More Swimming

Brett had been wanting to get Kyler to the pool again before it closes since he likes it so much. So when he was all rested up from his naps, we got ready to go.

When we got there, we started out in the baby pool but Kyler didn't seem to be having that much fun. So we decided to take him to the big pool. And before long, he was getting really excited. He was all business when it came to trying to splash himself, Mama, and Dad. I was trying to dodge some of his splashing but he didn't mind the water in his face at all.

3 Month Pictures

This weekend we had Kyler's 3 month pictures taken. I was so busy with going back to work that I let the time slip by. But luckily, I have an awesome aunt who was willing to take the pictures without much notice. Here are some of my favorites. Thanks again, Sandy!

Three Months

Can you believe it? Kyler is three months old today. He is getting to be such a big boy. This week he started going to day care and he is doing great. They say the only time he cries is when he is hungry... and he acts like they have been starving him.

Kyler has also been full of smiles lately. He is "talking" more and more, especially when we get home after I pick him up from day care. He must be tellling me all about his day. He is so close to giggling, I can almost hear it.

He looks around all the time and really seems to have a good sense of his surroundings (which is probably why he is starting to fear strangers). When he is in the car, he tries to sit forward as much as possible to see what's going on. It doesn't work too well since he has to be buckled in so tightly.

He has also noticed his feet which are the main source of entertainment when we are in the car. That's a good thing because he really hates being in his carseat and starts crying if we stop moving.

Kyler loves having books read to him, especially the ones with bright pictures in them. His current favorite is a Veggie Tales book. He loves their big bright eyes and will pump his arms and legs in excitement when looking at the pictures. It is often in the diaper bag as a source of entertainment for over a half an hour at a time. He also likes when we do little songs and nursery ryhmes with actions (like patty cake or the little piggies).

He plays really well in the walker although his feet don't quite touch the ground yet. And  he loves playing in the jumper that hangs from the doorway. He is kind of a maniac in that thing sometimes. He can grab his toys now and most things go straight to his mouth.

He also loves the water. We have been to the swimming pool a couple of times and he reallly enjoyed that. The last time we went he was even splashing around with his arms. Of course he thinks bathtime is awesome. Lately I have even been showering him since it is way faster than getting his tub ready. He doesn't mind the water on his face at all.

I usually rock him to sleep while quietly reading a book. He seems to fall asleep the best when he has his pacifier in his mouth and is holding a cloth or blanket up to his cheek.

Kyler is really starting to become a little person more and more and less of a tiny baby. Brett is always wanting to wake his little boy up to play when he gets home and talks about how proud he is when he is a good boy at day care. If it is possible, his mama adores him even more!

Kyler's 1st Day at Day Care

Today was Kyler's first day of day care. It was such a change from our normal daily routine over the past three months. I had to get up before the sun and my son were up to get ready and pump milk for Kyler's day. (I had enough milk until I realized that the bag I had in the freezer had a hole in it and had to throw out 9 oz.) I even had to leave the house before my baby woke up which was really hard because I didn't really get to tell him goodbye. I was bawling when I went to give that sweet, sleeping boy a kiss. He was asleep in his swing. Like I told Brett, this was the first day Kyler would not be with me in almost a year! But once I got started on my day it was just like old times and made me refocus so I wasn't so sad all day.

Kyler slept until 8:30 when Brett got him up to get ready for his day. He drank a whole bottle and watched some Yo Gabba Gabba while Daddy finished getting everything ready. He arrived at day care around 10:00. As soon as one of the teachers got him out of his carseat he started in on his screaming. But after 10 minutes or so they had him calmed down and Brett headed out. Phew! I was SO glad to hear that they were able to get him to calm down. I was still nervous so Brett said he would stop by around noon to check on Kyler. And when he did, Kyler was doing fine. He was sitting in the swing looking around, taking in his new surroundings. And right before I left work I went back to my office to check my email and found this in my inbox...

It is a picture mail that the day care sent to Brett. What a relief! He was actually smiling and being himself. I also had a message to pick up some flowers that were sent to me. I picked up a very pretty basket of flowers on my way out with a message that said:

"HI MOMMY, I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW, I WILL BE JUST FINE. HAVE A GREAT DAY! LOVE, KYLER"

When I picked him up they told me that he did really really good for his first day. The only hard crying he did was that first 10 minutes or so. Then he just whined a little when he was hungry. They saw lots of his smiles and little "laughs."

I am so thankful that Kyler had a good day. It makes me feel so much better about leaving him at day care. I have thought all along that it would be good for him because of the way he loves to look at what's going on around him. I just didn't want him to be sad, scared, or stressed the first week or so. But as long as it is just the first 10 minutes, I think I can handle that!

Update: After several days, I finally found out that the flowers were from Brett. I had thought maybe it was something the daycare did on a child's first day. B usually isn't quite that thoughtful (admittedly so). But that was a really sweet thing to do! :)

Kyler's "Instructions" for Day Care

Kyler does not have a set schedule but here is some information that might be helpful.

Eating:

• About every 3 hours
• When he is tired and hungry, he doesn't like any stimulation or distractions when eating (he gets mad when I talk while feeding him) 

Sleeping:

• Usually easy to tell when tired (tired eyes, rubs eyes, or just whiny)
• Short morning nap (1 ½ hours) around 10:00, afternoon nap is longer (sometimes up to 3 hours) around 1:30
• Putting him to sleep:
• Most of the time he will fall asleep (or close to it) when he eats or plays and can just be put in bed and patted or rubbed to sleep with his pacifier (he also likes to have a snuggly or cloth to hold up to his cheek – I put an elephant snuggly in his bag)
• A lot of times I sit him on my lap in the rocking chair with his pacifier and read him a book quietly until he falls asleep
• The swing is a sure thing to get him to sleep 

To Calm Him:

• Hold him upright facing outward with pacifier, walk/bounce while "shushing" him & look out window
• Put him on your shoulder like you are burping him, pat his back while "shushing" and walking or rocking
• Feed him a warm bottle while "shushing" and rocking in calm and quiet manner
• When he is really upset the swing usually only works if it is a tummy ache – he will let you know if that isn't what he wants. If he starts screaming louder when you put him there it was the wrong move. J

Likes/Dislikes:

• Really been enjoying sitting in walker or jumper where he is upright, will look around and bat/grab toys in reach
• Likes looking at bright books (especially his Veggie Tales book – in his bag) while being read to
• Likes to have a blanket or cloth swept over his face slowly
• Loves swinging (puts him right to sleep)
• Doesn't like being held in cradle position unless eating (wants to be upright)
• Hates to be in his car seat

Please call if you have questions or if Kyler is really upset. My work is flexible so I should be able to come at any time.

 Thank you!!! And I hope you get to see his good side – he is a good baby and lots of smiles lately!

Pre-Day Care Jitters

Yikes! I have to go back to work next week. Which means Kyler starts day care in 5 days. I started getting a little nervous a couple nights ago when I realized that Kyler really is starting to get scared of strangers. He will just start screaming and it will take me a little bit to get him calmed down.

We have been practicing drinking out of a bottle more this week. I had no idea how much he was drinking so I had to keep track of how much to bring to day care. He didn't like me for that. I had to give in once. The other times he complained most of the time he was drinking. I keep telling myself that it is because he knows that we are at home and I have the equipment.

Today I brought in the day care paperwork and we stopped in his classroom for a bit. I wanted to see how he did and hopefully get him at least a tiny bit used to being there. As soon as I set his carrier down his little bottom lip came out and he started screaming. One of the ladies who will be taking care of him took him and he screamed some more. I got him calmed down and he was even smiling at his new caregiver while he was sitting on my lap. But as soon as she picked him up to set him in a Bumbo seat he started screaming again. He is way too used to his mama.

I know he will love it there after the first week but that first week is going to be terrible (I know, more for me than him). Brett will be dropping him off there so at least I don't have to do that part. But I hope he does okay and is able to sleep there. Otherwise he will be one stressed out mess of a kid. I guess I should have gone back to work a couple weeks ago before he had as much of a sense of his surroundings.

Handmade Gifts

I wanted to share a couple of handmade gifts that Kyler recently received because they are so thoughtful and cute.

The burp cloth displayed over the top of the rocking chair was a gift from Kyler's fourth cousin, Cozy (Great Grandma Joyce's first cousin). She has a friend who makes them. "Kyler" and a picture of a baseball and bats are embroidered on it. It is too cute to use so this is the perfect place for it.

The pillow that Kyler is leaning on was stitched by Kyler's third cousin, Linda. She is my dad's first cousin and even lived with my dad's family for a short time when they were children. When Linda delivered her gift this weekend Kyler was in a really bad mood but as soon as he saw this pillow he cheered right up. He continues to enjoy looking at the pattern now that we are at home.

The 4 "S's"

(Swinging, Swimming, Smiling, & Sleeping)

Kyler is becoming more and more fun every day. He is much more active and responsive just in the last week or two. He smiles all the time, "talks" more and more, and has finally figured out how to grab some of his toys and get them to his mouth.

Swinging:
Last week we went to the park and tried out the swings. Kyler loved it so much he didn't want to leave.

Swimming (and Splashing):
Then when we were in Seneca for baptism we checked out the new pool. Kyler was kicking and splashing like crazy.



Smiling (while Sitting):
Grandma sent a walker home with us so Kyler could sit up and play. He has been having a blast in it!

Sleeping:

And this morning Kyler and Baxter cuddled up for a nap together.

I should add Sweating to the list of "S's." It has been SO hot lately... in the 100's most days. Yuck!

Baptism

Kyler was baptized yesterday at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, where Brett and I were married. My dad, my brother, and I were also baptized there. Kyler even wore a piece of the baptismal gown that my grandma made and that my dad and I wore.

During the baptism, Kyler was up and looking around the whole time and didn't even cry when the cold water went over his head.

He was really cute afterward, smiling and cooing at his new Godparents, Andy and Shelly. Kyler loved baptism!

Why I Love Cloth Diapers

Warning: Do not read this if you are eating. :)

During our camping trip I had to use disposable diapers since there was not a place to wash the cloth diapers while we were there (and I usually wash diapers every other day). Saturday morning was our first morning there. Before we even ate breakfast, Kyler had pooped through two disposables. And when I say he pooped through I mean that it came out of the diaper onto his clothes. Very disappointing! So now at daycare he will probably be ruining outfits left and right. We will have to triple his wardrobe to keep up. On the other hand, this morning he had the dirtiest diaper I have seen yet and it was all nicely contained within the cloth diaper cover.

Oh, and they are just so cute on my little guy...