Here Comes the New Year

Whew, okay Christmas down, now just New Year's.  We had a really nice Christmas and spent time with both Kris' dad and that side of the family and Kris' mom and that family.  We got to see Aunts and Uncles and Cousins we don't always get to see (even though a few of them live right in Albany - we are so bad about getting over to see them).  Conrad met a few people he hadn't yet and really did well considering, of course he had his moments but overall he was great.  He really doesn't get his toys and what they are or what to do with them of course, but he will.  He got this penguin you blow up and it has a rounded bottom so it sort of wobbles back and forth as he hits at it and of course it plays music too, I think it will be good for him when he is sitting and really getting after stuff like that, but right now he is a little afraid of it I think.  It stands about a foot tall so about his height when sitting a little taller, I had it in front of him while he was in my lap and he batted at it but was sort of crying too then when I moved it he just kept looking at it and didn't want it moved near him, like he thought it would come get him or something.

Conrad had is four month appointment on Tuesday and did pretty great with it.  He weighs 16 lbs 5 oz. and was 25 inches and something - I didn't catch it and expected to get a print out of the appointment so wasn't worried about it but then the printer didn't work for that sheet so they will mail it to me later.  He was in the 60th and 65th percentiles for weight and height, so he is evening out with the average size for babies his age.  Everyone comments that he is big, and yes he is solid and he holds himself up really well, always has, but I don't think he is that much bigger than most babies his age, his cousin Charlie is a little bigger and that makes sense since she is about a month older, so he is in line with her.  I think it is just hard to see how fast he is growing and not think how he is getting so big.

Sleep, well he still wakes up a bit at night.  He was waking just twice basically for a feeding, then started to wake early like 10 or 11 (was 12 or 1) and I have been thinking crumb he is waking more again and getting so frustrated about it, but last night we just fed him earlier (when he woke - even though he had just eaten when we put him to bed) and then he slept until 3 (was waking again at 4) so he still only woke 2 times it was just different times, I guess I just need to go with it... I just can't wait to sleep more.  Of course he then got up at quarter to 6, oh well i had to get up then to get the day started anyway.

Eating, he is still eating breast milk and formula both.  We have just started trying cereal, he did pretty decent with it at Christmas, we just need to keep trying it every night little by little I guess.  With the holidays, days off work, and my busy schedule at work I have been falling behind with pumping.  I have missed times and gone longer and longer between times (plus sleeping at night and not waking to do it as often) so I am making less milk each time.  I have decided I can't go crazy about it though, work is not going to slow down any time really soon and I need to start getting more sleep if I can, I don't do well without it.  So I will tapper off on the milk and he will have to have more formula, hopefully he will take to cereal and be eating that to fill in a bit too.  In a short couple more months we will move on to food - Vegetables!

So with the new year i am getting back to following the weight watchers plan again and should be able to get back to more of a routine at the gym.  I am smaller now than when I got pregnant, but imagine once I am eating better - I can finally be that skinny girl I never thought I was built to be :) okay really I am fine with where I am at now, but I don't need a flabby muffin top falling over my smaller size pants.  Kris is going to start trying weight watchers too - well he asked about it - for him I know he gets tons of points and basically already eats along the lines of it, he is a pretty healthy eater, but he skips breakfast and lunch often and eats a later night snack that is sometimes crackers and dip or something, so for him I think it is more timing of meals and eating enough to not "binge".  He also wants to start going to Dixon.  I know as soon as he starts moving more again he will drop the LB's in no time.  What would take me months won't take him much, he has just gotten to where he has a desk job and while he walks the golf course often he isn't pushing himself physically.  We'll see where it takes us.

We are both so grateful to be busy at work and have these jobs that we are doing well in.  We have many great things in life and opportunities not everyone gets.  Now we are happy to have our son who is really a joy and I can't stop kissing him.  What a year to be thankful for and I am certain another fantastic one ahead!

Conrad and Cousin Charlie - Chubber legs!

Candy Cane, the wrapper is still on, right?

Grandpa Robert and Grandma Mary

This was our gift this year

Grandma Margaret and Grandpa Dennis

Oh and one of Kris when he was young, not sure how old, but no resemblance to his son at all - right.