Bring it On

I've heard it said that it's impossible to spoil a child less than 6 weeks old.  So from the  moment we brought home sweet little Desmond we've given him everything he could possibly desire.  When he fussed we picked him up. When he cried we fed him (whether it had been 3 hours or 30 minutes since the last time he ate). When he was tired we rocked him to sleep. If he couldn't sleep I walked around with him in my sling or took him for a walk in my Ergo so he could get a good nap.

Well he was six weeks old on Sunday, and that's all about to change.

I always said I would never spoil my child, but now that I have one it seems so hard. I don't want to let him cry.  I want him to always be happy.  But I know that to have a baby with a happy disposition I have to be tough...but it's so hard.

Bring on the sleep training.  He still wakes up several times in the middle of the night.  The goal to to get his daytime routines into a rhythm so he will start sleeping through the night on his own by 2 months.  That's the goal at least.  We'll see.

I borrowed the book "Baby Wise" from the library yesterday and am ready to put the plan into action.  I realized I should have started this sooner, but better late than never.  He is to eat, be awake for a little while, and then fall asleep on his own without nursing or me rocking him, then start the cycle over again every 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours. 

As I type I'm listening to him crying in his crib.  (You can do this Maretta)  I think typing this post is helping me get through it, reassuring me that what I'm doing is for his benefit, but I hate to think of my baby being unhappy! 

I just went in after 15 minutes to give him his pacifier and reassure him.  He fell right asleep.  Not exactly as flawless as I was hoping, but it was his first time, hopefully we'll get better at this.

What an Honor!

Desmond was chosen to portray baby Jesus in our ward Christmas Program last night. Some friends of ours were Mary and Joseph and held him while others sang songs about Jesus, Joseph, and then Mary.  It was so sweet to sit there and watch my baby portray our Savior.

(I also enjoyed having the whole ward swoon over him.)

Desmond did terrific through the first song.  They had to give him his bright blue binky during the second song.  And then when the pacifier wasn't cutting it, they had to give him a bottle during the last song. Maybe not the most authentic, but what do you want, it was his first performance...he didn't even rehearse.

After the program was over they served refreshments in the Relief Society room.  So many people stopped us to praise Desmond that by the time we got to the refreshments they were already putting them away.

Simple Pleasures

Yesterday I was able to enjoy a shower without Desmond screaming all the way through it.  That is the first time it's happened in weeks.  No matter when I have taken one - Desmond could be sleeping peacefully or playing happily in his bouncer - but the moment I get the shampoo in my hair he starts screaming.  There's nothing I can do by that point.  I might as well finish the shower but I have to suffer through it.  Yesterday though I made it through the whole shower without one scream, but I was fretful the whole time thinking he would start any minute.  He had only been asleep for 30 minutes but he didn't even let me get my clothes on before he started calling for me again.

Oh well.  I'll take whatever I can get.

My baby boy is a month old!

To celebrate I guess I'll update the blog.  The day he turned 1 month several things changed.  He's not a newborn any more.  We took him for his 1 month WCC.  The doctor said everything looks great! He weighed 9 lbs even and is 21.5 in long.  We are going to Phoenix Children's hospital where Danny works.  We go to the outpatient clinic where Danny does a shift every Tuesday. 

Desmond loved seeing his Daddy at work, but I think Danny loved showing off his baby to all his coworkers a lot more.

He is lifting up his head really high when we have tummy time.  I snapped these picture of him the other day and will disperse them throughout the post, because who doesn't love looking at pictures...especially of my adorable baby boy?

He likes to make funny faces at us all the time.

The morning of his 1 month birthday I was talking to him and smiling and he suddenly started smiling back at me for the 1st time.  This wasn't just any ordinary smile.  He was looking directly at me and his whole face smiled at me. A huge, open mouth, toothless grin.  Talk about melt your heart.  We went on that way for about a minute. And then he lost interest in me.

 

He has outgrown his newborn clothes and newborn diapers.  Time to start packing away his first set of clothes. Tear.

He doesn't really fall asleep on his own anymore, anytime, anywhere.  I have to watch the clock and actually soothe him to sleep when it's time for a nap.  I learned this the hard way.  We spent 2-3 days with him being fussy all day.  He wouldn't sleep very long, so I figured he was hungry and I spent the entire day nursing him.  After talking to my cousin on the phone I learned I need to put him to sleep more often and he was so fussy because he was overly-tired.  Today he's been sleeping like an angel and so wonderful when he's awake. YAY!

I LOVE my little boy and am so glad he's mine!

A Brand New Adventure Starts Now

On November 6, 2011 at 4:24pm something amazing happened.  Our happy family of 2 was blessed and changed forever. Someone new decided to join the ranks and we have become "the three best friends that anyone could have."  Desmond Grant Cannon came without a fuss at 7 pounds 13 ounces.  I had a wonderful pregnancy; no complications and I never got sick once. 

I went into labor 2 days early, had a good labor and delivery, pushed for 35 minutes and then he was here in all his glory.

Despite my episiotomy and some tearing, I felt fine the next day, and 4 days later I was back in my pre-pregnancy jeans.  Desmond sleeps for 3 1/2 - 5 hour stretches at night and I only have to get up once or twice with him.  He is beautiful and so sweet and we are in love with every 21 inches of him. 

Danny jokingly threatened to beat him up several times while I was pregnant.  He is looking forward to having someone to wrestle with, but it was Desmond who came out fighting, he has already peed on Danny twice.  The first time was only minutes after he was born.  He has yet to pee on me.  :)  

Danny says I'm dead inside because I never cry, but that has all changed now. When I do little things like sing him the first few lines of "Families are Forever" as he falls asleep or write about him in this blog I start blubbering.  I can't control the water works.  This baby has already captured my heart and I will never be the same again.

Welcome to our family Desmond! We're so glad the Lord has sent you to us. 

Off We Go

This thing has been neglected for a ridiculously long period of time.  I thought I would just post a quick update.  The day I thought would never arrive has now come and gone.  We have matched for residency!  We tried to stay in Pittsburgh, and we tried to be closer to family in Dallas, but there is another plan in store for us.  We are being sent to Phoenix!  We are very excited and are trying to (very quickly) plan our new lives.  I will quit my job May 6th, then comes some traveling, a LOT of packing, a graduation, and then we're off.  We still have to find a house to live in, and try to figure out what neighborhood that house should be in from over 2000 miles away.  We have got a BUSY two months ahead of us. Danny starts his residency June 13th.

There will always be a spot in our hearts for Pittsburgh and most especially the friends we have made here.  So many people have been so good to us, it will be hard to say goodbye.  We will miss the unique architecture, the seasons, the green, the food, the unity through sports, and even the mispronounced words and ill formed sentences.  We will not miss steep, pot-holed, bumpy, anorexically skinny roads.

Thank you for giving us so much Pittsburgh and making us so happy in our short time here.  We will never forget it.