Go Baby

Another week has passed-- I'm sure some significant things have happened in the world, but here the world has shrunk. We're excited because Alex is asleep IN HIS CRIB tonight. As you can tell from previous posts and photos, he's resisted the crib sleeping pretty effectively up until this week. I feel like we've rounded a bend though-- he's eating better and sleeping better and fighting for only about 45 minutes after he's put down for the night. Sigh.

We had lots of fun this week. We went to the concert in the park in downtown Pensacola, took a swim in the pool, and ate out at the Fish House. Dennis was on call Sat., so Alex and I spent the day with a girlfriend, going out to lunch and doing some shopping.

I attach photos of the concert (of D and mini-D), swimming, and portraits of the most beautiful six-week-old in the world (at least to me).

The Rotation

Well, we've finally settled into a routine after our return from the trip.

Alex and I are pretty boring. We just rotate 4 activities all day long. We start with nursing. Then, short play and diaper changing. After that, it's time for Mommy to try to convince Alex to sleep. That takes about an hour. Finally, he succumbs and dozes off-- for 20 minutes! And then we start it all over again. In the evening, we throw in a walk and bath. It breaks up the monotony, and he likes both things.

Thank goodness for Dennis. He provides distraction from the routine as the social planner for the family. This weekend, he was on call. But, the reward for that was that he was free yesterday. So, we enjoyed a nice lunch on the porch of a restaurant downtown.

As you can tell, the adjustment from lawyer to Mommy is not easy for me. I'm grateful for all the friends & family who check in on us, invite us to activities, and offer advice. We need it all. Please keep it coming.

The photos are of bath time and nap time. Note the lengths to which I will go to get the little dude to sleep!

Well, for some reason, I can't make this entry have a title. It was to be, "A Traveling Man."

We've just returned from a 10-day trip. What kind of Szurkus would Alex be, after all, if he didn't travel?! We've been in Orlando, FL, Lynchburg, VA, and Tampa, FL. Dennis had interviews in the first two places. Then, Alex and I visited Grandma Hill in the last. We drove long distances and flew (with two connections). It was a great trip-- Alex was a total doll, sleeping through most of the actual travel, until the second to the last day at Grandma's when he melted down. But what can you expect of a 1-month old?

Dennis's interviews went well, and we are getting close to knowing where we'll be settling for the long haul. It feels strange, having been on the move our entire married lives, to make a long term decision like where to live for the next 20 years. But, it also feels good. We're looking forward to it.

Well, the laundry and bills call. I'll be in touch. Attached are some pix from the trip-- Alex's first smile (at G'ma Hill), first airplane ride and sleeping in the hotels.

Thank You Mr. Bjorn!

We've had a challenging but rewarding week. We're learning what Alex likes (to be held, to ride in the stroller, to be outside, and to have baths) and what he doesn't (to lie down by himself, to have his diaper changed, and generally everything else, so far). We're both happier since I decided that, even if he isn't 8lbs. yet, he's riding in the Baby Bjorn. He thinks he's being held, and I get two hands to do things with.

An aside-- Those damn lawyers will put safety labels on anything! Instead, they should have Moms write the labels-- only real safety concerns would be identified. And labels would identify things you CAN do, not just things you SHOULDN'T. For example, pacifiers would come with a label that says, "If you blow on this after it falls on the floor, you can put it back in your child's mouth." And, the portable swing would say, "If you decide to move this swing while your child is sleeping in it (forbidden by the lawyers), use both hands."

I must brag that the child is a good night sleeper. In fact, I've decided he's just like his father-- won't go to bed until 10:30 but wants to sleep all morning. I had to wake him at 8:30 a.m. to nurse!

We had some good tummy time this morning. I'm attaching photos.

We Emerge (In More Ways than One)!

It's been a while since the last post, and I hope that most of you have heard or assumed by now that is because The Bean was born.

Alexander Peyton Szurkus made his arrival on his due date, June 9, at 10:57 a.m. He weighed in at 7 lbs., 10 oz. and was 20 inches long. He has a lot of curly black hair and huge blue eyes (Dennis's friends at the hospital are calling him Mini Me because he looks so much like D). And, he started proving right away that he has a healthy pair of lungs!

We had a very nice (and short) hospital stay. All the gang at Naval Hospital Pensacola was super to us, but we wanted to be home. So, we packed up the next day and were home in time for lunch.

Kristina's mom, dad and Abuelita arrived while Alex and Kristina were still in the hospital. Grandpa and Great Grandma stayed for just a couple of days; but Grandma is still here, helping with the rocking, cooking, laundry, etc.

It's hard to believe it's been a whole week. But, it's easy to see that our lives have been changed by this beautiful baby boy.

Photos attached. More later . . .

Oof!

I swear that word was invented by a pregnant woman. It's probably the most frequent thing out of my mouth these days. I hoist myself into the car-- "Oof!" I heave myself into bed-- "Oof!" I get up the energy to turn over in bed-- double "Oof!"

Poor Dennis has been listening to my bellyaching (literally) since Sunday when my patience officially ran out with The Bean and his interminable residence in my abdomen. He isn't even born yet, and he refuses to listen to my instructions ("Get out now! Your tenancy is terminated!"). This does not portend well for the next 18 years, does it?

Come on out, Bean!

Well, another weekend has almost passed us by. And, I'm still pregnant. I guess this is good as I can now say that Dennis is not the only one who is ready. I'm definitely on board now.

There is no more laundry to do, no more tiny clothes to store away, no more thank you notes to write, no more bags to pack. There isn't even a car to wash or gas up. I've done it all. The nest is finished. Now, we just need the baby bird.