Update

I write this update while I sit at the desk wondering if I'm safe. You see, we are finally getting a new roof on the house (it has needed one for at least a few years now), and the workers are up there ripping the old one off and making quite a raucous. I've thought more than a couple of times that the roof might collapse and a worker or two would fall right through the house. And to think Nate has slept through all of this just confirms that babies can sleep through anything.

Of course, he might be sleeping through it so easily because he has Tylenol in him--he had his 4-month check-up this morning, which included shots (they give Tylenol to help with the pain and for fever). Besides the shots, the appointment was great. He weighs 14 pounds even now, which is in the 30th percentile, and he's 25 inches long (55th percentile). I'm happy with his growth, especially since he was 3 weeks early and started out below average and has grown to average.

I don't think the schedule I described in the post below is going to last much longer. I sense Nate getting sleepier earlier in the day, so he is naturally tending toward an earlier nap. The nice thing is that will also mean he goes to bed earlier at night, which gives Jon and me more time together. I'm going to put Nate to bed at 9:00 tonight and see how that goes.

All is quiet on the roof now, so that means either the guys are done working for the day, or they're taking a break. They sure made quick work of that old roof--the whole thing is off (though they left the wood structure underneath intact).

Off to check on the baby. ;)

My mama schedule

I'm a relatively structured person; I thrive on schedule and planning. That's why I'm happy to have Nate on somewhat of a schedule--it's nice to have a good idea of how the day generally will go (when he'll eat, when he'll sleep, etc.). It makes it much easier for running errands or planning times to hang out with friends. Here's how a typical weekday goes for Nate and me:

Some time between 4:30 and 6:00 - Nate wakes and I feed him, maybe change his diaper, and put him in his swing to sleep some more.
8:00-9:00 - Nate wakes usually at 8:00 (sometimes later--woo hoo!) and I feed him again, then change his diaper and clothes. Then we play for a few minutes, either just talking to each other or with one of his toys. Next I usually put him in his little seat in the living room and fix myself some breakfast.
9:00-9:30 - Nate watches his video while I take a shower and get ready for the day. I usually check e-mail during this time too.
9:30-10:30 - Nate usually falls asleep for a little 15- or 30-minute catnap some time in here. That's when I usually get some computer time. The rest of the time I either sit and play with him, or he observes while I clean the house or do whatever. (He's so good--he's often content just to sit and watch whatever is going on.)
10:30-11:00 - If the weather is nice, I take Nate on a walk in his front carrier. I do it during this time since he's probably starting to get hungry and this keeps him from fussing, since he really loves being outside and looking at the trees and cars and feeling the breeze.
11:00-11:30 - Time to eat again, and then I usually change his diaper again too, if it didn't need it earlier.
11:30-1:30 - If I have any errands to run (I usually do), I most often save it for this window. Yesterday, we went to the grocery store and dropped some things off at Goodwill. Today, we went by the cleaners and the bank and drove through McDonald's for one of those new chicken sandwiches. Nate often takes a short catnap or two during this time.
1:30 - I feed Nate again and put him down for his nap. Unlike a lot of babies, Nate takes only one long nap in the afternoon, instead of a nap in the morning and one in the afternoon. During his nap, I work on editing, play on the computer, read, scrapbook, maybe get things ready to make dinner, clean the house, do laundry, take a nap, write letters, sew, get my flute lesson materials ready if I'm teaching a lesson later, or watch TV.
5:00 - Nate wakes and I feed him.
5:15-6:00 - Play time
6:00 - I teach a flute lesson at 6:00 on Tuesdays, so Jon's mom comes over and watches Nate.
7:00 - Jon usually gets home around this time, so Nate gets some Daddy time while I fix dinner. I teach a lesson at 7:00 on Mondays, so Jon makes sure to make it home by 7:00 then so he can be with Nate. If Nate is ever fussy, it's usually at this time of day.
7:30-8:00 - Dinner (Nate watches Jon and me eat and will often take a short nap. When Nate was newborn, Jon would hold the baby while I ate first, and then we'd switch off, because Nate would cry if someone wasn't holding him).
8:00-9:00 - Time for Nate to eat again at 8:00. Then we play.
9:30 - It's bath time! Nate really likes taking a bath. I fill the tub up with a couple of inches of water and lie him down right in it. He kicks and plays for usually a good 15 minutes or more. Then I take him out and get him dressed for bed.
10:00 - I feed Nate one more time before bed. Then I swaddle him in a blanket and hand him to Jon, who rocks him for a few minutes and then puts him down, usually at about 10:30. Most of the time, he doesn't wake up during the night now, but when he does, either Jon or I just re-swaddle him and give him a pacifier, and he goes back to sleep without needing to be rocked or fed.

So there you have it, a day in the life of a mom with her 3-month-old son! :)

Nate had his first real giggle/laugh tonight! Up until now, he has smiled and cooed a lot, but he hasn't laughed. He laughed while lying on the changing table when Jon was playing with him (he was tickling and talking to him). It was precious! This is so fun.

Well, I changed the template for my blog, and it looks like the formatting is a little better. I liked the old look better, but oh well.

Quick update: I did take Nate to the pool the other morning. He didn't kick and laugh and smile, but he didn't cry either. He kind of sat back and observed. :) I waded around the pool for about 15 minutes holding him, and once he got used to the cold water, I think he liked it. I dipped him up to his neck a few times, then his chin, then his mouth, and then I dunked him all the way under once. He didn't particularly like that, but he also didn't cry. It was fun!

We're having a new person from church over for dinner tonight. His wife is out of town for a couple of weeks, and since they're new to the area he really doesn't have anyone to hang out with.

Then tomorrow we're off to a wedding (Jon's a groomsman) and we're going to leave Nate with Jon's parents. This will be the longest I've left him--probably for about 8 hours. Please pray that he does well and that I don't worry.

I'm off to clean the house in preparation for a baby shower I'm throwing for Jon's sister on Sunday.

Life keeps plowing along for us here. Nate and I have gotten into a routine, and it's nice to know sort of how each day is going to go, when he's going to eat, sleep, be happy/fussy, etc. He's sleeping well: I feed him at about 10:00 at night, then Jon puts him to bed, and he has been waking up around 4:00 to eat and then going back to sleep until 7:30 or 8:00 or so. Then he takes a good long nap in the afternoons (today I fed him at 1:15 and put him down, and he'll probably wake up around 5:00). It's nice to have the afternoons as "my time," when I can scrapbook, play on the computer, do editing work, read, or take a nap myself. As Nate gets more and more aware of his surroundings and more interactive, it just gets more fun. I can actually play with him now. I'm thinking of taking him to the pool for the first time early next week; he loves taking baths so I think he might like the water. This life as a wife/mom sure is different from life as a full-time-working wife! I love it.

By the way... Bryce or anyone, can you tell me why the text of my blog is starting so far down (below the archive list on the right) in Internet Explorer? How might I fix it? Thanks. :)