A Long Overdue Update

First time eating cereal and it wasn't even too messy (Feb.).

Hmmmm. . .not so sure about this (Feb.).

Whoa( Feb. ).

Practicing standing in my crib (Feb.).

I still love my changing table (Feb.).

Future heart breaker (Feb.).

I'm a hunk yeah you know it (Feb.).

Loves to cuddle on Daddy (Feb.).

Matching cargos and brown sweaters (Jan.).

Working my neck muscles just like a giraffe (Jan.).

He's a giggler (Jan.)

I love the play saucer cousins Nick and Jack loaned me (Jan.).

I love to suck my thumb and fingers (Jan.).

My surprise face (Jan.).

All tuckered out after a day at the pool (Jan.).

My first experience swimming in the Dells (Jan.).

Just try and resist me (Dec.).

Lounging with Lacy (Dec.).

My alternative Christmas outfit (Dec.).

It's been a while but that's mainly because Maureen is easily distracted and swears the laundry, dishes, and dust balls can talk any time she is ignoring them. So as you can see from the pictures we have a lot of fun with our little guy. Murphy is now a little over 4 and 1/2 months. We cannot believe how fast the time has gone! A little update on what we've been up to the last two months. Murphy has grown a lot. He is still a little guy weighing probably around 13 lbs, but since his one month appt. he has been steadily putting on weight. He loves to eat, when he gets a bottle he never wastes any and he's extremely active. He actually has baby bicep and calf muscles.

Murphy started to sleep unswaddled (huge accomplishment at the time) on Christmas Eve and then a week later slept in his crib for the first time, then just a few weeks after that while Nana (Maureen's mom) was watching him over night he slept through the night. Yes we have actually found it in ourselves to leave him with family over night without us.

We went to the Dells with Maureen's family in January and Murphy tried the pool for the first time. He still is not into the bath, so our hopes were not very high for the pool. He actually did ok and even went in the kiddie pool swing. We are going to Florida in April and are now hopeful he will be a little tadpole.

Murphy has been pretty animated from the begining, but he just keeps getting more funny. He does a lot of babbling. It seems he finds a new noise every few days. It was ga sounds for a while, then a whole bunch of random sounds, then he found his bottom lip and made gun like sounds, now it's the high pitched sounds that are very hard to decipher from his whining (we're looking forward to him moving on from this stage). He is also a fairly happy baby and loves to play. Anything kicking, grabbing, and moving he is all for. He loves to giggle and laugh too. He is also great at tummy time and loves to roll from his tummy to his back, still working on the back to his tummy (which is ok because that will mean more baby proofing). He also loves to stand while we're holding him which might explain the baby calves.

This week was a big week for us. Maureen made the decision to start working regularily versus subbing as needed or dealing black jack for a party company (both of which she's still doing). She will be working in the office at the Engelhart Center (small motor sports and garden dealer) three days a week. We are very blessed to have grandmas, grandpas and a nana to care for Murphy while we work and he loves that time with them! Mommy loves her days off with him too. Playing a lot, going to lunch with Grandpa Manowske, visiting friends, doing baby yoga, hopefully joining a stroller work out group, etc. And Daddy can't wait to get home during the week, he loves to make funny faces and sounds with Murphy, cuddling and bedtime feeding, a little light wrestling, lifting him in the air like a plane, etc.

Today was also a big day in our house. We tried cereal for the first time. He wasn't too sure what was up with the spoon, which actually surprised us since he puts everything in his mouth and whenever we are eating or drinking he holds out his hands and opens his mouth in desperation. We're sure in no time he'll be a pro eater.

Well, we hope you enjoyed the pictures and update. We will try (being the key word) to get on here more frequently especially for those of you we don't see often.

Before my Baptism in Mommy, Aunt Kristina and Uncle Tony's Baptismal gown.

I'm Mommy and Daddy's favorite present.

Daddy, I don't want to be Santa Clause.

Mommy, I'm not a girl! (this was the outfit he would have worn if he were a she like we thought)

Love this shot.

He sure makes us smile.

Kick. Kick. Kick.

Loves looking around on the activity mat.

Sleeping in his favorite position in bed.

At Alt N Bach's for Grandpa's 60th

Well, Danny's studying with Murphy conked out on his lap, so I figured I would take some time to post some more pictures. Amazingly the downloading went really smooth. Also, it's snowing like crazy so I'm pretty much cooped up tomorrow too, so I have some spare time at least as far as being at home is concerned. I realized the most difficult part for me about having a baby is that I'm not very good at just staying home and relaxing. In fact today is probably the first day I haven't gone out in a long time and even then I walked to the gas station near our house to buy a magazine. Whether Murphy is with me or at home with one of his other adoring family members, I'm just not good at being home. I have to say I did kind of enjoy being forced to do it today and tomorrow, so maybe it will catch on.

Two Month Update- It's Been A While

So it's been just about two months since I last posted. Not really surprising since we have a little one. Well many of you know the first month was pretty busy. We dealt with going to the doctor every day since we came home for the first week because of Murphy's jaundice. Then at his two week appointment he was still at the weight he dropped to (6 lb 15 oz), so I was a little stressed about feedings. Then he started gaining weight and we thought we were finally settling in and getting used to being parents when they suspected he might have a protein allergy. He was having very long crying spells. I completely changed my diet cutting out nearly everything for like three weeks. Then after about a month every thing just got a smooth as could be with a little baby. He started just waking once a night, was spreading out feedings, smiling and playing more. Maybe we as parents were just more comfortable. We also watched the Happiest Baby on the Block and followed it pretty religously. So the last four to five weeks have just been great. Murphy loves to smile, kick, talk and look all around. We now don't think he has an allergy either, just at times needs a little more attention (he still has to be swaddled arms in or won't sleep longer than 10 minutes). So you can see why I might not have had time to post the first month, but the second month was a lot smoother, however I managed despite having a one month old to really fill up my schedule-- out of town welcome Murphy shower, surprise party for my dad, putting our house up for sale, rehoming our cat, dealing with a sick dog, Thanksgiving, advent event, family Christmas, Baptism, and all the little things that go along with those.

I'm going to post several pictures to give you a glimpse of the last two months. Hopefully now I can try to post regularily. (oh yeah, our camera tends to freeze when I download and I have to convert pics to thumbnails first, so that sometimes prevents me from posting due to frustration). These pictures are from October to mid-November starting with the most recent. I need to download pictures from then until now, but the camera froze the computer so I decided to just post the ones I already had on. Will hopefully add more recent ones tomorrow.

First trip to the zoo, enjoying a snack with Nana.

In mommy's hat and sweater getting ready for a walk.

Mommy and Murphy in our hats.

At Murphy's welcome baby shower on the Manowske side.

Mommy's little tiger.

A pea in a pod (this picture looks just like Danny at this age).

A very common expression of Murphy's especially the first six weeks.

Cuddling with Daddy.

First time in the carrier (trying to find anything to keep him happy).

A trick or treat trip to Daddy's work.

Cozying up in the boppy.

First Packer game after the big Oct. 5 game.

First walk.

Go Pack!

A tired mommy and Lacy.

A tired Daddy checking on Murphy.

Little glow worm.

Swaddled with the billi light.

Welcome Home Murphy

Murphy, mom and dad came home from the hospital on Wed. 10/7 in the afternoon to a nice suprise of decorations and gifts put together by our loving families! Mom started "balling" once dad turned near our street. The reality of our precious gift really set in! We got some lovely pictures thanks to our friend Roy which we are excited to share with you. The first night was to be expected but mommy and daddy tag teamed well. Murphy had his first visit to the doctor on 10/8 because his billirubin was elevated. He is now officially our little glow worm because he had to wear a blue fiber optic lit billi light and it makes our little angel glow even more! Today we found it he hopefully only needs it through the day! Yippee because it kind of keeps us camped out in his room. We are all doing really well and having lots of fun laughing at all the mishaps of being new parents, like how little boys pee all the time when you change them and lots of laundry for accidentally soiled clothes is just the way it is and how daddy fell asleep without realizing it while holding Murphy on the couch. We have lots of nick names all ready, but the one that seems to stick is Murpee, it's how Murphy's 2 year old cousin Jackson says his name and we just think it is hilarious. Well, that's all I have time for now, Murphy is in serious training to be a future eating contest champion (go figure, his dad loves that stuff)!