A long overdue update

So being back at work has made blogging much more difficult. There has been lots of happenings around the Barrett household. Jack is growing like crazy; it's really fun. Steve has overseen the remodeling of Jack's bathroom and it is beautiful. We have to paint it and hang some mirrors, but the hard stuff is done! Luckily, school is out in two weeks, so I am hoping to be better about the blog over the summer. If for no other reason, I really like looking back at the entries to see what we have accomplished.

Of course, I have lots of photos to show you. I hope you enjoy them!

First up, the Christening!






3-month Jack


4 1/2 month Jack


Dad and Jack




Our newest adventure - Eating Cereal


Mother's Day

Brief update...

So this weekend was another big first for us.

This was the first time I spent a night away from Jack. Last weekend my students earned their way to compete in the State journalism competition. So this past Friday, we hopped on the bus and went to Charleston, Ill for the night to compete at Eastern Illinois University on Saturday. It was a little difficult. I kept trying to burb my students or to get them to take a nap, but they just wouldn't do it. Luckily, they are great kids and kept me occupied the whole time so I didn't get too down.

Steve and Jack had a fun weekend too. They played on Friday with Nanna, and she stayed over to play on Saturday too. There was lots of smiling and giggling. There was some crying too, but only because Jack's still trying to get used to his sleep schedule.

Anyway, I thought I'd record the momentous occasion. I lived through a night away from my boys. I'd prefer not to do it, but now I know I can if I have to.

More family fun

We... meaning Steve... have been demolishing the bathroom in the hall in preparation to remodel it. Here is Steve taking out the tub. And he wonders why I worry about him getting a chainsaw!

Fun photos

Here's a quick entry with a couple of photos from our fun family day yesterday. This is Jack's 3-month photo as well as one from our fun walk by the river!

Long overdue update

Okay, we've been a little busy the last month. Jack was diagnosed with reflux about 2 or 3 weeks ago. Before that, he was crying a ton and in some pain (turns out, that's what too much stomach acid will do to a baby). Now, he's on Zantac (don't worry, they make it in a liquid for babies) and we have switched from breastfeeding to a hypoallergenic formula (much to my dismay, but much better for Jack's esophagus and tummy). We're finally getting into something of a routine, just in time for me to go back to work.

Not everything over the past month has been a struggle though. Jack has started smiling and laughing (even more so now that we have his diet and his meds figured out!). We were also visited by the Easter Bunny. And now that we've started working on routines, we're also reading bedtime stories. This parenting thing gets better and better every day.

So, I return to work on Monday. I'm not going to talk much about that because there really isn't much to say. On the bright side, Steve will be home with Jack for two weeks. I think they're really going to have some fun while I'm away. I've heard plans of baseball watching (the Cubs won today!) and some visits to friends. I will be jealous.

Now for the fun... here are some photos from the past month!

Jack is 1 month old

We've kept him alive and well for a whole month! Actually, one month and one day! One month of a baby's life goes much faster than one month of pregnancy. It's a lot more fun too.

So yesterday, we took a few pictures to mark the occasion. We took pictures with the bear from Dad. When you look at these pictures and compare them to the first photos with the bear when he was four days old, you can see how he has grown. It's most obvious in his face.









It's fun to look back over the last month and see how far we have come. Jack is now consistently eating on a three-hour schedule, occasionally he goes even a little longer. His eyes are working together now too instead of rolling around separately. He stares at both Steve and me pretty intently. He is starting to smile with his eyes open now. We've caught him smiling at us a few times; although I'm still not positive it's not gas.

Today was pretty fun. I think I caught him starting to roll over. We often lay him on his back on the couch with us, and I did that today while I was on the phone with my mom. Jack started to kick his legs and rolled onto his left side. I put him back on his back and he did it again. He didn't get all the way over to his tummy though. So now I'm watching him like a hawk!




This picture cracks me up. It looks like he knows he's doing something sneaky.

Well, that's the update. Hope you enjoy the photos!

Big News!

So this is getting it's own entry.

Steve has been accepted into Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management! He will start the part-time program this summer. He was a little shocked when he got the phone call and wanted to wait until he got the packet in the mail to make sure (of course, it was true!). The packet came within a few days of the phone call.

He is so excited, and so am I. It will take him about 4 years to complete his MBA. It will be a fun ride for the next four years!

Cousins!

Jack and I took our first trip out of the house just the two of us today. We went up to visit Aunt Susie and Cousin Nick in Gurnee. The roads weren't too bad, which helped keep my blood pressure in a normal range!

Anyway, while we were there, we took some pictures. Enjoy my new nephew!

Visitors

Here are some pics of the people who have come to meet Jack!


Beth


Aunt Cathy


Aunt Shayna and Shane


Nana


Pete


Papa


Grandma Anne


Grandma Sue and Pepere


Uncle Peter


Aunt Susie


Aunt Kim


Aunt Connie


Aunt Cathy


Uncle T and Michelle


Uncle Lup and his Family

Jack is sleeping!

I talked to my friend Sandra today, and she confirmed what Steve has been telling me for the last week: I cannot expect Jack to be on a schedule yet. As hard as I try to get him on a 3 to 4 hour eating schedule, sometimes he does and sometimes he doesn't. So I'm now trying to go with the flow more but keep myself on some sort of schedule.

After a long night last night (there was some crying, by me and Jack), we got up today around 10. I made it a point to shower right after Jack ate. I also made it a point to put on normal clothes. I think wearing sweats and pajamas all the time is taking a toll on my psyche. Anyway, that started a very productive day. I got the laundry done; I paid bills; and I got off the email to organize meals for Susie and Peter.

Time out! I need to give this the attention it deserves.

I am an aunt again! Susie gave birth to Nicholas Paul on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb 3) at 1:47 p.m. I tried to go see him, but by the time I got to the hospital they had taken him to the nursery already. I couldn't stay long enough for him to get out. Tomorrow, Jack and I are going to try to go visit the new little guy. Hopefully, the weather and the roads will clear.

Okay, back to the Barrett family. So in my new found productiveness, I'm getting to update the blog. I think I'm going to do little posts so it's easier to figure out what's going on. Enjoy the photos!