Sleep training and a New Year's resolution update

We're sleep training at the Shap house!  Sam's doctor insisted that I start putting Sam to sleep in his crib when he is still awake but drowsy b/c then he'll start sleeping through the night.  Sam obviously does not agree with the doc's orders and wakes up 2x a night now.  He has slept through the night a few times so maybe it is starting to work.  Cross your fingers that mommy and daddy get more sleep soon!

The doc also increased Sam's reflux meds and we changed his formula.  This has made for a much happier baby.  Yay!

As for my resolution to read however many books in 2011.  Well, I will be lucky if I even read 1 book this year.  I never thought it would be this hard.  I can read a book a day when I don't have a screaming baby attached to me.  I started a book this year and have managed to get to page 81.  Gah!  This is why I shouldn't make resolutions.

Here's Sam's pic of the day:

Sam is practicing holding his bottle with his Aunt KC.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Sam was sporting his Baby Legs today since they were green.  He's been in a relatively good mood today so I think we may take a walk when he wakes up from his nap.

Here's the little munchkin:

Sam's awesome weekend!

This past weeked, Sam's Harmony and GP came for a quick visit.  Sam had a blast hanging out with his grandparents.  Here's some of what they did together:

Sam was fussy at first so Harmony gave him a little ride on her back and he promptly fell asleep.

They brought new books to add to Sam's library.  He seemed to love them when I read them to him.

They took Sam for a walk to the park.

While J and I played in the park.

Harmony gave Sam a bath.





They brought lots of good food, diapers, formula and baby clothes.  They baby-sat Sam while J and I got a dinner alone.  We were all sad to see them go.  See you next month Harmony and GP!  Thank you for everything!

Sam's 4 months!

We had Sam's 4 month well-baby visit and here are his stats:

Weight:  17.4lbs

Height:  26"

Size:  mostly 6-9 mo clothing

Sleeping:  Still not sleeping through the night consistently although we did have a week of 8-10 hours in a row.  The pedi is insisting that I put Sam down in his crib while he is still awake.  We did that the last 2 nights and Sam was able to put himself to sleep just fine.  :-)

Eating:  7-8 oz of formula at each feeding.

Milestones:  Lots of smiling.  Just started laughing.  Grabbing toys and putting them in his mouth.

Sam's trying out rice!

The doc gave Sam the go ahead tp start some solids and suggested rice cereal first.  This morning we gave Sam a bottle and then attempted to serve him up some rice.  Here's some video:

Sam was all smiles but not so much into the cereal.  He refused to swallow it.  We'll try again in another week.

Here are some more pics.  (Thanks, Aunt KC, for the Wu-Tang bib.)

Laughter makes the heart grow fonder

I know that's not how the saying goes but can I just say how even more fonder I am of Sam since J managed to get his first laugh?  That's right!  Sam is giggling and it is the Best. Sound. EVER.

Even better is that I got it on video so you can share in the joy that is Sam.  You probably think you couldn't love him even more but just wait!

At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.
Jean Houston

Out for a walk

J came home early on Friday and we took Sam for a walk before it started raining.  This is the first time that J got to walk with us in the new stroller so I made sure to take some pics.  We bundled up Sam since it was a little cooler.  He promptly fell asleep.

I don't know what I was thinking with this hat.  I used to look cute in it before I had a baby.  Now I look frumpy in anything I put on.

Asleep at the end of our walk:

I think Sam looks so big in this picture:

Happy Monday!