Rudy The Rabbit

Your floppy eared rabbit friend now has a name "Rudy". He is on his way to becoming your little cuddly soothing stuffy to help you feel safe and loved at all times when mom and dad are in the other room.

Since you were born Mom and Dad have worked very hard on creating a routine for you and setting up good sleep habits. A local sleep consultant Pam Nease www.sleepsense.net/kelowna has worked with us since you were 3 weeks old. Basically the whole philosophy is to help you be a good independent sleeper and to not have to rely on anything (i.e. soother, back rubs, rocking, swing, walking) for you to be able to sleep. This means you being able to fall asleep on your own and put yourself back to sleep when you still need to catch more zzzzzzz's. Last night was the first night of official "sleep training" since you are now 15 weeks old and weigh 14 lbs! You were ready to break some habits and to start letting mom get some sleep. In short, when you woke in the night Dad would go in, sit next to you, and talk gently to reassure he was there for you and make lots of eye contact with you while you cried. Firstly you slept for your most recent 6 hours right off the bat (which was fabulous since you were in your sleep sac and no swaddle) then at 1:30 you started to talk a bit..then you started to cry looking for Mom and your bottle. Dad waited out your crying which was on and off for 45 minutes..This happened twice and you woke up at 5:35 cooed and played by yourself then mom got you up at 6 with a nice rewarding 7 oz bottle. You were as happy as ever and gave Mom massive toothless smiles when you saw her. This warmed my heart. Mom was very nervous and very sad to have you do this big boy sleep training. I checked on you a couple times but I also got some sleep thanks to Ativan and earplugs. AS Pam likes to say- we need to "honor our sleep and our babies sleep". This makes perfect sense. Sleep helps us grow mentally and physically. It prepares our bodies for challenges and helps us recover. Your dad and I didn't want to go through months and/or years of sleeping in separate rooms...mom being a zombie and miserable. Since we had set the foundation for good sleep from the start, this is going to be a smooth transition...it already has been. Mom and Dad felt that we knew too many parents who don't get any sleep, whose children don't sleep well and both are often grumpy. We didn't want to be like that and our lives are much to active to be sleepy and in bad moods.

You sat in your Bumbo chair from Aunt Kerry last night for the first time and you weren't sure at first but quickly started talking away and smiling. You look so adorable in it! Dad said you look grown up! I said NO NO NO!

It is chilly out Chase. We have had a long cold winter. Mom set up an outdoor workout area on our lower patio. The plan is for mom to get her workouts in while you nap. You are too old and getting too big to be lugged to the gym everyday. Mama needs to get back in shape to her pre-pregnancy bod!

I cannot wait for the nice warm weather and to take you around the resort in the stroller and to the pool!

I love you Baby Chase.

mom
xo

PS- Daddy took these shots yesterday. Your expressions crack us right up! Also, this was the last day of wearing your skull and crossbone sleeper. You are too long for it!

Daddy's Home!

Another busy week for us little guy.... Dad came back from shooting the wedding in Mexico, your Grandma and Grandpa K arrived back from 3 months in Mexico, and your Pops and Poppy and Aunt Ella from Australia arrived as well! You have been a star my little angel. You love being passed around and haven't play "strange" at all. You smile, giggle and make all sorts of talking noises. You certainly have lots to say!

You have been so much more vocal with Mommy too. When I sing to you, you smile and make all sorts of loud noises back. When I walk away you talk until I return like you are saying "Mommy, get back here! I have so much to say to you!".

Your crib naps have gotten so much better but your nighttime sleep has not progressed as well. You did sleep for almost 5 hours last night which was fabulous. Can you do that every night for me? Mom is now on her next mission- to feed you every 3 1/2 - 4 hours rather than every 3 or less. I think I got some bad advice and it has turned you into a bit if a "snacker". When I have been feeding you, you only take a few ounces at a time when you need to take 6 ounces 5X a day. Because you are eating too frequently, I think you aren't hungry enough when the next feed is offered. So I am keeping you up a little longer between naps and feeding you less often and more during those feed. Mom sure had no idea there would be one challenge after another!

You Aunt Ella adores you and is so proud. When she refers to you, she says "our Baby Chase"...too cute. You like watching her and her long hair. She watched mom give you a bath the other night and you couldn't take your eyes off her. Your Pops is very loud and has scared you a couple times with is roaring laugh but you just jump a bit and then usually smile. And Poppy keeps calling you "the most gorgeous little baby"...I have to say that I agree!

The weather is getting warmer and pretty soon we will be able to venture out for longer stroller walks since you will be staying up a little longer than usual. Your big brother Jessy loves walking right beside the stroller. He loves you very much even though it has been a bit of adjustment with him no longer being the baby.

Gotta run...I hear you stirring..I hope you go back to sleep. You need you zzzzzzz's little man.

Love you always and forever,
Mommy

PS- Mom took this pic today when you were wearing your little rabbit onesie. You look so adorable in it next to your favourite floppy eared bunny friend!

ABCD...EFG....HIJK....

This past week has been a busy one. Daddy went to Mexico to shoot a wedding so it was just you, me and Jessy!

Jessy turned 9 years old on Saturday. We had him out for alot of frisbee time and gave him some BBQ chicken. He got a brand new bed which he thinks is very "Ralph Lauren" and Dad got him a new red collar.

Lately when you have fallen asleep in the car and mom doesn't want to wake you when we arrive home, mom turns off the car in the garage, reclines her seat and snoozes with you. It is lovely! I just don't like waking you up when you need your sleep. It is important for your development (or at least that is what all these books and websites keep telling me). I am officially obsessed with your sleep habits! Mommy has to remind herself to let it go sometimes and let it be what it will be....

You LOVE it when I sing the alphabet to you. You smile away and make all sorts of crazy cute noises. Mom is ALWAYS singing to you. half the time I don't know the words (but I DO know the alphabet), and I make songs up and you simply smile away. Love it!

Today you had your first 2 hour crib nap! I wrote earlier about your 45 minute ones that you have struggled with. Well, mom used the "wake to sleep" method and woke you up ever so slightly at 30 mins to break the cycle and VOILA- you slept on and Mom had some free time. I love researching on the internet and in my books. I told you- SLEEP OBSESSED! Your sleep..not mine.

Huggies or Pampers? Incase you are wondering, we are using both right now and testing which ones we like best. I have had leaks with both but am leaning more towards the nice fit of the Huggies on you. We will see. But I do LOVE the baby powder scent of the Pampers. Mom double diapers you at night to ensure NO leaks. It is worth the extra $0.30 as daddy says!

This week you will meet your Pops Reilly and Poppy (?what is the Grandma name that goes with Pops?!) Reilly and little Aunt Ella. They are coming all the way from Australia just to meet you! We are ALL very excited to have them here. You are just going to adore them. They bought you all sorts of wonderful gifts before you were born and you know that red stickered suitcase? That is from Ella and is very special.

Btw, you are still waking up 2-3 times per night.....you should not be waking after only 3 hours of sleep you little stinker. Sleep Chase, sleep.....

Do you know how much I love you baby Chase? Words possibly cannot tell you.....

Mom

PS- Mom took this picture with her iphone. You started holding onto toys just this past week! Look at how cute you are!!!

Pedro Goosoffalus

This past week has been interesting to say the least. First I should let you know that you have a new nickname "Pedro Goosoffalus". I am not sure how it came about but Mom started calling you this and now dad does and it cracks us right up. We promise we will call you Chase again soon. You just SO suit "Pedro Goosoffalus".

Recently your new thing is short naps---the 45 minute intruder as the sleep books like to call it. Basically you go to nap in your crib and do such a fabulous job of getting yourself to sleep BUT look out, as soon as your sleep cycle is coming to an end, you are having a hard time transitioning to the next one and you wake at 45 minutes on the nose! So in order to extend your nap we do the "Shhhh pat" which basically is 20 minutes of "sssshhhhhhh-ing" and rubbing your belly to extend your sleep. All while bent over your crib. Lets just say BACK BREAKER!!!! Oh Pedro, if only you could understand what Mom and Dad are doing for you!

You have your longest cosiest sleeps in your car seat. Quite often you can be found sleeping in a powder room or even in our storage room by Daddy's office so he can watch you while you drift off into la-la sleep land in your Chicco car seat with the fleecy liner insert.

Yesterday you ate 36 ounces of formula. Um, let's just say, that cannot happen all the time. You are an eating machine Pedro!

You are habitually waking every 3-3.5 hours at night and we have to stop that because you cannot possibly be hungry. Something has gone wrong and you have created a little nasty habit....sleep for a short stint, wake up crying, wait for mom with a warm bottle, chow down and back to sleep...no matter how much I tank you up during the day you are still waking. Oh Pedro!

Daddy leaves for mexico to shoot a wedding on Weds. You, me and Jessy are flying solo for 8 days. I am praying to the sleep gods that you all of a sudden turn a big baby corner and start snoozing for longer stretches. That would make mom happy.

Mom is a bit of a perfectionist/control freak so....when things don't go according to plan, it throws mom for a loop. Mom is officially sleep obsessed! I just want you to get the proper sleep so you can develop and rest easy and I can too knowing you are sound asleep sawing logs and happy happy happy!

I hear you snoring away on the baby monitor right now and it warms my heart. It takes EVERYTHING I have to not go in there and stare at you or wake you up just so I can see your toothless smile! You always smile when you wake up and see mom or dad. You are such a happy guy!

Spring is here baby Chase---the stroller will be in action really soon and the sunshine will cheer mom up. I love you more than I can possibly say, but I have to tell you that you gave mom the baby blues.....Nothing a beer or wine can't fix though.


Mom took this pic of you last week. This was right after you woke early from a nap. I adore your smiles! heck, I adore everything about you!

My Little Houdini

This past week has been a busy one and you have been such a cutie-pie! You are 11 weeks old and full of smiles! You love being sung to and smile away when mom sings or makes a heart shape on your face (Auntie Kerry taught us that). Your favourite songs are "Skinamarrink" (sung at bath time and throughout the day) and "A You're Adorable" (sung before each nap and bedtime).

You absolutely adore a nice hot bath. Just this past week you have been a kicking machine! You love taking your little legs and pushing yourself back off the edge. You are very strong. It won't be much longer until you are too big for your little baby tub. You have a bath every night just before bed and as soon as you here the water running your eyes light up and I get a big toothless grin. Melts mom's heart.

After each bath you get a delightful little massage with Burt's Bees lotion. You smile and coo away as mom sings and massages your little legs, arms tummy and toes. You love your feet being rubbed and you spread your teeny tiny toes when mom massages them and kisses them. They are too yummy! I simply cannot stand it!

You are an early riser except this past week you keep pushing the envelope to get up sooner. I think you just want to start exploring what is going on around you right away. Except, mom is encouraging you to sleep until at least 6 am! No 5 am starts please! Mom is a morning person but 5 am is TOO early little man!

There is no doubt there is a little narcissism in you...you LOVE staring at yourself in the mirror. You are mesmerized by your sheer adorableness! Oh and you weigh about 11 lbs right now.

Daylight savings happened therefore the evenings are brighter. So when mom went to put you to sleep at 7 pm you wanted no part of it. You have been sleeping in a bassinet in mom and dads room and we planned on having you in there at least another month but (sniff sniff) we had to move you to your big boy crib last week because it is dark with the blackout blinds and curtains. I was a little nervous about a) you being downstairs (our room is upstairs) and b) because I did not know how you would adapt to being in a crib. You transitioned like a trooper and bedtimes have been a breeze.

We had to put you back into your swaddle because your arms were waking you up all the time and you were not napping or sleeping well in your sleep sac. So back in the swaddle you went and you were very happy and content being back in there except the past couple night and afternoons for naps you have been fighting it a bit. You want your hands in your mouth SO badly. I would much rather you suck your thumb than the soother but you haven't quite got the hang of it but you are trying so hard! I am going to try and keep you in your swaddle for a couple more weeks to let you develop a bit more so you are ready to be "arm free". Last night after a whopping 5 hours of sleep, I awoke to you grunting and groaning in your crib and sucking your hands. You had scootched them up and out from the tight sides if your swaddle and had your head buried under the flap. You hd shimmied down inside the swaddle...my little swaddle houdini....


Your favourite place to nap is the car seat. You are guaranteed to sleep for at least 2 hours in there. Why won't you do that in your crib each time? I think you just love the warm confinement and comfy cozy fleece bundle bag we have in it.

Speaking of the car seat....I should go wake you up now. We go to the gym every morning and it helps keep mom sane and is helping mom get back into shape. Before you mom was in rocking good shape...now, there is some extra "cush" that needs to go bye-bye!

Going to get you now sleepy head!


(The pic you see is one I took of you last week when you were being a ham!)

Your first breath and many more since....

Well you have been in this great big world for 2 months and 10 days Chase Joseph Reilly! This intro is much later than I wanted it to be and I missed a bunch of stuff..but here is a quick update to date for you to enjoy when you are older and we can crack up with you thinking about this special and crazy time!

Mom and Dad have been super busy with you since day 1. We had a bit of a rocky start...you were a sucky baby who loved to cry and scream after being home for a couple weeks. We had no idea what to do. You would take hours to get down for naps and to go to sleep. You would kick, grunt, scream, cry and yell! Mom cried right along with you. Dad stayed cool, calm and collected. But that phase is now history! In the past 3 weeks you have been a dreamy baby Chase! You are content, happy and have settled in to the world outside of Mommy's belly. The past 2 weeks you are the master of going down for naps and bedtime. You lay in your bassinet and coo, giggle and sigh and you put yourself to sleep when you are ready. Mom loves to hear you in there happy as a clam and then she loves peeking in and watching you sleep peacefully.....

A couple of memories for you...

Nicknames: "Milk Tiger" because you LOVE rowring onto Moms nipple for chow., "Formula Werewolf" because you make growling noises when drinking out of your bottle.

You outgrew your "coming home" outfit (the blue chunky fuzzy bear suit) March 1, 2011 and you also outgrew your GAP celadon blue sleeper with the grey polar bears on it. Mom has packed them away for you.

First smiles at Dad: Feb 15, 2011

First smelly farts- Feb 16, 2011

First immunizations: March 1, 2011

March 9- you transitioned from your swaddle to a big boy sleep sac. (actually..I take that back..we tried this and you weren't ready. Your moro reflex kept startling you awake. You went back in the swaddle until 15 weeks )

I chose the image in this post because when I heard your first cry, I experienced a love that I never knew I could. A love that I could never have been prepared for. And each day my heart has more and more room for more love for you. Each day I think "I cannot possibly love you more"...but I always manage too.

I love you my baby Chase. More updates soon....

1 More Week

Dear Little Fonz,

Mom thought she should write a post since it has been waaaaaay too long and you are almost here. Mom has been slacking off on the blogging. Sorry buddy- we have been busy getting everything ready for you to come into the world. Your nursery is perfect- we hope love it as much as we do. Your hospital bag is packed, your little onesies are all washed (Dad cracks up at how tiny everything is), cupboards are all filled with your things and your big brother Jessy keeps asking when you are arriving.

Mom finished work Dec 15 and is so happy to be off. The days were getting long and mom was super sore from sitting and working. You have made moms belly (and body) VERY large and I have been quite uncomfortable these past 2 weeks- sore hips, bad cramps, tight ribs and a big itchy belly! We have had a couple false alarms lately that have taken me to the hospital thinking you ma be on your way. Contractions are frequent and things are changing each day...Mom and dad and the Docs don't think you are going to make it until Dec 29th - which is your scheduled date to arrive. We will see.

You love moving your feet around- I feel them over on my right side. Your little bum is adorable too--it is so cute when you wiggle around. You get the hiccups every couple days and it makes mom giggle. You are one busy guy. Hopefully you have been enjoying your time in mom and are ready for this great big world. I know it is ready for you!

Christmas is only 4 days away and it certainly does not feel like Christmas because all Mom and Dad have thought about is you! I cannot stop thinking that you will be here SO soon and next year, this time, we will be having our first family Christmas with a big tree and the whole family!

I better get going because mom has not fed your big bro breakfast yet and it is 10:30. Whoops!


I cannot wait to meet you! I love you to pieces already so I am not sure how I can love you more...love is a wonderful thing.

Btw, this picture was taken at 36 weeks. That is you in there!