Alexander - One Month Old

Okay, so I'm a little late on this post.  How dare me actually spend time with my baby instead of writing about him!  This first month has just flown by.  I feel like if I blink Alex will be off to college. 

To my sweet baby boy, Alex:

Wow, this first month with you has flown!  We have both gone through a major adjustment and I'm happy to say that after a month we are really starting to get things down. 

We were in the hospital for a couple days and you had many visitors.  Everyone was so excited to meet you!  Your daddy even got you your first birthday cake and some champagne to celebrate your arrival with all our friends and family.

We brought you home from the hospital on July 23rd.  We dressed you up in the special outfit your Gram brought for you.  You could tell your dad and I were first time parents because we had to call in the nurse to help us learn how to get you into your car seat!  When we finally got you to the car, your daddy drove so slow.  We got stuck in traffic for a few minutes and you didn't like that at all.  You really like to be in motion.

As soon as we got home all I wanted to is snuggle with you.  After all commotion at the hospital, you were finally all mine. 

The next two weeks were a challenge for both of us as you adjusted to life on the outside and your dad and I adjusted to your nighttime feeding schedule.  But after those first two weeks we finally started to get into a bit of a routine.  One thing that got me through the difficulty of so little sleep is the cute way you eat.  You get so excited and start shaking your head with your mouth wide open.  When you finally latch on you put your right hand right next to your face and your left hand behind your ear.  You are so focused and it makes me smile every time.  

You have really seemed to love your baths so far.  When you first came home we had to give you sponge baths:

 

But after your umbilical cord fell off at 3 weeks, we were finally able to give you your first submerged bath.  You really enjoyed the warm water and you had so much fun looking out the sunny window.

And just look at that belly!  You have really been growing and gaining weight!  I was so worried that my one breast wouldn't be enough for you, but it really looks like it's doing it's job.  We weighed you on Gram and Poppy's scale the other day and you were already up to 10.25 pounds!  We will be seeing your doctor in a couple weeks so we will get an official weigh in then.   

You have also started to smile more.  These started off as sleepy smiles only:

Then little smirks:

And finally full on laughs:

You are really starting to focus on things now and respond.  These bigger smiles were brought on by mommy and daddy.  Other things you really enjoy right now are fans, shadows and the lambs on your swing.  The sleepy smiles are usually in response to a clean diaper and a full belly.

Your neck control is also developing very well.  You never cease to amaze us with your strength.  Whenever Poppy holds you he is always surprised that a baby your age is able to hold his head up the way you do.

Your daddy and I have also been trying to take you out as much as possible.  You and I have gone for walks as long as the weather has not been too hot (you were born during a long heat wave where the temps were 100+ for a couple weeks).  You really like to be warm so it hasn't seemed to bother you too much.

We also took you to Adriana's and Cunettos for the first time since you have been on the outside.  Believe me though, you have had it plenty of times when you were on the inside and you will be having them both plenty when you get older.

I wanted to take you to El Maguey too, but I guess that is something that will have to wait till your next month of life.  We have also taken you to both of your grandparents houses, to the mall, to church, Our Lady of Snows, Affton ball fields to watch your daddy play and to the nursing home to meet your Great Grandpa Herm:

I promise we will be taking you many, many more places in the months and years to come. 

As I said before, this first month has just really flown by.  It feels like you just came into our lives and yet I can't really remember life without you.  All I know is that you have made me a very happy mama.  I love you!

Here's what you look like at 1 month old:

Love,

Mom