cheered on the Rush Softball team


• I wandered around some of my favorite downtown spots {the lions, horses, exhaust pipe sculpture, blossoming trees in grant park, and the tulips}, and had one of those "I love Chicago" days.

A lovely weekend indeed.

xo,

PJ

Holiday Wishlist: Hubby Edition

Hubby enjoys making his holiday wishlist just as much as I do. In all honesty, he probably loves it a little more than I do. Here's his list of things that he would love to receive this holiday season. Do you hear that, Santa?!

Hubby's Holiday Wishlist by pilarjoy 

Nixon Voyager Messenger, Burton 2.5L Fix Jacket, Brooks England Flyer Saddle, Men's Health Magazine Subscription, Keen Men's Springwater Cycling Shoe, Xbox Kinect, Handlebar

Inspired Tuesday: I carry your heart

One of my favorite poems {printed on our wedding program 5 years ago} is by E.E. Cummings. I found this necklace on Etsy the other day and I've added it to my list of things that I want to purchase. So simple, pretty, and very meaningful to me {and Hubby too, of course}.

i carry your heart with me {i carry it in my heart}

i am never without it {anywhere i go you go, my dear;

and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling}

i fear no fate {for you are my fate, my sweet}

i want no world {for beautiful you are my world, my true}

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

{here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide}

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart {i carry it in my heart}

-e.e. cummings

here's to an inspired memory: an adorable little necklace reminding me of my sweet love.

xoxo,

PJ