Stats

At Zane's 4 month old appointment (2/10/2010):

Height - 26 inches, 90th %

Weight - 14.4 lbs, ~40th % 

Height for Weight, ~ 10th % 

Head Circumference - 44 cm, between 90th and 95th % 

So, he is long and slender. (where does he get that from??!!! Aunt Liz perhaps??!!) 

Random model image off my computer of Liz - see what I mean??!!  

Back to the Zane-weight part,  I have anxiously worried about my milk supply (is it sufficient?? Is there enough for him? Why does he cry when he is 'finished'??!!) since he was born. BF didn't not come easy for us given the NICU stay and formula/artificial nipple first but I am so glad I stuck with it. There are days where things are easy-peasy and I feel like super BF mom. There are other days when he pulls off and cries, and gets latched back only to pull off again and cry. Oh, and they feel "empty" too. This is usually around 5-6 pm and anything after. I have given formula here or there all along the way, if he was especially hungry and not calming down, if he was at my wonderful Mother-in-Law's (I would pump if he was not here) so he is plenty fine with taking a bottle. I have also pumped a modest amount - but feel freakishly protective of it, like it is some huge accomplishment for me.  Like, I inwardly cringe when I depleat the 'stash' and defrost some to give to him. WHAT???  CRA-ZY. A little "Celine" if you will. (love the lady but she can come across as a bit whack-a-loo, again, crazy fantastic). 

Thanks to my wonderful friend Katy - she introduced me to the blog another chick about my age and stage of life who has an 8 month old. I was looking back at the previous posts from a time when her little dude was Zane's age and came across this. 

So, apparently it is not just me who gets a little weird with the milk. Thank goodness, I was beginning to wonder if this is how my crazy has manifested. 

Mark is so wonderfully supportive to my "I can't feed our CHILD!!" rants of anguish, feeling the world is ending when my supply doesn't meet demand. I drink a lot of tea, (3-4 cups a day, I have bought in bulk) have taken some other recommended herbal supplements and continue to do so. I have also come to terms with what is important is feeding and growing Zane (like, duh) and my ability to exclusively BF him does not correlate with my self worth. Oh, ok. 

I gave him an extra feeding/bottle this afternoon and for the past couple nights have been giving him a bottle before bed. He is super happy when his tummy is full (again, duh) and slept from 8:30pm-7:15 am last night with barely a peep. 

I am ok with this - we are cruising on 4 1/2 months old and I had set a personal goal of BF until he was at least 6 months old. There are some other things I can do, like pump after each feeding and possible ask the Dr for some other Rx assistance. Overall though, I am ok with the need to supplement what I can feed him - the #1 priority is getting him nourishment. I say that for my own benefit, as I know you all know this to be true. 

Some pictures from the recent Texas snow and cute ones post-bath 

My 'couch to 5K' program still going well and bootcamp to start March 15th. Haven't seen the scale budge much, maybe a lb or two,  but it has only been a little less than 2 weeks. I am ignoring the girl scout cookies calling my name right now too - my reminder. I love that when Mark called the other night when he was on his way home he says, "I have a good and bad surprise for you!!!" as I try to not have high calorie zero nutrition snacky foods in the house. He is too funny. 

It's time.

Ahhhh Laundry. Laundry, Laundry, Laundry. You are my mistress - I hear you calling my name day and night and my thoughts are never far from you. I came to this realization yesterday as I was doing yet another load, the rest all separated into whites, colors, darks and sheets/towels. I had this feeling of being able to conquer this daunting task of getting it all done.

and then it hit me.

I saw a little pair of socks, a onesie, and some tiny little pants on the floor in the family room - left over from an hour or so earlier when Mark had changed Zane into his PJ's. It hit me alright, something so blatantly obvious but yet the sheer simplicity of it had escaped me.

It will NEVER be all finished. There will always be those clothes we are wearing, the socks/underwear/shirt that was tossed behind the hamper and missed the 'last call' before washing time.

I had feelings of defeat and acceptance that this was an un-winable battle. So simple you say?  Yes, this realization had escaped this masters educated (x2) person with such ease. Ha, yes, laugh if you will. You know what this tells me??

It's time to go back to work.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE being at home with Zane and it has been such a blessing to have been able to do it thus far. Mark and I planned it so that I could be home for these first few months, always knowing that I would be going back sooner or later - that our savings would only last so long before the dwindling number on that bank statement would send ripples of fear down our spine.  When that would be was left undefined and I had no idea that something like laundry would send me over the edge. It might be lack of uninterrupted sleep, the taunting from the arrival of my Clinical Advisor  magazine, or just the nearing of the 'it's time' feeling but I am thinking we are nearing that point.


However, I don't think for a second that leaving this face a few days a week will be easy:

We will figure things out as we go.

Anyone know of a practice looking for a part time NP??

4 Months old!

Zane is now 16 weeks into this wonderful crazy world and (seemingly) enjoying just about every minute! He loves to play, loves to be held and talked to, and LOVES to look at himself in the mirror! I kid you not, this is his absolute favorite thing to do! Have a grouchy Zane? Just walk him over to the hall or bathroom mirror and Volia! Happy Baby!!!

Zane checking himself out - What a handsome guy!!!

Here were are heading out on a walk - the first half went great, he loved it. The second half...not so great, he was getting the breezy (ie COLD) wind in his face and was none to happy about it!

I have started my "Couch to 5K in 30 days" program and am so happy to get this tush moving! We are very lucky to have a treadmill (thanks Paul and Nancy!!) and I am doing a bootcamp fitness next month. I have been a 'runner' off and on since college and love it when I am at it regularly. I have high aspirations of doing a half marathon with my sister Liz at some point.....

Wish me Luck!!!

Is that drool on your shirt or are you just excited to see me??!!

I have a child who loves to smile (most blessed am I!). This is a child who also drools enough each day to thoroughly wet at least three outfits - if I am not watchful and ready with new bibs. While we have LOTS of blankets, towels, numerous other baby accessories one thing that I did not receive or buy more than a few of are bibs. Probably because I did not foresee this drool storm, I merely thought bib-wearing came with food eating (experienced people and moms everywhere snicker at this oh so amateur thought).

So, what does one do when EVERY bib one owns is dirty, wet, and smelly?? Improvise of course!!!

That is a cloth diaper/burb rag around his neck. Worked beautifully - while it stayed on - long enough to get some bibs out of the dryer!

On the next trip to Target (my favorite escape) I picked up few more bibs with new found appreciation.

Isn't he a doll?? Ok, sure, I am slightly biased : )

A first

Something happened this morning that has not happened ever.... not that I wasn't anticipating that it would, because I was, ever since Mark and I got married. I just got 'comfortable' I guess and let my guard down.

I. fell. in. the. toilet.

I was distracted, baby was crying, I was hurrying, and SPLASH.

You see, Mark and I decided this was a non-issue for us a while ago. I don't automatically put the seat up after I am finished so why should he always put it down? I was fine with that and so was he. I checked, put it down, and went about my business so to speak. Again, non issue.

Until today.

Well, it is still a non-issue. There are much bigger things out there and this is not even in the realm of stuff to care about.

but it is kinda funny : )

Sip n' See 1 & 2

We had a wonderful time in Atlanta - it just went by too quickly!!! Saturday we had a great time with some of my mom's friends at a lovely shower given by Mrs Schultz. Zane was a doll and such a good sport allowing everyone to hold and play with him. He was all smiles and coos! On Sunday my sisters and mom hosted another shower at my sister Liz's place. It was so fantastic, I was able to see so many of my Atlanta friends. I must admit it was slightly bitter-sweet; I truly have come to realize how deeply I miss all of them and how many thoughtful kind people I have been blessed with and honored to call friends. Many of them have little ones of their own - or are expecting. Zane got to play with Ashlyn who was born three week before him:

Ashlyn's mom Radha and me - we are friends from the glory days at UGA:

The DELICIOUS cake that the fabulous Layne made, from Sweet and Sinful Bakery:

I wish I would have gotten more pictures with friends - but here are a few more of the star from the weekend:

The bathroom remodel continues....hopefully will be finished next week. (fingers crossed) the dust and disarray is making me a little spazy!

we're a-"head"

Just a little update - Zane's head is just fine..... his Dr assured me. My measurement was a centimeter off and that makes a HUGE difference. So, I probably shouldn't get bored and decide to measure Zane's head is the lesson learned here.

We are headed to Atlanta tomorrow for 2 parties for Zane - one Saturday with some friends of my mom's (Sip n' See #1) and then Sunday with some of my girlfriends (Sip n' See #2)

Can't wait to see the family and my wonderful friends!

We are in the midst of renovating our master bathroom - tiling, new countertops, painting, etc as well as enclosing the railings on either side of the loft- so the whole house is of course in disarray and DUSTY. Thanks to Grammy and Great-Grandpa for letting us hang out there this week!