One Month!

So today Tyler is officially 1 month old! Yay! I got these cool stickers this time around (wish I'd known/thought of it with the other 2) so we had a little photo session.....

After awhile he didn't really like it...

(Am I the only one who takes pictures of my screaming children? I think they are so cute when they cry)

He wasn't super cooperative, but at least I got a few for the memories.

Ok- so about Tyler... I don't know how much he weighs. I should have done that before I started typing this. Oh well.... Anyhow- he sleeps decently, for a newborn. Pretty much 2-3 hours at a time, day or night. He's started staying awake a little more, and it's fun to see his little eyes actually open. He smiles a lot, usually when he's sleeping. And no, I don't believe its "gas bubbles." Once in awhile he'll smiles at us too and that just melts us. He started cooing a little too, and that's just adorable. He's a great eater and when he wakes up, he wants food, immediately. No waiting Mom! He's a good baby. The only downfall with him, is he gets gassy easily and a lot. I'm not sure why. Could be his system developing, or something I'm eating, who knows. A friend was over yesterday and she showed me a trick for finding the gas bubble and getting it out. It's been awesome and so far has worked wonders. So we'll keep trying that in hopes it makes him more comfortable.

He loves his little vibrating chair. In fact, that's mostly where he sleeps. Sometimes it's hard to get him to sleep, and he likes to be patted on the butt. But once he gets deep enough, we put him in the chair and he sleeps for hours. It's so nice!

Other than that, there isn't much to report on him. He's still little and pretty easy. It's fun seeing his face fill out. Everyone thinks he looks just like Amy, so we'll see if that continues.

{GASP!!} One day, I slept him on his stomach at naptime. And honestly, he slept much better. I really hate how the "experts" scare you into never letting a kid sleep on its stomach or side. They make you believe that if you do, your child will die from SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). It's so not true. Sure, I'm sure some kids have, heck, kids die from random things all the time (I'm still pondering the drop down crib railing deaths and how those cribs are illegal now???!!??) I don't sleep him on his stomach all the time (because he sleeps in the chair) but I probably should. But yes, even I have the "fear" that those morons put in every new mother. Sorry for the soapbox....

Anyhow- back to the photo session.....

I call this one "Brotherly Love." Poor Tyler....

This is what happened when I tried to get a picture of all 3 kids. For some reason, lately Will doesn't like getting his picture taken. When he sees the camera he either says, "No, no!" or runs. In this case, he tried hurdling off the couch.

One with Daddy...

With mom and dad...

And two attempts at family shots. You can tell Will wasn't too happy here either.... and Lee's arm wasn't long enough to get us all in or keep the family in focus. We'll have to start setting up the tripod, or convince friends to take some of us.

After that, Tyler was worn out. He fell immediately asleep and the kids played.

Will follows everything that Amy does. Today I noticed him copying every move when they were outside. He got a bucket, like her, held it like she did, looked where she did, stood like she did, walked where she did... it was really cute. I also caught them reading books together.

This big box was in the living room, but for the past few days it's been in Amy's room. They were playing in it and having the greatest time.

Then tonight, Amy decided she wanted to sleep in it. She eventually climbed out and slept on her bed.  I don't think the reality was as fun as the novelty.

As for how the rest of us are adapting to Tyler....

The kids love him. They ask all day long if they can hold him. Will says, "I hold it!?" He's been pretty good with Tyler. There have only been a handful of moments that he doesn't like him. Mostly in the middle of the night, when he wakes up and I can't get him because I'm feeding the baby. Will doesn't like Lee comforting him (in the middle of the night) so I usually end up with 2 boys in my lap. One nursing, the other clinging to my neck. Fun times! (Oh and something else Will started doing.... when you give him something, instead of saying "thank you," he'll say "Thank you Much!" It's really, really cute.)

Amy doesn't seem to be bothered in any way. Of course, she's used to Will, so I didn't expect her to care. The only "problem" with Amy is that she gets bored. I can't do as much as I usually do with her, so she ends up watching a lot of tv. Which, granted, she loves, but she gets bored and starts getting kind of crazy. So I have to be diligent about turning it off and making her play. To which she says, "Moooom..... I'm bored of playing...." And I say, "Too bad, you're a kid, play." Then she'll color or find something to do. We have been going through a LOT of paper!

As for Lee and I.... well, since Will doesn't yet sleep through the night, we think that kind of prepped us for a newborn. The nights are interesting around here! Just ask both of our Mom's who have had the pleasure of witnessing it, firsthand. Nights are especially interesting when we have company and no one is in their right bed. We tend to play musical beds at night. Actually, the past few nights have been good. There have only been a few nights that I've almost lost it. Once was a few nights ago..... I had been up with Tyler from midnight until 4 am (with a stint of Will in there) and I was beyond tired. Luckily Lee took over around 4am and let me get a little rest. I don't need much sleep, but I do need some. The next night I prepared myself by setting Tyler and I up on the couch with the remote and lots of tv planned. But, of course, he slept well and I took advantage and slept too.

Lately Lee and I have been reversing our natural rhythms..... I sleep in and he gets up early with Amy and Will. It's been such a blessing as that extra few hours in the morning gets me through the day.

The days are always crazy too. It always happens that I'm feeding Tyler, Will wants his shoes on (his recent obsession) and Amy needs something. And there have been many times that all three kids have been screaming at the same time. But I guess because this is #3, I'm used to crying and don't let it get to me, too much. We try to keep a schedule of nap times, and that helps a lot. And of course, Lee has been able to be home a lot too, so that is really the saving grace. (My heart goes out to single mothers, I have NO idea HOW they do it!!!!)

I guess all in all, we are "hanging in there." We have other stressers going on... Lee's dissertation, our landlord may sell the house- meaning we'll have to find another, etc. But I am trying to take it day by day and just survive. We've done it for a month, hopefully we can do it for another!