Back to work...

So I started back to work on the 12th and it wasn't as bad as I feared it would be. I was concerned that I would have forgotten how to do my job after 4 months out but it was super busy my first night back so I was pretty much just thrown back into things. There are a few things that I forgot and a few things that have changed but that part was ok. I definetly missed my little man though! And getting used to pumping has been interesting. I have pumped at home of course but at work I have to schedule it into my night so I don't go too long. And figuring out how often I needed to pump has been a bit of a challenge, b/c if I don't pump enough then I am uncomfortable and if I pump too many times and then go home to a hungry baby he gets mad! I think I have a system now that seems to be working pretty well although my little piggy likes to eat more than I pump. Hopefully soon enough my body will get used to the pump in addition to the baby! Anyway I am back to work this week and then on vacation and then back to work full-time on Labor Day. Frank has a job interview tomorrow, no make that today... so we're keeping our fingers crossed for a nice, fat job offer!

We're off to Missouri on Wednesday to introduce Xander to the rest of the Linnenbringer/Prinster clan. It will also be his first trip on an airplane so we'll see how that goes. Mostly I am just concerned about packing at this point. With all these new fees for checked bags I am trying to limit what we take to the absolute minimum but with a baby that is a little bit challenging! Wish me luck!

Xander is 2 months old!

Ok well Xander was 2 months old like a week ago but I figured I would wait until after his 2 month dr's apt so you can have the updated stats and then there was the whole I got busy part... Anyway he now weighs 12lbs 4 oz and is 23.5 in long. He has huge feet and hands and an average size head, whatever that means. He got his first round of shots- mean mommy- but he did very well and only cried for a few minutes. I had this whole huge debate in my head about whether or not to delay shots but we ended up just giving them all at once b/c by delaying them he would have had to get more needle sticks and I'm more concerned about me bringing something home from the hospital or Frank bringing something home from school that will make him really sick than the effect the vaccines will have on him. So pretty much he has been growing like a weed. We spent the last 2 days with my mother at Pop's house making diapers b/c he outgrew his xsmalls and is now into smalls and we only had 1 medium made. Time to make some bigger sizes! There are always prefolds but mom has bought some really cool fabrics so he is going to have some pretty snazzy dipes.

In big news he rolled over for the first time last week- totally not on purpose and I doubt he could do it again but I got pretty excited about it! He was on his tummy for tummy time and put on arm out to the side instead of under him, cocked his head to one side and rolled right onto his back. It's funny how excited we can get about the littlest things. He has been cooing a lot more now and in the mornings he lays in his bassinett smiling and cooing until he gets hungry and demands food! I love hearing his little voice.

I'm turning my child into a baseball fan!

So Frank and I just got back from Maryland visiting my friend Christina, while Frank went to an Ag Engineering conference. While we were there we went to 2 baseball games, an Orioles game on Sunday the 27th and an Aberdeen Ironbirds game on the 30th. Xander was pretty much umimpressed as he slept through most of the games but we had fun! I enjoyed dressing Xander up in his Orioles gear but somehow we all ended up wearing different shades of orange.

I'm a Cheshire Baby!

Well I had to have a picture of my Cheshire Baby in his hospital t-shirt before it got too small. This is for all the girls up at the Women's and Children's Health Unit at Cheshire Medical Center. Thank you for all you gals do! I'll be back to work sooner than I'd really like but you have to make a living right? That way we can afford to keep Xander in cute diapers!

Xander is 6 weeks old!

I can't believe my little man is getting so big already! He is such a cutie pie. He has started to smile and he has these great grins! He is also getting to be more talkative- he hasn't ever been a very noisy baby but now he makes these fun little noises and giggles. Sometimes he startles himself with the sound of his own voice. Everyone is always telling us what a good baby we have and boy are we lucky! Friday night we took him to the drive-in for the second time and he behaved himself very well. I don't think he had much interest in the movies (The Incredible Hulk and You Don't Mess with the Zohan) but he liked being held the whole time! Saturday night he got his first dose of Daddy time as I did a per diem job for 6 hours. I think Frank and I were both nervous at how that was going to go but we all survived and Xander didn't too too poorly. Frank learned to have a bottle all the way thawed out before Xander gets hungry b/c the little man isn't used to having to wait for food. Sunday we went to church and he slept the whole time basically- if only he would sleep like that at home! But I'm not complaining about having a quiet baby during church. I think he has stolen the hearts of all the little old ladies in church!

Xander says "I love my Boppy- it is so comfy to sleep on..."

Alexander's first dip in the pool!

I'm not sure it counts as a dip in the pool as he spent most of the time lying on my chest floating around on a pool float but he did get his toes in. And he got a really nice nap so that made mommy happy! I'm so sick of this ridiculous heat...we're melting........

My son is SO cute- not that I am biased or anything...

Sometimes I just look at Xander and realize how ridiculously cute he is! Sometimes he looks a little bug-eyed but mostly he is just cute! I also can't believe how quickly he is growing and holding his head up like a big boy. I'm not sure he really enjoys his tummy time b/c he always looks at me like I am torturing him but hey it's good for him right! I love this pic of him and Frank b/c he is totally smiling at Frank. He hasn't really started smiling yet except for the gassy little grins but I am sure we will see real smiles soon.

I think he is going to roll over young too b/c he is already rolling from his side to his back and from his back to his side. He just hasn't figured out that if he tucks his arm under him he could go all the way over. I left him in the bassinett napping yesterday and he was lying lengthwise in the bed but when I came back to check on him he had turned completely sideways and his head was mashed in the side of the bassinett- but it didn't seem to faze him...