Working with the Baby Whisperer!

Several of my friends have talked about the book "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer." So I decided to buy a copy on ebay. WOW! This book is amazing and compliments the Babywise book I had read 2 weeks ago. Jack and I started putting some of this into practice yesterday and we got great naps, great feeds, and a very happy baby ALL DAY LONG! :) I feel like I am connecting more to Jack by communicating with him on a different level - figuring out his cues, body language, and cries!

My two amazing books about babies!

Jack is growing so much day by day and it just amazes me how fast it all goes! Last week we went to the doctor and he recommended gas drops for a while if Jack has trouble burping after a feeding. However that wasn't going very well either - so we started Jack on probiotics which is 100% natural and seems to be working. If it didn't work the doctor wanted to put him on a Soy-based formula instead - hopefully we won't have to do that but if we do - we do.

At that doctor's appointment they weighed Jack and he was 9 lbs 2 oz. and 21.5 inches long! He is growing so much! We have moved him into almost all 0-3 month clothing and he has moved into size 1 diapers! :) Time flies when you're having fun I guess!

Amused with my Discovery playmat!

Getting an opinion of my own

Reading with Mommy!



Bathtime with Mommy in my new Pooh robe and slippers!



Napping with Daddy!





Becoming a Mom....

It's officially happened... I finally feel like I have crossed over to Mommy-hood! Jack and I have our daytime routines including feeding, activity time, and naptime! Jack LOVES his new activity/discovery mat by Baby Einstein! He has become so much more active in the past week or so! He loves the mirror and rattles on the activity mat! He can even lift his head to a certain degree! WOW!

Tummy time!

My mommy instincts are kicking in as well. Jack has been more fussy after eating and I have this feeling it's his tummy. No matter how long, which postition, etc we burp him in he still won't burp consistently each feeding. So we have been using infant gas drops when needed and they help a little, but I am taking him to the doctor today to make sure it's not acid reflux. I hope not - but I want Jack to feel better!

Here are some great pictures from my 4 days at my grandparents house!

Bathtime at Grandma and Grandpa Waughop's House

With great-aunt Betty, Grandma Waughop, and great-aunt Terry



With Great-Grandpa Aupperle!



Ah the joys of parenthood...

Jack turned a month old yesterday! I can't believe he is already that old - seems like we just went to Memphis the other day! Time flies when you are having fun!


Thinking in my Thinking Chair...



Ready for my close-up


We tried to see how long Jack would sleep at night without us waking him up every 3 1/2 to 4 hours - He went about 5 on his own but his schedule got majorly messed up. He got crankier and wouldn't take more than a 45 minute nap, etc. So I have begun reading BabyWise. Today we established a routine that works for Jack much better. He has been napping for 1.5 hours so far and still going. I am not as interested in the feeding routine as much as the sleeping routine. I had been doing something completely backwards - naptime after active/awake time instead of naptime after feeding. He did much better with this routine. The home study agency is coming today for post-placement home study visit #1. Gotta finish picking up before they get here!

Hanging out with Mommy before bedtime!




I look so cute in my hoodie!!!



Jack's Neverland Nursery

Mobile Mommy made for me - over the changing table

My crib and rocking chair

The beginning of my library of books!

My nursery

Peter Pan Wall Decal over my crib

Adoption Day!

Today we were in Chicago for Jack's official adoption custody court appearance in Illinois. We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel on Michigan Ave. last night and it was a great time. The hotel sent up champagne to congratulate us on the great day! We took it home instead so we could celebrate another time. We went to the Daley Center at 7:30AM and were done by 10:00! We have official custody of Jack and will recieve final paperwork in July or August with his new birth certificate, etc. It was a great day ending with a stop at IKEA for some items for Jack's new nursery.... pictures of the nursery to come!

Daddy, Mommy, and Jack with the Deputy Sheriff getting Jack's Jr. Deputy Badge and court summons!



With our Illinois Lawyer, Kathleen Hogan Morrisson





Some more pics of Jack!

Jack continues to change each and every day! It amazes me how many expressions and funny things he does! He is the light of my life and the joy in his Daddy's heart! We can't even begin to express how much love we have for this little guy and a special love for his birthparents! This is the greatest gift anyone could ever give and we will forever be thankful!

Doctors Visits and more visits....

Once we got home the first person who really needed to check Jack out was our pediatrician Dr. Rauch! We had a visit that first Friday and Dr. Rauch gave Jack a clean bill of health. He was so excited for all of us because he too had been praying for a baby to join our lives! Jack gained weight reaching 6lbs. 3 oz. and 20.5 inches!! WOW!



Dr. Rauch



Dr. Morrisetty



We also visited Dr. Morrisetty today for the circumcision consult. We are planning to do the circumcision on Thursday at 2:00. YIKES! Mommy isn't looking forward to that at all.... but then again neither is Jack.