Christmas Pictures Gone Wrong

Poor Rowan.  We spent an hour yesterday morning attempting to get one decent picture for this year's Christmas card.  Here are some funny ones that didn't make the cut.

Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for, but this year it's mostly about this little man:

Quiet and Still

What a personality!

7 Weeks!

Happy 7 weeks little man!  You're becoming a big boy!  Although you looked bigger when you were born.

These are a few of Rowan's favorite things.

The book has black and white & red and white images of animals.  He can stare at this for a long time.  Sometimes I get lazy and just prop the book up in front of him.

I think this one is pretty obvious - it makes noise.

We prop him up in it so he can stare at the ceiling fan, which can keep him occupied for a while.  Well, like 30 minutes which can seem like forever when there is something I need to do.

First Halloween

Rowan was a giraffe for Halloween. I bought the costume several months ago and it fit - for the most part. The head was kinda big though. I'm not sure who though a baby would have a head that big. I wanted to take pictures outside but it was almost 80 yesterday and we though Rowan might cook outside wearing a fleece costume.

Happy 4 Week Birthday!

I can't believe that Rowan is 4 weeks old today!  I've probably had one of the best days ever with Rowan.  In some ways, he seems like a different child today.  And after the day we had yesterday, I was ready to send him to live with GiGi or something.
Here are some of the highlights:

• Slept from 11pm to 3:30am last night.  Woke up to eat and went back to sleep until 7am.  Ate again and naped until 9am.
• Fussed and cried very little except when I was in the shower.
• Spent 30 minutes laying in his crib and stared at the ceiling fan and light.  
• Slept in the carseat/stroller for 2 1/2 hours while I got my hair cut and colored and eyebrows waxed.  Wasn't even phased by the numerous hair dryers going on around him.
• Played with rattle toys and stared at his picture book for 1 1/2 hours before falling asleep. 

 I guess there is still plenty of time left today for it all to go downhill.  But let's hope it doesn't.  And if it does, Jason can deal with it tonight!

Does a baby get in the way of watching football?

Jason would say no...

Rowan's Many Sleeping Styles

Rowan's Many Moods

First Bath

Not sure about this.

I'm all clean!

Making Progress

What a week it's been!  First the good stuff - Rowan had his 2 week check-up yesterday and he is making good progress gaining his weight back.  He weighed 7 lbs. 11 1/2 oz, grew an inch in length and his head has grown an 1/2 inch around.  The doctor said he looked great and we don't have to go back until December 2nd.  We've also increased his feedings to 2 3/4 oz. since yesterday and we seem to getting closer to 3 hours between feedings instead of 2 1/2 hours.

This week we've also struggled with numerous 3+ hour fits of unrelenting screaming and crying.  Jason refers to him as a rabid dog when he's had these.  It doesn't matter what we did, he just screamed and screamed.  At several times, I really felt like jumping out the window.  The doctor gave us some good tips and we tried them out last night when he started to get fussy.  Although they didn't completely stop it, Rowan did seem to stay alot calmer overall and not escalate to the "rabid dog" state.  It was more in line with what I would call normal baby crying and fussing.  So at this point, any progress is good and I hope it only gets better.  He was actually asleep by 12:15am which allowed us both to get some sleep before he needed to eat again at 2:30am.  The night feedings are going well - for the most part he eats and goes back to sleep fairly quickly.

I'm crossing my fingers things continue to get better.  Otherwise, I might need a straight jacket.

First Day without Dad

Jason went back to work today - boo.  But so far me, Rowan and the dogs are still alive and in one piece.  Rowan has been much more awake today and managed to cry and scream for an hour and a half this afternoon.  I ended up giving him part of another bottle and he finally feel asleep.  Maybe he's going through a growth spurt - he's been eating today like a wild, starved animal.

On the downside, the dogs got into the trash and managed to tear some diapers into a million small pieces.  Oh well, I needed to vacuum anyway.  

The First Week

He's here!  Rowan Reece Anders came into the world on October 2nd at 9:02am.  He promptly started screaming and peed on the doctor.  It's now been a week and I can't imagine life without him.  We continue each day to figure each other out and it's a learning process.  But that's ok - what else will I do the next 12 weeks while I'm off work?!