6 weeks old

it's the "sad lip"

Alex is 6 weeks old! Time is flying by so quick. He isn't that little newborn baby anymore. So sad. I look at his newborn clothes and think it is crazy to think he was once so tiny to fit in them. Babies grow so quick. I swear he gets noticeably heavier everyday and probably most noted in the middle of the night when we are trying to pass him around in bed while we are half asleep.

Alex is beginning to interact more and more and it is so special to get some reciprocation of all that special love and affection we have been giving him. He coos and makes little talking noises, and very alert and stares at faces while he is talking to you. He is so expressive in his face and most of the time we get smiles but at times we get the "sad lip" which I think is so dramatic and sad...it just kills me when he throws that out. He doesn't like car rides and gave me the "sad lip" the whole way to the beach...it made me really sad too. He just started batting at his play gym toys while cooing and smiling at them which I thought was so cute. Alex is now holding his head up really well and I can carry him around without having to support his head now.

In preparation for me to return to work, we started introducing a bottle 2 weeks ago, but Alex has yet to accept it. Bottle training on a breastfed baby is really tough. Babies are way too smart and definitely know the difference. He spits it out and will sometimes begin to suck on it, but spits out what milk he gets. Chris has been giving him the bottles and says he is getting better each time which is great. I guess it will just be one of those things that will take time. I don't want to force it...I really want him to just nicely accept it.

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the pumpkin patch today with April and Zealand. It was such a gorgeous and warm fall day. I thought this farm was so cute with the perfect little farmhouse, barn and gardens. We had fun walking around the farm and looking at the pumpkins. I didn't end up coming home with a pumpkin though. The pumpkins were all fairly big and I had my hands full with Alex...so we will pick one up for the house when we go to the pumpkin patch with Nana and Grandpa Evans in a few weeks. It was fun to see Zealand enjoying himself on the tractor and haystack...I can't wait for Alex to be walking around enjoying the pumpkin patch too....it won't be long...probably next fall.

First Smile

smiling...he was moving so much it was hard to take a picture

more smiles

At exactly 3 weeks, Alex smiled for the first time. Although it took me a whole week to actually get a picture of his smile. He gets so distracted by the camera and stops smiling and looking all serious when he sees the camera. Luckily, he is super happy when he first gets up in the morning when I change him that I was able to catch it right then. I just love his little smile. I can't wait for giggles to start in the next month.

It's hard to believe that Alex is already 4 weeks old today. Time is flying by so quick and he is already growing so much. He is now out of all his newborn size clothes and wearing 0-3 month size. His skinny little belly is just starting to get a little bigger, but he still has really skinny legs.

1st week just me and Alex

We take our afternoon nap together

Alex is getting little curls on the top of his head...so cute! Maybe he will have curly or wavy hair...we will have to see

The first week just Alex and me went by so quick. I can't believe he is now 2 weeks old! I love him so much and still can't believe he is ours. Becoming a mom has been the most awesome thing. I know he won't stay this small for long so I try to enjoy these days right now where he can sleep on my chest or cuddle all curled up in a little ball.

His face is filling out a little and he is definitely gaining weight. He had his two week appointment today and gained 9 ounces in 6 days and now weighing in at 8lbs 6oz.

Alex is such a good baby. He doesn't cry or fuss much and usually we are able to calm him fairly quickly. He eats so much and so frequently that sometimes I feel strapped to the couch feeding. Poor Chris gets home from work and all Alex wants to do is eat for several hours straight. I'm glad he eats so well and is so healthy though. Breastfeeding is such an investment of your time but it seems like it is getting better and better as each day goes by. Alex is already getting into a little bit of a schedule and letting us sleep for 3 hours at a time at night which is great because that means we only get up 2 times! Auntie Katie's tips on a dark room and music really helped Alex sleep longer.

Alex loves his little play mat and just looking up at the hanging toys. He is always so alert and looking around when awake and so I got him a mobile for his bassinet which I hope will help him stay in there a little longer. Right now he seems to sleep best in the infant seat or one of our chests.

Some cute pics I had to share

Sleeping with daddy

1st Bath

Perched up and staring at daddy

Happy to be wrapped up after the bath was over...the bath was not his favorite thing

Grant's surprise visit home

All of the siblings (Jackson, Grant, Katie, Me), Chris and Jordyn & little Alex

Uncle Grant with little Alex

We had the most awesome surprise visit this Saturday from Grant. He is stationed in San Diego on the USS Carl Vinson and doesn't get much time off work. Chris and I hadn't seen him since April when he came to visit last. It was so nice that he got to see his new nephew when he is still little. We hope Grant graces us with more surprise visits since he is now only a short plane flight away.

Belly Bandit Review

1 week post partum

1 week post partum

So I normally would not be showing pictures of my belly as I am pretty conservative, however, I am so amazed with the results I have gotten from using the Belly Bandit ( http://www.bellybandit.com/ ) that I just had to share. I am almost in disbelief that it is actually working since I was expecting to look pregnant for weeks to months. I am now 1 week post partum and my stomach is already flat and firm. I would definitely recommend this to anyone post partum. It supports your back so nicely in that first week. Chris even tried it on and thought it felt really good and wished he had something like that on since his back is getting a little sore from leaning over to care for Alex. It does get a little wrinkle in it that doesn't come out if you are short waisted like myself, but it doesn't change the effectiveness. I did exercise and ate really healthy the entire pregnancy and think that the belly bandit just sped up the recovery. So probably not a substitution for good diet and exercise in my opinion.