registry

Tyler and I have battled back and forth with the idea of doing a baby registry. I never want people to feel obligated to buy us gifts. On top of that, it is hard to do a registry when you can't go to the store and look at all the items. Plus, most of the stuff on the Target website is available online only and that is a whole other issue. However, we have had lots of people asking how they can help us out when we get back and we understand that having a registry makes that easier. We are a bit daunted by the fact that we will have nothing when we arrive. Long story short, we have created a registry at Target with some basics for people who were curious for ideas.

For all the mothers out there... what are/were your favorite baby items? Is there anything you think we can't live without?

good nights

The last few nights Parker has sleep wonderfully! He goes to bed around 12:30 am and wakes up around 6:30 am. I am so thankful for a good night of rest. During the day however, he is quite the little sook. He does not want to sleep and if he is somehow tricked into it... putting him in his bed wakes him immediately. Today he sleep for 2 hours intermittently... 10 minutes at a time. His awake hours include me getting a total body workout of bouncing, dancing, rocking my body, swaying, and let's not forget juggling a very wiggly and strong baby. Papa Tyler came home for a two hour lunch. I ate lunch and hopped in the shower only to find the two of them just relaxing on the couch when I emerged from the bathroom. 

4 weeks!

Parker is four weeks old today! It really seems like he has been around for a lot longer than that, but it also seems like he was born just yesterday.

coming soon...

Montana here we come... see you in three weeks!

long nights and warm baths

We have had a few really long nights because Parker has not been sleeping... most likely because of the antibiotics (it was one of the listed side effects). So tonight, we tried giving Parker a nice, long bath to soothe him to sleep. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like it is working. As we speak, Tyler is typing the post, I am telling him what to say, and Parker is an unhappy camper. Let's all hope he gets some shut eye, so that I can get some much needed rest.

hugs and skullets

First off, Tyler has been doing such a superb job at keeping Parker at bay while I get some rest. Second, Parker has been losing some of his brown hair on the top of his head. He still has hair up there but it is blond and hard to see in photos. Basically, he has a skullet. Tyler and I always said that if our kids had a skullet we would shave the whole head and make it match... easier said than done, now that I am in that position. But come on people... something has to be done, the poor little dude can not go around looking like an old man for goodness sake.

yep...

Yep... I have mastitis and let me tell you it is not fun, not fun at all. I cannot remember ever feeling this sick in my entire life. I have had a temperature between 99-102 for over 24 hours now. One minute I am freezing cold, shaking and the next I am burning up. When I hold Parker he gets too hot from my body heat. I was so worried I was up half the night. This morning I called a hotline and they helped me find a medical center that I could get checked out at. No surprise, it was in our shopping center. The 30 minute walk there seemed to take forever... but I made it. I have started my antibiotics so hopefully my fever will start to ease a bit and recovery will be around the corner.

Sorry I do not have pictures of Parker for you... we had kind of a hectic day.

Early Childhood Health Center

Today we went to the Early Childhood Health Center at our local shopping center. These centers are a free service to all children born in Australia and are the point of primary care for young children. They are staffed by nurses and some midwives as well.

We took Parker in for his 1-4 week check-up appointment and were surprised to find out that Parker has gained 1lb 10oz since he was born but he's only gotten 0.5 inches longer. The nurse said he is gaining more than he needs to be and we should be sure to not feed him when he isn't really hungry (such as when he is unsettled). The tricky part is he acts hungry all the time. We also talked to her about his recent difficulties falling to sleep. She said that it is pretty common for babies at this stage, but she was also confident she could settle him. So when he got fussy while we were there, she took over. Ten minutes later she said she had never had a baby so stubbornly resist sleeping. It made us feel good that we were trying all the right things, but we partly wished we would have been missing something obvious.

I was also feeling a bit concerned about the small size of Parker's soft spot, it is pretty hard to even find. I asked the nurse about this also and she said it is quite small (smaller than average), but that his head has grown a good amount since birth. She recommended that we follow up with Dr. Salmon to make sure everything is okay on that front.

Afterwards, we had a look in the baby store just downstairs in the shopping center and got a new swaddling blanket that the nurse recommended to us. It is really pretty cool. It has a double zipper so you  can change a diaper without completely unswaddling him. He seemed to really like it too.

Parker Day 22

Sometimes when he finally falls asleep after a long day of not napping... I look at his cute little face and I have the urge to pick him up.

3 weeks!

Parker is not only 3 weeks old today, but an official American citizen as well! He is no longer a man without a country. You see... he was never Australian. It was a bit foolish of us to assume that just because he was born here he would be an Aussie. Australia is much more strict than the US about citizenship - they require at least one parent to be an Australian or a permanent resident. We got his passport and his US consular report of birth abroad paperwork in the mail today (it only took 8 days) and giggled with joy... everything is ready and we can all happily come home in 4 weeks!!! Parker celebrated by not sleeping all day long. After a nice warm bath, rub down, and feed he is now sleeping soundly, thank goodness!

chubby cheeks

Parker has been packing on the pounds... but at the moment they only seem to be landing on his cheeks! 

lazy days

We have been enjoying some lazy days at home. Tyler has been working in the mornings at school and then spending the afternoons with us at home. We love it when Papa comes home!

the haircut

I have been kind of busy the last few weeks... so I have not been able to cut Tyler's hair in quite some time (6 weeks). We finally made it happen!

before

after

I did not get a sweet haircut... but Tyler took some pics of me and Parker today that I thought were post worthy. 

Thanks Rosie and Family!

My mom's best friend Rosie, an all around lovely lady, sent Parker some wonderful prizes in the mail. She sent 4 blankets, a pair of pajamas and a sleeping bag! Thank you Rosie so much for the thoughtful gifts, you are the best!

Parker in his sleeping bag!

little toes

I am not sure how... but Parker always manages to sneak his little toes out of his wrap. I am also sad to announce that I think he inherited my silly toes. Maybe as he gets older they will elongate...

Parker and Papa

Parker loves hanging out with his pop!

2 weeks!

Parker is two weeks old today! He lost his umbilical cord to celebrate. We walked him to the uni for his first appointment with Dr. Salmon. She said that he is so cute and very healthy. He is up to 4 kilos now (about 8lb 13oz), so we know that he is getting plenty to eat! We were a bit surprised that she was not more impressed with my stellar delivery... she was, however, very impressed with Parker's high Apgar scores. We will go back and see her the week before we leave to check in and get Parker's first round of immunizations. On another note, we have not quite figured out the art of diapering a boy...

Parker Day 13

Today, we went to the US Consulate to register Parker as an American citizen and get his passport rolling! It was another huge and long trip to the city... luckily Parker stayed tucked up nicely in his bjorn sleeping the entire time! Thankfully the day was a success! We should be getting Parker's passport in the mail in a few weeks... and then he will be all ready to come home in 5 weeks!!!