Padded Little Seat

Hendrix started wearing his fuzzibunz cloth diapers over the weekend.  They are so cute and super soft, and I think you can tell by the contented smile tugging at the corners of his mouth that he likes them. :)  So much so that he pooped like 5 times in a day and a half (when the last time before that had been almost a week).  

I am really glad that he finally fits into them, though he definitely needs to have the snaps on the smallest setting.  He is growing lots, but still a little guy.  

I had done a great deal of research about cloth diapers before Hendrix was born, and had actually purchased them before his arrival.  I was convinced that I wanted to do this because I wanted to save money (in the long run.....after the initial expense), and I wanted something that was softer and nicer on my baby's bottom. 


Here are some things that I didn't learn in my research:

• The small size diapers say they are supposed to fit a 5 pound baby all the way up to a 22 pound baby, and yet they most definitely didn't fit my baby until he was almost 9 pounds.  Yes, the snaps make them very adjustable, but his skinny little legs didn't fill up the leg holes enough to keep the leaks out at first.
• These diapers make his bottom so much larger because of the padding that my baby has jumped a size in pants overnight.  It is really cute that he is "bottom heavy", but if you plan to cloth diaper you should keep that in mind when buying clothes and go a size larger on the bottoms.
• I know that the fleece is super soft, but I didn't also realize that it is super warm.  The first night he wore one to bed underneath his onesie and then jammies, when he woke up in the middle of the night to eat he was sweating!  You can shed a layer of clothing with these dipes.
• The diapers really are easier to use than disposable diapers.  My husband even admitted to that (by the way he is on board with me in this endeavor which is a great blessing).
• The laundry piles up faster than I could have ever imagined.

All that to say that I am very pleased with how it is going so far. :)

Other highlights over the weekend include taking Hendrix to his first ISU tailgate,

(If you didn't already hear about the outcome of the game, you would be better off not asking)

celebrating my father-in-law's birthday,

and after lunch, we left Hendrix with my folks (this was the first time to have a baby-sitter) while we went to see the play that my sister-in-law did the sound design for.  Hendrix had a great time with his Nana and Aunt Hannah, but I missed him lots!  It felt weird to go somewhere and not have to unload the carseat; and also to be carrying around a purse instead of a diaperbag!  :)

We got back the pictures that we had taken last week and there are soooo many good ones!  I need to sort out my favorites still, and then I will post them for you.  In the meantime, here is one to get you started!

And today was another start to another work week.

I love my job!

Hendrix's Due Date

Today was Hendrix's Estimated Due Date.  I guess all I can say is that it was a terrible estimation.  :)  He will be 5 weeks old tomorrow.  I find myself wondering about whether if he was born today, instead of 5 weeks ago, if he would weigh more or less now than he actually does?  I guess we will never know!

He did have another "weigh in" at the doctor's office yesterday and Hendrix is now 8 pounds 12 ounces.  Yes, I realize that he is gaining weight very rapidly......he went from the 4th percentile to the 15th percentile in just two weeks.  My little guy is an overachiever!  The best part about that news is that the doctor said we can stop waking him up every three hours to feed him in the middle of the night.  She said she doesn't want him to go for more than a 6 hour stretch, and if he wakes up on his own I should feed him, but we are very excited to think about sleeping uninterrupted for a 6 hour stretch!!!!  (Granted, he might be so used to the frequent feedings that this is a mere fantasy).  Last night was the first night of this new routine, and he did sleep for 4 1/2 hours.  We will see what happens tonight ;)

I finished my second week back to work and that went even more smoothly than the first.  I am started to get better about coordinating the feeding schedule with the various errand running I do with the kids throughout the day.  Gabe is starting to feel more comfortable with Hendrix too, and it is really cute to see him take an interest in him. :)

   

He has been reading him stories this week, and loves saying "hi baby!"

Last night Hendrix saw his first soccer game.  We went to watch my brother Jake play soccer for Central College and were delighted to see him score the winning goal in a shootout against UNI.

It was a gorgeous night for soccer!  I can't believe how lucky we have been with the weather so far this fall :)  

Jake was very excited to see Hendrix after the game, and he was also very pleased to see what he was wearing. :)

  

This afternoon we took Hendrix to the Center Grove Apple Orchard and Pumpkin Farm.   

It was a beautiful afternoon, and Hendrix enjoyed sleeping in his Baby Bjorn.  It was the first time that we have used it, and it was great!  :)

While Hendrix caught some z's we enjoyed some caramel apples!  YUM!

What a great start to the weekend!  I love fall!!!  I am really thankful for the men in my life :)

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!