Happy New Year from The Pelners!

 

Wishing everyone a happy 2015 that is filled with love, laughter and lots of adventures!

 

 

Daddy & Me... Game Time!

One of my favorite times with my Daddy is watching the Notre Dame games because that means I get to spend 3+ hours with him... usually sleeping right on him the entire time. Sometimes he gets angry and yells at the TV... ok every game he yells at the TV- it must be something very important to get him so riled up! Luckily this time we beat LSU (31-28)... He gets very mad when we lose!

xoxo,

Charlie

p.s. Ruby wanted to get in on the cuddle action too today!

p.p.s. So did my Mommy!

What a difference 6 weeks makes...

Daddy & Me... Tummy Time!

My Daddy and I love doing tummy time together... I am not very good at it, but he tries so hard to help me.

XOXO,

Charlie

P.S. Ruby likes to try and help me too!

Christmas, Christmas.... Time is here!

  We survived our first Christmas with a newborn! The morning was a bit of a blur and presents... And although Charlie will have no idea that we got him presents he was most definitely spoiled by both sets of Grandparents and Dan & I! Though I was also a bit spoiled... which for a new mom was pretty darn nice!!!   

 

Surrounded by some of his presents! Before he began his festival of spit up... I had givven up Dairy to see if he really was intolerant to it, but indulged in some cheese & crackers on Christmas Eve. And guess who really is intolerant to Dairy- my poor little man. This is going to be an interesting 4+ months to live without my Cheese... but look at the face- so worth it!

 

 

Instead of our usual hike before dinner we did a low key walk around the lake instead! I was proud of myself- longest walk since the C-Section... and you can guess what Charlie thought of it- he slept! As you can see there is a pattern forming. Put Charlie in the car, he sleeps. Put Charlie in the stroller, he sleeps. But Charlie in his crib, he screams...

  My whole family!!! So much love in one picture.    

Merry Christmas From the Pelners!

Charlie's first trip to the Zoo!

Charlie's Trip to the Zoolights... which he mostly slept through! But look at his adorable hat and mittens- it was sure cold out!

 

 

We had thought he would love the lights of the zoo...

 

 

Charlie, Umpapa and I at the start of the night... all bundled up for the warmth! Charlie was sound asleep!

 

 

Enjoying the light and music show along the water...     Charlie was still asleep...      Look at the pretty lights...      Charlie was still sleeping!      And finally awake... as we were leaving the Zoo!    

CURSED!

View from the ER  

Earlier this year I thought I must have the worst luck ever, 2 months after my miscarriage with my hormones all out of whack I came down with a case of Singles. Seeing as I am one of the only people under the age of 70 to get shingles I was feeling pretty unlucky... until last night when I noticed yet again I had a lovely case on my back! Two times in lifetime is rare, but 2 times is a year is just awful. I find it interesting that I have gotten it twice when pregnancy hormones were leaving my body, so I am crossing my fingers that next pregnancy I won't get it again! Luckily it seems pretty mild this time (only itchy and no real pain)  and I can still breastfeed, which was my major concern (that was call #2 this week to our pediatrician! Looks like she is going to be on my speed dial). So luckily Charlie should be safe, but what a way to start our vacation in Arizona!!!!

   

Mommy & Me Class!

 

Charlie and I have been getting out of the house on Tuesday for our Mommy & Me class at the Mother  Nurture Center.... the first class was a bit intimidating for me, new mommies, new babies, new environment... but by the 2nd class we were feeling much more at home. It has been great to not only have somewhere to go but to also have someone to talk to that knows exactly what I am going through now. The class is for babies that are 0-3 months, so just perfect for us! So far we have sung songs, played games, done a bit of tummy time... Charlie seems to really enjoy it. Well enjoy it for a bit and then nap the rest of class... but I will take it. Can't wait till January when the new session starts!

 

My exhausted cuddle buddy after class!

 

My little Christmas Baby

Here are more of our pictures from Charlies newborn photo session... we made sure to get some good Christmas ones for our Christmas card this year! I think we will have to do an annual santa picture for him now...

Wonder Weeks- #1 Changing Sensations

“Poor Charlie is under the weather so has decided to cry all day long...

Poor Exhausted Mommy & Daddy who also want to cry along with him by this point in the day...”

November 13^th, 2015 (via Facebook)

I had heard of the horror that is growth spurts (non-stop feeding, crying, fussiness) but until I tried to figure out what was wrong with Charlie this past week I had never encountered wonder weeks. Apparently these are similar to growth spurts except that instead of his little body growing his little mind is expanding…  They come on very suddenly, filled with screaming and crying (sort of like having a demon baby for a bit) and then in a blink of an eye his fussiness turns into sleepiness and he is able to hit a bunch of new milestones in what seems like just one day. His first wonder week was supposed to hit sometime between 4 ½ & 5 ½ Weeks- his hit smack on at 4 Weeks + 2 Days. 

Here is a list of what they say may happen during this wonder week:

-          Looking at something longer and more frequently (YES)

-          Responds to touch for the first time (Hard to say)

-          Social smiles for the first time (YES)

-          Responds to odors more clearly (Odors don’t seem to bother him at all)

-          Is more “awake” and busy (YES)

The biggest change that we noticed during this week was all of a sudden he started to notice walls and shadows! He can sit there and just smile and giggle up at the walls and be perfectly content. It felt that all of a sudden he was waking up and noticing the world for the first time.  It really is amazing to see his personality start to emerge.

Week 4... we made it a month!

 

 

Weight:  10 lbs 3 oz

Length: We didn’t measure you again this week- worst parents ever!

Hates:  Sleeping, Naps, being swaddled, hats, tummy time and your carseat/ stroller

Loves:  Your baby wrap, cuddling , crying, your activity gym, peeing on Mommy (you have moved from peeing on Daddy to Mommy)

Firsts:  

*First Mommy & Me Class… which you loved. And by loved I mean you slept through almost all of it. But it was just great to get out of the house and spend some time with other mommies.  And  in fact you were a perfect angel- only baby in the class that  didn’t  cry! We got to sing some songs, attempt tummy time and learn a few new ways to play.

Milestones:  Learned to “kick” a ball, Able to express being hungry without crying- you try to basically motorboat mommy when you are hungry. Though you also do that sometimes to Daddy to show him that you are hungry too. Started to grab on to Mommy’s hair, which you now like to cuddle with while you sleep!

Clothing Size: Newborn

Diaper Size:  1… my little guy moved up in size.

Grumpy Face of the Month:

Nicknames: Charlie, Charlie Bear, Buddy, Squeaker (because you make the cutest little squeaking sounds)

Yawn of the Month:

Daddy’s “Favorite” Moment:  Daddy has been busy with work and diaper changes and baby cuddles so the last week (and month really!) has gone by in a blur but his favorite moments are all the ones that he has at home with you.

Mommy’s “Favorite” Moment:  Learning how to use my baby wrap. The last few weeks have been amazing with all of the cuddles all the time but I haven’t been able to be very mobile. Now that we have figured out the wrap, when you are fussy I can just wrap you to me and still be able to do things.

All wrapped up on your Mommy.

More of our Favorite Moments:

You may hate your crib & bassinet but you sure do love napping on your Mommy!

Exhausted after our Christmas present photo shot.

Learning to suck on your hand.

One month of Baby Snuggles!!! More and more in love with you every day.

Favorite Mommy quotes from social media:

December 5th:  “Day 2 of being home alone with Charlie and I bundled us both up for a walk... Apparently Charlie has decided he hates his stroller, hats and outdoors so we made it a few houses with him screaming bloody murder until I turned back home... Now having ice cream for lunch! But at least I made it to noon today- yesterday I needed cake at 8am...”

December 7th: “Nothing like hoping out of a much needed shower and expecting some cute baby cuddles but instead getting pee'd all over! Well played Charlie... ‪#‎diaperfail

December 8th: “It is amazing how exhausted, frustrated and utterly in love you can be all at the same time  

December 10^th: “I had assumed we would go through cute baby clothes because Charlie would ruin them... So far 2 have been stained- the 1st by coffee and the 2nd by chocolate ice cream! Ooops... Guess I shouldn't have dressed him up early for our Mommy and me class or maybe shouldn't have attempted chocolate ice cream while he was sleeping on me. ‪#‎mommyfail

Outtakes from your Monthly Photo Shoot: