3 Months in Photos

 3 Months!  

My sweet baby loves to talk and giggle and hug you while you hold him.  He is the sweetest. 

Bennett is swinging and grabbing at his toys in his play gym!  You can barely see, but Milo is laying right next to him.  So sweet.    Below: Bennett and My Valentine on Valentine's day.  We went out to dinner.  It was... errr... interesting.  I amy have been standing up by our table "jiggling" Bennett to sleep while we waited for our food.  It wasn't exactly the romantic and intimate dinner I had pictured but I don't think we would want it any other way.  Bennett first thing in the morning (fireman outfit).  I think he looks the most like a "Zickert" in the morning.  His face just looks like mine there.

ABOVE- Bennett has found my hair and I think he is never letting go!  Just laying there looking cute.  I think he may have his thumb in his mouth.  I thought he was going to be a "thumb sucker" but he tends to just be a finger suckers.  He doesn't discriminate.  He sucks them all.  But a pacifier?  Heck no.  But I'm going to keep trying...

ABOVE: Top- Taken on his 3 month birthday.  Bottom- My mom sent him his first Bible book.  It is the sweetest book.

 Top:  Sporting a knit black cap just like his Daddys.  I found it at Walmart for 50 cents.  I just couldn't pass it up.  I never shop at Walmart but I had a 15$ gift card to use up.

Bottom: Visiting me at work  Top:  Tummy time is bearable now for a few minutes at least

Top: Sitting in his NEW bathtub while mama gets ready for work.  He already outgrew his other bathtub.  I kid you not.  This boy grows like a weed!  Bottom:  Another sweet photo of tummy time.

And this cutie stole the hearts of all the woman on Facebook.  He is one popular fella. 

P.S He is in his crib now!  It is still in our room, but he is in our crib none the less!! 

P.S.S He spits up a lot more too.  Not sure what that is about.  And he has a teeny tiny bit of eczema on his elbows.  I'm going to try a different lotion before I really freak out. 

Back to Work

I went back to work this week.  And I started a new job.  Two huge events, but we made it through pretty well.

I have worried for weeks about how this would go.  Would Bennett take the bottle?  Would he feel abandoned?  Would Jeret feel too overwhelmed?  Would I fit into my new job?

Overall, the past three days were a success.  They were long... yes.  They were an adjustment... yes.  Am I tired... yes.  But I only had to work three days and I get to be home for four days in a row!! I feel very fortunate to be able to only work part time.

Since Bennett was born I have had these overwhelming maternal feelings (which I am pretty sure is normal for any new mom).  I was/am woken up to a hungry baby in the middle of the night,  I was never gone for longer than 1.5 or 2 hours for fear the baby would be hungry,  I didn't leave the house for weeks because it was too cold for the baby to go out.  I can honestly say I loved it all.  I didn't feel  alone or overwhelmed or tied down like people told me I would feel.  I wanted to always stay home with my baby!  He is just a tiny baby and he needed me and I couldn't leave him.

But then my practical husband stepped in.  He reminded me how much I enjoyed working with people and getting to know my patients.  He reminded me how hard I worked for four years to earn my degree.  He reminded me that Bennett will get bigger and more independent and working will be good for the both of us.

So, I did it.  And guess what?  We both survived.  I still wish that I didn't have to leave my sweet baby.  But I know that with all changes... the adjustment will take time.  I still worry that I won't be able to breastfeed as long as I had hoped because I am only able to pump at lunch time.  But that is ok.  I don't mind waking up an extra time in the middle of the night just to pump.  This baby stage is so short and goes so fast.  And if my milk does dry up, that is ok too.  Formula babies are healthy too.

This is the new normal and that is ok with me.

Jeret brought Bennett to visit during my lunch hour.  Just hanging out in the car.  

A quick picture I snapped this morning. 

Happenings.

Bennett is sleeping on my lap as I type and rock.   The rocking is comforting to the both of us. Every single baby book I have read says not to rock your baby... they will get dependent on your rocking and your life will be ruined.  I don't buy it.  Bennett loves to be rocked.  And I love to rock him. And he goes to bed at night without being rocked.  So there.  Smartypants authors.  I also let him fall asleep while nursing!  Arrest me now.  

Time goes by too fast to worry about what all the parenting books say.  We do what works for us.  All I want is a healthy and happy baby.  

This onsie was gifted to us.  It is amazing.  It is our favorite.  It is soft and stretchy and has an elephant on it.  I decided I needed more of these onsies!  But then I realized they are 25$ a piece.  One will be fine. 

It is hard to tell from this angle but Bennett is adding a little of his own water into the tub :) 

Blurry but oh so happy.

The boys playing together

Me and my BFF.  The pump.  We have a great relationship and it's about to get closer when I go back to work Monday.

My boy and I.  Love him to pieces.