Devin's Journal

Hey! You blinked and Devin is now 23 weeks old.

This week's Big News: CARROTS! He likes them. I guess. At least he tolerates them, unlike the squash that he puked up twice. I love this picture because it looks like he is LOVING the carrots but it is actually simply the result of Devin needing to cram things into his mouth whether they are covered in carrots or not.

He really does stick everything in his mouth. I know a bunch of you are reading this and thinking, "DUH! That's what babies do, you simpleton." I know, I know. But Dax didn't really do that so I became accustomed to being around a tiny human who didn't feel the need to cover everything I own in drool. Devin, once again, is not sticking to the status quo. He likes to throw us for loops (and then stick those loops into his mouth).

Next week: Devin's first fourth of July. Will there be fireworks? Hard to tell. We just got out from under the giant cloud of smoke that had been hovering over us all week so I would think folks might be a bit hesitant to shoot flaming things into the air. We'll see. The important thing is that it is a short work week. Yes, I've only been back for one week and I do already need a break. Because this is what I've been missing out on.

Posted by michelle at 10:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I had to go back to work this week. Despite my best efforts I was not able to find a job that would allow me to work from home while snuggling a baby or to win the lottery. So, yeah. Back to work.

Cat is staying home with Devin for the next seven weeks. So far he's doing an awesome job (of course) and the two of them seem perfectly happy. Those jerks. Don't they know they are supposed to be miserable without me?

In all seriousness, returning to work has been extremely difficult. It was even harder this time than it was the first time because now I have two little ones at home. While I was on leave I got to help get Dax ready for school and cuddle with him for a bit first thing in the morning. I'm trying to figure out some balance that will still allow me to have some time with him in the morning before work but that also lets me GET to work before 10AM. And while I am at work, I absolutely ache for Devin.

Now that I've turned this entry into a serious downer I don't really know how to recover. Ummm....I have some pictures on the camera I need to download so I can post something recent but that will have to wait for this weekend. He's still growing with leaps and bounds, he's giggling a bit more often, chatting a little more, practicing rolling and sitting up and pulling himself to standing while holding our hands. We've given him a break from trying solids this week and this weekend I'm going to try giving him sweet potatoes. I'm also going to make sweet potato fries for Dax, the boy who will not eat anything.

Ahhh..the weekend. I can't wait for that.

Posted by michelle at 06:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Devin had a week of firsts and some are working out better than others.

At the beginning of the week he rolled from back to front. Cat and I both missed it. I had put him in his crib and went in the other room for a couple of minutes and, when I came back, he was on his tummy. Since then he's been rolling onto his tummy repeatedly and he's quite pleased with himself. Of course, he's forgotten how to get back over so he's getting stuck and frustrated from time to time.

Yesterday we had a little gathering with some of our friends and all our kids (6 of them all under the age of four). Devin decided to answer Erik's inquiry as to whether he had any new tricks by sitting up unassisted for the first time ever. He did it for a bit again today while he played with this nifty old toy of Dax's.

We tried to give him his first solid food tonight. It was butternut squash. I say tried because he really did not enjoy this experiment. Here's the face he was making just before he gagged and upchucked all down his front.

We will clearly wait a bit before trying this again.

I have one week left to stay home with Devin and then it's back to work. He will be staying home with daddy for 7 weeks before starting up at My School with his big brother. Unless I win the lottery or find someone who wants to pay me to be a stay at home mom.

Anyone?

Posted by michelle at 07:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As I write this Devin is playing on the floor next to his big brother. He's about a foot away from where I originally laid him down and pointed in the opposite direction. His mode of transportation? Scootching around in circles on his back, occasionally rolling onto his side, pushing himself backwards with his feet.

He has not yet rolled back to front but he totally looks like he could if he wanted. He can roll from tummy to back if he chooses to (but he doesn't always). He's one laid back little dude, content to just relax in one spot until he's ready for someone to bring him something (Dax) or pick him up (everybody).

He's got yet another cold. This one is particularly mucousy so he's pretty much only able to sleep if held mostly upright. That means mommy gets to spend most of the night in a chair, holding a sleeping baby. At first you might think that sounds like a lovely way to spend the time but read again the "most of the night" part. I am soooo verrrrry tired.

Yesterday was, sadly, my last official day of maternity leave. I will begin my return to work by immediately taking two weeks of vacation. So, yeah. I only have two more weeks where I get to spend my entire day with my sweet baby. Another fabulous bonus to this leave has been getting to wake Dax up every morning and spend time with him before he goes to school. I've loved every single minute.

And, just so you know, I don't plan on handling my return to work gracefully. I'm pretty sure there will be weeping (and not necessarily just from the boys).

Posted by michelle at 09:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Devin had his four month appointment last week (a bit delayed) and all is well. He's big but not as big as I was expecting. He's 25.3 inches long and weighs 17.3 pounds. That puts him at the 57th percentile for height and the 84th for weight.

This weekend we put up the crib and moved him out of the cradle because he's getting too big and squirmy for it. I'm pretty sad about this development because I love that cradle. It is an absolutely beautiful piece of furniture but, more importantly, it was made by my dad when he found out I was pregnant with Dax. It means a lot to me. I love it so much that I contemplated for a moment having a third kid so that I could someday tuck another baby into that cradle. That's crazy love, people.

Here he is taking his last nap in the cradle.

And here he is in the crib.

The first night he slept in the crib I woke to find him sleeping on his side. This morning he was on his back but lying sideways across the width of the mattress. See what I mean about squirmy?

The rolling to his side is new this week. He looks like he's close to figuring out that he could keep on going and end up on his tummy. Also new this week is a funny little inchworm thing he attempts when he is on his tummy: he pulls his little diapered rump up in the air a bit and then tries to slide forward. It is most effective as a means of entertainment rather than a means of transportation. His final trick o' the week is pulling himself to standing while holding onto our fingers and then laughing maniacally as if to say, "Someday I'll be able to WALK and then you'll be screwed!"

Posted by michelle at 09:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)