Creative Title. (aka: Two Months Old!)

Our little peanut, munchkin, buddy, baby (or if you combine the last two as I often accidently do, you get "bady") is two months old! Peter went in last week for his two month check up and is growing like a weed. (If any of my students from last year read this post, they would give me a severe lecture for using a cliche so flippantly.) He is in the 75th percentile for weight, 85th percentile for height and 50th percentile for his head size. The time is just flying by so quickly that there are constantly things I think of that I want to remember...

• He used to sit in his bouncy chair on the island in the kitchen and flirt with the light fixture that hangs over the island. It was pretty cute. He now will smile up a storm with anyone or anything thing that looks his way!
• He's really getting a lot stronger. His head wobbles less and less every day.
• He is sleeping longer periods of time at night. He'll sleep from 8:00 to around 3:00 or so to eat and then be up again between 7:30-8:00 for the day. He's dropped (I think) his 5am feeding. YES!!! Naps are also getting somewhat more predictable. Evenings are somewhat of a challenge, though...
• He tracks people as they move around him. Talk and move...he'll follow you with his eyes.
• He was not such a big fan of getting shots. Neither was I. Fortunately for whimpy me, Luke came along and shooed me out of the room while the nurse gave Peter his shots. Then I came back in. What a gem I am married to!

Hmmm...so speaking of shots...this is something Luke and I are struggling with. Perhaps I'm struggling more than Luke is, but we'd really like to do more research on them before his next appointment. The way the doctor explains them, it would seem silly to NOT get any. And yet, there is this nagging thing in the back of my mind warning me to be careful. And so, if anyone has any great advice or sources of reliable information on immunizations, I'm all ears. Now for the picture show!

Here's one of my Ebay blunders. Sometimes I get caught up in the heat of the moment and bidding and checking to see if I'm winning and then when it gets down to the last minute and I realize I'm winning and I'm paying more for an item than I would have if I bought it directly from the store...PLUS shipping I realize what a dummy I am! Oh, boy...so I tried getting his picture in it. He wasn't really in a good mood that afternoon, though. :)

This day Peter was in a good mood. Hanging out on my knees one day before I headed out to the office...we were waiting for Grandma to finish curling her hair. :) So I whipped out the camera and...voila!

The next day. Same story.

I really have such a cute baby, I can't help myself!

Luke and I decided to go for a walk one evening when it hit 40 outside. So, we bundled Peter up in his little snowsuit from Auntie Kerri, piled on the blankets like every good first-time set of parents does, and headed out for a walk. My, but that felt good to get out!

This blanket Peter is laying on (or is it "lying" on?) I think might turn out to be a favorite. Can a 2 month old baby have a favorite blanket already? Is that possible? I do know that he quiets down pretty quickly when I put this one up next to his cheek, though.

Peter has taken to blowing bubbles lately...

Sleeping baby Peter with Great-Grandma Geri Prigge at her birthday party yesterday (2/21), although her birthday is actually today. Happy Birthday, Gramma!

And now he's awake and playing with Grandpa Prigge!

Finally, two weeks later and we're in a better mood! I couldn't get any smiles, but that's okay as the background and straps aren't terribly attractive!

I just LOOOOOVE baby feet!

(even linty blurry ones...)

1st Cold, and Joshua

Sweet baby

Hanging out with his pal, Lucy while I type up this blog on a warm (30 degrees!) Sunday morning in February. They are both sleeping, although Peter's starting to wake up now...

Peter has successfully gotten his first cold. I am staying home for the first Sunday of my life with a sick child - my child. :) I hope to not have too many of these days in my lifetime. Tiny little babies aren't supposed to get sick, right? Poor guy...first I noticed he had a cough, then a stuffy/congested nose. Last night we were up quite a bit, doing some good bonding. :) I steamed up the bathroom really well and moved his little bassinet into it. I think the steam did good for his lungs - it helped him sleep better, I think. At any rate, I'm hoping it will not last too long.

Since it is a Sunday, and I'm at home...I thought I'd share what I've been reading and studying lately. I just started reading the book of Joshua. Having consistent daily devotions has always been something that I struggle with. Of course I know I should, it's good for me, that's mainly how the Lord will direct me and teach me; I know that I absolutely LOVE spending time reading my Bible and learning...but somehow the joy and passion and drive slowly fades. Just like that new song says, "It's a slow fade...people never crumble in a day...it's a slow fade." Other things get in the way and there just doesn't seem to be enough time in a day. However, now that I'm not only a wife, but a mother as well, there is even more responsibility weighing on my shoulders than ever. How will I effectively pray for, encourage, support and respect my husband if I do not first allow the Lord to encourage and support me with His Word? And how will I effectively teach my son God's truth if I do not take the time to learn all I can first? These are big questions, and very sobering thoughts. And so I begin, again. :) It's nice to know God doesn't give up on us when we stray, isn't it?

I chose the book of Joshua for the following reasons:

1. My favorite study from my BSF years (I would like to join again someday...such a powerful study - look it up online if you don't know what it is...Bible Study Fellowship International) was the life of Moses. We studied Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. We watched as Moses was hidden in the bulrushes in a basket to be found and rescued by a princess while all other Israelite boy babies were being drowned in the river at the Pharaoh's whim. We watched him grow up, kill someone and bury him in the sand, wander in the desert, get married, be called by God, lead the Israelites (with the help of his brother Aaron) out of Egypt and wander in the desert until his death.



2. Now what? The Israelites are sitting at the door of the Promised Land...just waiting. It's time to watch as the Lord leads them and calls them to action once again. And, so I've chosen to read Joshua. Where the story picks up and continues with a new leader - Joshua!

In the first chapter, God calls Joshua to lead. Wouldn't that be incredible to hear God actually say your name and tell you what to do? How many times have I wasted so much time and energy not knowing what to do? We won't try to count. Although, maybe it was hard physically having God call you - there was no mistaking what He wanted you to do. If he wanted you to lead over 2 million people into battles to claim a new land, YOU had to do it. Even if you didn't want to, like Moses. Wow.

In the second chapter, Joshua tells the men what they were to do, and takes a small group of them into Jericho to spy out the city. Where do they hide out overnight? In the home of a harlot! I wonder how on earth they got into her house and how she reacted when they didn't want what she offered...but then she hid them. Or was she tired of her new life and was looking for change, for something better? Either way, God used her to hide them...she knew who they were as the rumors and stories about this group of wandering people were flying like crazy. Amazing how the stories were able to travel like that...no Internet, no phones, no snail mail. And yet, she KNEW and she knew their God was real and true.

Well, on that note, I need to wrap up now. Time to go see what happens next.

Oh, and since this blog is supposed to be for Peter, not for my own personal journaling :), he's sleeping. Quite soundly, actually, and has been for almost two hours. This is good. It will help him fend off this cold he has rattling around in his head and chest.

Oh, Poop!

Well, normally I do not talk about such things, in public anyway, but - oh, who am I kidding? I definitely do, on occasion! Peter has been pooping in the middle of the night lately. Why couldn't he take care of business during the day? I would like to know that answer. It'd be sort of nice to be a little more awake for taking care of such things...

So, last night, around 2:30, Peter and I were hanging out in the recliner - Peter eating, me doing the head-bob. He took care of his business, and I, after feeding him on one side, changed his diaper. That is a trick I've learned. In the middle of the night if you must change a diaper, do it in between sides (if nursing, that is). That way the baby won't be all wide awake when you try putting him/her back into bed. Works like a charm...usually...

Back to my story. As I was saying...he filled his pants (I thought) and so when he finished up on one side, I unsnapped the pj's, unsnapped the onesie, took off the diaper, tossed it on the floor and reached for the wipes when suddenly a yellowish liquid that I never thought I'd have EVERYWHERE...was EVERYWHERE. On my face, on my robe, on my pajamas, on my hand, on the recliner (don't tell Luke that part!), on the boppy and most certainly all over his clothes.

YUCK.

Finally, after three rounds of this nasty warm liquid squirting out...it finally ended and I sat in a dazed stupor wondering what just happened. Was it a dream, maybe? Nope. I finally came to and cleaned up the mess (oh, yeah, he peed again as I was cleaning him up, figures), finished feeding him and crawled back into bed. This morning as I was picking up our bedroom, I saw a yellowish spot on the blanket on our bed...and a few flecks on the carpet near our bed. It couldn't be, could it? Yes, indeed, it could be. And it is. And soon, it will all be gone, except for the reminder on the boppy. Fortunately the cover comes off. Unfortunately the cover is only a thin cotton and the white part inside is permanently scarred. Or maybe I'm permanently scarred...

Babies and Schedules

Anyone need a pump? I'm selling a gently (and very little) used one for cheap. $75 and winner takes all above! I even have some Playtex bottles I'd be willing to toss in...

First time in the overalls! I've been trying them on every week for about 5 weeks now and they finally fit!

Sophia's such a great babysitter. She's singing to him here. I think it was "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". She loves "little boy Peter". :)

Why is it that creating a schedule...no...a routine for babies is so stinking hard to do? I mean, really...all I'm trying for is:

**wake up at _________

**eat

**play/bath/read books/sing, etc...

**nap

**wake up at _________

And do the whole thing all over again. And over again. And again. Until we reach bedtime and then just wake up to eat and go back to bed!

We seem to have good days, usually followed by a day when naps are a thing of the past. Or future, whichever. Just not something we actually like to do now. So then the day looks something like this instead:

**wake up at ___________

**eat a little

**smile at mommy and tug sooooo hard on her heartstrings that she forgets what she's trying to do that day

**take a bath

**eat more, fall asleep while eating.

**mommy looks at you...soo sweet!

**okay, okay, time to do something productive. Baby in crib. And he's awake and crying!

**pacifier back in mouth

**spits out

**back in again.

**and again.

**and again.

**mommy gives up and just leaves the room to let you fall alseep.

**doesn't work.

**Baby up and hanging out with mommy at the computer...did I mention it's almost 12:30 and I haven't accomplished ANYTHING today?

Sigh.

I love being a mom.

Maybe routines are best left for the birds.....or maybe I'm not trying hard enough.

Or maybe I'm trying too hard.

Or maybe he's too young.

Or MAYBE...just maybe...this is just part of motherhood. Challenges and victories (small ones) and joys and frustrations. Hmmm.

P.S. Peter's 6 weeks old now. And thriving! We're going to venture out of the house alone together this afternoon to go to the doctor and maybe the store. This should be interesting...I'm a little nervous!

Quiet Thursday Morning

Aahhhhh....after a somewhat stressful day yesterday, all is well on the homefront. Peter had a one month check-up yesterday at which he was definitely ready for a morning nap. Each time he almost fell asleep another nurse or doctor would walk into the room. Needless to say, that put him into a rather frazzled, overtired, messed-up state for the rest of the day. Rather unfortunate, as we needed to drive to St. Cloud in the afternoon so I could watch some OSHA videos for work. If you know anything about OSHA, you know that those videos were quite interesting. I almost fell alseep!

Good news, though from yesterday - I finally have my wedding ring back and on my hand! After having to get it cut off (I never take it off and realized too late that I had swelled up a bit...) and going months without it, it's fixed, sized (bigger now, sad face...) and back on my hand. Fwew! I like letting the world know that I'm married!

Today I've posted a few pictures my friend Christina took one day when we were at her house. The top one, of course, is not from her! I just wanted to do a little comparison! :)

Enjoy!

They sure do grow, don't they?

Probably one of the few pictures you'll ever see of me on here...

Even though EVERYONE says he looks just like Luke, I like to think he has my nose and chubby cheeks. Anyone else agree?

The shadow behind his head makes his head look weird.

My, but he's a sweet cuddler. I love this boy!

Awww.....

P.S. After our long day yesterday, Peter slept from 9:00 last night until 10:00 this morning, waking up only twice to eat. He ate at 10:00 when he woke up this morning, and was back down for a nap at 11:00. Wish he'd sleep that much at night every night! I'd get to sleep in all the time!

5 Weeks Old

This week marked Peter's 5th week of life - last week he turned 1 month old! It's hard to believe that we've had him for this long already and at the same time it just seems like he's always been a part of our little family.

Peter is, we think anyway, a rather advanced little boy. Here are some of the things he amazes us with:

1. He has been able to hold up his head on his own pretty much since birth. There's a picture below, but even that doesn't show how far up he can pull it...
2. He has become increasingly alert. If you talk to him, he'll turn his head to look at you. While holding his head up, by the way. :)
3. He started actually really, really smiling at 4 weeks. See below.
4. He blows out his pants everytime he poops. Sigh...my laundry is getting a little out of control! (okay, this isn't amazing, but it happens...gross!)
5. He has finally, around 3-4 weeks started wearing 0-3 month clothes and now at 5 weeks is outgrowing some of those as well!! Yesterday he wore a 3-6 mos. outfit and it didn't look that bad...oh, no! My baby is getting all grown up!!!

The pictures below are in order from most recent to oldest. I think I figured out as I was uploading these pictures how to put them in the right order. We'll try that with the next post.

The other day I put his "I love daddy" shirt on him, hoping it would make it through the day so Luke could see it. Not only did he spit up on it right away, he also blew out his diaper in it by 1:00. As I changed his diaper and clothes, he shot a stream up and over his head, too. I laughed.

Here's his adorable smile!

Big boy bathtub!

One of the first baths...taken in the bathroom sink! His real first bath was taken in Grandma P's kitchen sink the day after Christmas. I forgot to take a picture.

Here his holding up his head. He really can hold it much higher...I couldn't coax it out of him that day.

Taking a snooze, looking oh, so sweet.

Peter's awesome crib built by Grandpa Mike!

We are so blessed to have such talented family members!

Great-grandma Ruth Unterburger (Luke's grandma) holding Peter on Christmas day. She was standing at the door waiting for us (well, actually waiting for Peter) as we got there!

Auntie Kerri in baby heaven.

Uh-oh...better watch out, Uncle Brad! She's got baby fever really bad now!

Cousin Josh finally gets to see and hold the new baby! Peter was 8 days old.

Elle and Sophia get to see him and hold him, too. They have been waiting for this day for what has seemed like forever to them.

Daddy still looks a little tired...just getting in some manly bonding time...

After not being able to hold Peter at the hospital the morning he was born,

Grandpa Mike (above) and Grandma Betty (below) FINALLY get to hold him!

Just so cute. I had to take a picture of him - check out all the baby acne! You should have seen his scalp. Poor baby.

Yep. He cries. VERY healthy lungs...

5 days old. This is the Christmas card picture we almost used. But didn't.

Luke doesn't like smiling for the camera very much...

3 or 4 days old. Check out the jaundice...

Peter is born!

Peter (on the right) and his new pal, Jackson (on the left). They don't know they're friends yet, though, but seeing as Jackson's mom and I are good friends and the two boys are exactly 3 weeks and 1/2 hour apart in age...how could they not be friends?

Very proud Grandpa and Grandma Prigge at the hospital!


An even prouder daddy...

And one exhausted mama...

So cute!!

On December 15th at 3:24am, Peter Luke FINALLY came! Only 4 days overdue, but that was 4 too many for me. I was under the impression that I would probably go early, as my mom always did. Not so. I will say that God knows what He is doing, though; if Peter was to come early as I wanted, he would have been pretty small. At birth he weighed 7lbs. 7ozs. and was 20 1/2 inches long. Perfect size!

I always wondered what being in labor would be like. Now I know. :) I tried going completely natural...but only made it to somewhere beyond 6 centimeters...then I was begging for the pain to stop! So, epidural it was.

A few hours later, I tried getting up to use the bathroom, only to collapse back onto my bed. I have a very rare problem: somewhere along the way, a nerve in my left leg was damaged, and so I do not have feeling on the front of my leg from about my knee to 5-6 inches up. The sides and back of the leg are perfectly fine; everywhere is perfectly fine; that one section is numb as can be. Fortunately the feeling and use is slowly coming back, but it'll be a while before it's back to normal!

More details and pictures to come later.....