Back to work!

I hadn't posted in a little while because things here have been pretty busy as of late!
We have lots of pictures that I wanted to share though (and also I have the extra incentive to post lots of photos now because I want to be able to see more current pictures of my boy when I start missing him at work!)
This Monday marked not only North's 8 week milestone but also my return to work and our start in developing a routine for our "normal" life--turns out that is a bit challenging! Where do all of the hours in the day go?
Being back at work is both great (I love my job) and heartbreaking (I miss getting to see North and Alan as much as I did while on leave). The daily commute from Terre Haute to Bloomington has long been an issue but, now that North is in the picture, it is far more grueling than before. Hopefully someday we will move...
North is doing wonderful with adjusting to the change though. He's doing very well with taking bottles for Nana and cousin Melissa who are watching him this week. I think that he's having a great time and I am so thankful that we have such supportive family who volunteered to watch him for a while before he begins daycare (which won't happen for another 3+ weeks!). Thank you Melissa, Nana, and Grandma!
Since my last post, North has had lots of adventures. He and I had a sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's before my last day of maternity leave (Alan had band practice that night).

Sleepover with Grandma!

On my last day of maternity leave, we spent the day in Indianapolis shopping, having lunch with Grandma and Grandpa and then going home and playing with daddy.

Shopping!

Playing! North now holds his head up quite steady and regularly--he thinks it's great fun!

He also likes to "talk" to us--which is largely just coos, grunts, gurgles, and laughs.

Saturday we left North for the first time. I didn't want the first time I was ever away from him to be when I was gone for 12 whole hours for work so, on Saturday we had a "trial run" away from him for just a few hours. Alan and I got dinner and saw a movie while grandma and grandpa played with North.
We were so nervous/sad to leave him for the first time but ended up having a great time getting some time alone together. I think North had a great time too.

Can you see the anxiety?

North clearly had a great time though! Didn't miss US a bit!

Now that I'm back at work, we're apart for far more time each day. I don't have any pictures from him at Nana's from the week but I know that he's having fun.

I can't believe how quickly he's growing. His new "tricks" are grabbing onto things and shaking them (see below with his toy) and holding his head and shoulders up while on his belly.

My sweet baby

First "Emergency"

Today North had his first "emergency" visit. And Bridgett, as a result, had her first major mommy freak out session.
We met Alan for lunch, came home and played for a bit and then, as I was laying North down for his afternoon nap, I noticed that his right ear was FULL of dried blood. I of course FREAKED out instantly (poor Alan talking to his panicky, crying wife on the phone--sorry honey!) and drove him straight to the ambucare clinic.
After waiting in the waiting room for what felt like an ETERNITY, we finally got to go back to an examination room. The nurse took his temperature and said it was 99.8--so he had a slight fever--further freaking out by me. She scraped off most of the blood with a dry q-tip and said the doctor would be in soon.
The doctor finally came in, stuck his little ear examiner thingie in--took about 2 seconds-- examined the inside of his ear and said he was fine. Whew! Relief! Everything looked good. It seems he just got one of those little fingers of his in there at some point and must have dug around for a bit causing lots of blood but not any real damage. He said the fever was probably just because I was freaking out and holding him so close against me--probably just raised his temp a bit.
We're home now and are BOTH now ready for an afternoon nap. Yeesh--pretty scary!
I of course didn't get any pictures of the ear before we headed to the doctor and the nurse cleaned it out but here's what it looked like after it was cleaned and we got back home---there's still little bits of blood that didn't come off from the dry q-tip that we'll need to get with a wet washcloth later tonight. I snapped a few to commemorate his first emergency doctor visit and my first major freak out.
Such a relief that everything is fine : ).

Holding his head up

I can't believe how big he is getting--he's already 7 weeks (and 2 days) old!
He holds his head up pretty well now. He's been able to hold it up for very small amounts of time ever since he was born but it seems each day lately, his neck gets a little bit stronger.
Here's a photo of him holding it up while on his belly. And also a couple of others from the same day.

Another Milner family weekend!

This weekend, North again got to spend some time with the Milner family. We had such fun seeing Nana, Grand-dad, Uncle Adam, Aunt Angie, and cousins Connor and Madi. There were quite a few adventures throughout the visit including North's first tick (yikes!--not pictured), visits with some of the extended family, and a new puppy.

Saturday: On Saturday we spent the day at Nana and Grand-dads. North just loved seeing Aunt Angie, his cousins, and Nana while his daddy, uncle Adam, and Grand-dad worked to remove the old pasture fence at Nana and Grand-dad's house. Connor spent most of the day helping "the boys" but made a few trips in to give North some lovies. Great-uncle Bruce stopped by to help remove the fence and North also got to visit with his 2nd cousin Matthew, up visiting from New Orleans.

Smiling at Aunt Angie

3 cute kids (in my totally un-biased opinion)

Sweet cousin Connor and North making faces at him--they are going to have such fun together growing up!

Aunt Angie held North while the cousins swam

Sunday: On Sunday, Nana took Connor and Madi to town where they bought a new toy poodle puppy for Nana's house! Connor and the puppy, Coco, became fast friends. North again got to spend the day with Nana, Aunt Angie, and cousins Connor and Madi while Grand-dad, Uncle Adam, and Daddy worked on removing the fence.
In the evening, we all went to great-uncle Bruce and great-aunt Rhonda's for dinner and to visit with more family. North got to see Mimi, great-aunt Kathy, 2nd cousins Erin, Kristin (who will be having a baby of her own soon!), Matthew, and Tyler the pup.

Connor introduces North to Nana's new poodle puppy Coco

Nana playing with North as he smiles for the camera and Coco watches

Daddy and Uncle Adam work with Grand-dad to take down the old pasture fence

Cousin Madi, Uncle Adam, 2nd cousin Matthew, great-aunt Kathy, and 2nd cousin Erin

cousin Madi, aunt Angie, Daddy, great-aunt Rhonda, 2nd cousin Matthew, "cousin" Tyler (the other poodle pup of the weekend), and cousin Connor

Drive-in!

On Friday night North took his first trip to the drive-in! And Bridgett and Alan got to go to the movies again for the first time since he was born! (We saw The Dark Knight (which was dark but good) and Journey to the Center of the Earth (which was silly)). He slept through both movies but we did get to play with him before the movies started.
He's fairly recently started smiling because he's actually happy (rather than simply because he has gas or is making random faces). He was all smiles that night before falling asleep--- which was pretty darn great.

Before the pacifier *incident*

North loves sunglasses. And his now destroyed pacifier. And grandma and grandpa.

R.I.P. my favorite pacifier of North's

This morning, after getting North dressed, we went downstairs to find that my favorite pacifier of North's (so cute with the little silver and white zebra!) had also become Ender's favorite pacifier of North's.

Guilty puppy caught in the act.
Below are the results of her love.

So sad.....

North gets to make more friends

Yesterday was a very good day for North.
It started with a package from Jaime Greathouse with the cutest gift ever! Sushi made from baby washcloths and finger puppets!

We also got North's robot I-Spy bag in the package! It's so cute and well-made! Jaime is so creative! I spent much of the afternoon searching for all of the trinkets and treasures inside...still searching for the elusive butterfly and key. Hopefully by the time North is old enough to play with it I will be able to share.

To get your own I-Spy bag or just see Jaime's other amazing creations, go here.

In the evening we had a cookout. North got to meet lots of new people (even a few babies!) and got another gift (thank you Devin, Jamie, and Andie!)

North with Greg and daddy


North with Levi

Future pals Lincoln (above) and Andie (below with her daddy Devin)

And another future pal Evie (due in 1 week) -- Craig and Lori's soon to arrive baby girl

He also got to see Lincoln's mommy Sam, Andie's mommy Jamie, and Emily. Sorry--not the best pictures.

Fun fun.