1 Month Old

I can't believe how fast the 1st month went!  Caleb turned one month old on Monday and it's amazing to think back over the last 5 weeks.  He's changed so much!  It's amazing how quickly something so small can take over your entire world and heart.

Caleb had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday and he is very healthy.  He's gaining weight very well, in fact, the doctor suggested trying to extend time in between his night-time feedings.  We tried to extend his feedings on Tuesday night and he actually went 6 hours in between feedings!  Unfortunately, this didn't equate to 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep for me and Patrick since this happened from 7:30PM - 1:30AM...but it was great that he was able to go that long.  The other nights this week he's gone 5 hours between feedings.  He is doing very well!  Next is to try to get these extended times during the middle of the night.  :)  Here are Caleb's stats from the doctor appointment:

Weight:  10 lbs 15 1/2 oz. (70th Percentile)
Length:  22 inches (55th Percentile)

Also, as we reflect on his 1st month here are a few of Caleb's favorite things:

• Laying on his play mat and "hitting" the toys with his hands.  Rather than hitting, it's more like he's flailing his arms and they happen to hit the toys, but he seems to enjoy it.  He also loves to talk to us when he's playing on the mat.  We hear a lot of coos and ahhs...so Patrick and I talk back to him by mimicking his sounds.  Sierra and Summit must think we've gone nuts!
• He LOVES going poop in his diaper right after you've changed him.  We think it's a game for him...he must wait for the clean diaper to be on and then he let's another bomb go.  All we can do is laugh and start the diaper changing process all over again.  Oh well!  :)
• One of Caleb's absolute favorite things is falling asleep in Mom's and Dad's arms.  This is so sweet!  Whenever I start to think that I wish he wouldn't want to be held so much, I think about how there will be a time when he won't want to be held.  
• He loves watching the ceiling fans and lights in our house.  I never knew how cool our dining room chandelier was until Caleb came along.  I swear he could stare at that thing for hours.  
• He loves his Baby Bjorn and so do Mom & Dad.  :)  When he wants to be held, it's so helpful be stick him in his Baby Bjorn carrier so he can still be close to us but we have our arms free to do things around the house.

Here's a picture of Caleb at 1 month old.  I'll take these pictures each month in the same location and next to the same teddy bear so we can see how he's growing:

Caleb - 1 month old

Caleb - 1 month old

Also, some other happenings......Patrick got out to see the Tigers play the Twins.  Before he went to the game, he and Caleb shared a pre-game drink:

Patrick & Caleb both in their Tigers gear

Caleb had some friends & family visit him these last couple weeks.  He enjoyed meeting all of them!  Here are some pictures:

Kari's good friend Jenn Warren visited Caleb and brought
him some adorable baby golf shoes.

Cousin Leah visited and donated some of her old toys to Caleb :)

Cousin Ruth & Aunt Marilyn

Cousin Ruth looks like a natural.

Cousin Sam doing an excellent job of holding Caleb!

Cousin Dan & Cousin Addie also doing a great job holding little Caleb!

We're surviving!

Caleb is now 3 1/2 weeks old and the time is flying by!  He's becoming much more alert during his awake times and is interacting with us a little more.  It's fun to hear the funny sounds he makes and also to see his little smiles...although the smiles usually come when he has just finished nursing and he's falling asleep.  Hopefully we'll see a smile directed at Mom & Dad soon!  :)  One things for sure, he's getting plenty of smiles from Mom & Dad.  He's so gosh, darn cute it's hard to stop smiling at him....it also helps make the night-time feedings/diaper changes/etc. not quite as difficult.

On my end, I joined a new-mamma's group that meets every Wednesday morning.  We got together for the first time last Wednesday and it was great!  I really enjoyed talking to other new moms and hearing that the experiences we're having with Caleb are completely normal.  It also is a good way to get out of the house!  Although I'm loving my maternity leave...it's nice to get out, meet new people and have some more adult interaction.

Also, Patrick got me a new camera and it's awesome!!!  He got me a Sony Alpha NEX camera.  It's similar to a digital SLR camera, but much smaller and also makes all of the fun photography stuff really easy to do!  We've loved using this "idiot-proof" camera and the picture quality is amazing.

Here's a picture of Caleb being held by Grandma Lowe (also known as "Gaga" in some circles).  :)  My mom has been helping us out a ton!  She's leaving at the end of this week, and I'm really going to miss having the extra hands around the house...especially while Patrick is at work.

Summit is finally becoming interested in Caleb.  Sierra was interested in him as soon as we brought him home from the hospital....but Summit couldn't care less.  This weekend Caleb was sitting in his Nap Nanny and sneezed....Summit finally realized that this little thing that we're always carrying around moves and is now much more interested!!!  Here's a picture of Summit & Caleb:

Caleb got a bath on Saturday night (boy...our Saturday night plans have changed).  As you can see, he loved it:

Another shot of Summit & Caleb.  Caleb is thinking "hey....that's my toy!"  

I figured some of you would enjoy the Iowa onesie that Caleb is sporting.  Thanks for the hand-me-down Amy & Tate!  Patrick came home from work yesterday and saw that his son was in Iowa gear.  We then noticed that one of the snaps at the bottom doesn't work....so Patrick immediately said that we should throw the onesie away.  :)

Also, since Summit got so much screen time....I thought I'd throw a picture of Sierra in here as well.  As I said before, I love my new camera!  The pictures are awesome....I really love this one of Sierra.

2 Weeks of Caleb

Well....our first two weeks of Caleb have gone remarkably well! I mean, there is the usual newborn stuff, some sleepless nights and some sorting out of a different type of life, but I think Kari and I are adjusting very well. We have had Sue Lowe (Kari's mom) here with us to help out, which has been awesome! She has been such a huge help!

I went back to work this past week, and survived. It is funny, I have found that I need a whole new level of concentration at work....my mind will often wonder back to home, and Kari and Caleb!

Caleb had his first pediatrician visit on Wednesday. He is gaining weight, and eating like an absolute CHAMP! Which is good. As of Wednesday he weighed 8lbs 4 ounces...and somehow shrunk a bit :) At the hospital I SWORE he measured 22 inches...and he was an even 21 inches this past week....I suppose that cone head counted for about an inch:)

Each day Mr. Caleb is becoming more and more alert. Eyes open more, noticing ceiling fans, lights, and even has noticed the pups on a few occasions!

Kari and I are also excited, because we had some professional newborn photos taken Sunday, July 3rd (Caleb was 8 days old).  Caleb was GREAT...sleeping for about 4 hours through the entire photo session. Why he can't sleep like that at night....not really sure :), but the photos turned out great.  The photographer was awesome and was actually recommended to us from Aunt Jen & Uncle Erik (she took the infant & 6 months photos for Kellan & Hadley).  Thanks guys!!!  To view the Image Gallery, visit www.pixelationsphotography.com and select "Proofing" at the bottom of the page.  Then enter the following password:  "caleb".  The images will be on this website for 2 weeks.

Caleb has also had a few visitors this week. Jen and Erik Lowe and the Lowe twins (Hadley and Kellan), and a few of Kari's friends Whitney and Laura stopped by to see Caleb.

Thanks for every one's notes of congratulations and well wishes over the last few weeks!

Family Photo

Caleb's First Bath

The Lowe Twins paid Caleb a visit!

Summit decided to give Caleb his favorite toy....he already wants Caleb to play :)

Awesome Pic! 

Caleb.....catching fly's while snoozing!