Four Months Old!

I can't believe it! 4 months old already! How can it be? I feel like it was just yesterday I went to the hospital not really understanding that I would be coming home with a baby. How naive was I? It has been a change unlike any other, but it has been amazing to watch him grow!

April 27, 2012 at 8:40 p.m.

The last 4 months have been an interesting roller coaster of emotions, new experiences and unbelievable joy. There have been times I have been frustrated--frustrated that I didn't know what Cristian wanted and he was upset or that I wanted the quiet time with Vlad that is now a treasured commodity--but there are many more times when I feel a sense of peace that I have never felt before. I watch Vlad as a Dad and I love him more than ever, I look at Cristian and I am amazed that I can love someone as much as I do him.

August 27, 2012--4 Months Old

Post School Day

 It would seem that C had a very good first day of school, complete with a 3 hour nap!! Go Baby Boy! Being away from him for 8 hours meant that I was racing home so I could wrap my arms around my squishy baby. However, I am just happy that he enjoyed his time at B'nai.

A Very Happy Baby!

Car is Packed and Ready to Deliver the Goods to B'nai

Bulletin Board in the foyer of the Day School

Cristian's Name on The Bulletin Board

First Day of School

"It's harder on you than it is on them."

"It's easier to just drop and go."

"Call if you need anything."

These were all the things that I used to tell parents when I was the teacher and they were dropping off their babies into my care. I would sometimes even take it personally that they did not trust me enough and were upset about leaving their child. Did they think I could not take care of them? I have realized that it is nothing personal---it is your child that you are leaving. It doesn't matter where or with whom. It's heartbreaking. I have finally realized that--now that I am on the other side of the fence, dropping off my child.

I am grateful that I am dropping my child off into the arms of a friend and in a place that I spent 7 years of my life in, as an employee where parents entrusted their most beloved. Only now do I truly appreciate what a huge responsibility that is. It is a comfort to me knowing that when I drop him off he will be in a place that is welcoming, homey and will be watched over well.

So even though my heart was breaking a little this morning, and I had said the same words many times to new parents whose hearts were breaking, I was the parent that needed to hear those words: "It's much harder on you that it is on them and he will do great."

I know he will do great, and I will get there too...eventually.

Cristian with Ms. Adriana on his first day of school

Like Father, Like Son

The picture says it all!

Smile!

Taking pictures of C smiling is difficult to do. He usually goes 'deer in the headlights' with a camera in his face. He seems to be handling his fame a little better these days!

"Nope, not happening, Mom!"

"Okay, maybe a little smile!"

"Money shot!"

Love him!

Sleepytime Wrestle

We have been swaddling C since he was born because he had a tendency to flail and hit himself constantly. He loved the comfort of the swaddle until recently--now, he must be playing Baby vs. Swaddle because more often than not we find him like this:

So we have tried to put him to sleep without the swaddle, but he does not sleep as sound, though he may look like he does:

"Not while I'm sleeping!"

Meanwhile, C sleeps and Scoob maintains his post under the crib:

The Adventures in Rolling Over

It has been quite an exciting time watching C begin to roll over. He has mastered the art of rolling from his back to his belly, but boy, he is not happy when that happens. He starts out fine and dandy, but then he gets pretty cranky about it. Just watch:

"I'm not so sure about this!"

"Maybe I could get into this tummy thing...."

"...or not."

Game Over.

We are working on enjoying tummy time, but we are not quite there yet.