Business as usual

Things have been pretty "business as usual" these days.  Rudy is doing really well, settling more into a routine every day.  He still has his fussy periods when nothing seems to help but time and his mommy or daddy.  But we get through them.  John has been incredibly busy working alllllllll the time.  I can't wait for him to slow down and be at home with us more.  I can't complain too much because the extra money is nice, but we miss him very much.  He has a couple more jobs to finish up and then he is taking some time off of doing extra and that should be about the time I go back to work.  It will be nice for him to get some more one-on-one time with Rudy or family time with just the three of us.  It seems nonexistent at this point and we are all missing it and wishing for it.

As requested, Rufus is doing well.  He really seems indifferent about Rudy.  He is more concerned with John and I or any visitors we have.  He gets curious about Rudy every once in a while, like in these pictures one morning...

So Rudy decided to save the mother of all blow-outs for his mother last Friday.  We were sitting on the couch together...him on one cushion, me on the other.  I could hear him making toots and figured he was going to need changed, but wanted to let him finish before I picked him up.  He was laughing and talking away.  After a couple minutes I picked him up to find my leg, an entire side of his body (sock included), and our couch covered in poo.  From the look of us, you would have thought he wasn't even wearing a diaper!  That stinker!

Mom and Dad are headed to the World Chili Cookoff this week.  Rudy dressed up for a picture that I framed for Grandpa to take with...we will be cheering for him this weekend!

We still practice tummy time.  He is getting better, but hasn't figured out how to use his arms or hands yet.  I never realized holding his hands together or grabbing on to something would be a "milestone" to look forward to.  According to my book, he should be able to do that relatively soon so I keep watching for it.

Rudy is growing like a weed!  I just packed up a tote full of clothes that he has grown out of.  He is now pretty much in all 3-6 month clothes.  Some of his 0-3 still fit, but they are getting snug.  It is unreal.  But as much as he grows every day, he gets cuter every day too.  I still find myself just staring at him.  He is so precious and sweet and lovable.  I can't even begin to explain how happy I am that we were blessed with our beautiful boy.

Here is a picture of Rudy snuggled in this past Sunday watching Baby Einstein.  He was so happy and content.

He got a new seat/swing/bed to hang out in.  He has been difficult to get to sleep lately.  He either has to be held by me or rocked in his swing.  Both of those are fine during the day or if I am downstairs by his swing, but at night or when I'd like to do things upstairs or just do things in general, it gets a bit inconvenient.  This new thing rocks and is easily moveable.  I can take him into whichever room I am in and he is happy.  We also have been using the Baby Bjorn a lot more.  When he just wants to be held and nothing else seems to make him happy, I can strap him in and still do stuff around the house.

I can't believe how difficult it is to just stay on top of the simple chores and household stuff.  I'm not complaining because I love being at home with Rudy and doing all these things, but taking care of a baby is incredibly time consuming.  I don't know howI thought I didn't have time for this stuff before Rudy.

We are leaving for Michigan in one week from Thursday and won't be home until the following Monday.  John and Ryan (Ryan, Jenna and Nolan Davlin are going also) decided we would leave in the middle of the night Thursday, or technically speaking, Friday morning.  I am looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time.  An 8 hour car ride (without stops...as if that's going to be possible for us...so maybe 10+ hours??) and 4 days away from home with Rudy are going to be interesting.  I am so hopeful for the best, but yikes.  I should probably start packing now.  I can only imagine how packed our car is going to be.  Rudy has so much stuff!...and so will we for all the things we will need for 4 days of wedding festivities.  I plan to spend a lot of time with Rudy while we are there, though, so hopefully he will be fine and things won't be too terribly different for him.  We are staying in a 2 bedroom townhouse with Ray and LeeAnn so I'll have a living room to hang out in and a kitchen for the times I come home early or stay in with the babe.  When we get back I am going to have to try and get him going on a more regular routine for when I go back to work...ok, I am going to stop myself from rambling about the anxiety I have about that and save it for another day!

I'll leave you with one last picture...our sweet baby, smiling in his sleep...

I just love him so much!