Sandy Saver

He can't even sit up yet and we've already got 'em saving!  You're looking at the newest account holder at the Delta Community Credit Union.  I've banked with them forever and can't say enough good things.  It's the cutest little account called a Sandy Saver.  "Sandy" is the little airplane mascot I think.  It's not all that exciting until he learns how to use a computer and/or color, but each month they send a kid friendly statement explaining their balance, interest, etc.  The statement is complete with games and pictures to color.  There is also an interactive kids website where he can go play (but not actually do anything with his money).  For now, it's just a place to put money he gets from grandparents and such.  That will not be our savings account for him, but I think it will be a great learning tool for managing birthday gifts and tooth fairy money. 

Special thanks to Gigi for his opening deposit!  She started him a little piggy bank for loose change when she found out I was pregnant.  I was floored to find out that little thing had 188 bucks in it.  Who would've thought saving change would add up that fast!

My least favorite questions.

1)  What are you going to call him?

This question is always asked immediately after telling people his name.  Really folks?  I just told you I gave him my father's name.  The strongest most meaningful name in the world, and you ask me what I'm going to call him?  I'm going to call him by his name.  Hardin.  I'm sure along the way he will pick up a nick name or two, but I find it a little silly that some people assume we will not call him Hardin. 

2)  Is he a good sleeper?

I've been dreading the day this one comes back to bite me.  He's been sleeping like a dream since 7 weeks.  I've talked in depth with my girl friends about our kids sleep, but have hesitated to tell too many strangers this (although I always get asked at closings, the obsessive amount of baby pictures are hard to ignore and spark many questions).  I'm not an overly superstitious person, but I've often thought that as soon as I go around telling folks what a great sleeper he is, it would change.  Well, I seldom talk about his sleep, shrug off the question with a "pretty good" all the time...  and it still changed.  Turns out he's still a baby after all.

We've been on a roller-coaster of sorts since last Monday.  That was the day I thought his teeth were bothering him.  That was followed by one day of normal sleep, then we had shots Wednesday.  That led to a much earlier bedtime Wednesday, but a middle of the night wakening.  Okay, I thought, it's normal after shots.  Then the same thing happened Thursday and Friday.  I tossed Saturday because of our spend the night.  Sunday he slept like a dream, and I thought we were back on track.  Well, Monday and Tuesday proved otherwise.  Same thing, he's been ready for a much earlier bedtime, but no longer makes it through the night.  He was going down between 8-9, and sleeping until 8-9.  Now he's ready for bed between 6:30-7.  He's just not ready to make it all the way to the morning going to bed that early.

A few people have suggested I wake him up to feed him before I go to bed, because it worked so well for them.  I am hesitant to do that, because I know he's perfectly capable of sleeping 12 hours because he's been doing it for 6 weeks.  I don't want to wake him up to feed him if he's not hungry.  And when he wakes up, he's only been hungry once.  The rest of the time I've just rocked him to calm him and he's gone back down.  It has taken as long as an hour and a half to get him back down (once), but he wanted nothing to do with a bottle so I quit trying, and normally it's more like 20 minutes.  So for now, we'll let him wake up when he wants to.  I'm praying he'll be back to his old ways soon.  I don't want to encourage a night waking habit by midnight rockings, but so far we've been able to avoid any major crying and I'd really like to keep it that way if we can. 

As with absolutely everything so far, I'll say a prayer for what I think is best, be grateful he's as wonderful as he is, and then subside to the fact that it is completely out of my hands and the Good Lord and my sweet baby Hardin will guide me to the next step.

My friend Julie's comment reminded me to add what he does during that late night rock session.  Remember the bubbles from yesterday?  That.  That is exactly what he does.  He used to sing all the time, now it's the bubbles 1/2 the time.  It completely cracks me up, and although I try my hardest not to laugh, sometimes I just do.  That startles him, and we start from the top of our rocking to sleep!  I'm sure before I know it, I'll be waiting up for him to get home at midnight, in tears wishing I was rocking him and listening to the sweetest little sounds in the world again. 

We are getting close to a roll, but no completely unassisted roll yet.

To me, he looks so much like me it's scary in this one! 

Bubbles.

The last three or four days, Hardin has been blowing bubbles and making these silly little adorable sounds all day.  They are slightly less adorable when I am trying to feed him.  Those would be pea bubbles he is blowing above.  Not sure I'm ever going to get anything down him if he keeps this up.  Fortunately, he's taking his bottles just fine, so I am not at all worried about nutrition.  It's just super cute and funny right now! 

Today was the first day I thought boot camp was actually getting a little easier.  After going last week on 4 hours of sleep Tuesday and then the worst day of work ever Thursday, I was so close to giving up.  It was very nice tonight to feel like I may actually be able to stick with this for a while!  

Our first spend the night.

Saturday was Mary Ellen's 30th birthday party at her parents house in Carrollton.  It is two hours away, so we decided to spend the night out for the first time with Mr. H.  He did pretty good for his first night out.  He went down easily, but woke up a little after 4.  That may or may not have been just slightly after mommy, Faith and Mary E called it a night.  Jason fed him and he went right back down until almost 9.  He did not seem to care at all that I stayed up WAY too late with my dear friends laughing harder than I have in a while.  He was ready to play all day!

There were a ton of sweet babies to love on at the party.  All the Parkview girls and babies were there except one.  I was way too busy to get my camera out until everyone was leaving, so I don't have nearly as many pictures as I wish.  I got a few of Hardin and Lucas Saturday night, and Liddie holding him Sunday morning.  I've said it before, and I'll say it many more times, we have been incredibly blessed with super sweet, happy, healthy babies.  

We stopped by J's Uncle Roddy's house on the way home, to visit and pick up our Girl Scout cookie order from his cousin Olivia.  Hardin had fun laying on the floor laughing at Stella and Olivia.  I was once again a slacker with the camera.  Bad mommy. 

They wanted to eat each others hands.

Blue eye competition.

We found Liddie in the back bedroom playing mommy with her doll & Hardin's bottle and carrier :)

Sweet dinosaur boys!

Oh I get it.

We've tried the exersaucer a few times, and he just wasn't crazy about it.  Tonight he got it.  It was so cute.  He's really starting to mimic every thing you do with your hands.  If you hit the orange star, he hits the orange star, etc.  Glad he's getting it.  And glad it's Friday.  I need 63 hours straight with my little man.  This week was seriously tough.  Like, "if it was fun, they wouldn't pay you for it" kinda tough.  Note to self...  raise my son to be a respectful and pleasant man.  I can even live without pleasant all the time, as long as we get the respectful part down. 

Four month stats.

We had Hardin's four month checkup today with his pediatrician that I am just loving more and more each visit.  The woman calms me down.  She has three boys herself, and from what I can tell, has seen it all.

He is 25 inches (50th percentile), 15 lbs. 12 oz. (50-75th percentile), and a head circumference of 17.5.  That head hasn't grown at all since his last visit, but it still in the 90-95th percentile.

We talked in depth about the scratching and spitting up.  He's gaining weight just fine, and the spit up isn't bothering him at all, so I'm going to quit worrying about it.  Upon examining his scaly little head, she prescribed a steroid cream to use on his scalp to help with the scratching.  We are also using Aquaphor on his face 3 times a day.  He looks greasy enough to slide right off the sofa, but hopefully it'll help!

Last but far from least, my prayers for no repeat performance were answered with the sleep.  He was his same old self last night, and I will never take his good sleeping for granted again!  

He loves watching daddy play spider solitaire.

What a way to welcome March!

Today was the first day of March and it was gorgeous!  Perfect Georgia weather.  I slipped out of my continuing legal education early to come home and take Hardin to play outside.  He had so much fun laying on a blanket in the warm sun looking around. 

He had a LONG night last night.  Didn't get down until around 11, woke up at 12, 12:45 & 3.  And, mama had to be at the Cobb Galleria at 8am.  We are all pooped.  He hasn't done that since he was 5 weeks old, and he's been down about an hour and a half now, so I'm hoping last night was a total teething fluke!