The Mom Song

Sorry this post isn't specifically about Paigey, but still pretty cute.

Our first normal outing as the three of us

We've been to the doctor, a few Christmas celebrations, and the drive-through at Arby's but tonight we bravely brought Paige to Noodles & Company. I have to think that every new parent is worried to take their newborn out in public at first. We start thinking, "What if she starts to wail in the middle of dinner?", and that is what has prevented us until now. She did great and didn't make a peep. Maybe we will have to make our next trip a stroll through the produce department at Cub.

The annual Christmas with the Blake's...

Wrapping up Christmas 2007 was done the week after Christmas this year. It was the annual Christmas with the Blake's at the Maple Grove Community Center and Paige was again going to be introduced to many new faces. Uncle Tom and Uncle Jack were surprisingly polite. She must have passed the tease test with a cumulative score of "This baby is relatively normal/not too funny looking/nothing worth teasing her about". I remember not passing that test when I started attending the Blake family events as an awkward teen 11 years ago. Apparently I needed to pull up my pants and trim my sideburns.

About an hour into the shindig, it was time for Paige to eat. Jen had prepared a nice dinner for her that we kept frozen to give to her while at the party. Needing to defrost the packet of milk turned into a small problem. Our party room didn't have a kitchenette, which we were aware of, but our second plan, to use the bathroom sink to get hot water, was foiled as well. All of the bathrooms in the community center had automatic sinks which did not allow varied water temperature. Our third option was to use the main community center kitchen to get hot water. The gal behind the main counter was helpful enough to take my cup and fill it with very warm water but it promptly turned cold after the iced milk bag was added. I went searching through the rest of the facility for a hot water source and ended up in the men's locker room. Funny place to warm 4 ounces of breast milk. I quickly found out that those sinks were also fixed with the blasted automatic faucets and knew there was only one more option. I rolled up my sleeves, tried not to look like a weirdo and headed into the shower area. I turned on one of the showers and started filling my cup with the hot water I had traveled so far for. Finally after about 5 minutes I left the shower room with warm milk and a soaked shoe.

As we left, we found ourselves needing an extra hand. Paige agreed to carry out our bag of chex mix as long as she didn't eat any. I think she may have been planning something, and would have carried out her plan if we hadn't opened her car seat in time.

Does she look more like Mommy or Daddy?

Some folks are saying Paige must have gotten her good looks from her Mother. This picture shows that Daddy had a little to do with that too. I have provided a side by side comparison.

Paige's Christmas "To Do" list:

Christmas Eve
1. Arrive at Christmas for Mommy's side of the family around 4:00pm.
2. Sleep and let people I've never met before hold me
3. Poop
4. Eat
5. Cry while Daddy tries to burp me
6. Sleep, again
7. Cry a little when Mommy and Daddy put me in the car seat. Daddy will then show everyone how easy it is to quite me down by banging the car seat again his leg to pretend that we are already driving in the car
8. Get home and get back into our routines





Christmas Day-Morning
1. Arrive at Christmas for Daddy's close side of the family around 9:00am
2. Sleep and let people I've never met hold me
3. Sleep on Grandma's lap while Mommy and Daddy open presents for me. Look as interested as I can when Daddy says, "Look Paige, a new toy for you to play with!"
4. Poop
5. Eat
6. Get passed around for pictures7. Stay calm when Mommy and Daddy put me in the car seat to head home






Christmas Day-Afternoon
1. Arrive at Christmas for Daddy's extended family around 1:30pm
2. Sleep
3. Let Mommy and Daddy get some lunch while I'm sleeping

Christmas Day-Evening
1. Arrive at Christmas for Mommy's close side of the family around 4:00pm
2. Poop and then let Grandma and Grandpa change me. Fuss a little
3. Eat while Daddy runs all the way home to get the presents he forgot
4. Sleep on Auntie Jessie while Mommy and Daddy open more presents for me
5. Be a good girl for everyone who holds me the rest of the night
6. Go to sleep and dream about all the fun stuff I got for Christmas

Life is good

Every once in a while we get a little peek of a smile. This usually comes after she's filled to the brim with milk.

We should have named her Rapunzel Gonzalez

We all woke up from our nap this evening and our little over achiever had grown a full head of long brown hair. Not only that but it was brushed and styled with soft highlights already. Ok, so its really just Jenny's hair draped over Paige's noggin. It looks pretty weird but funny.

Paige's First "My doggie ate my....!" Moment

One of our dogs, our maybe both, found Paige's thermometer sitting on the coffee table while we were out and decided it would be a fun chew toy. She has a couple more of them (thermometers that is) but I think I might be able to salvage this one. Its probably still good. What do you think?

Her other thermometer is a pacifier. Paige doesn't like pacifiers so Mommy said maybe we could use it rectally...Doesn't sound that comfortable to me.

The pups seem to be doing fine but we have no idea where the long tube part of it went.

Jen brought Paige to Daddy's work

Paige and Jen came to Daddy's work this afternoon. Paige was a hit with my co-workers. She just laid there the whole time and looked pretty. Except for a couple of moments when she opened one eye just a sliver. She just assessed the situation for a minute and closed it again. She didn't even cry until she got back in the car to go home. She was very comfortable with all sorts of people holding her. Which I guess could be good or bad.

Tuffy decided it was time for Paige to get off the couch and play.

Paige likes to get mail

Paige was so excited to get her social security card in the mail today. We're not going to have her sign it just yet.

Fun Facts about Paige: Part 1

1. Measured 19 inches at birth but only 18 inches a few days later at the pediatrician

2. Has gained a pound in 9 days and is now 5lbs 9.5oz (Dec. 14)

3. Sleeps very well. Spent a few days not wanting to be alone in her crib for long periods of time but is now very comfortable to sleep 3-4 hours by herself

4. Lost her cord on day 7

5. Favorite food is milk.

6. Likes to stretch and make funny faces

7. Doesn't like to burp

8. Likes to pee while getting her diaper changed

9. Some favorite nicknames are: Milkface, Baby Bear (she growls for her milk), Paigey, Monkey

10. Second time at the pediatrician and she didnt make a peep, smiled at the doctor but peed on the scale

11. No colic, no diaper rash, no fever, sleeping through the night but has had a couple bouts of painful gas and a monster booger we sucked out yesterday

Doctors orders: STAY AWAY FROM THE BABY!

Paiges first impression of Dad: "...my dad sure is sick a lot!"

One week after she came I got terribly sick and had to postpone all the cuddling, snuggling, feeding, changing, admiring and chatting. From Friday 12/7 to Friday 12/14 I had to be very restricted so I din't give her any of what I got. Mom had gotten pretty exhausted in the process but was grateful for the time alone with her. Jens mom was kind enough to bring a handful of face masks from her work for me to wear, so I could help out a little bit when I really needed to.

On a side note, keep in mind that Paige is even due until tomorrow and that I was proactively getting sick and healing a whole 2 days before she was actually scheduled to come. Leaving myself germ free and with a hightened immune system for her welcoming party.

7 Days ago...

Our little Paige has finished out her first week breathing fresh Minnesota air. She still hasn't actually been exposed to the cold winter elements except for the drive from the hospital and a quick drive to the doctor for a newborn check, so i'm sure she still thinks Minnesota winters aren't all that bad. If I was sheltered in my own soft fluffy omelet of blankets, I would be optimistic too.