15 (almost 16) Weeks!

Mason is almost 4 months old!!!  Soon we will start baby food full time (his pediatrician says 4 months is ok for Mason).  Mason has a few bites of pears and a little bit of the baby cereal.  We know he is ready because besides being 16 lbs already (!!!) he is very interested in our eating.  He knows to open his mouth when the spoon comes and doesn't spit all of it out, so he actually knows how to swallow.  On the 18th of August he goes in for his 4 month checkup which means more shots but I am curious to get an accurate reading on his weight and height.  Mason nows sleeps through the night usually going to bed anywhere between 8:30-10pm and sleeps till 6:30-8:15am depending on when he went to bed.  I feel like we are very lucky because of this but I do check on him whenever I get up to go to the bathroom because I get a little nervous. :)  Mason nows smiles like crazy and I have gotten some giggles out of him.  Just a few days ago he discovered his feet and grabs for them all the time.  During the day we usually read some books, nap, relax, and do a little tummy time even though he isn't a big fan.  He holds up his head pretty good but just doesn't like to be on his stomach.  We have been away from Mason a few times overnight but his coming weekend is our first full weekend away from him.  He is staying one night at Grandma Dawn's and one night at Mama P & Bapa's.  Since I have last updated Mason has been to 2 weddings.  He was very well behaved at both!  Also something he loves more now is bathtime!  He smiles and giggles for the first few minutes and then the rest of the time (when he remembers how to splash) he will spend the rest of his time doing that with a very concentrated look on his face!  Well I will leave with a few pictures.  Actually quite a few since it has been so long since I posted last!

7 Weeks!

Well yesterday Mason turned 7 weeks old.  Amazing how fast that goes.  I am sorry that I don't really update but it is really hard to do nowadays.  Some days Mason is really good during the day and will nap in his bouncer or crib for a few hours.  Otherdays he will only nap in my arms.  If I try to put him down even just to go to the bathroom and he is crying.  Today is one of those days but Russel just got home.  I do still get on the computer when I am holding him but I can only type with one hand then. 

Things are going pretty good.  During the day like I said is 50/50.  Some days good some not so good.  He mostly sits in his bouncer and looks around, we go on walks or car rides (which he loves), and a few times I have shown him and read him some baby books.  There are two books that are for colors and numbers and I read it to him in English and then repeat the colors and numbers in German as well. 

Around supper time and the time Russel gets home he is either eating and about to nap or still napping so things go smoothly then but then we hit 7pm and it is fussy time.  I would say that Mason is borderline colicky.  It isn't constant crying but constant fussiniess.  Eating, his pacifier, rocking, walking doesn't really help.  He sometimes calms down when I hold him close sideways with his paci and "shush" him.  Other than that we just have to deal with it.  It can be pretty frustrating.  Sometimes he gets a bath or shower and that can help.  He actually has never really cried during a bath or shower. He doesn't love them but just sits there.  He hates his head being washed the most.

Around 9-10pm he usually will take his last bottle and take anywhere 1/2 an hour to an hour to fall asleep.  Then he will pretty much sleep anywhere until 4:30-5:30.  Then he eats and goes back to sleep till 8:30-9:00.  I would consider us lucky in that department.  I think it is when we switch up his schedule that it changes.  When I stayed in Tomah he woke up at 2am and 6am which he usually doesn't do anymore.  Also during the end of the morning feeding he will drift off to sleep so it is easy but every once in a while (and what he used to do weeks 3-6) is be up for an hour to two hours after he eats.  Those times were the hardest.  One morning he was up for 2 1/2 hours and Russel woke up and I was crying so he woke up and toke him to the living room so I could sleep.  I was so grateful.  When Russel isn't working at 6 and he works at 7 he will get up and do the morning feeding so I get to sleep longer.

Well on June 7th we go in for his 2 month appointment so that means shots for the poor guy.  I am not looking forward to a crabby and in pain baby.  Plus I am sad he will be in pain.  Hopefully I will update around then.  Here are some pictures of him and the facebook link for more.  I keep adding to this one album and will for a bit longer.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2229600&id=59507700&l=68802b8bec

First up - his one month birthday picture

Other pictures include getting a kiss from his cousin Gabe, meeting his 2nd cousin Ally for the first time, meeting his friend Tyler Coenen (where I caught a smile - while sleeping), looking at his doggie and riding his doggie like a horse!  haha.

Almost 4 Weeks!

So on Monday Mason will be 4 weeks old!  He is now too tall for newborn clothes and has moved on to 0-3 months!  It's a little sad.  He has his 1 month old doctors appoinment for May 5th. 

Mason is now awake more during the day.  Actually his schedule is not ideal for Mom & Dad but this is how it goes usually.  Awake from 10am-1pm then a little nap until 3:30, then time to eat then back to sleep till 10pm (we really try to keep him awake but he just won't do it!) and then awake for a few hours (while I am fighting to keep my eyes open) and then finally sleep and he wakes up usually twice in the middle of the night/early morning.  I know you can't get a newborn on a schedule but as soon as we can we are doing it.  I am trying to get him to stay awake more during the day so I can sleep at night.  Mason also had his first night away from Mom & Dad.  Last Friday we went to Tomah and I got to stay at my parents house and sleep while Mason went to Grandma Oswald's house with Dad.  Then Saturday night my Aunt, Uncle, and Grandma were visiting my parents and they wanted to visit longer with Mason so they kept him overnight in Tomah while Russel & I went back to Eau Claire to visit my cousins.  We got a solid 7 1/2 hours of sleep uninterrupted.  It was sad to be away from him but nice to get some sleep.

Here are some pictures of the little man.  They are just random but one is from his 2nd bath (the first one we did quickly so there was no time for pictures).  He is not the biggest fan of the bath yet.  And then the very last one is him today in his first 0-3 months outfit.

2 Weeks Old!

Mason is 2 weeks old and I feel like it has been the longest & shortest two weeks of my life!  His face changes every day and mostly he is a good baby.  But he is still a baby and doesn't let mommy & daddy get a whole lot of sleep.  At least not in a row.  The longest he has slept through the night is 5 hours and the least is 2 hours.  Sometimes in the middle of the night when he is done eating he thinks that it is time to be up and awake.  Lately I have been fortunate that when he is done eating I can set him back him back in his bed and he will "talk"/grunt for a few minutes and then fall back asleep.  He also likes his pacifier and as you can see by the picture below he is starting to hold it in.

Mason Scott Oswald

April 5, 2010
10:45 am
9 lbs 2 ozs
19 1/2 inches


So here are a few pictures of our new baby boy!  I will post more information about his actual birth and other things later but as I am sure you understand - I have little time.  Also for those of you who don't have facebook here is a photo album of him!


Before

After

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2229600&id=59507700&l=68802b8bec

Finished Nursery

It seems like it took forever but we are finally done with the baby's room.  Pictures are hung, bedding is here, all the clothes are washed, everything has a place.  I know it isn't going to stay this organized forever but it is nice to have it ready. 

Looking into the room from the hall way.  Ally was relaxing in there as well.

The glider and bookshelf.

Close up of the bookshelf.  Has all his books and toys.  Plus we have quite a few empty picture frames that need to filled!

The crib with the bedding quilt hung on the wall until he is old enough to use it.

We took the bumpers that came with the bedding and made them into wall hangings because we are using a mesh breathable bumper which is better for air flow in the crib.  Plus we needed more wall decor.  We have the two long sides above the two windows and the two short sides above the doorway and closet.

Then we have the closet and changing table.  (Changing table is stock full of diapers, wipes, blankets, and bibs.)  Then we have some decorations above it.  Just a picture of a whale and penguin (which go with the bedding) and then I found a print of the numbers 1-10 in German so I had to get it.

Then finally his open closet.  The dresser doesn't match the rest of the room and wouldn't really fit so we put it in the closet.  Then all of his clothes are hung up except onesies and pj's.  Plus we have lots and lots and LOTS of wipes stored in there (which will be nice not having to stock up for a while) and size 1 diapers.  Also hanging up is his diaper bag (that Russel picked out because he won't mind carrying that one) and his paw print robe that his Aunt Melissa got him for Christmas.  Now he just needs a pipe to go with it. :)

Actually we do have one more thing to do.  There are these big letters for about $5 at Kohl's and we bought two since we are undecided on his name.  Once we know for sure and we get home from the hospital we are going to hang the correct letter up over by the glider and window.  We checked it out with both letters and they both look good.

38 Weeks!

Since I won't make it past 39 weeks (unless he magically flips head down) this is my second to last belly picture.  I will probably take one more Sunday night or Monday morning.  I don't think I look bigger than my last picture but I feel it.  No big changes except sleeping is harder to do again and this time it is making my hips hurt instead of my back.  Oh well...it's almost over.  Then my lack of sleep won't be from my big belly but from the baby.