Another busy week

It's Friday, and we haven't updated in a week! We spent the weekend doing a final round of painting, finishing up the coat room and the upstairs hallway. The rest of the rooms either have too much furniture, too much on the walls, or just too much wall for us to tackle. But our house has a few splashes of color and that's good enough for us! We did lots of cleaning in conjunction with the painting, but it never seems to stay that way for long! Jay had to pack for the field and the laundry never ends, so we usually just accept our mess these days.

On Monday Hayden got his four-month shots. He didn't cry at first, but when the needle hit him a second and third time, it was just too much for him. He doesn't cry long but man it hurts my heart when he does! That afternoon I had a dentist appointment so Hayden went for two hours at the CDC. He cried a little this time, but the teacher thinks it's because one of the other kids wouldn't stop crying. He was fast asleep when I got there to pick him up, and was happy to see me when he woke up. We spent the evening relaxing, celebrating 27 years for mommy with no cavities!

The Army threw us for a loop this week so Jay was home and back out and now is home again from the field. He's going to a school earlier than expected so he's home to get ready for that. On Tuesday, we had a scrap party with some fun ladies and kids. We got a little scrapbooking done, but had a ton of fun with lunch and watching all the babies play. The big kids were our real entertainment, playing with the carseats and giving us a good laugh. We're hoping to make it a regular thing, because we ALL have tons of scrapping to catch up on!

I had another dentist appointment on Wednesday, so Hayden got to spend some time at his friend Addie's house. Lately he gets very frustrated if there are toys dangling above his face that he can't pull off, and he got a little cranky with Jenn about it. She gave him another toy, and he threw it across the room! Who knew our baby had such an arm? He jumped in the jumperoo, and we can't wait to get his jumperoo in so he can enjoy it at home.

Yesterday we had another session of baby massage and learned about colic and stomach massage. Massaging the stomach helps move out gas bubbles, but Hayden usually has no trouble moving those out on his own! We like it more and more each session, and will be bummed to miss the very last session because we'll be in the states! Hayden hasn't been sleeping well the past two nights which makes for a very tired mommy, so we're hoping an evening massage will help him relax and sleep longer.

This weekend we're going to the spring bazaar on post for wine and cheese from our favorite vendors. We're excited to have Jay home for a few days before he leaves again, so our weekend will most likely be spent hanging out around the house and making the most of our family time.

Pictures

Our community newspaper is doing a story on the infant massage class Hayden and I attend, and they came yesterday to take a few pictures. Check it out!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/schweinfurtpao/sets/72157615929773232/

Infant massage class

Yesterday was our second infant massage class, and the first class in which we actually got to practice massaging our babies! Our instructor, Heidi, is really nice and has a very calm, soothing voice that I think helps the babies relax. Yesterday we learned massage techniques for the legs and feet. We learned which ways stimulate the senses, and which ways relax the senses. Hayden loved it! He seemed to really enjoy the bonding and the relaxation of the massage. The class is very comfortable, and we're encouraged to listen to our babies, first and foremost. So when Hayden needed to eat and needed a diaper change, we just did what we needed to do and picked up when we were done. I massaged his little legs and feet and ankles, and it was really a lot of fun for both of us.

We use an organic almond oil in the class, but I have some sesame oil at home for massages. To keep Hayden from smelling like a chinese buffet, I also got some essential lavender oil and mixed the two last night. We were going to try our new techniques after his bath but he was a little fussy so we tried them today instead. He was a little squirmy today, so he wasn't really in a massage mood. But I think we'll try again tonight when the day is over and he's ready to relax. Next week we're going to talk about crying and soothing, and incorporate the stomach with what we've already learned. I can't wait!

One of these days, I'm going to sit down at the computer and write, "Well we haven't updated because nothing has been going on." That will not be today!

We survived all the field time, and Hayden was probably as excited as I was to see Jay when he came home. Hayden knows who daddy is, and recognizes him easily when he walks in the door. He is developing so much personality, we don't know what do with all of it! He has started sleeping longer at night, 3-4 hours at a time which is a welcome relief from two hours! He is also outgrowing the swaddling and only likes it to put him to sleep. When he wakes up for feedings, I unwrap him and he happily goes back to sleep with his puppy, all stretched out in his crib. He is also starting to go a little longer during daytime feedings, which means we can get more done.

He can't sit up on his own yet, but is good at holding his head up so we've tried out his exersaucer here and there. He loves the toy that spins and makes noise, and recently discovered the mirror. His jumperoo is on the way to us, so we're going to break down some of his other toys that he doesn't use as much. Our house is overrun with baby entertainment items, so we have to downsize a little!

This weekend Hayden was very cooperative for our painting project and road trip to Ramstein. We painted the kitchen and dining room yellow, and have a good teamwork system down so it went pretty quickly. We have a few more rooms to do, but we were painted out by the end of the weekend so those will have to wait for this coming weekend. We went to Ramstein AFB on Saturday and bought Jay new golf clubs. And, of course, ate at Chili's! To our surprise Sugarland was playing that night as part of their USO tour, which means it was pretty busy on post. We didn't go to the concert but are hoping they make their way a little closer to us. Jay and I saw them in 2007 with Kenny Chesney and they put on a great show.

Hayden went to the doctor on Monday for his four-month check up. He is 14.5 lbs and 25 inches long! The doctor said everything is going well, and is impressed that he can roll over already. In Germany, they skip the rice cereal route and just start babies on vegetables at about five months. Since there isn't much nutritional value to rice cereal, we're going to keep chugging along with the nursing and worry about vegetables in about a month. Part of our deciding factor was that Hayden and I have booked our tickets to come home in April! We'll be home April 13-27 and hope to see as many friends and family as possible. I have my Salem Reunion April 17-19 and am going to Virginia to see Jay's family the other weekend, so let us know if you want to see us and we'll work you in! We figured trying to throw in "solid foods" with all that was a bit much for our little buddy. Originally we were going to try to fly home Space Available through the military but in the end, decided that commercial tickets would be a lot less stressful for mommy! Hayden has his own seat so I don't have to hold him for nine and a half hours. It's a direct flight to Charlotte, so no changing planes for us! We can't wait.

We tried to get his four-month shots but were five days early based on the last time we got his shots, so we have to wait until next Monday. Bummer, since Jay won't be with us like he was for the doctor appointment. But we did it on our own last time, so I'm sure we'll be fine this time.

Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day, and Hayden's first visit to the Child Development Center (CDC) on post for daycare. I had a doctor's appointment, so Hayden spent two and a half hours in the care of some very nice ladies. He was the youngest in the "small hourly care" room, as it is from 6 weeks to 2 years. Most of the kids were closer to two years old, so Hayden looked small. Neither of us cried, I'm happy to report :-) I got back about fifteen minutes early to pick him up, and they were out on a walk. Six kids in two triple strollers, with Hayden sleeping soundly in the "backseat" of the stroller...those ladies are brave! But he did well, and that makes me feel better about taking him next week for my dentist appointment!

We had a fundraiser yesterday that Hayden and I had signed up to help at, so we headed to where Jay works for lunch. We sold hot dogs, chips, drinks and green baked goods to tons of soldiers and spouses. Hayden got to hang out with his Aunt Megan, and got to see daddy at work for a little while. It was chilly out, which means no one got to see his St. Patrick's Day onesie under his coat! Rest assured no one pinched him.

Today we're hoping to get lunch and do some scrapbooking with Jenn and Addie. The sun is out for the second day in a row, and spring is hopefully just around the corner.

Blessings

Today I thought about how lucky we've been with this healthy, perfect baby. Hayden was almost four months old before he had his very first illness: a short lived, low-grade fever. It lasted a few hours and wasn't in a dangerous our hospital-worthy range. He is such a happy baby and brings so much joy to our lives.

Every day I am so thankful for him. I don't think you can ever overestimate the value of a healthy baby. I have a lot of friends who delivered their babies early or had babies with health problems. As a mother, there is nothing more important than the health of your child. We worry even when they're perfectly healthy, so a runny nose or small cough is enough to send us into panic mode. I didn't freak out last night over his fever, but it would have been very easy to! Luckily I have family and friends that are just a phone call away to "talk me off the ledge" and help me figure out what to do. So much of being a parent is trial and error, learning as you go. But in the end, we just love our babies and want the best for them.

Quick update

Hayden broke his fever when he was sleeping last night, so his first fever was short-lived! A tiny dose of baby Tylenol and a good 2.5-hour nap cured him right up, and he's all better. Mommy feels much better, too :-)

Where does the time go?

We've been busy bees since Jay left on Monday! We hung out with our friends and ran errands and had some adventures in babysitting! We also started our Love and Logic Parenting class, and so far I really like it. L&L is all about helping kids make choices, and be accountable for those choices. It's about responsibility, and helping parents use effective strategies for behavior. I won't be able to use any of the techniques for awhile, but I like to have as much in my parenting arsenal as possible.

Wednesday was our three-year-anniversary, and the first one Jay has missed! We spent it with Jenn and Addie eating Thai food in Wurzburg after dropping the dogs off, so I can't complain! I did get to talk to Jay at least, so I'm thankful for that.

Thursday we took Hayden's first trip to Poland! We like to shop for pottery there in a small town just across the German/Polish border. Four of us packed up four kids in two cars and hit the road around 7am. We made pretty good time, stopping to feed and change the babies and stretch our legs. I also got to test out our new Navigon, which I'm already in love with! How did we live here almost three years without a navigation system? I have no idea. It was a long day, with us getting home after midnight. Hayden did really well, but by the end of the evening was tired of his car seat.

Today he has his first low-grade fever :-( He is eating and playing fine, and seems to be in a good mood. He's flushed and a little tired though, so I'm keeping a close watch on him. Bless his heart, he's traveled out!