Ohhh I'm a bad boy

I think that's the old Lou Costello line and it's appropriate here. I've been a bad boy when it comes to updating this blog and adding pictures. In fact I've been so bad and it's been so long since I updated it I am sure I will forget to mention important things, people and events. So in advance please forgive me.
Ian is now a month old (actually a month and 2 days right now). He gained back all his birth weight (and then some) by his second week checkup but his weight gain since has been a little slow. Or so we think. We'll know for sure in 2 weeks when we go for Ian's six week checkup. He spits up so much we are a little worried he's not eating enough. However he's also got a voracious appetite, much to Kara's (sometime) dismay.
He's having some difficulty going to sleep at night or sometimes at nap time. Don't get me wrong, he sleeps. Sometimes for close to 4 hours at a time (though usually it's 2-3). But not always when we would like him to, or think he should. We've been following (or trying to) a schedule for feeding and sleeping from British author Gina Ford. It's a little hit or miss right now. Sometimes Ian will be so fussy it's impossible to get him to go to sleep. But truth be told, most of the time he's fine. And in any case it's been much harder on Kara with the middle of the night feedings than for me.
Kara had a blocked duct and a blister which wasn't fun. Not for her or the baby. But thankfully it cleared up pretty quick. We got a bunch more gifts for Ian from friends and relatives (thanks to Erin, Bethany, Vicki & Curt, Janis and everybody else who I may be forgetting). I'm thinking about buying one of those battery powered swings for Ian as lots of people say they help babies sleep, but they're so BIG I just haven't figured out where we'd put it. If anyone has anything good or bad to say about swings PLEASE let me know. Ian does sleep real well when we take him out in his stroller (which we have done a few times now). If only we had an indoor track.
I don't think there's much more to add for now. 'Til next time.

Ian, his pacifier, his bib and his lounger

Ian contemplating how much spit he intends to unleash on us....and when...(the bib ain't for eating) 

Ian, his pacifier, his bib and Me

 

This Week In Review

Well this week I went back to work so updating the blog has been delayed until today. This week Ian turned 1 week old and had his first doctor visit since he was delivered. The doctor says Ian and mom are both doing fine and Ian is on his way to regaining his birth weight (he needs another 8 ounces). This helped explain why he often wanted to feed back to back this week, because he's trying to gain back his weight. His tantrums in the middle of the night have gotten milder or easier for us to deal with, or a little of both. He's still an angel during the day.

Ian made out like a bandit this week with presents from a whole bunch of friends and relatives. Early in the week Ian got a fancy schmancy sterling silver crescent moon rattle from Tiffany courtesy of his great uncle Dirk (anyone who attended the wedding will remember the dapper, sometimes monocled, uncle Dirk). Ian is looking forward to Dirk & Chi coming to town (or when Ian visits New York, whichever comes first). Then he got a personalized Pooh blanket and a stuffed Pooh bear from his great aunt Stephanie. He also got a wonderful quilt, a hat, and a very cute stuffed bunny rabbit (for Easter) from Brenda & Walter. After that he got clothes from Larry & Sally (who also took Kara, Bert & Judy to lunch on Friday) and from Julie & Mike & Craig (and their dog Zoe too), and a beautiful hand crocheted blanket and book from Denise & Zach & Sam (Denise said we were lucky we had a boy or we would have had to wait for her to crochet a pink blanket). All in all there were lots of great gifts for Ian and some very nice cards with wonderful, heartfelt sentiments.

Today Bert & Judy left to go back home. They have been a huge help since the baby was born. Having them around since Ian was delivered was almost like having training wheels and now we have to learn to fend for ourselves (which will be much harder for Kara than me). Both Kara and I have been reading lots of baby books and getting lots of good advice from friends so I think we'll be fine. My mom, Kevin, and her sister Stephanie, are next up with a visit in May and then my dad, Cor (possibly, hopefully, with my stepmother Leigh) will be visiting over the summer.

Lastly, I just want to thank everyone for their kindness and warm regards. I also want to say that Ian now lacks for nothing. Please do not feel you need to send a gift. A card is fine and a phone call or email (dirkv@sbcglobal.net) is sufficient. If you do however send a gift, please do not send any more baby books, stuffed animals, or blankets. Our cup runneth over.

Ian with Bert & Judy

Here's Ian with both his grandpa and grandma (on his mother's side). Taken just before Bert & Judy left to go back to Minn. 

Ian's stuffed animal army

From bears, sheeps, mice and rabbits (and even a moose) Ian's stuffed animal army refuses no one. (Check out the Pooh general riding the piggy bank) 

Kara's old mobile

Here's Ian's crib with Kara's old mobile mounted on it. 

Ian taking a nap

Ian napping (again?!) on the hand crocheted blanket from Kara's friend Denise. 

Ian and his blankets and stuffed animals

Ian laying on the quilt from Brenda & Walter and laying under the personalised blanket from his great aunt Stephanie. He's flanked by the bunny (and hat) from Brenda & Walter and his latest Pooh from Stephanie. 

Ian with his new rattle

Ian with his sterling silver crescent moon rattle from his great uncle Dirk. (Wait 'til the kids at pre-school see this!) 

Sunday Wrap Up

This morning we got calls from sister in law Jane (who relayed a special hello to Ian from cousin Kira Rose) and our friends Liz and Brenda. All of them gave us some advice about Ian's bad crying spells at night (he's mellow as can be during the day, but often very upset at night--we think it's gas and/or reflux). We decided to prop up his crib so he sleeps at an incline, we'll see if that helps. Kara's feeling much better, though she still needs more sleep. Marie dropped by again this morning and even brought us dinner (home made!).

"What you lookin' at?" 

 

Kara and Ian 

Kara's finger is bigger than his whole hand! 

Grandma Judy cradles Ian on the couch. FYI: If our baby Ian had been a girl, the name was going to be Lily Judith van den Heuvel named after Dirk's nanna and Kara's mom Judy. 

 

Joanne dropped by to see Ian and loan him a swinging bassinet. John and Jack didn't make it but sent their best wishes. This bassinet brings the number of places Ian can kick back in to 8 (not including our bed and high chairs he can't sit in yet).

Ian's many places to kick back in: His two strollers (his travelling stroller: Quinny Zapp and his SUV stroller: Quinny Speedi SX), his car seat, his Quinny carrycot, his Premaxx sling, his Stokke Sleepi crib, and his Ouef lounger.

(And eventually a Svan high chair...) 

 

Somebody's getting some sleep around here...