And the winner is...

This week Gavin had his first overnight trip. Mike needed to work in the Palouse area so we spent the night with our gracious friends and fabulous hosts Vic and Sharon. I wasn't sure how Gavin would do. The night before we left he had cried for 3 hours straight without reprieve. He turned out to do great. Vic and Sharon even watched him Wednesday night so Mike and I could have a little Valentine's Day date. In the evenings he slept like a champ a loud one but a champ. I tried to let him sleep on my chest like he used to do but that lasted about an hour. I quickly remembered why he sleeps in a different room and we don't turn the monitor on, as I can hear him just fine in our little house without it. Gavin is the hands down the loudest sleeper I know. He squeaks, wiggles, squirms, talks and yes even snores. It has the potential to be absolutely adorable except for the fact that I too would like to get a little shut eye. So the winner of the Loudest sleeper in the James family goes to .... Gavin!

Spare time...

Ha! What is free time with a little one? Does it really exist? I have this free moment brought to me by a lovely play gym bought by my co-workers. He loves it! When he kicks just right it plays music and if he bats at the little ducky it makes a special little noise. I sit here a room away listening to him talk and play while his gym makes all kinds of noises too. What a blessing both he and his play gym are.

Me and my Mommy...


No time to chat. He had his shots today and has been nothing but fussy. Well actually beyond fussy. Even with the recommended Tylenol. He does get more fun by the day as he learns to smile and talk. He is a joy. He keeps me very busy and sometimes I miss the days when I was footloose and fancy free but then I imagine life without him and I can't. Hope you all are well. I feel so out of touch right now but that will change. I am to much of a social butterfly to be couped up and out of touch.

When a smile makes it worth it all

This is a cry for help...

I always knew that having my own baby would be different then all the childcare I have done. I tried to trick myself into believing that I would be a natural, a pro, it wouldn't be that hard. I have been jokingly referred to as the "Baby Whisperer," people have praised my natural instincts with kids. I have been humbled. My baby doesn't sleep. I don't know if it is because my baby has reflux (we are on our second medication now), I don't know if we have done something that has made him unable to sleep or if it is simply the way he is. I don't know what is normal. I am so emotionally involved, so sleep deprived I can't tell you right from wrong, up from down or well I couldn't tell you much of anything right now. Let's review the last day and someone can tell me "hey it's normal for a six week old" or "It's the reflux." I don't even care if you say it's me. I just need to know what to do, tricks, ideas, suggestions. He went to bed blissfully last night at around 10:30 slept until 1:00 woke up and ate, then he took a half hour to get to sleep slept until 4:00am. All things so far so good. I am thinking yeah! But then he won't go back to sleep. At 5:30 I wake Mike. I can't take it anymore. He takes over I get some sleep at 7:30 I feed him again. We get him to sleep at 8:30 he sleeps until 11:00. Horray! It is now 4:30 and the longest he has slept today since 11:00 has been 20 minutes. What is up with that. Is this normal? Will he outgrow this?

I have great friends your encouragement and words of wisdom mean so much to me and to Mike. Help!

You do what works...but what if nothing works?

So Gavin has reflux. His doctor gave us some medication then asked us to wait two weeks. It has been torture. He screams in pain and only sleeps anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and a half and then is up for hours. He wants to eat constantly. Feedings take about 25 minutes and up so then within a half hour of finishing he wants to start again. I don't know how much more I can take. I was told at the nursing mothers group I joined to try a sling. The above picture is that very expensive sling. Even at 40% off I am still ashamed to say how much I paid for it, but sleep deprivation and a pure desire to help my child made me do it. I just laid Gavin down and am hoping he will sleep more than an hour. I thought I would sneak off to write this while waiting to make sure he doesn't just sleep 20 minutes. There is nothing more frustrating then falling asleep only to be awoken in 15-20 minutes. Please pray for us we need it!

By the time Christmas came Gavin out grew his Christmas outfit. We managed to squeeze him into it. The Santa hat gave him a rash for a few days but isn't he cute?

For those whose addresses we don't have...