Happy 2 month birthday to Declan!

Happy 2 month birthday sweet boy! You are getting so big! Just absolutely perfect! Your mommy and daddy couldn't be more proud!

He has outgrown most of his 0-3 month clothes. We are very lucky if there is a 3 month outfit that fits. He has mostly been wearing 6 month onesies! He is so long that we can't snap the 3 month ones even though they fit him every wear else, he just looks like he has a v-neck tshirt on!
He sleeps through the night (5 hours for a breastfeed baby!) So usually for him 5-6 hours, then he eats then usually another 3 hours. We (his very thankful parents) are lucky!
He smiles! He loves his walks in his Baby Bjorn and also in his stroller!

Happy Spring!

To celebrate spring and the last weekend at their apartment, we spent Saturday afternoon at Ryan and Melissa's and enjoyed some quality outdoor time! This was the longest that Declan has been outside. Don't worry we were in the shade, all of us and we did have sunscreen on. Except Declan of course, because he is too young for sunscreen. He did so great! And he looked absolutely adorable in his little swim trunks and rash guard. Declan and daddy have matching ones! However, Declan will rapidly outgrow his outfit. Auntie Melissa got some quality cuddle time in! Jonathan brought Declan's duckie bathtub to the pool so he could have his first "pool" experience. We filled it with warm water from the apartment and Uncle Ryan  hung out with him at his own personal pool. However, he is such a long boy that his feet touch one end and his head on the other side. So he couldn't kick like he does in the bath tub, he just pushed from one side to the next!

Cuddling with Uncle Ryan

Lounging in his Duck Pool!

A Special Visitor!

 One of my dearest friends came down to Albuquerque from Denver this weekend to meet Declan! Leanne has been so wonderful making multiple trips during our pregnancy to come down for various events. It meant so much to all of us that she made the special trip! Not to mention that it meant the world to me to have my special friend around, food for the soul is sometimes the best medicine! XOXO!

Our growing boy!

Our sweet boy is getting so so big! Yikes! It really is true, "they get so big, so fast." And they look so different every day. One day I think he looks like Jonathan and then he will make a face that reminds me of baby pictures of myself. One thing is for sure, he is just beautiful. We had his first pediatrician appointment.We had been getting his first month of care at the Birth Center where I was receiving my care. 

The Declan Report

• Weight: 13 lbs 8oz in the 98th percentile
• Height/Length: 24.5 inches 99th percentile
• Head circumference: 15.75 inches 96th percentile
• He smiles! Now he even smiles without any silly noises or stimulation! 

We have started walking again! Yay! And the weather is cooperating...hopefully it stays that way. We had to take a break from the walking for a bit because of some health complications and also because the weather was just plain gross. Spring is my least favorite season in New Mexico, basically because of the disgusting wind. But it is the season where everything starts to bloom, including our wisteria vine on the front porch! The irrigation water starts back up and the birds (ducks come back! And the cranes with the creepy eyes move on) We have been walking with the Baby Bjorn and also with our awesome Bob Stroller. Declan tries really hard to stay awake on our walks, but sleep usually wins about 15 to 20 minutes into the walk.

 

Daddy and Declan time!

 Look at those blue blue eyes! Because Jonathan is the one that is usually taking all the pictures very rarely is there pictures of Jonathan. So I have been trying to make sure I get lots of pictures of the two of them together. Declan is holding up his head, talking lots and lots, and learning to smile. Right now he smiles real big, mostly on one side of his mouth and it looks like he might have some dimples in there! Of course I could spend hours trying to catch the smile on film, but...obviously I haven't. Otherwise it would be front and center!

Lucy was interested for a few quick minutes and then moved on to something else. Declan was not quite sure what to think of Lucy.

The dogs do really well with Declan, they are curious. Especially curious if he is talking or fussing. The crying definitely makes Ramble extremely concerned. He gets a little frantic, its very endearing.

Declan LOVES to be in the water! We have this adorable video of him kicking like crazy in the bath tub, so cute. I would love to post it on the blog, but his little boy bits are showing. And in order to not be "those parents" I can't put it out there for everyone to see.






How cute is he?! He is starting to fill out his cheeks and getting the cutest little rolls on his thighs and arms! The last time he was weigh, which was about a week and a half ago, he weighed 12lbs 8oz! We go to his pediatrician on Monday so we will see how much he has grown.

And sometimes just when we think he is done peeing and pooping and we have him all clean, mommy is giving him a baby massage and he pees all over his clean self.....leading to a sink bath because he already pooped in the bath water in the tub!

Uncle Ryan and Aunt Melissa....

 

All of us at the Maple house could not be more excited for Ryan and Melissa! So excited for Melissa to officially be part of the family! Yay!

Our little sapling is a month old!

A MONTH! WHOA! How did that happen?! All I know is that we are so in love with Declan. I mean look at his sweet face, how could you not be in love?

And to answer the question, yes he has such a sweet, mellow temperament. Yes, Jonathan and I created this beautiful being. I tried really hard everyday of my pregnancy to be calm and at peace with the world around me. I tried hard, but we will have to have Jonathan vouch for how I really did. But judging by how calm Declan is, I think I may have done my job quite well.
Our little guy is becoming more and more interactive and staying awake more as well. He looks at us like he is ready to laugh and smile or that he has a LOT to say!
Jonathan got on the scale with him last night and Declan probably weighs around 11lbs. He is starting to get the cutest cheeks!
How is the sleeping schedule? We try really hard to have the same routine, go to bed around 9:00ish, he sleeps usually until around 2:00am, then till about 5:30am. Jonathan and I do all of the baby care stuff together. Except for the feeding business, for obvious reasons. But Jonathan helps to burp him and then do the diapers. Jonathan is the cloth diapering king, and not just plan old easy to use disposable diapers, cloth diapers. And he is awesome! He has this fantastic cleaning system worked out and already has the gears turning for a new and improved changing station. The thing about having kids is it gives you all sorts of new ideas and inspirations for inventions!
Honestly and truly, Jonathan is just wonderful. He is an amazing father and husband. I am so thankful for him.
Sorry for the delay on blog posts. This mommy has bronchitis. Yuck! Just went to the Urgent Care since I had been feeling awful for over five days with no improvement. The cough is really really awful for someone who just had a major abdominal surgery a little over four weeks ago...Ow. And unfortunately just starting today Declan has a little bit of a cough and some boogies...we've been on a Harry Potter watching marathon! 
I will try to be better about more frequent posts, since I am at home with the little love!

XOXO,

The Happy Mommy

------And now the happy Big Daddy Tree!!------

Dear God,

Thank you for making it the woman who carries Human Kind's babies.  All of the other stuff aside (if you need reminders of said stuff...review last nine months on our blog), my lovely bride's temperament has made a lasting impression on Declan.  This gives him a fighting chance at...well...doing damn near everything with a great deal more emotional intelligence than his father ever had.  If I was me...and I am, I would say that I am quite happy for this.  Sweet, sweet baby boy, your Mother continues to bless us by keeping you softly grounded.  Let's get as much of that as possible before your Daddy starts teaching you to fart with your arm pits, shoot spit wads with stealth out of a well concealed nostril shot and rain fiery death upon ant hills with dual magnifying glasses.  Good times...and a lot of explaining ahead I'm sure.

With Tara being super sick (honestly, I don't know where she gets the energy to keep going...she hasn't caught a break in the last 2 months!!) things have been a bit more difficult. Mainly the food.  I can cook(ish) lots of things.  Things that are best consumed at Breakfast and Lunch.  Dinner...welllll that's always been a bit of a weak point for me.  Tara's cooking is second to none.  No man worth his weight in salt is going to make his sick wife cook!  For all of you that have brought us food, PRAISE THE HEAVENS AND THANK YOU!!  Your generosity has helped us so so much.

Even with the bumpy road, life is good.  Keep on bringing the love. 

--Big Daddy Tree