HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Mini Monster

Went to the doc today to get a follow-up exam...Looks like the final verdict is still acid reflux probably along with colic.  I guess this kid was destined to get some tummy troubles since both Clint and I had problems when we were babies as well:(  Good news is that it seems either the new soy formula or prevacid is starting to take effect and we are almost to the peek time of such tummy problems.  Oh, how I long for the day my little guy doesn't have so much pain in his belly to deal with.  In the mean time, the doc also said Chris should have lots of time on his tummy to help ease the discomfort, even supervised naps.  So instead of "Hammer Time" in our house, it's "Tummy Time"!  I think this Halloween onesie is very appropriate for my poor little screamer; a gift from our good friend Carol's sister.  

Happy Birthday to Me!

So, I started my birthday off at DMV this morning in Glendale (the one place you don't want to be on any day!).  Signs of a new mother...waiting until today, the day my license expires, to renew it, and not putting on any makeup for my new license photo.  Although I had to wait in line over an hour, it sure beat yesterday's events...my little boy screaming in pain all day from acid reflux (finally broke down and decided to give him the meds) and my other little on, Bear, throwing up because he is so upset that Christopher is crying so much.  I'm not meaning to complain, I will take these days any day over crazy days in production dealing with adult babies whining:)  When I got back from DMV my baby boy gave me the greatest b-day gift, his smiles during his late morning bath:)  The doc said it would probably be three days before we see the meds start to take effect, but Chris seems better today...we are hopeful!

A Night Out Alone

Clint and I bought tickets to the U2 concert at the Pasadena Rose Bowl a long time ago as a gift to each other for our birthdays.  I don't particularly love large crowds, but they are the one group that I will endure the masses for.  We knew we would have our son by this time, but figured we would be ready to have someone watch him since he would almost be 2 months old.  As I've probably mentioned before, we are so blessed by our neighborhood and neighbors, really they are worth the big mortgage we pay every month!  Our neighbor Cindy up the street offered to come to our house to watch the little man for us.  She has a nephew who just turned one that she has been watching since birth so she assured me all would be fine and to just go have a good time!  Well, surprisingly getting to the concert wasn't so bad (over 96 thousand attendance predicted).  We did have to park over 20 miles away, but good exercise.  Our seats were awesome, 10 rows away from the ground level(should be for the price we paid!).  U2 was their typical amazing selves, the best band ever in my opinion!  I, however have to admit that the whole time I thought about my son:)  We left the concert a 1/2 hour early to avoid the exit crowds and it's a good thing because it took us forever to find our car.  Luckily we got out of there in time to bet the major rush.  All-in-all it was a fun evening and Christopher did well with Cindy.  My son even slept-in until 4:30am this morning to give mamma a break from her late night...such a sweet boy!

1st Road Trip

Christopher ready for the trip

Bear in his travel spot 

The delicious chocolate/cappuccino shower cake

The amazing shower backdrop, my mother-in-law's backyard

The picture perfect table settings

Carol and baby Rocco

Cousin Sharon and Clint

Melissa and Me and our precious Baby Boys

Grandma Parsons

Grandma Horasanian

Grandpa Horasanian

GG #1, Great Grandma Curry

Grandpa Paul and Chris, early morn

Grandma Audrey and Chris singing, or rather screaming!

GG #2, Great Grandma Kasparian

GG Kasparian's adorable homemade bonnet

Ahhh...all the boys are in bed and I'm writing two postings in one day while eating shortbread cookies from an amazing bakery in Fresno that my mother-in-law got me, it has been a good day!  Last weekend we headed-out on our first road trip with the boy to Fresno for a shower Clint's mom was throwing us and a chance to meet the rest of Clint's family and friends.  Christopher handled himself really well on the ride thanks to some Billy Corgan (Papa would think:)) and the paci.  The shower was a page out of a Martha Stewart magazine.  Christopher made the rounds with the ladies, he truly was cuddled and loved all day!  This weekend was especially special because Christopher got to meet both his Great Grandmas, yes he has two GGs!  Here are some pics from last weekend...    

LIFESAVER

The past couple of nights have been a bit challenging in the Kasparian Casa.  Not sure if it was the big weekend last week, a new change in Christopher's Digestive System, or something else.  From around 4pm until 7pm, Christopher has been crying non-stop, arching his back in pain.  The pediatrician thinks it might be GERD, or acid reflux, but I'm trying my hand at all natural approaches first before trying any meds.  It's so crazy how things come out of nowhere, they really do change so quickly at this stage in life.  Just when I get this one solved, they'll be something else I'm sure:)  Well, last night was particularly bad (of course Clint was working), Chris started-in around 3pm and went on until bedtime around 8:30pm.  Nothing I did seemed to help him but bouncing him on my hip around the house.  I tried putting him in the Baby Bjorn to save my back, but he would have nothing to do with it, hence my late night Motrin 800 fix.  Today I was wiser (you live and learn), and got out the Baby Bjorn at the onset of a fuss, and let me tell you I had that kid in it for almost two hours...Bear even got a mini walk tonight, a novelty lately!  Can you tell I didn't get a shower today:)

Another Ignorant Discovery

My girlfriend Melissa gave me this great all natural brush/comb set for a shower gift.  Rookie-mom me thought it was just a cool baby brush/comb set.  Not until the pediatrician said yesterday that Christopher has a little cradle cap did I finally realize the real benefit of the brush in this combo set.  Now I also know why she gave me cotton balls!  Had she also put in a bottle of olive oil, I really would of known what was cooking...or more likely be really confused:).  Per the pediatricians instructions, this morning I used the cotton balls to put a little olive oil on baby boy's head and used the brush Melissa gave me to gently brush the cradle cap away...It worked beautifully and I think Christopher liked the head massage too!  Who would of known that olive oil isn't just for cooking!

Seeing Brother Bear

Today was the first day that Christopher acknowledged Bear.  It was so cute to see him stare at his big brother.  Bear came in close for a sniff, but quickly departed when Christopher's hands went flailing.  Bear is never too far from his little brother, I hope this continues as Christopher grows and the two become great buds.

SMILES:)

Christopher is really starting to smile a lot now.  My favorite thing to watch is when he is just about done with his bottle, his eyes closed and belly full; a big smile comes across his face.  It's no wonder that the one thing that really makes him smile is food, from day one he has loved to eat!   He now is also starting to smile at us a lot when we talk to him, and he still loves the ceiling fans:)

Sleepy-Rainy Tuesday

Baby Boy and Papa taking an early morning nap

More Gentlease Please!

So, we finally decided to give switching Christopher's formula a try based on his excessive gassiness and crankiness.  The pediatrician gave us a sample of Enfamil's Gentlease formula which has a 1/5 the lactose of a full-lactose milk-based formula, and is supposed to help with fussiness caused by gas.  I have to admit I was skeptical but willing to try something new if there was even a slight chance to help our little one.  Well, let me tell you...What a difference a day & new formula makes!  My happy son is back!  He actually slept two 5 hour sessions last night without his regular gassy moans:)  I hope I'm not jinxing us by writing this, and that his new-found happy tummy is here to stay!

1st Owie

Our poor baby has an ingrown nail in his right thumb.  His poor thumb is really red and twice the size as his other one.  The past two days the poor little guy has been a mess, upset tummy and a lot of tears:( I think our photo shoot day, as fun as it was, really did him in.  The doc this morning said it is really common and to soak his thumb in warm water, hence his hand in the coffee mug during his morning nap:)  

Christopher now weighs 10 pounds 5 ounces and is a little over 22 inches long.  He is growing so fast!  Clint was away for only two days and was shocked at how much bigger his son looked.

For the LOVE of Fans

Christopher LOVES ceiling fans.  You can be in a rather engaging conversation with him, but if his eye catches a ceiling fan, forget about it; he's no longer yours.  He will stare for long bits of time at our ceiling fan in the living room, smiling and speaking the language only a ceiling fan could understand.  At night time during his feedings I have the light dimmed down low on the ceiling fan in his nursery, but that doesn't stop his communication.  As his belly gets full, he stares pleasingly at the ceiling fan with a big smile across his face...It's a little kookie, but cute:)

Today, I attempted to do some quick shopping with Christopher on my own while Clint is out of town for work.  I got through my shopping with minor peeps out of my little guy, but when I got to my car it wouldn't start and Christopher started screaming.  Luckily our wonderful neighbors Bonnie and Phil were home and came to the rescue.  In the end it is just a new car battery needed. So much for independence! 

PICTURE PERFECT

Today we had professional pictures taken of Christopher just one day shy of him being a month old.  I was a little nervous about the flow of today because Christopher woke me screaming at 3am this morning, I think the poor little guy was having a bad dream:(  Despite my fears, Christopher was picture perfect!  I think he is so use to a camera being stuck in his face all the time by Clint and I, but actually credit is due to the amazing photographer that was referred to us, Lori Dorman:

http://www.loridorman.com

For those of you who have a little one, check out her website.  You can either go to her studio, or she will come to your house like she did for us.  The experience was so much fun!  She has spent her whole life working with babies so she is so wonderful with them.  I can't wait to see all the final pictures and share them with everyone.  On a funny note, Clint got peed and pooped on several times during the shoot...Ah the glamour of naked baby photography:)

Trial and Error...

...The definition of Motherhood I'm discovering!  Ever since I finally excepted the fact that Christopher was going to be a formula fed baby, I have to admit I've been a little nuts about finding the perfect formula, bottles, nipples, etc. (not breast feeding guilt is worse than Catholic guilt!).  So first up was the formula challenge.  I asked several friends who have children and my pediatrician what they recommended.  Unanimously it was Enfamil formula they recommended, which was great because I received two free trial canisters in the mail so I was set to go.  Now, the life of and mixing formula is a science of its own.  I read the instructions carefully (mix with water...once made, can live in refrigerator for 24 hours or 2 hours at room temperature).  Now I had to find the perfect bottle, which also includes finding the right nipple.  I first tried the Avent 4 oz bottles with their beginner nipples and the flow was too much.  I then tried a bottle that my girlfriend Emily so kindly dropped off for a go, unfortunately Christopher did not take to this nipple or the flow as well.  My mother who was visiting ran out and purchased a Born Free bottle and a Dr. Brown's bottle to try.  Are you starting to see how easily this journey can lead to crazyville, why so many bottles!!!  Anyway, luckily Christopher took to the Born Free bottle with their level 1 nipple.  So now I had my formula and my bottles.  Did I mention that there are 8 parts to the Born Free bottles!  I did not let this stop me, for this is the bottle my son had decided for himself.  So, now it's about timing.  How do you make the formula and have all your bottle parts ready in time for when your little one is ready to eat, or in my case, when my big boy is screaming for food!  Now, from talking again with my girlfriends some recommended serving at room temperature, some recommended heating, and some recommended pre-made bottles and heating right before you serve.  Since my guy wants his food fast, and I have all those damn bottle parts to mess with, I decided to go with the "pre-made" version.  So I would make 3 to 4 bottles at at time.  This seemed to work out OK in the beginning.  When my little guy would stir around his feeding time, I would go turn on the hot water, get a bottle out of the fridge, then soak the bottle in a mug of hot water for a few minutes.  Well sometimes this process wasn't fast enough, and then I also began to realize that the formula wouldn't always flow well through the nipple holes creating frustration for consumer and provider as well.  At first though, I thought it was the nipple size that was no longer pleasing my little guy (refer to blog title "Mother of the Week", I now know that I must revoke my title!).  So after buying the next flow nipples, and having trouble with them after awhile I decided to move on to another bottle.  Oh, I haven't mentioned the fact that my poor little man has extreme gas between the hours of 4-7am, the reason my mission really became an obsession.  So now we are also putting Mylicon gas relief drops in his formula and Gripe Water every once in awhile because he also gets terrible hiccups at times.  If you are still with me and this story, bless you!  Anyway, after talking with my girlfriend Jennifer yesterday, I decided to try the Platex Drop-in bottles she highly recommended.  So I rushed off to Toys-R-Us knowing that this was going to be the answer.  When I got home I sterilized all the parts, as I did with all the other bottles I tried.  When I pulled everything out of the boiling water I was shocked to see that the new bottle bodies had shrunk.  I called Jennifer quickly for assistance and she informed me since the bottles use a bag instead of the formula going directly into them, you don't sterilize the bottle body!  Great, I just destroyed two bottles, but luckily I had bought two more.  So, next I had to figure out how to get the air out of the bags that go into these bottles.  To make a long story short (which I know I haven't!), I failed miserably at getting the air out of the bag with the first bottle we gave Christopher in this new bottle.  The next bottle was a little better, but our previous mishap got us good.  Christopher began to spitting up his formula really badly and had terrible gas for most of the evening.  Now I had made my little one's gas troubles worse!  Our son has never cried so much.  I felt so terrible, and my husband and I began to also think something else may be wrong...back to me melting those darn bottle bodies...We began to think that maybe the residue from them got on the nipples that we also sterilized along with them.  Now a call to poison control (Are we a bit extreme or what!).  Thank goodness the kind poison control lady informed me that she didn't think this was the case and that he would be vomiting if there was a true problem.  After a few hours of calming Christopher down, re-sterilizing all of my bottle parts, several calls to my girlfriend Jennifer, I decided to go back to the Born Free bottles and see if heating the formula would help the flow.  Our first go with heating the formula went great!  That night as I was feeding Christopher it finally hit me that we really needed to be heating the formula all along or at least using room temperature formula to ensure proper flow through these nipples.  I then began to realize the medium flow nipples I was using were too much now that we got them working properly.  So, for what I hope to be the final frontier with this crazy endeavor, I woke this morning and went back to the level one nipples with heated formula to see how things flowed, and wouldn't you know it... it was perfect!  I'm really embarrassed to share this, but I hope I can look back at this and laugh someday, and I also hope that I'm not officially nuts, that other rookie moms have gone through similar spells as well.  If so, please share...

One Day at a Time

I'm realizing now that besides Christopher teaching us a lot about himself daily, the larger gift we are receiving is what he is teaching us about ourselves and what is really important.  From joy to frustration, from tiredness to elation, each day is unique in its' own way.  We often live life just for what's around the corner instead of stopping, taking in our surroundings, and cherishing what we have in front of us.  After a long cranky day with my boy yesterday, I woke this morning to a smiling little pea in a pod (that's what I call him when he's swaddled), and realized yesterday and tomorrow do not matter, right now is priceless!  So, thank you little man, for making me truly present for the first time in my life:)

The First Supper

Last night we ventured out for dinner for the first time with Christopher to BJ's, a brewery/restaurant chain in downtown Burbank.  We chose this particular restaurant because A) we like their food, B) it's close to home, and C) it's rather noisy there so if Christopher was to act up at all we wouldn't annoy too many hopefully.  Well, I'm happy to report Christopher was chill the entire meal.  His car seat fit nicely against the booth backrest and on top of the table so he was able to see us and zone out on all the lights and activity in the bar area.  Once the binkie was in the mouth, he was completely content to doze off.  It was nice to have a brief time out together, with no dishes to do!