Love

Today is my six year wedding anniversary with Jake! It's surreal this year to think back to 1994 when we started "going together." Now we have a precious little one together. Wow.

Now, let me brag on this man a little bit. Jake has always been my best friend and has always been one of the most selfless and thoughtful people I've ever known. But in the past two months I have been even more convinced that he's perfect! He helps me so very much since Collins has been here. He cooks, he cleans, he encourages me to go for walks or other outings. He even gets up early in the mornings most days and takes care of Collins until he has to leave for work...so I can sleep better/longer. That is huge!

I would literally have had a completely different life...from 12 years old on...had I not had Jake as my boyfriend/fiance/husband. I'm so glad I didn't have to find out what that life would have been like.

I pray we have many, many more years together. I love you, Jake Philip Goodin!

Schedule [ish]

The past couple of weeks have been so good...SO MUCH better than the first six! I loved my little tiny baby, but man did it feel like I'd never sleep or feel normal ever again. Enter a schedule. I can't take any credit whatsoever. Collins put himself on a schedule! Lana told me that a doctor had told her they'll do that if you let them. I was pretty skeptical; thought he'd put himself on a schedule that had me up all hours of the night! But he didn't. It's been wonderful.

The past two weeks he has woken up between 5:30 and 6:30am; has about 4 oz of formula; goes back down for about 3 hours; eats another 4 oz; has an outing or something else that makes him scream (i.e., stroll, bath, etc.); eats 5 oz; naps about 2-4 hours; eats 4 oz; stays up or cat naps; eats 5 oz; finally gives in and sleeps around 12-1am. So...he's been sleeping at least 5 hours and last night he slept 7!! He's starting to eat 5 oz instead of 4 more often (as of today). He is much less fussy which I attribute to several things...sleep, Nutramigen formula, reflux medicine, and just getting older.

Jake and I literally fall more and more in love with this little dude every day. He is so stinkin' cute! He screams bloody murder when you pick him up to burp him. I'm convinced he's trying to burst my eardrum because he even turns his head right toward it ;) He's still doing that "ohhh" thing when he loses a sneeze and it's adorable. He's also cooing more and LOVES Ernie! Mawmaw bought an Ernie doll for him and we all sound like fools trying to imitate Ernie's voice. Ha! Yesterday I pulled up a few Sesame Street clips on YouTube and let him watch. That was funny! One other cute thing he's doing right now is smacking his lips after he's finished eating. You can be holding him on your shoulder like you've just burped him and you start to hear, "smack, smack, smack." Oh...and I just LOVE the little hair that's still on the small of his back and the ridges of his ears. I believe it's called lanugo that they develop in the womb. So sweet! He still has the hair he was born with on the back of his head (where the good sugar is), but the hair on top has already fallen out and new hair is growing back. It looks like he has a crew cut right now!

Collins will be two months old on Sunday! He has to get shots next week at his doctor's appointment and I am not looking forward to it. But he'll survive.

Just wanted to jot down these memories :)

Double Take

I didn't realize I took Collins' 7 week and 8 week pics in the same outfit. I promise he does have other clothes!

Flying Solo

I'm proud of myself. I took Collins for an outing all by myself today :) We went to Barnes and Noble. Turns out, he doesn't care for reading yet.

We were there about 10 minutes, I got an iced white mocha (which I sucked down in 1 minute) and then he started fussing. By the time we got to the car he was mad as all get out.

Screamed and cried and quit breathing and all. I pulled over twice (once after getting on campus...for some reason I thought he'd like campus, but things are way too slow there) to try to give him his paci back, but nothing worked till we got going faster. And then red lights were a problem.

THEN I decided to stroll with him since it's nice out. He screamed again. But only for a little while. I kept sticking paci back in (while pushing) and eventually he fell asleep. I got in a good 30 minute walk, but pushed it just a little too far. Screaming again by the time we got back.

Oh well...live and learn! At least I'm getting more used to the screams. There will be plenty more to come (like the next time he has a dirty diaper)!

My Six Week Old

Collins turned six weeks old last Tuesday! Hard to believe. He's doing much better now as far as sleeping. Last night he slept from 12am-5am in his crib! He would only sleep on me a couple of weeks ago, so this is huge. He also usually takes a good 2-3 hour nap in his crib around 1:30pm-ish. We have switched from soy formula to Nutramigen because the soy constipated him. He sometimes spits up the Nutramigen, but not bad. He has some bad stints with gas at least a few nights a week. I've tried Mylicon, Colic Calm, Gripe Water, etc. Poor baby just gets gas sometimes. I was proud of myself yesterday because I took him for a ride in the car all by myself! (I have to take baby steps.) I didn't know how he'd act without someone there to stick a paci in his mouth, but he did great. I may try to get out and do something or visit work this coming week. Maybe. It kind of intimidates me to try something like that. I guess I'm a wimp! My mom and I took Collins to Downtown Baby earlier today to get his Christmas picture made by April Hollingsworth. He didn't smile big like in the pics above, but there are still some great shots! He is so sweet and cute. I'm hoping things (i.e., sleeping, BMs, formula, gas, and my confidence) keep improving from here. We love him so very much!

Great Grandmothers

Maw and Granny came to visit on Monday, November 1st. It was good to see them both and Collins got a lotta lovin' that day! We love you, Maw and Granny!!

Halloween

Fifth Week