Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Fast Forward to Present

Where has the time gone? I can hardly believe that my sweet Ollie is eight months old. I simply must get better at this record keeping thing (thankfully I've written every milestone and fun fact about O in my calendar/journal making recall a cinch). It seems like only yesterday we were getting acquainted with one another and yet I feel as though he's always been a part of my life.

A little recap...


leaving the hospital

Settling In:

Brining Oliver home from the hospital was a great day. It was just Brent and I coming home to Anders with our new addition in tow. Such a quiet, peaceful and sweet day for us. The first few weeks were spent getting the hang of breastfeeding, recovering from a C-Section and entertaining the revolving door of visitors. I am thankful that Oliver began sleeping through the night on day one which made getting use to the aforementioned things much easier. Oliver met his pediatrician for the first time and we were excited to learn that in his first month of life he had gained just over a pound and grown an inch making him 10.5 pounds and 22 inches long. Ollie's first visitors at home were Auntie S, Nana, Papa, Aunt Heather, Aunt Lori and Aunt Jami. During his first few weeks home, Oliver attended his first Georgia Tech football game against Duke. I was a beautiful 75 degree fall day and we figured we might as well get him started early. He enjoyed the festivities immensely but the highlight was getting to meet the sweet Jordan family for the very first time.


snuggies with daddy

One Month: Ah the month of December and all the craziness it brings! Brent was back to work and all of my family help was as well. It was just Ollie, Anders and I making a go of it. It was AWESOME! I managed to shower most days and cook dinner most nights. Those two things made me feel successful as a new stay-at-home mom. Sure the laundry suffered (except when my sweet husband picked up the slack - which he did a lot of) and the bathrooms were less than pristine but the important things like feeding, cuddling and interacting with Oliver were accomplished. Oliver's first Christmas was wonderful. He was lucky to have almost all of his family here with him. He received some very nice and useful gifts. We began making our very own traditions and we look forward to doing them again each year. Oliver also experienced his very first snow on Christmas morning, a complete rarity! At just shy of two months old, Ollie had his first fine dining experience at Restaurant Eugene for his Homer's birthday. He was a complete angel baby, sitting in my lap the entire time, never making a fuss. Another first for O was attending lots of Georgia Tech basketball games. I considered it great eye tracking practice as he watched the players run up and down the court. I surely hope this kid loves the Jackets as much as we do. ;Oliver weighed 13.9 pounds and was 24 inches long at two months. Clearly breastmilk is the meal of champions!


NYE 2010

Two Months:
Time to ring in the new year. We spent our first New Years Day as a family of three. Oliver tried to stay up to watch the big shiny ball drop but the milk was just too intoxicating. Oliver met Aunt Jen, Uncle Ethan, Cousins Alanah, Olivia, Megan and Samantha this month. They were so sweet to bring him welcome gifts (and if we fast forward to the present, his VERY favorite toy is the activity table they gave him).

Oliver weighed 14.4 lbs at his two month appointment.


Oh those cheeks!

Three Months
: Before having Oliver, everyone else with babies told me to give it to the third month and it will get easier. I counted my blessings that month one was just as easy as month three. At three months Ollie's personality really began to shine. He started loudly squealing with delight and exploring his world by placing everything in his mouth. At 3 months, Oliver began Gymboree classes. So stinkin' cute! Oliver enjoys singing, tummy time, working on rhythm, eye-tracking, etc. Major milestone this month, O rolled from his tummy to his back. Clearly it was in effort to get off his tummy.

Oliver weighed 15.6 pounds (per the home scale) at three months. O is also all done with the infant "bucket" car seat. We've moved him into his Britax convertible (made for infant to toddler) and he is much happier!


Mesmerized at the aquarium

Four Months:
Happy Birthday to Daddy and an early surprise 40th Birthday for Aunt Apee. Those are the things that kept us busy this month. We had a home birthday dinner to celebrate Brent (complete with a handprint card made by Oliver himself) followed by an adult dinner out to Bachannalia (thanks Homer and Grammy for the gift card). Oliver got to hang out with his Nana, Papa and Auntie S while we enjoyed the delicious fare. Month four also brought about Oliver's second round of immunizations. Oliver gets one vaccine per trip instead of the ridiculous 6-in-1 they normally give babies. Six viruses injected at once is ridiculous in our opinion but more on that later. Highlights this month: Oliver's first trip to the aquarium (totally mesmerized by the fish) and our first trip to Piedmont Park for some much needed fresh air.

Milestones: O began drinking out of a regular adult cup this month. Being a bf baby he couldn't care less for a bottle or sippy. One night while hanging out on the sofa, he grabbed my turvis tumbler full of water, turned it up and drank right from the open top. He's now a pro where cups are concerned. O also began sitting unsupported for 30 second intervals.

Oliver weighed 17.3 pounds and was 25 inches long at his 4 month appointment.


Family photo in Charleston

Five Months:
Spring time is here! We loved being able to spend most of our day (whether napping or playing) outside. At five months, Oliver took his first trip to Charleston to visit with Grammy, Homer, Aunt Jami, Uncle Sean and the Keeters. He handled the 8 hour trip well. Oliver had his second fine dining experience this month at Tristan's. We got the dreaded look from fellow diners at the sight of a baby in an upscale restaurant but all fears were put to rest when Oliver played quietly the entire 3 hours. We had several people come up to us to tell us how "well behaved" he was and that he could dine with them anytime! The car trip home was not near as fun as going. Oliver was way over his car seat which meant frequent stops and an 11 hour travel time. Our family had fun celebrating Easter this year. Having a child makes holidays that much more fun! The festivities included dying eggs with Auntie S, Nana and Papa, an egg hunt at Nana and Papa's church and tiny boy receiving more Easter goodies than he could have dreamed up.

Milestones: Oliver weighed 18.3 pounds on the home scale. O is officially sitting up at 5 months and is loving his new vantage point.


First Easter @ Church at Chapel Hill

Six Months:

How are we half way to a year? Someone please stop this fast moving train for just a bit! Month six of O's life was mainly spent in Germany or preparing to go there. I'll record the trip details separately. Oliver began eating solid foods while away. We took the baby led weaning approach, meaning he doesn't eat baby food or purees unless its something like soup or yogurt. We simply let him take the lead and eat whatever he wants of what we are eating. So far there isn't a food he won't eat. He loves all things edible, especially mushrooms, asparagus, and schnitzel. Who wouldn't?

Milestones - besides solid food, Oliver begin affectionately referring to me as "meh-meh" and he got his very first tooth! He also found his inner fish on his first trip to the pool while in Koln. Such a busy month for our sweet little bug! He weighed 19.4 pounds this month.

Side bar - we received the devastating news while in Germany that my father had cancer. The last few days were spent just wishing we were home by his side and with our family.


Father's Day Photo-shoot

Seven Months:
The month of June brought about much change in our lives. Oliver visited the aquarium again with daddy's coworkers, he began standing on his on as well as pulling up! The child has zero interest in crawling but he is gung-ho about moving on two feet. We celebrated Father's Day with my dad and Brent's very first Father's Day! I took my camera and little O out for a photo shoot to upload images on daddy's new digital picture frame for the office. The majority of this month was spent at Duke Medical Center in North Carolina at my father's bedside. He was recovering from cancer surgery and didn't make it. Another post will follow later when I feel like sharing my heart on this tragedy.

Milestones: Standing alone and pulling up. Oliver weighed 19 pounds at his six month appointment and was 27.5 inches long.

As you can see, we've been extremely busy. Thankfully most of it has been all fun. I'm loving my new life as a stay-at-home mom and wouldn't trade this time for anything. I am thankful we made sacrifices early on in our relationship to allow me to do this and am equally grateful for the blessings we've received along the way. I greatly appreciate how very hard Brent works to provide for us and do my best to make sure he knows it! I'm looking forward to the many months ahead. We have football season, Oliver's first Halloween, first birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas to anticipate. Now if someone could just his s-l-o-w I'd greatly appreciate it.