Team Spirit

Hendrix is having a tailgate-themed birthday party next weekend and the jury is still out about which team he is rooting for.  Which colors do you think look better on him?

Back to the Schedule

Hendrix is now three weeks old, and I started back to work yesterday.  It has been going really well so far, and I am feeling good about being back into a routine.  For those of you who don't know, my job is as a nanny for two kiddos.  I am bringing Hendrix with me to their house, and they are thrilled to get to hang out with him.  

They made me feel very loved and missed when I got there.

Riley is a good little helper, and she really has an amazing touch with Hendrix.  She manages to keep him really cozy and comfy and doesn't get bored of him at all.  When he started to fuss just a little bit, she quietly started singing him the alphabet song.  It. Was. So. Cute. :)

I can't get over how big Gabe looks to me......I am not sure if he just grew like a weed in the three weeks that I was gone, or if I just got so used to seeing my little peanut that Gabe just looks like a very big toddler. :)  Either way, he is really fascinated with the "baby", and says "baby" like a hundred times a day.  He tells me when he is crying and when he is sleeping, and he likes to go in and check on him while he is laying in the playpen.

He hasn't been interested in holding him yet, but he does like to come peer over my shoulder when I am holding him.  He understands to be really gentle and likes to "pet" his head and legs.  


Now to back up a little bit, Hendrix had his very first playdate on Friday of last week with one of my good friends' little girl, Abigail.  Hendrix is only 12 hours older than Abigail, and I think they are destined to be lifelong pals.  They both pretty much slept through the affair, but it was fun for us to hold each other's babies and share stories about their births.

Then on his three-week birthday we made our first family roadtrip and headed to Grinnell for the day.  We enjoyed time with lots of family members, and Hendrix cheered for the Hawkeyes with daddy.

 

                         

Meeting Uncle Jake and his girlfriend Katie for the first time, and getting held by Grandpa Karl for the first time.  Hendrix was pretty much held nonstop for the entire day, and I think he was soaking up every minute of it!  I actually was thankful for the 3-hour feedings in which I got to have him back because I was the one who needed to feed him.  I love sharing him, but I didn't realize how much I would miss holding him when I didn't for such a long time.  :)  He has so much family that love him so much.  He is a VERY lucky little guy!

Family Foto Time!

Hendrix went to church for the first time this weekend also.  He looked so cute in his little button up shirt.  

Then at small group he made some more friends.  

All three of them were born within two weeks.  Josie, on the top is the oldest and the only one that wasn't born early.  She is a lil' bit bigger than our smaller kiddos that were born two weeks later and both early; Hendrix and Abigail.

We enjoyed swapping Momma stories, and are looking forward to the new dynamic that will be added to our small group with all these kiddos.  :)

I think that should be all for now.......I did get my maternity pics back over the weekend though, and will post some of my favorites as soon as I get a chance.  I am still trying to decide though since so many of them are amazing!  We have an appointment to get Hendrix's first pics taken this Friday afternoon.  I'm looking forward to some naked baby shots!

Impressive Weight Gain

We took Hendrix back to the doctor today to be weighed and he is now 7 lbs. 2 oz.  The doctor was very pleased and impressed as this is a weight gain of 14 ounces in just one week.  She said that she would have been happy with just half that much.  

Because he is doing so well, she gave the go ahead for us to discontinue fortifying his milk, and to transition to solely breastfeeding.  We have already started using the playtex nursers (which are the big boy bottles, in contrast to the fast-flow bottles that he was originally using in the hospital).  My goal is to be breastfeeding primarily during the day by next week when I go back to work; and then to still give him a bottle at some point in the evening or night when Bud can help with the feedings.  I will still have to pump a couple times a day to keep my milk supply up for now.

He is starting to really fill out, and right now you can see it primarily in his cheeks and tummy.  I can't wait until he gets chubbier in the arms and legs too!  :)

Here he is in a cute new outfit that Nana bought for him when we went shopping yesterday.  My mom has been with us since Sunday evening, and she just left tonight.  I am missing her already.  It has been really awesome to have her here to help out and to just spend quality time with!  We ventured all the way to Des Moines to go shopping yesterday, and came home with some special treats for Hendrix.

This was specifically for Daddy (and all my brothers, and in-laws......).

We also got some cute little hats for him to wear in his pictures next week.  He is going to get some newborn "naked baby" pictures, and I wanted to find a way to add to his cuteness ;)  

Hendrix is snuggling with Daddy as we speak - 

this is pretty much his evening routine, and I love to watch them together.  

I love this little pose!