The MacMommy: The Greatest Show on Earth!

 I took these while I was chatting with Mac one day while we were getting ready to go somewhere. As you can see, I was HI-larious!

Yes, he's in his carseat. What can I say? I work best with a captive audience!

What We've Been Up To (or, Random Photos)

I decided to try propping Mac up in a sitting position on the sofa. He looked so cute, I had to grab the camera. As soon as I pulled it out, he flashed this smile!

The great thing about babies is that you can pretty much put them wherever.

It's been really cold lately (no, seriously, in the 30's-40's at night).  So we bundled Mac up to go for a walk.

Last week, Mac started taking naps in his crib. And he's been napping better than he was over the past month!

He still sleeps really well at night. He's been sleeping about 8 hours the past several days.

Thanksgiving Photos

Mac enjoying his Thanksgiving Dinner -- He ate 6 ounces for the first time!

Our Thanksgiving Family Photo -- Mac didn't want to stop eating for the picture.

Both Mac and the MacDaddy enjoying the traditional Thanksgiving food coma.

I'm Thankful for All the Little Moments

I'm thankful for all the little moments we get to enjoy these days. Moments like these:

Like Father, Like Son

Just so you know that he doesn't always smile for the camera!

Stay tuned! I am off work through Monday, and I have every intention of posting more cutie-patootie photos. Check back Friday or Saturday...

And to our family far away: We love you and miss you all, and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

You Know You've Become a Mom When...

You're making dessert and nibbling on the raw cookie dough . . .  And then you think, Oh noooo! I will have to eat raw cookie dough in secret when Mac gets older so that he doesn't think it's okay to have raw cookie dough! Because it's NOT okay for HIM to have raw cookie dough! 

Even at this very moment, I firmly believe that I can eat raw cookie dough because, hey, on the off-chance that I get salmonella, I can handle it. I'll be miserable, and the MacDaddy will have to work pretty hard to take care of all of us, but I'll live. But the risk of Mac getting salmonella? UNACCEPTABLE.

Yup. I'm a mom.

And now, how 'bout some gratuitous cuteness? You know, to thank you for reading.

Who doesn't love baby-hugs?!

2 Months Old!

Mac is 2 months old today! His stats from the doctor's office:

Weight: 11 pounds, 0 ounces
Length: 22 inches
IQ:  Baby Genius

He's outgrown his "Newborn" sized clothes, and a few of the 0-3 month sizes are getting tight. He's wearing the 6-month size of Carter's. He's graduated from Newborn to Size 1 in diapers. We've moved his car seat straps up another notch this week (for a total of 3 notches since he was born).

Now, I can't even pretend that he's a newborn...  But he's so much more fun.  He's awake so much more, and that's a good thing.  He rolls over all the time when you put him on his belly. He smiles at me all the time.  His neck is getting really strong. He is starting to love his toys -- he likes to smile and coo at the ones that have faces. He makes funny expressions of surprise when I make a new sound.  He's following objects when you wave them in front of him.  He's just getting to be so interactive.

And, of course, he's such a good sleeper.  He can go from 11 or 11:30 pm to 5:30 or 6 am, which is fabulous! (Just the other day, he went from 11:30 to 6:30, and I can't wait until that's the norm!) Not as much during the day (unless he's in his carrier and we're moving), but that's fine. He's happy to hang out in his swing or in the pack 'n play sometimes, particularly if I have the mobile on. Other times, I'm happy to cuddle with him, while he still lets me.

I've discovered that he loves it when I sing to him. It's even better when I have back-up -- if the same song is playing on tv or the radio. That's just awesome to him. And if he's upset, nothing soothes him like me holding him while I sing and dance. It's great exercise for me, too.  As for his favorite songs: he likes the ones where I know the words. Or where I can do a good "dum-dee-dee-dum" to the music.

What I'm looking forward to over the next month: Will he discover his hands and begin reaching for things? Will he coo at me (and not just his toys)? Will he sleep even longer at night? 

The MacDaddy and I are so fortunate to have such a fun baby. The best part: watching him grow.  Oh, and his smile. I just love his smile.

Update - And So Cute I Can't Stand It!

Last time I posted was the day before I started back to work (part time). It all went well. Aside from the fact that I thought about Mac as much as I thought about work. I managed to accomplish some work, and then I came home to this:

 

Clearly, everyone survived. (I won't mention the phone call when the MacDaddy didn't know what to do about the crying, until I suggested feeding him. Honest mistake. Could have happened to anyone.)

And now, Gratuitous Cuteness!

First, can you believe how blond he is?

 Or how happy he is?

Or how strong he is?

 Can you believe how stinkin' cute he is?

Hey, we're having lows in the 40's. That's "dead of winter" here in Arizona. Besides, the clothes fit now, so he has to wear them now!

Last Day of Full-Time Maternity Leave

Today was my last day of full-time maternity leave. Tomorrow, I start back at work. I'll be working Tuesdays and Fridays through November; in December I'll work Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Then in January, I'll work full time, but I'll telecommute on Mondays and Wednesdays. So today was by no means my last day at home with Mac.

Still, it was bittersweet.  I tried to do laundry and get ready for work tomorrow, but I also wanted to enjoy my last day of a long vacation. Mac was perfect. He slept all morning long, which allowed me to get through the most important laundry. Then, all afternoon and evening, he insisted that we do this:

Cuddle!

While it was a little frustrating that he even got upset when I put him in the swing to use the restroom, I appreciated it, because it's what I really wanted to do, myself.

So tomorrow begins the MacDaddy's stint as "Mr. Mom."  I have a feeling it'll be a smoother transition for him than it was for Michael Keaton. He already has plenty of experience taking care of Mac, and he's really good at it.

As for me, I bet I'll spend most of the day Tuesday looking forward to Wednesday at home with my baby boy! (Well, when I'm not bragging about him, of course!)

The Wanderer

Given how much Mac traveled in the womb, no one should be surprised that Mac started traveling before he was 7 weeks old. Yesterday we got back from Mac's first road trip! We headed to Tucson for a relaxing stay at our favorite resort. (I think it was more relaxing for Mac than it was for the MacMommy and the MacDaddy.)

Usually, the MacDaddy and I pack one duffel bag (for him) a tiny overnight roller bag (for me) and the MacDaddy's backpack. Sometimes we also bring the small camera case.  This time, here was our trunk:

In the back seat, we also had Mac's diaper bag, the MacDaddy's backpack, and the big camera case (a backpack with the camera equipment).  Mac, of course, had plenty of room to stretch out in the car and sleep the whole way there:

After we got there, Mac really enjoyed it. He liked getting dressed up for dinner:

He also enjoyed relaxing in the room and took full advantage of the room service:

[He thought the room service at the resort was every bit as efficient and pleasant as the room service at home.]


We also took a nice walk to see a waterfall:

And he learned that at the end of a trip, there's nothing like sleeping in your own bed:

All in all, the trip was a success. Although his schedule was disrupted by the travel, he got right back in sync as soon as we got home. Last night he slept from 11:30 pm to 5:00 am. The MacDaddy and I learned a few things about travel with Mac, but we did pretty well this trip.

Mac's next trip will be even bigger: He'll be flying to Houston for Christmas.  Let's hope that trip goes as smoothly as this one did.

Happy Trails!

Smiles for the MacDaddy!

Finally, Mac smiled at the MacDaddy -- which gave me the opportunity to grab the camera!

So it's not just me, and it's not just gas, huh?  As I've mentioned in an earlier post, Mac's been smiling for about a week now, but only at me, and only in the morning. Until this evening. He had a nice, long afternoon nap and was particularly alert and (obviously) in a good mood when the MacDaddy started talking to him... and BAM! He gives MacDaddy a smile. And then some.

This is why people have babies. It's what I've been waiting for. I always told myself that even if the sleepless nights were really bad (though they haven't been), it would all be worth it when he smiled at me. But I haven't just been waiting for the past month-and-a-half; I've been waiting since January, when I first found out I was pregnant. Or maybe ever since the MacDaddy and I even talked about having a baby.

There's nothing better than seeing your baby smile at you. It's how you know, beyond any doubt, that you've done something right.

Chillin' in the boppy afterward.

So Cute I Can't Stand It!

On his birthday in the hospital papoose -- one leg out for his Baby Lojack.

About 2 weeks old, "waving" to Pappy.

One month old, tolerating lots of birthday pictures.

Odds and Ends ... or: You Wanna See Some Photos?

I just have so many things to share, and so many photos I know you'd love to see.

Here are some of the things Mac has been doing lately:

• He's awake for several hours a day now. This is a huge change from the first few weeks, when he slept at least 20 hours a day, and barely managed to stay awake for 20 minutes of each feeding.(I know, I know, he's asleep in all the photos below. I guess when he's awake, I like to play with him, so I miss the opportunity to take photos.)
• He's sleeping so well at night!  I feed him around 11 pm, whether he asks for it or not, and he sleeps until about 4:30 in the morning!  This has happened for the last 5 nights in a row!
• He's continuing to roll over (tummy to back).  He usually does it two or three times during every tummy time. 
• He's starting to smile responsively when I talk to him in the mornings. He's been doing that the last few days, but it's only in the late mornings and it's only for me. The selfish part of me appreciates that this is a sign of our special relationship (Momma's Boy!), but I really want Mac to at least smile at the MacDaddy so that the two of us can enjoy it together. The MacDaddy has taken the week off of work for quality time with Mac, so I'm hoping he'll see a smile by the end of the week...
• Mac also went to go vote for the first time yesterday. Actually, he went with the MacDaddy and me.

Mac carried the MacMommy's ballot for her.

Mac also got to see democracy at its best. Sort of.

• Mac is also starting to grow out of a few outfits and grow into more of his clothes. This is very exciting for me. Because everyone was expecting a big baby (i.e., >10 lbs.), I have lots of clothes that will fit him as he starts to grow, but not too many for a 7-pounder. 

Cutie-patootie outfit from Pappy & Gigi:
It fits!

Finally, Gratuitous Cuteness for ya!

The MacFamily, One Week Old