The BIG Day...

...wasn't so bad. And, I hate to admit it, but going back to work was a nice break. Cristian has been pretty fussy the last few days and like most moms, I was feeling quite helpless when all of my efforts to sooth him didn't work. So...after a few days of feeling like the worst mommy ever I took a day off and went to work. It was great to catch up on all the latest gossip and to see all my friends. The best part of my job is defineatly the people...they are the reason I show up every day. So, the break was nice, but I am not looking forward to tomorrow. At some point the newness will wear off and everyone will expect me to actually work. I assume that at some point I will also start to really miss my little guy and being away will get harder. Oh well, I should wait to worry about those things later. For now, I will revel in a good day (minus my computer being down and IT totally blowing me off). Yes, the cup is always half empty. Oh, this is the picture I printed for my desk...isn't he totally adorable? You can't see it, but this onsie says: "Turtley Awesome"

And the Countdown Begins

Yes, yes, it has finally come...in one week I will be back at work. Oh what a sad day that will be. I can't even comprehend how I will survive. 8 weeks sure does have a way of speeding by when you are caring for a newborn. I really thought it would feel longer. I suppose it is fitting that my first day back will be "hump day". Maybe the irony will help me "get over the hump" so to speak. We will see. Luckily Cristian will be staying with a friend of ours, so at least he will be safe and spoiled (she will not be caring for any other children, just Cristian). Please pray for us as we begin this new chapter...or you could just pray that we win the lottery in the next week, so I can just stay home (and yes, we have been buying tickets). Ok, that's not fair, praying for us to win the lottery. Just pray that you will win and you can give us some! Kidding...sort of. I have been totally procrastinating about this whole thing. Way back when Cristian was 1 week old I started having anxiety attacks about the day I would have to leave him...so instead of continuing down that path, I just took up procrastination. I stopped thinking about it and tried my best to "put it in God's hands". Now, less than 1 week away and I am feeling better than anticipated. No anxiety attacks...yet. Although, I am still holding on to the whole lottery idea. Someone's gotta win, why not us?

Weekend at Mommies

Lisa & family moved to Austin this weekend so Mom and I kept the girls all weekend!! Sure, their parents were there in the evening and Grandma came by on Sunday, but otherwise we each got a girl at all times. It was so much fun! Cristian hasn't really started interacting yet, he spends most of his time sleeping. The girls however are really cute. They laugh and smile when you talk to them and they even coo. They are precious. Here is a picture of Grammie with all the babies.

And, of course, Cristian fulfilled every man's fantasy when he got to sleep with twins! Hehehe!!

So, with all the move talk, Carlos and I are talking about moving. I want to be closer to my Mom and Carlos would love to move back to Austin. Strangely, Mom's house is the same time difference from my office as our house...and she lives in a completely different city! Oh, here is another one of my faves.
......Hear No Evil.....Speak No Evil......See No Evil

I stole...

...a really great idea! So, I was blog surfing or blog stalking or blog browsing, whatever you call it (I am so lame when it comes to the proper tech term). Anyway, I was checking out a blog linked from one of my favorite Christian blogs (Jesus related, not my baby related) and I totally stole the best idea. So, this new mom decided to document her little guys growth by taking a picture of him each month laying/sitting on the same stuffed chair. Isn't that brilliant? I know, you are thinking "Stacey. Really. Have you not heard of this before or thought of it yourself?" And, the answer is NO. I am so overwelmed with the whole idea of being a Mom I have completely lost my creative brain. Instead of looking for it, I have just decided to steal really great ideas from other people. With that said, here is Cristian's first photo:

Isn't it cool that I just happened to have a little stuffed bear chair? Thank you Jessica, creative Mom that I do not know, for the awesome idea. I hope you don't mind that I stole it (Hey, I gave you full creative credit!). BTW- My oldest friend (of 25 years...yep, we have known each other since we were 5) is moving to Austin from Dallas!!! We will now be a little under two hours away from each other!!! Welcome back Lisa, Joe and the little ladies!!! Oh, here are a few recent pics of our little man. Isn't he the cutest thing you have ever seen? yes, I know he is!!! I just wish I could get him smiling and laughing...everytime I try to take a pic, he yells at me. I guess that is why I am always taking sleeping pics!

Growing Like a Weed

Cristian is one month old, so yesterday we went to the doctor to have him checked out. He is 23 inches long and 10 pounds 6 ounces. That translates to a growth of 2 pounds in just the last 2 weeks!!! I had to ask his doc if that would continue...as I really don't want to have a 30 pound 6-month old. He laughed of course, but did reasure me that although his current growth is quite normal it will not continue. Thank God! Oh, and he also suggested we start offering Cristian 6 ounces at each feeding to get him fuller and span out his feedings. Now that he is getting 1/2 formula and 1/2 breast milk in his bottles he could stand to eat more less often. I was totally on board with that so we started yesterday with his afternoon feeding. He is sleeping longer, already, so that is a pleasant surprise. The only downside is he will be getting more formula instead of 1/2 and 1/2, seeing as although he will be eating more, I am not producing more. I could barely keep up with the 4 ounce feedings, now with 6 he is out of luck. Oh well, some is better than none and pumping is far better than breatfeeding all day (in my opinion). Don't get me wrong, I loved avoiding washing bottles those first few weeks, but once Cristian starting feeding for hours at a time, I wore thin pretty quickly. Thank heaven for bottles. I can pump in 15 minutes and Cristian eats in 30, so we are really enjoying all the new free time...well I am really enjoying it.

Mom has been keeping my nieces for the last week and she will be taking them home on Monday. Cristian and I will be going with her for the quick trip north and boy am I excited. On the way back from my brother's we are going to stop in Dallas to see my friend Lisa and her twin girls. The girls are a few months older than Cristian and super cute! We visited when they were 2 weeks old, but the've changed so much since then. I can not wait to see them this week! Yippee!

Debbie, a very dear friend of my mom's just returned from Italy this week and she brought Cristian a rosary. Not just any rosary, a rosary from the Vatican, blessed by Pope Benedict. How cool is that? My mom bought my nieces similar ones several years ago when she was there and now Cristian has his own. Just a side note: Did you know that Pope Benedict had a brother with Down's Syndrome that was killed by the Nazi's? I just read that this week. I think that is such a blessing for the Pope to know first hand what beauty there is in special children (like our Philip).

New Swing, Growing Pains

We bought a swing for Cristian and so far it is a hit...sort of. He pretty much puts up with it for about 20 minutes before putting out his bottom lip and crying. I thought it might be a way for me to get some things done around the house since he pretty much refuses to be put down...even in sleep. But...unless he changes his mind and sticks in for longer than 20 minutes, we are at his mercy. You can tell by the picture he was really not amused.

In addition to giving me some time to say, pee, we also thought the swing might give Cristian something soothing. We are pretty sure he is experiencing some growing pains. He is also having some issues transitioning from breast feeding to bottle feeding. So, we thought the swing might sooth him and take his mind off his hard life as a 3 week old. So, now that we have discovered that isn't going to work, does anyone have any suggestions? We haven't been swaddling him because he really likes to stretch, but Carlos' co-worker suggested that we try that. It is supposed to give him some sense of comfort, maybe help him to relax. We will defineatly try that, but are open to other suggestions. I think that he will relax once we have more of a feeding schedule set. Up until now we have been feeding on demand, but with pumping and bottle feeding, I would like for Cristian to eat on more of a schedule (if possible).

Anyway, we have been spending this week adjusting and just making it through the days. Cristian does sleep and eat rather well at night, so I will never complain about that...it is just the hours when we are alone together that he likes to put me through the ringer. Could I already be paying for my raising? Surely not this early?

2 weeks old!

Mom and I took Cristian to his 2 week doctors appt. yesterday. He gained 12 ounces in the past week! He is up to 8 pounds 7 ounces. He has gained over 2 inches in two weeks! He is now 21 1/4 inches long. I can not believe he is getting so big...I can actually see the difference. He has started adding on his 2nd chin, which I love. And, his thighs are starting to get chubby! He is still eating well and behaving most of the time. The last few days he has started eating so much, that I have to stop nursing after awhile because I am sore and we have been supplementing with formula. That is fine except that the formula gives him gas (which he doesn't get with breastmilk) and it takes some time after a feeding for him to get it out and settle down. I am starting to pump after feedings in hopes to supplement with breastmilk instead of formula. I don't like to see him frustrated and gassy, I also don't like the sound of him excersizing his lungs during the frustration. :-0
All in all I am doing good...very tired...very tired...very tired...but good. Carlos has been enjoying working at Pappasitos. He finished their training program tonight, so he will start working tables tomorrow. To start on a holiday weekend is going to be good. He will stay busy and (hopefully) bring in some big tips! This baby stuff is expensive...and we're breastfeeding! I can only imagine our weekly bill if we were formula feeding!

Look how big I am!


I squish my face when I wake up!


Check out my big feet...just like my big brother!