Bedtime...

Ethan needs a new bedtime. We're co-sleeping, but I'd like to get to the point that Ethan sleeps in his own bed (currently the bassinet) for at least a few hours before he wakes up and comes to bed with us. Up to this point I haven't been really active as far as getting a sleep schedule/routine/rythm established. We just chill out together until he gets cranky and I get tired and then we go get in bed. Sometimes I lie down with him, then get back up, and other times we all just go to sleep. But I am learning that he needs an earlier bedtime than I do, and it's really nice when I have even an hour or so alone or with Darrell at night.

I'm not planning to do anything drastic, of course...I'd just like to see if we can be a little more structured about this whole thing.

So last night, we did a new little routine. About 9, Ethan had a nice warm bath, a little mini-massage with some lotion, got dressed in his jammies and kissed dad goodnight. Then we turned just the night light on in his room and I nursed and rocked him to sleep. Amazingly, he stayed asleep when I laid him down, and slept for a few hours - at least until we went to bed but I can't remember what time that was :) Now, if only we can make this or something similar happen again tonight, and the night after that, and the night after that!

I know Darrell is disappointed when Ethan isn't awake when he gets home, and that makes me really sad but soon we'll be seeing more of him in the mornings so hopefully that will make up for their missed time in the evenings. I think in the long run this is going to make for a happier everyone.

By the way, the Fisher Price Rainforest baby bathtub that we put on the registry and recieved SUCKS. I gave Ethan a bath in it several times, and it was miserable each time. The little sling was positioned so that Ethan's back hit a ledge inside the tub, which hurt him. So, once he was a little less floppy I took the sling out and tried to bathe him in the tub, but the "seat" part was so small he just slid out of it and again, jammed his back into the ledge. It has been so frustrating, so I finally bought this little seat at Babies R Us, and used it for bathtime last night. I can't find a picture of it, but it's just a simple wire frame with a mesh seat. For the first time ever, Ethan LOVED his bath. He was able to lay in the tub a splash around... he even caught his little rubber ducky a time or two. I'll try to get a picture/video of his next bath. He did keep sliding down the seat, but he actually liked that part because he ended up "floating" in a way. I just had to keep a close eye on him and keep pulling him back up :)

pump up the volume...

Ethan has discovered his voice. Not just that he has a cute little noisemaker, but that it can make really LOUD noises. Just this Saturday he started squealing while we were visiting with our pastor and well... he hasn't stopped! It's really the cutest thing, until his screeches turn angry with frustration or boredom. And that change happens so suddenly.

In general though, it's happy screaming. He's also started laughing in response to us laughing at him. Which of course gets us laughing even more, and then he laughs more and so on.

I love baby days. And today I really hate being at work while my happy boy is playing with someone else. He was such a doll this morning.

Oh well. I'm skipping out early to go to the dentist and then I can go get him. Yaya.

There is more to write about I'm sure... I'll try to catch up later.

Teething Time :(

I think Ethan might be teething. Poor little baby is having grouchy spells off and on, but when I rub his bottom gum with my finger he calms down. I can't believe he's 12 weeks old, already and in just a week he'll officially be three months. I guess that doesn't make it too early, but I'd hoped we could avoid his discomfort for a couple more months.

In the inbetween times he's as happy as ever though. It's amazing how interactive he's becoming. He spends more and more time talking to us each day. It's funny when he listens to one of us talking silliness for a while and then responds with his own jibberish. He's also getting huge. I've had to crack out all the 3-6 month clothes and I need to buy more.

More updating and pictures later...

Time out for a little gushing this morning...

I just need to take a minute to revel in the awesomeness that is my life. I absolutely must be the luckiest woman in the world. There is nothing more special than taking a shower and then crawling back in bed with my little boy to nurse and cuddle early in the morning. This morning he fell back asleep as usual, but so did I. Even though we were late getting around, after I was dressed and went back in to wake him up and change him, I had to take some extra time to hug and cuddle his happy little self.

If I were a believer in Karma I think I would believe I'd suffered something horrendous in a former life in order to be so throughly blessed in this one. As it is, I can't begin to feel like I deserve such happiness.

Ethan makes it so easy to feel like I have mastered this thing called motherhood. (Yes, in 11 short weeks.) It's rare for him to cry a cry that doesn't respond to one of a few motherly wiles. In fact, many times, my mere presence is all that's needed. Nothing boosts my confidence more than seeing my son, fussing (maybe in his swing or someone elses arms) and watching the transformation that takes place as I approach and reach out for him. I must radiate some type of calming potion.

Now, I know that days, weeks or months down the road I'll reach a point where I temporarily forget these warm and fuzzy feelings. That's why I'm writing them down. I will depend on you, my friends, to point me back here to relive this moment :)

What's happy in your lives today?