Strawberry mark

Yep, you have a little strawberry mark on the back of your leg just below your knee. It appeared when you were a few weeks old. At first, it was small and we thought maybe you got your leg pinched in the car seat or something. It started to get bigger and more raised over the next couple of months.

I was reading a parenting magazine and came across an article about baby birthmarks. When I read the description about hemangiomas, it sounded exactly like yours. The doctor later confirmed that it was a strawberry mark.

Hemangiomas are a common vascular birthmark. Their cause is unknown. The color results from the development of blood vessels at the site. Strawberry hemangiomas (strawberry mark, nevus vascularis, capillary hemangioma, hemangioma simplex) may develop several weeks after birth. Many strawberry hemangiomas, cavernous hemangiomas, and salmon patches are temporary and do not need treatment. Strawberry hemangiomas usually grow quickly, stay the same size, and then go away. Ninety-five percent of strawberry hemangiomas disappear by the time the child is 9 years old. However, there may be some slight discoloration or puckering of the skin where a strawberry hemangioma was.

I'm glad it's nothing serious. We got lucky that it's in a hidden spot so it's not very noticeable. It just makes you extra special!

Daycare highlights

You're famous!

Your daycare sends out a daily email that discusses what you did each day and adds a few photos. I think you're usually too young to really join in the activities, so we don't get to see your photo very often. Yesterday, we were pleasantly surprised to see you having fun!

First Thanksgiving

Over the weekend was your first roadtrip to Indiana and your first Thanksgiving! Mommy was a little nervous about how you would adapt, but you did very well. Here's you all bundled up and ready to go on Wednesday night. You love to suck on your hand!You slept the whole way there! When we got there, you and Daddy rocked in the rocking chair to get ready for bed.
Thanksgiving day, we went over to Great-Grandma & Great-Grandpa Tunison's house for lunch. You and Grady had fun in the together!
You and Daddy hanging out while you watch football
Everyone stood around to watch as you and Grady sat on the couch for pictures.

I love Grady's evil grin as he's attacking you!
And this is everyone's favorite photo as you spit up all over yourself!
Everyone took turns holding you. Here's you and Grandma Tunison.
Great-Grandma Tunison and you
Great-Grandpa Swann trying to calm you down when you started getting tired
And here you are relaxing after a long day with the family...

The next day, we were very busy visiting with family & friends again. Our first stop was back at Great-Grandma Tunison's so she could spend some extra time with you. You got your pants wet so they were in the dryer while she was holding you.

Our next stop was to see Christy, Great-Grandma Swann & Great-Grandpa Swann at their house. You were very happy to show of your big grins for them.

You and Great-Grandpa Swann bonded instantly!Both of you in your overalls!
Great-Grandma Swann took her turn to hold you
And right after this photo, you pooped in your cute overalls and you had to change!
And here you are in your diaper playing with Great-Grandpa's keys so you wouldn't get another outfit dirty before our next stop!
Our last stop of the day was to Lindsey, Joe & Grant's house to see the Lough family. Here's Camden and his Mommy Jaime saying hi to you.
And our last stop was at McAllister's because your Mommy had to have some sweet tea and take you there for your first time!
We had a fun weekend despite your Mommy getting sick and then passing her sniffles on to you. You got to meet a lot of Daddy's family members and spend some time with your extended family.

3 months

Happy 3 Months to my little guy!

As usual, we only made it so far before you spit up on the calendar and wet the paper!

By the time I got you next to the sock monkey, you were not very happy!

3 Month Milestones:
• Approx. 9 lbs and ? oz is our guess at your weight. You didn't have a doctor appointment this month

• You have discovered both hands and we're working on grabbing things and clasping your hands together

• Sleeping through the night is no problem for you and you're usually sleeping for 10-11 hours straight!

• You still wear some newborn size pants, but you're mostly in 3 month size clothes. Some of the 3 month clothes are still too big for your little butt and skinny legs! (Thank your mommy for that one)

• You started drinking 4 oz. bottles of milk at daycare

• We've been working all weekend on trying to get you to say "hi" to us. We don't really know if you're saying it, but it sure sounds like it!

• Smiles, smiles, and more smiles!

Thankful this year

I've never been more thankful on Thanksgiving than this year. The one wish I wanted more than anything came true and it's the best thing I could ever ask for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Overall cuteness

I cannot stop looking at these photos! Serious cuteness!

He takes after Mommy with his love of overalls!

Happy 3 months, baby!

Working Mom - Day 2

Everyone at work kept asking how I was doing. All day, I said it wasn't as bad as I thought. I told them I haven't cried and I'm not too tired.

Fast forward to yesterday (day 2) in the afternoon
I just left a meeting at 4 and was on my way back to my desk to pack up and go home. I passed my boss and she said there was a meeting that we weren't originally invited to that was pretty important. I felt like I should be there so I ran over to the conference room. It was important, so I'm glad I was there, but I kept staring at the clock. I was thinking if I leave by 5, I'll be fine and I'll be home in time to feed the baby. The meeting was supposed to end at 4:30, but everyone kept talking. I figured I was fine and was out of the office by 5. But then there was traffic...lots of it. I forgot how bad it was when I left the office at 5. I was hurrying to get home and doing my usual Chicago-style driving.

When I walked in the door, there was my little man in my husband's arms with a smile on his face. But why was he smiling? He's usually cranky and hungry at 5:45. He just had a bottle. Crap. I guess I didn't make it clear that by feeding him a bottle, I still have to pump and that means I only got to breastfeed once the entire day. I was hurrying around to try to make dinner, find time to pump, clean the litter box, get bottles ready, get packed for tomorrow, and keep the baby occupied. I was feeling super overwhelmed and the migraine didn't help.

As I got Connor in his pajamas, I started to cry. This is what I thought it would be like. Overwhelming, stressful, etc. By the time I got everything done, I was already an hour past when I needed to pump. Connor was super tired and needed to be in bed by 6:30. My migraine was raging. I ended up pumping once instead of twice and going to bed at 7:45.

So day 2 - not so good once I got home. But for day 3, I started out with some migraine medicine when I woke up, so hopefully, it will be a little better.

Working Mom - Day 1

Well, I made it. I have 12 minutes left of my work day and I'm still alive.

I shed a couple tears on the way out the door as we packed up the car, but I was fine the rest of the day. Oh wait, when the daycare left a voicemail saying Connor was doing good, I started to get choked up too. But no tears!

The first part of the day seemed like it went by slowly, but it was nice to count down the hours after lunch. I was able to escape for pumping without too much trouble, but it does get in the way when you're in the middle of something. It was actually a nice break so it wasn't as horrible as I thought.

Everyone at work has been supportive so far which is really nice. I came in to find this on my computer : ) I can't help but smile every time I see it!I can't wait to see my baby smile in just a little bit!

Week 11 and the end of SAHM

The 11th week of your life is a big one for me because it's my last week of maternity leave. I'll officially be a working mom on the day you turn 12 weeks old. This week, I really tried to treasure every minute that we had together.

We spent a lot of time playing this week and introducing you to some of your toys I've been saving. You're moving so much that it's getting harder to get good photos of you! They're all blurry!

I love the smile!

The squeaker on Sophie scared you a little, so we'll put that one back for awhile...

I had a few crafts to finish up this week, so you hung out on the yellow blanket in the craft room.

Your left hand! How funny that you found your left hand when your left-handed Mommy was working on crafts!

Showing off your new discovery!

This week, we met up with our new mom group at Potbelly. It was great to meet some new moms and babies AND a new addition that's younger than you! It was weird seeing a baby that was smaller than you and really makes me see how much you've grown. Anyway, we took over a few huge tables in the middle of the restaurant and attracted quite a lot of attention. I'm really going to miss these outings and meeting so many other nice people.

By Friday, I was starting to get sad as it got more real that we only had a few days left together. I took tons of pictures of you while we snuggled in bed.

You fell asleep in my "spot."

One of the other big things we did this week was your first big boy bath & shower! I don't have any photos, but we had a really fun time. I filled up our bath tub with a few inches of water and we both got in. You absolutely loved getting water poured on you and floating while I held you. On Sunday, you took a shower with Daddy! I don't think you enjoyed it as much, but as usual, you loved getting dried off and snuggling in your towel.

I promised I wouldn't turn this post into a sob fest, so I'm ending here. I love you.