Bumbo

The Bumbo chair is fascinating! For those of you who are not familiar with the Bumbo chair, prepare to be amazed (spoken like a true mother). This chair assists are little six week old in sitting on his own. A few weeks ago we started putting him in the chair to help him build his neck and back muscles and now we have a new favorite pass time. Tristan will be walking on his own soon...shortly followed by long division!

If you are wondering, yes, I tried to sit in the chair, and, no, I do not fit!

Irresistable

Tristan has made so many new friends so far. It is impossible to resist his cute face, so anyone who meets him, immediately falls in love.

Our puppies, Chloe and Bubba, have had interesting reactions to Tristan. Chloe, our lab, doesn't seem to notice the new baby around the house. She still wants to play ball all day long as if nothing has changed. Now Bubba, our Pomeranian, is a different story. We were afraid he wouldn't like the baby because he is territorial of Kris and me; however, that has not been the case. Bubba loves the new baby! Any chance he gets, he tries to give Tristan a kiss on the foot or hand. Plus, if Tristan is crying in the other room, Bubba will go to him and then come to me and cry himself...kind of like Lassie!

The Dirty Diaper

Ok, so at what point will the dirty diapers slow down? At any given point in the day, I can open Tristan's diaper and find it dirty. In fact, I am convinced that he hates clean diapers, and everytime I put one on him, he works extremely hard to get it dirty again. The books say to change the diaper anytime you suspect it to be dirty because it will help with potty training down the road. Well, if I change his diaper everytime I suspect anything, I will never leave the changing table!

I have read too many "helpful" books about how to raise a baby. I say "helpful" because they all contradict one another. For instance, I am trying to figure out the healthiest sleeping habits for Tristan, and I have read so many differing opinions. One book says to put them in their cribs no later than two weeks so they do not become dependant on sleeping in the same room as mom and dad. A different book says that putting a baby in their own room too early causes separation anxiety. A third book says that the family bed, letting the baby sleep in your bed, is the only way a baby will truly feel loved...Ok, I am a reasonable person, but really?!? I think I'm going to write a book on how reading the helpful books might not be so helpful.

Needless to say, when Kris told me to quit reading all the books and just do what works for us, that was the greatest advice I've gotten so far!

One month in...

On October 3, 2009, Kris and I welcomed Tristan into our family! We spent almost five full days in the hospital, and then much to our suprise, they let us take Tristan home with us! The three of us got in Kris' car and 1,000 thoughts ran through my head. I thought:

• Tristan is the most beautiful little boy I have ever seen.



• I can't wait to be home.
  


• Is Kris driving too fast?



• What was that noise Tristan just made?



• Tristan looks cute in his Red Raider hat.



• Will our dogs like him?



• Did I really just have a baby?



• I think I want to go back to the hospital.

...to name a few! It was a day of excitement and anxiety! On the first night out of the hospital, Kris was on duty. I'm not sure he slept a wink that night. Fortunately, we have been getting better at the night shifts! The following few weeks, we enlisted our parents and siblings to help out. Ten days in, we were finally on our own!

Somehow we have survived the first month which included our first bath, our first trip to the mall, our first dinner on the town, our first doctor's appt., our first Halloween, and even our first walk to the park. Here are a few things we have learned:

1. Everytime Kris changes a diaper, Tristan will pee on them both!



2. Never wake a sleeping little boy.



3. Babies make more dirtly laundry than I ever imagined.



4. Bubba (our Pomeranian) loves babies!



5. Sleep is overrated.



6. Enjoy every day because he is already growing so quickly!