Talkative, Bath Tub-Hating, NASCAR Enthusiast

That's right. That is where little Cohen is in life these days.  He is growing into such a pint-sized person lately with his own personality, likes and dislikes, and habits.  His latest interest and passion we (and he) have discovered is NASCAR.  Much to Chris's delight, Cohen watched the race with much excitement, attention, and awe for more than an hour the other week.  We put him in his swing facing the race and he was completely mesmerized by the sound and colors and the little cars going round and round the track!  He was also talking non-stop as if to exclaim to us all these things he was seeing.  He wouldn't even look at us or acknowledge us during this time.  So, I went over and recorded this latest hobby of his:

Usually I can't record him or snap pictures of him very easily.  I have been attempting to catch Cohen's smile on camera or camcorder for weeks now and he has that radar that goes off when I am looming with one of them.  When I approach, he immediately stops whatever he is doing and scowls at me with a look on his face that tells me he is not a circus monkey and he will not be cooperating.

The other big deal is trying to get him to take a bath in an infant tub.  He is not having it.  Chris has been humoring me as I attempt different approaches and purchase different styles of tubs, foolishly thinking it will make a difference and he will magically appreciate all of the special features that attracted me to the tub.  I almost made the huge mistake of buying the top of the line "whirl pool" infant bath that was only marginally on sale, but when I was hauling it to the check-out Chris oh-so-calmly asked what kind of batteries it took and read off the box, 10 "C" batteries, I kept on walking back to the shelf.  I think the problem is we were instructed to sponge bathe Cohen longer than usual because of medicine the doctor put in his belly button.  So now, when we lower him gently into a warm just-his-size tub, he screams and flails his arms and legs and the tears fall. We have given up for now. We are optimistic that once he is able to hold his head up completely and especially sit up, he will not be so frightened by this ritual we make him participate in.

Cohen's recent schedule or lack thereof has been exhausting.  On Saturday, Cohen woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 3AM, ready to start the day.  Chris and I alternated entertaining him, but nothing could redeem the way we were left feeling that day.  Then just yesterday, Cohen took a four hour nap even though I know we are not to let him sleep more than three hours during the day. He was just so peaceful! And lately his naps have been shorter and easily interrupted.  Anyway, it took us three hours to get him to bed at night.  We finally drug ourselves into bed at 11 PM exhausted from the "wear Cohen out" activities.  He is still sleeping 5-9 hours at night, but the way he breaks them up are killers!

Cohen recently reminded us he has graduated from "newborn" to "infant" when Chris attempted one of the soothing techniques we learned in class by loudly shhhhshing him when he was fussy and he instantly broke into tears .  Things are changing, for sure.  Cohen loves to roll on his right side and pivot himself around in a half circle.  He is pulling my hair and honking our noses as he reaches for anything and everything.  He now does tummy time propped up on the boppy with a musical turtle in front of him that he pushes the buttons to re-start the music when it has stopped!  Whenever we go anywhere, Cohen wants out of his car seat and to be carried around to see everything going on around him. We are trying to keep up and adapt to Cohen's ever-changing abilities and preferences.  It is quite a ride!

11 Weeks

Go team!

Caleb, Cohen and Jackson-Best friends!

Going to get fireworks on his first Fourth of July

12 Weeks

Intimidated by the sweet tea

Kinda preppy sometimes

Hanging out with mom

13 Weeks

Gettin' Jiggy With It

It's difficult to believe that Cohen was 12 weeks old yesterday.  This little boy has brought so much joy in such a short time. Cohen is reaching for things and holding onto them longer.  His neck is stronger and he holds it up for quite awhile without wobbling too much. He loves the little stuffed animal blankets that he can hold, pull up to his face and suck on. He seems to have established more of a routine these days.  He has been going to bed between 8:30 and 10 and then sleeps until 5 AM or so. Previously he would go back to sleep, but not lately.  He wants to play a bit, then I can usually get him back to sleep but only for an hour or less. Then he is up for the day!  The next time window is critical to me getting a shower. Cohen will play, but usually gets bored and tired when I am in the middle of drying my hair.  Plus it never fails that I hear that noise and see that face that says we need to visit the changing pad as soon as I get out of  the shower.  At that time, Cohen is ready to eat and take a nap around 9 or 10.  He may sleep a half hour or three hours.  Then by 1 or 2 he is napping again.  My problem is, I have a difficult time with that old rule, "Sleep when the baby sleeps".  I see those times (if I am not holding him) as the time to catch up on things like laundry.  That must be why I am so exhausted, reminiscent of the "early days" after Cohen was born. 

Going out is still a challenge.  Sometimes he is happy and content but other times he is cranky and hungry.  The hardest part is not knowing what we will get.  Even when he is perfect, he is still high-maintenance.  And Chris thought I was! When we go out to eat with him, I might as well order my food cold. 

Cohen probably wouldn't have minded missing his first Fourth of July.  Not a big fan of the loudness and bright lights. I learned this when I cautiously took him out just to watch my special firework, "Pooping Puppy" because it was harmless enough.  Then the loudest one we had was set off and it was back into the house in tears. Broke my heart.  I will probably remember that forever.  After I calmed him down, he sat in front of the Boston Pops concert and fireworks on TV and was quite interested for awhile. I tried to watch the ones Chris and my family were setting off all evening, but I couldn't see much from the window.  You know it was a fun time when Chris comes in covered in black firework soot and must spend an hour the next day cleaning up our driveway and the neighbor's across the way! It was a late, long night for Cohen, though.  Hopefully, it will be more fun for him next year.

One of the things Chris loves to do with Cohen lately is sing and dance. I don't think Cohen fully appreciates this activity yet, though!  Some day.... So below is the promised  video of this rather entertaining spectacle.  The next video we refer to as Cohen's  "lip wave".  This was taken as he was first discovering his tongue and all of its powers.  He was also starting to imitate our faces and expressions.  Enjoy!

 

 

So Now, Fireworks Aren't My Favorite

 I have had this post ready for some time, but I have been waiting to see if we could figure out how to post a video. We have some cute ones! No such luck so far.  Chris is working on compressing the files or something. No pressure or anything, Chris:)  Anyway, I will post them when we can.

I used to really enjoy the Fourth of July and all the fireworks.  In fact, I am sure I still will on the 4th.  However, it has become apparent to me that this will be a long week.  We live in the middle of firework central where you can pretty much shoot off anything.  It is also a sport for all of our neighbors.  Particularly past 10 o'clock at night. As I type this, several fireworks are going off-in the middle of the afternoon!  Now, I don't consider myself Miss Stodgy Pants, but with the combo of dogs and baby I have changed my once care-free position a smidge.  Fireworks go off, dogs bark, baby wakes up or can't go to sleep at all.  Sigh....a long week indeed.

 To pick up where I left off last post, Cohen's first road trip went rather well!  He slept pretty much the entire way down and half the way home.  Overall, he was the perfect baby. Bring his play gym along and he doesn't care where he is!  The same facts that exist here, existed there. He was upset if he was hungry, tired, or overstimulated. But, we really enjoyed visiting some of my family, some of Chris' family, and my cousin's wedding was beautiful!  We wish our family lived closer because we never get to spend enough time with them.  But, we never spend enough time with our family that lives here, either.  Time just gets away. There are so many people we want to see and spend time with, but it's just not very easy any more.  Life is so complicated yet so simple.  Plus, Cohen and I are somewhat hermits.  I want to get out and see people and do things, but sometimes the thought of it is overwhelming. Also, we are looking for a new car. (Chris has decided on a Pontiac Vibe if you know of one that is for sale!)  The only one I have right now during the day has no A/C. No bueno.  So, that limits my outings during the day.

Cohen is really teaching me that things are out of my control, which I knew was coming!  I can have the best, well-executed plan to go out or do something and he has other ideas that makes it a no-go.  And I am late everywhere for a reason, now.  The diaper bag will be packed, the dogs put away, I am dressed, Cohen is dressed and we are buckling him into the car seat then we hear that all-too-familiar noise and look on Cohen's face that means we need to make another stop at the changing pad. I think I am adjusting fairly well or at least improving as the days go by in being more flexible!

Cohen had his second treatment at the chiropractor last week.  We really think it is helping curb his fussiness and helping him sleep better at night.  Lately he has been sleeping through the night and going 6 to 8 hours without waking up.  Chris took Cohen to "Boot Camp for Dads" class that he had participated in before Cohen was born, but this time he helped teach the class.  Anyway, the facilitator had asked him and another "veteran" dad about sleep.  Chris answered that Cohen sleeps through the night and has off and on for weeks and the facilitator was quick to point out that this was not the norm and not to expect it.  And others say if we have another one, not to expect the early days to be this easy. But, we will take the sleep where we can and appreciate our fairly easy to take care of baby! We are just so glad he is healthy!

We had been killing ourselves to get our required tummy time in any way we could. Chris was researching it and I was trying all sorts of things out at home and using a plethora of distractions, but we could really only get him to be content for five to ten minutes at a time.  Thirty minutes four times a day was just not happening no matter what!  I am enjoying reading all of his books to him in segments while we are trying to get through this dreaded activity. I breathed a sigh of relief when the chiropractor said if we were doing it a couple of times a day for ten minutes we should be good.  That is a lot more doable!

Overall, Cohen is smiling and "talking" more. He loves his hands and tries to reach for things and is playing with some toys more.  He is getting more control over his neck and loves to look around . It never gets old watching him and playing with him.  Every day is something new in the midst of his old routine. We are loving it!

And now some current pics:

9 weeks

Lil' froggy

Sock monkey outfit

10 weeks

Tummy time

Kind of a smile!

More tummy time

Trying to be creative with tummy time! This is probably the one he tolerates the longest.

Little Bug

8 Week Tears

We have been busy! I can't say exactly with what, though. I guess just the new day-to-day stuff.  Cohen did have his dreaded 2 month check-up yesterday.   He is still doing very well except for the threat of a helmet if I don't make him do enough tummy time. Yikes!  So, 30 minutes four times a day of tummy time for all of us to endure from now on. Other than that, he weighs exactly 11 pounds which puts him in the 50th percentile and is 23.5 inches long and in the 75th percentile.  The nurse explained all the shots and why they were necessary and the side effects, etc. but that doesn't prepare you for the actual giving of shots.  Cohen probably did better than me, though. You see, so far, Cohen doesn't really cry a lot.  So, pretty much every time he wails, I cry.  He cried for a little while, then Chris comforted him and we gave him a bottle. He then fell asleep.  Whew!  It was still difficult to look at his bandaged thighs, even though it was Mickey Mouse.  The other concern is that we leave tomorrow on our first road trip to go to my cousin's wedding about 5 or 6 hours away.  That should be a challenge. I am already having a difficult time packing for a baby!

Other exciting news is that Cohen is starting to smile!  Especially for my dad. He must think Grandpa is pretty funny!  He absolutely loves his play gym and  lays under it looking at all the animals, the color-changing smiley face, himself in the mirror and dances to the music. This is the new solution to taking a shower! I just bring him into the bathroom with his play gym.  However, I have not looked at the instruction manual in detail and the darn music turns off after a short time. So Cohen is going at it dancing and moving and talking and then he is just still. Completely still, looking up quizzically at the center of his play gym.  I'll need to fix that!  Cohen is also sucking on his hands and playing with them more.  He has grown out of his newborn clothes and is sometimes awkwardly wearing his 3 month clothes.  It seems as though most of the country has wide but short kids?  A lot of his outfits fit at the snaps but have a ton of extra room on the sides. He's just a tall little guy!

I can tell Cohen's personality is starting to come out. He is sweet and easy-going.  He is playful and cuddly.  The other day I put him in bed with me and he was kicking and moving until he was right next to me. He then rolled on his side and fell asleep touching me. Sweetest moment ever! But, never again since I learned this is a no-no because of SIDS.  That is my new worry.  It seems so random and I want specifics. Most nights I watch him breathe while he sleeps telling myself I will do this all night,  then I succumb to sleep and trust the Lord to watch over him like He has Cohen's entire life.  But, like one nurse told me, there will always be something to worry about.  We have already learned to rely on God so much during the pregnancy that we just need to continue!

Bath time!

Fun on the puppy mat!

Where he spends a lot of his day!

First outing in the jogging stroller!

7 weeks

Turtle, turtle!

More time under the play gym

 

Proof that we do tummy time!

Not sitting still at 8 weeks

Beautiful Chaos

These fellows are still doing very well!  Cohen had his 1 month appointment last Friday and he weighs 9 pounds 1 ounce and grew to 22.25 or 22.5 inches long (I couldn't read the nurse's scrawl).  I have not updated in awhile because Cohen takes all my time!  I still don't know how to explain to Chris when he gets home how I have accomplished absolutely nothing other than the fact that Cohen and I survived another day together!  I am completely exhausted and adjusting to a brand new life and routine.  Cohen has a schedule-just not one that runs by a clock!  Cohen generally sleeps in 4 hour blocks at night but has slept through the night three times so far!  He is a generally happy and content baby.  The biggest conundrum for me is shower vs. sleep.  Usually around 5 or 6  AM when Cohen wakes up, I can put him back to sleep for a few hours. So at this time the question is, do I forgo precious, hard to come by sleep, or attempt to take a quick shower?  It's a gamble either way.  If I go for sleep, I am running the risk of greeting Chris when he comes home with that messy hair, no make-up look, and " I haven't taken a shower in a day stank" (you all know what I am talking about!). This has happened. On the other hand, I can dash into the shower just to emerge a few minutes later with soapy hair clutching a towel and rushing to the upset, very awake Cohen who decides a shower is not very important. This has also happened.  So, it's a toss-up.

But regardless of the 24/7 required attention which involves the lack of sleep, missed meals, ignored house chores, and not stepping outside the house for several days, Cohen is such a joy and completely worth the upheaval until we figure out this new way of life. We enjoy a continual ritual of sleeping, eating, diaper changes and playing.  I am currently attempting to predict how long to wait before changing his diaper as not to go through three diapers in a marathon diaper-changing episode.  I must say I am improving !  He has a million faces to communicate several things and I am currently trying to decipher all of those, as well.  He just makes us smile all of the time!  He sometimes enjoys baths, walks in the stroller, outings in the car, and playing on the floor with his daddy. He is definitely growing and changing too fast.  He is in between his newborn and 3 month clothes and seems content in his newborn diapers which is proving to be quite expensive.  Overall, he is happy and keeps kicking and cooing!

As far as an update on Chris goes, he is settling into his new role as "daddy" quite well.  He comes home and takes over as much as he can in caring for Cohen. And, yes, he is still getting up in the middle of the night to change diapers because he enjoys being with Cohen so much!  He is disappointed if Cohen is asleep when he leaves for work.  The other update is Chris' continual realization of his lack of basketball skills. Chris' recent purchase of a basketball net has led to frustration and disappointment.  Lately, Chris steals away for awhile to shoot hoops but returns complaining about his missed shots and disbelief at how horrible he is at this sport. I know this. He knows this.  I guess he thinks one of these times the basketball fairy will visit him. He  is generally athletic and is befuddled at this gap in talent.  He ranks his sports in order of best to worst as: football, softball, soccer, hockey, volleyball, weight lifting, tennis, table tennis, croquet, golf (and some more in here) , then basketball.  I guess I don't understand his frustration because I am basically unathletic.  Oh, well.

And now here are some photos:

One Week

2 Weeks

3 Weeks

One Month!

5 Weeks

Snoozing away

He loves his WubbaNub!

Ready for a ride

Playing

Mother's Day 2011

He Is Doing Very Well, Fellows!

This will be short, but I wanted to update a little.  The title is one of the things our funny pediatrician said to us in our first appointment! He is so entertaining!  I think the roles will be reversed with this doctor and maybe we won't always be making a spectacle of ourselves, but he will keep us laughing?
Anyway, it has been a very busy few weeks just trying to keep up with Cohen and all his needs.  But, I am happy to say we are starting to get into a rhythm and routine.  We really haven't had too many fussy times since the first few days. If he is upset, there is a reason!  I just have to decipher that specific reason.  I do feel overwhelmed with all of the lists in my mind, but am learning to let things (a lot of  things) go.  Chris and I are just trying to get the important things done.
Some days are really good and I feel somewhat accomplished, if I do say so myself.  On the other hand, some days I am lucky if Cohen is clean and fed and I have taken a shower! Today was one of the latter.  It was Chris' day to volunteer at church, so I was on my own.  I can do it! Right? Well, I guess not today. In an hour both of us had had a couple of wardrobe changes.  Cohen had managed to go to the bathroom on me and himself twice. Then after Chris got home and was mowing, the dog came in a threw up. Fabulous!  After that, I had to once again interrupt Chris as he was attempting to win the fight against the numerous dandelions in our yard to inform him that I needed assistance immediately to bathe Cohen after he wet all over himself, his hair, clothes, changing pad cover, the wall, me and the dog!  Poor Joey! And Cohen does not fancy baths at all.  So, as of this late afternoon I nearly managed to make lunch by 2:30, let alone accomplish anything else!
Even though it has been some of the most challenging days of my life, I would not trade them for anything. This little boy is our world and we fall more in love each day. I know we will figure out how to better take care of him as each day goes by.

One week old!

One of his favorite poses

He sleeps so much!

Time with Dad

The family