Hair, hair everywhere!

One of the most awesome postpartum side effects is hair loss. Tons of it. Everywhere. I've heard from others about this lovely side effect, but thought (yet again, remember my stretch mark story?) that I would slide by unscathed since my hair seemed to be looking better than ever those first few months after JAM was born. Well, flash forward to the 4 month mark and it seems like I lose enough hair to use on a Barbie doll. Every.single.day. So very sad. But its all worth it for my sweetness. Let's just hope this let's up so I don't go bald soon.

And because no post would be complete without a photo of JAM man; I think he has some really long eye lashes for a baby. Not sure if this picture does them justice though.

Needed to write this down...

Today in between JAM screeching like a dinosaur (his new trick since he learned how to use his vocal cords, it's so cute...video to come) and changing a massively big, blown out diaper and outfit...I was thinking about life and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I am the happiest I have *ever* been right now. With this family. This home. This life the Lord has given me. In all of these special and fleeting moments. I am going to cherish every single second because I know it may change in an instant. We are so, so very blessed.

Tick tock

One thing about parenting that I never realized was how much my life would revolve around watching the clock. When did he finally go down for bed? What time did he wake up? When did he eat last? When did I change his diaper last? How long did he nap? It's almost bath time!...The list goes on. I feel like I am constantly keeping time for something!

Another random thought: when someone says their child is 4 months old, do they mean 16 weeks or do they determine his age by his actual 4 month birthday? I've heard it done both ways so I'm curious how others decide when to take their baby's monthly sticker photos.

Lastly, I think Sydney is finally starting to come around with baby Jam as evidenced by the following photo. For the record, she chose to lay above his head this way. I just LOVE me some puppy & baby love.

My 4 month old little man

Jensen is now 4 months and growing like a weed!  It seems like he has become so alert lately and paying more attention to his favorite people (me and his daddy) and surroundings now.  Over the last month, his hair has thickened up, he weighs 18 lbs and 9.5 oz (95th %), 26.25 in long (95th %), and sure does have a strong personality!  He used to whine a little before going to a full out cry when he didn't like something...now he gives us very little to no warning at all before losing his cool.  I cannot begin to describe how head-over-heels we are in love with him.  After we put him to bed, I have this crazy desire to go get him out of his crib to give him a few more snuggles and kisses.  I just can't seem to wait until the morning (or night time feeding) to hold him again.  We got the approval to start solids at his most recent doctor's appointment, so I'm looking forward to that. I'm hoping to make his baby food from scratch...well see how that goes!

He does so well with tummy time and has started trying to figure out how to crawl.  He can scoot around a little by face planting into the floor and lifting his butt in the air.  Bath time is his most favorite time of the day.  He figured out how to splash his little legs and doesn't mind getting water poured over his head and eyes. He blows raspberries and bubbles with his mouth all day long, so a bib is a permanent part of his outfit. He smiles and laughs constantly, and it is the best sound in the world. He loves to lay on his changing table and grab at his feet, so much that it makes diaper changes a challenge. His chunky little thighs are an obsession of mine...!

His nighttime sleeping has improved since his 3 month birthday (thank goodness!). Now he sleeps in footed pajamas and will usually wake up 1-2 times per night to eat. Sooooo much better than the 7 times he was waking up when we first stopped swaddling him. Nap times can be a struggle still, but we're working on it. He slept 8 hours without waking about a week ago so we know it's possible...! Just need to figure out how to make it happen each night...ha!

One night I had a photo shoot, so he stayed with my parents for a few hours. From the period of 4-9pm that evening he drank over 19 ounces of milk, in addition to all the times he nursed during the day. This baby can EAT! He can drink over a 9 ounce bottle at night before we put him to bed (daddy takes the night time feeding everyday to give me a break and so we can measure his intake before bed). Usually he nurses every 3-4 hours during the day.

He really seems to enjoy going to the gym and watching everyone workout. And he loves taking our nightly walks around the neighborhood with Sydney. He sits in his stroller so contently and looks all around.

Overall, life is starting to get into a nice rhythm and we feel so very blessed. Here are some of his 4 month photos.

Weekly wrap-up from the iPhone

We've had a busy past few weeks. I'm getting ready to go back to work in 3 weeks so I've been trying to get everything taken care of before D-Day. Jensen will be 5 months exactly on my first day back at school and I feel so very blessed to have had all this time off to spend with him. I'm sure other moms can relate...sometimes I so desperately want to stay home with him full-time; other times I'm so ready to have an adult conversation with someone (even an 8th grader!). I do enjoy my job and the subjects I teach, but I'm going to miss those sweet smiles and giggles during the day. I pray the transition into our new "normal" will go smoothly. Lately JAM has become a pretty big momma's boy so I'm concerned about leaving him all day long with someone new.

I took JAM to his first Gymboree class today and he did great and really seemed to enjoy it. In case you're wondering, they sing songs that incorporate hand movements for the babies to track, do tummy time on a mirror to look at themselves and their friends, play with a colorful parachute above their heads, watch bubbles float in the air, watch hand puppets sing songs, play with a beach ball...lots of fun stuff for babies less than 6 months old.

And finally, here's the weekly wrap up from my iPhone's perspective. Have a great weekend!

Our breakfast Sunday morning.  Sour dough french toast with home made whipped cream & strawberries.

JAM's first trip to Niko Niko's. Yum!

Talking up a storm.  He's very animated,

Love this pic of "Jensen Dirt".

His Halloween costume!  I know I'm a little early, but I just couldn't help myself.

His cute mud pie outfit that he almost grew out of before wearing for the first time.

He found his thumb for a brief moment, but hasn't found it since.

I know it's blurry, but look at that face!

His morning look. 

How many hands can you fit in one mouth?

Looking less than thrilled at his 4 month doctor's appt.

After the Filthy Fifty WOD.

He finally found his feet!  This makes diaper changes a little difficult...

Jensen's 3 month photo shoot

Jensen got to be my model this past weekend for my new in-home studio equipment.  He's such a little stud and chub!  Here are a few of my favorite shots.

JAM is 3 Months Old

Whatcha lookin' at?

This is only a few weeks late, oops!  It seems it's getting harder to blog the busier I get with photography, but I'm trying!  Jensen turned three months old on July 19th.  He weighed about 17 pounds, was 25.5 inches long, and had a 16.5 inch head circumference.  His height and weight put him in the 95% percentiles!  I can't believe he's such a big and fast growing boy!  He moved up to size three diapers and is currently wearing 6 month clothes.  He is a super smiley boy now and loves to laugh, especially at his daddy, Pops, and Grandpa.  He really is a little ham!  He rolled over four times on his 3 month birthday and is starting to like tummy time a little more...most of the time.  He is trying to sit up on his own and even stand on his chubby little legs.  He still hasn't figured out just how to use his hands yet, but he loves to chew and suck on them.

He USED to be a fabulous sleeper and we had gotten him down to only waking once per night to eat which we thought was great!  But that was when we were graced with the ability to swaddle him at night.  Unfortunately, our time with the swaddle has come to an abrupt end.  He started busting out of them about a week ago, and after trying multiple brands of swaddle blankets, we decided it was pointless.  Not sure how he does it, but he manages to break out of each and every type of swaddle blanket.  So now we are training him to sleep without it, and it's been rough.  We went from waking one time per night to...wait for it....7 times!  Ahhhh!  I'm exhausted.  Andy's exhausted.  Sydney is too.  So I'm hoping he will learn to go to sleep without the swaddle soon.  I don't know if I will use the swaddle on the next baby...this is hard at 3.5 months! 

Other than that, life is pretty great.  Jensen is such a little sweetheart, and no matter how tired I am, he can take away all the frustration with that sweet little smile of his.  I can listen to his laugh all day long.  I love the way his hair refuses to lay down no matter how I brush it after bath time.  I love our time together when I'm nursing him.  I can't get enough of his cute little feet and rolls on his legs and arms.

We did several photo shoots this past month.  Enjoy.

Lots of rolllls!