Mr. Mom

From Saturday evening until Monday morning, I, Tim/Dad, played Mr. Mom while Lindsey was in bed the whole time with a fever. She had no other symptoms other than a high of 102.7 fever that kept Nicholas and I out of her way.

I learned a lot in those 30 hours. I have a lot more understanding of what Lindsey goes through!
Not mention my arms and back are sore from holding him during all those feedings...every 2 hours. I'm pretty sure I suffered some hearing loss too. All in all, it was a good experience, and today, Mom is feeling much better.

Sadly we missed out on the Church picnic yesterday that we were all looking forward to. Oh well, there is always next year.

CAPTURED IT

I hadn't worked out all week because we've been busy. So I was all set to go back out to work out when I came home from the office. That was until I saw his face.

Last Sunday

Last Sunday, Fathers Day, we brought Nicholas to church for the first time. He barely fussed at all and soon as the congregation began to sing, it put the little champ right to sleep for the whole service. We hope that continues every week!

On Monday, Nicholas was with Grandma and Lindsey were able to meet a long time family friend of the Bowman's, Aunt Cheryl.

Smirks

Nicholas is growing, we think he's around 11.5 lbs now. He still gets up 2-3 times a night and he is continuing to smile more often, which is still rare. Last night after Lindsey put in her time at 4am and he still wasn't going down, she tagged me in to take over. I rocked him for about 15 minutes, then went to go put him down in his crib...his eyes popped open and a smirk came over his face. As if he was saying, "what do you think you are doing? Keep holding me."

Monday-Nicholas met some friends and fraternity brothers for a night of Chinese dinner and good times.

Photo Opportunities Galore

(As always, click on any photo to make it bigger)
Friday- Getting around the floods at O'hare cousin Deb, Reagen, and Mitchell came down from Milwaukee to meet Nicholas. Mom and Dad learned a little more about what our future holds, and the need to do some more childproofing. It was great to see them!
Saturday- Fathers Day at the Grandma and Grandpa Bowmans. Nicholas got to hang out with everyone, especially Declan and Cormic.
Sunday- Nicholas went to Church for the first time (look for that photo tomorrow). He was excellent and he fell asleep to the congregation signing. Then we were off to Grandma and Grandpa Polzin's to see everyone. Max isn't too sure who Nicholas is at this point.

A new day.

A photo of him not crying, grunting, or sleeping, but rather in a calm, cute, alert mood. :)

He's 5 weeks old today.

Houdini

There is a product out that is called "Swaddle Me." They claim:

• Wrap your baby in the comfort of the SwaddleMe^® and rest assured she will sleep safe, sound and secure. The renowned SwaddleMe^® soothes infants and reduces symptoms of colic by recreating the soothing snugness of the womb. It also reduces the incidence of the startle reflex, helping babies to sleep longer.

Well my brother lent me theirs so we could soothe Nicholas. For weeks we tried to use it and he'd fuss and grunt until he wore himself to sleep. Fast forward to this past week, we come into his room in the morning only hours away from his last feeding to find the Swaddle Me around his waist. This thing is pretty much a straight jacket for babies and he somehow, no matter how tight, he works his arms and legs free. Latest nickname for him is Houdini.

He's been eating a ton. According to Lindsey, all of yesterday he ate on average every hour. Before bed last night, I gave him a bottle, he downed 5 ounces. We rocked him to sleep, an hour went by, he was hungry again.

You make the call...

Early in the weekend we took Nicholas shopping.

Sunday we walked around Oakbrook Mall to get some fresh air. That was the last time he pretty much slept. 12:30 we headed out to visit Grandma and Grandpa Polzin for the day. Nicholas was a cheerful guy...until it was time for him to sleep, which he didn't do. In fact a few hours after we got there we had to leave because he just wouldn't fall asleep and was crying like someone cut off his leg. Lindsey kept feeding him as often as he motioned for it and that was often! We both tried many times to sooth him to sleep and stop crying. Around 8:15pm he finally was rocked to sleep.

So is he just coming up on his peek of fussiness or is he having a growth spurt? I left this morning with a fussy baby in Lindsey's arms, who hadn't slept in 3 hours.

The good news was the grandparents got to see him smile a few times yesterday.

Lots going on..

Early Thursday morning Nicholas had another cousin. Cormac Edward Bowman was born. At 10am, 8 pounds 7 ounces, 20 inches long. We went and had a visit that very evening at the hospital.



Later that day, Nicholas had his 1st month doctors appointment where he clocked in at 10 lbs 12 ounces. 22 1/4 inch. That puts him in the 75 percentile and everything is good!
He is noticeably beginning to smile more often when Daddy making funny sounds with his mouth and when mommy kisses him. Exciting times!
In addition, Nicholas is beginning to set a schedule. He goes down around 9:30-10pm up around 11:15 for a snack then back down. Up for another feeding at 3:45, then back to sleep. And right before my alarm at 6:33 goes off, he is up at 6:32 for a feeding which works out great for Daddy. I get to kiss them both goodbye as I head out.

Game Day

My Bride and I are going to a White Sox game tonight with Aunt Lisa and so we decided to dress Nicholas up in Sox gear. Now before you get all excited about Sox vs. Cubs...We agreed that we'll raise him 51/49, so 51% Sox fan and 49% Cubs. As he gets older he can chose which one he wants to root for more. Hopefully he'll make his dad proud...

In other news, Mr. Fussy Pants was awake for nearly 4 hours when he was suppose to be sleeping. Instead, he was kicking and screaming....for the second night in a row. We've read that the fussiness peaks at 6 weeks, with tomorrow being 4 weeks, we have another month of this.

Rejected Announcement

Here is a rejected birth announcement by a friend of the family, Zach. Funny though.

So Nicholas decided it was time for him and rolled over to his back from his stomach over the weekend. Mommy went and bought something to prevent any rolling over when he is sleeping. (Even though he sleeps on his back, we don't want to take any chances.)

Snap Here Snap There

Wednesday cousin Courtney and Jake came to meet Nicholas.

Nicholas is LEARNING. Thursday he was sitting on my legs looking at me when I snapped my fingers on my right hand. He turned his head and saw what I was doing. Then I snapped my fingers on my left hand. He again turned his head to see my left hand. I repeated this for the next few minutes because it was pretty cool.

Hooter Hider Story

So this is the story you've been requesting....
Lindsey asked me one morning if I could go pick up at the store a "Hooter Hider". Like the good husband I am, I went. At the store I could not locate these such things so I asked the closest store employee. "Excuse me but where would I find a hooter hider?" Extreme laughter was what I heard next, and of course I asked a woman with the voice of a 13 year old girl laughing so hard as she brought me over were the NURSING COVERS were. 10 shades of red, I thanked her.
I came home and told Lindsey the story, and she said she didn't know there was any other terminology. Thanks Cory!

Nicholas is doing good. He currently has a bit of baby acne. Lindsey is home with him as I am back to work now.