John's 2 Months Old! 9-30-12

This is John's 'thinking' face, well at least I think so.

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This post has taken me an exceedingly long time to complete because John has been sick all week, poor baby. I usually can't put him down for more than 2 minutes, during which time I must do essential things like eat and use the bathroom. 

John hasn't really been able to take any naps during the day this week, and if he does sleep it's only for 20 minutes or so while he's being patted. What he really loves is going for walks. He cries and wails - hard - and if I put him in his stroller and push it 6 inches, he instantly stops crying, and he's usually asleep by the time we've past about 10 houses. Unfortunately I can't walk all day long, even just walking down our street and back is still difficult. 

But since we've already been at this over a week, we think/hope John's cold will clear up soon. Ok, on to the post!

We had John's 2 month check up with our pediatrician, Dr. Jill Sangree, at Sender's Pediatrics on Monday. Bless Seth for coming home to help me get John to his appointment. That morning John was feeling awful, couldn't sleep at all, got really cold and sweaty and clammy - that scared me. Then he threw up, not spit up, threw up. He'd never done that before, and it really surprised me. I think he completely emptied his little tummy. Then he turned very pale. I was thankful we'd be going to the doctor. After that, he had a blow-out diaper. I guess it was just meant to be a morning to remember. Thank goodness for Seth. After I got John all cleaned up and ready to go, there was just enough time for me to get dressed and for Seth to put John in the car.

(He looks like an angel when he sleeps. Really he is our little angel, and we are so thankful to have him as part of our family.)

Although John had a cold, Dr. Sangree said John is fit as a fiddle and doing great. His lungs sounded well, his ears and eyes looked 'perfect,' the doctor was very pleased with all his reflexes and our report about all the things John can do now. She advised us that after John feels better, we should start giving him more tummy time so that he can work on his core muscles.

John was measured, and these are his stats:

Height - 24.5 inches long - 98th percentile

Weight - 13 lbs. 2.5oz. - 75th percentile

Head Circumference - 40.5cm - 90th percentile

The doctor was very pleased and said that John is thriving wonderfully, and that he's gaining a very good amount of weight (not too much nor too little). So we are very glad to know that John is doing great!

John is getting so long! Some of the clothes he fits in these days are 3-6 months. The newborn clothes are long gone, and only half the 0-3 months clothes fit. Maybe John will be a volleyball player. That is a safe sport...kind of...

John makes has some pretty fun facial expressions.

I just love this face.

Mostly, John is just gradually gaining more control over his body, but he can do a couple new things since my last update. And according to this chart, some of his skills are emerging or advanced :)

He smiles frequently and laughs once in a while. 

He even squealed in delight a few days ago - it was wonderful. 

He gurgles and coos more. He's very social and likes to talk to us when we talk and smile at him.

John can bear weight on his legs. He likes to bounce a little if you hold him up and put his feet on your lap.

He has almost mastered putting his hands in his mouth whenever he wants to.

John can hold his head quite steady on his own.

He has started drooling a bit - never did that before.

He has had a blocked tear duct on the right side since he was born, and now I think it's all cleared up.

He can follow my face with his eyes as I move from side to side.

John has started to really react to any loud sounds - he doesn't like it. If he hears a loud sound. He makes a surprised look, then the cutest frown you ever saw, and then he cries a loud cry. - Seth said something to me when I was in another room, and his mouth was apparently too close to John's ear, and it scared John. Seth said that he wanted so much to do it again so he could see that adorable frowny face, but he refrained - good boy.

And John's hair is growing back on the top of his head, which is so cute! (But, as all babies do, the hair on the back of his head is being rubbed off, so he has these really long chunks of hair on only some parts of the back of his head which make an official baby mullet.) 

In this video you can see some of John's excellent skills: yawning (so cute), making his baby noises, having much more controlled arm and hand motions, and putting his hand to his mouth on purpose, and sticking out his tongue, which he really loves to do.

Here's John showing off how he can hold up his head all by himself.

This is John's surprised face :) We told him he was 2 months old already, and he was shocked!

Here's a couple shots for my mom and Seth's dad - their red-headed grandchild, well in this light at least, but it probably won't really be red.

I love to watch Seth admire John. Sometimes he looks at him in wonder and says, "He's just so special." I quite agree. We are so thankful that the Lord has sent us this precious soul to guard, teach and care for, and we sure want to do our very best. Last night, after I finally helped John fall asleep, I watched him and thought deep thoughts. I though how much I've struggled to get this baby here, and how much I've struggled after he's gotten here too. I thought that I would do it all again to have him, how I would even die for him if that time ever came. I wouldn't have a second thought about it. But that time most likely won't come. But the time has come for me to live for him., and I believe that is a more difficult sacrifice for me. 

I've been listening to "Little Women," one of my favorite books which teaches me so many good lessons about building good character, and about marriage and parenting. I am fascinated as I see each of the sisters learning their own lessons. Jo learns from experience, that although it would be easier for her to make a great sacrifice for someone that to daily than to consistently help, comfort, love, forgive, and be patient with others, that is what counts most in her life because the "chance to confer a great favor" usually doesn't come.

This week has been difficult and long, and I have felt very frustrated at times because John doesn't feel well, and he has often been inconsolable. When I think of how I hope he will get better very soon, I pondered my motives for that hope... Of course I don't want John to feel sick and I don't want him to suffer, but I believe that part of my hope that he'll feel better is for my own sake so it won't be so difficult to care for him. I am ashamed of that, and tomorrow, I am going to try harder to hope that John feels better for his sake because I love him, and I do. I want to become less selfish and think more of him instead of myself. In doing so, I know I will be happier, and it will be easier to willingly sacrifice the little things each day, and to be patient and long-suffering. 

Our First Walk Alone, but we're never really alone

Yes, it's true. On Tuesday, when John turned 8 weeks old, John and I finally took our first walk alone, all the way to the library - 15 houses away and back. You may snigger at that, but don't. That is actually quite far for me still, especially after getting me dressed and fed, feeding, burping, and dressing John, getting him in his carseat. Getting the carseat caddy and all our gear ready, and then carrying all 13 pounds of John, plus however many pounds that heavy carseat weighs, to the carseat caddy. It was a very big job for me. But I just needed some fresh air and a change of scenery. We made it to the library, and I attempted to start reading The history of Joseph Smith Jr., written by his mother, Lucy Mack Smith. But John only slept for a few minutes (see adorable photo below), and that was as I was pushing and pulling his carseat while I sat. To say the least, it wasn't the reading repose I'd hoped for, and the sky threatened rain anyhow, so we walked back home. It was a great accomplishment, and although it kind of wore me out for the rest of the day, I am glad we went. I LOVE walks, and I love to be outside, and soon it will be too cold, and I will miss going for walks, so I want to get a few in during the fall if I can.

Well, I've really been missing church, and I am glad we've gone the past couple weeks, but not without some consequences that have made me rethink my decision to go back after 5 weeks. The reason being that our whole family got sick. And I am almost positive it was from church. There have been so many sick people at church. A symphony of coughing, sneezing, and runny noses to boot. It made me nervous, all the people wanting to talk to me and adore our cute baby - I really don't blame them and am thankful for their love. But this experience has really changed my mind about going to church when you are sick because it puts others in danger of catching your illness, especially little babies and the mothers and fathers who take care of them, not to mention the elderly people as well. I repent of ever judging people who didn't come to church when they were sick, because I think I used to because I thought that everyone needs church, even the sick people - especially me  because I've been 'the sick people' very often for many years. But if it's contagious, I think it's better to find a way to worship at home and have the sacrament administered to you there. This will also provide an opportunity to rest and get better faster and puts less people in danger.

We caught a terrible cold. I started feeling a headache, sore throat, and just aches all over on Monday. On Tuesday night, it had really progressed, and it was clear that Seth and I both were sick. I was so worried about John getting sick, or me getting so sick that I wouldn't be able to care for him on my own, and that Seth wouldn't be able to go to work. Seth was so kind to give me and John Priesthood blessings which promised that we would recover from this illness, and that it would not harm John, and that he would continue to grow strong and healthy. I was so comforted by that. I was also blessed that I would have the strength and energy to fulfill my duties as a wife and mother. I was very thankful for this.

We got through Wednesday alright, but Thursday, I was laid very low. The sinus headache and congestion was so bad that I admit that I cried, it hurt so. The pressure was so intense it even hurt my eyes, my eardrums and my teeth. I am grateful to Seth, and his bosses, that he could come work from home in the afternoon and take care of us. The medicine from the store relieved the pressure only slightly, but the pain was still intense.

Seth couldn't work from home on Friday, and I knew I could not care for John by myself if I was still that sick, and by then John was also getting sick. I felt so worried, and I prayed fervently that the Lord would ease the pressure so that I would be able to function, and that I would get a little sleep and be able to take care of my sick child through the night and the next day. 

It was not fun, but I am thankful for this experience because it reminded me again of the Lord's power, and that He answers prayers. On Thursday night I did get a couple hours sleep and the sinus pressure was greatly relieved. The illness settled more into my nose and throat, but it was so much better than the sinus headache and congestion. On Friday, I physically and spiritually felt the strength that the Lord was sending to me, and I was able to care for John. I know He answered my prayer. He did not take the illness away, but He 'eased the burdens which were put upon my shoulders, that even I could not feel them upon my back while I was ill... and this the Lord did for me that I could know of a surety that the Lord God does visit His people in their afflictions.' (Mosiah 24:14) I've learned, yet again, that we are never really alone.

Now Seth and I are gradually recovering and feel much better - I think we'll be alright in a couple days, and John is still feeling really crummy, but at least we are more able to help him now than we were before. It is a blessing that these sicknesses have been a bit staggered, so now we can take care of John while he's sick, and I don't mind holding and patting and singing him to sleep while he's sick and can't nap on his own. He is so patient, and I can already tell that this little soul has character. He is a real trooper, and I am so thankful to be his mother.