Waking Up to the World

Sawyer recognizes his own name now! We love calling out his name and then watching him turn his head to see who's calling him. It is so cute. My little baby is waking up to the world around him.

Yesterday, I was a slightly concerned because he hadn't pooped all day. He normally has 2-3 poops a day. Turns out, he was saving it all up for me this morning. I woke up to a major explosion! Sawyer's poop was so forceful, it blew right out of his diaper, soaked through his shirt, and onto the sheets. It's a good thing I've become marvelously adept at cleaning up poopy messes. Needless to say, we had bath time a little earlier today.

Sawyer was so excited to see Cliff come home from work this evening, I could barely change his diaper. He kept squirming on the changing table because he didn't want to lose sight of his Dad. Cliff scooped him right up after I was done and Sawyer lit up like a Christmas tree.

Sawyer and I cuddled a lot today. I didn't want to let him go. The bigger he gets, the more fun it is to cuddle because there's more of him to hold onto! I love my little guy so much, I can't stand it. I just want to lavish him with affection nonstop. It's a wonder I get anything done around the house.

Sleeping Through the Night

I am happy to report Sawyer slept 6 hours straight for the past 3 consecutive nights! This is a huge deal because up until now he has been waking up every 2-4 hours during the night to eat. I hear this is a common occurrence with breastfed babies because breast milk digests so much more rapidly than formula. At around 3 months, he did sleep for 6 hours straight once. I am hoping that this pattern continues.

Before Sawyer, I needed at least 9-10 hours of sleep a night to feel rested. It's funny how things change. Now, I am rejoicing over 6 hours of sleep! 6 hours feels like a luxury when you've been functioning on 2-4.

I have also started transitioning Sawyer from our bed into his own crib. Up until this past week, he had been sleeping right next to me. The arrangement was just easier because he refused to sleep on his own from day 1. Having him in bed with me allowed us all to get sleep. Plus, it was easier for me to breastfeed him throughout the night. However, now he is way too mobile and I am scared of him falling out of our bed.

So far he has done well in his crib. A few weeks ago, I started out by putting him in there during the day so that he could get use to his surroundings. He'd play with his toys in the crib and take mini naps (10-15 minutes). At first he hated it, but now he's completely comfortable being in there.

The next thing we are planning to work on is nap time. The goal is to get him to nap on his own for more than 10-15 minutes. Right now the only way I can get him to nap for any length of time, is if I nap with him, which just isn't practical.

Here he is sleeping tonight. I love how long his eyelashes have gotten.

I caught him smiling in his sleep.

This is him the other night in his favorite sleep position. He loves to sleep on his belly with his butt up in the air and his legs Indian style. This is how he sleeps 95% of the time.

99 Balloons

99 Balloons is a beautiful, heart wrenching tribute to a little baby boy named Eliot from his Dad. I was not prepared for how much it affected me. I could not stop crying.

Eliot was born with Trisomy 18. Despite knowing what they were facing, his parents never saw him as anything but a blessing and celebrated each day.

My favorite part of the video is when his Dad gets ready for his feeding shift and tells him that the best part of his day has begun. "We love learning how to best take care of you. We love it."

See video here.

Sawyer Laughs and Squeals

I love this video! Sawyer loves it when we bounce him up and down like he's jumping. He will start laughing and squealing!




I took this picture of him earlier today. My beautiful baby brings me so much joy every day!

His feet are munchable.

Pics and Vid of the Day

I put Sawyer in his stroller and stroll him around the house with me while I clean and cook. I love how he just kicks back with his feet up on the tray and watches me do my thing.


Sawyer loves attention from his Dad! If Cliff is busy doing something, Sawyer will start karate kicking in his chair like mad to get his attention.

I caught Sawyer on video doing mouth farts!

No More Solid Food and Mouth Farts

I started Sawyer on rice cereal a few days ago based on his Pediatrician's recommendation. However, I am reading that the current recommendation from UNICEF, the WHO, and the AAP is to wait 6 months before starting solid foods. Starting solid foods too early can result in digestive or allergy problems later in life.

Of course after reading this, I become alarmed and call our Pediatrician right away to find out why he recommended Sawyer start now. Turns out it's really a judgment call. He gave us the green light to start now because Sawyer displayed excellent head control, which is a sign of being ready for solids. Apparently, they use to always recommend 6 months, but most parents who come in, are anxious to start earlier. So, the policy was revised to 4 months, provided the signs of readiness are there.

I'm choosing to wait until Sawyer is at least 6 months. So, no more cereal! What is the logic in replacing a nutritionally perfect food (breast milk) with a nutritionally imperfect food (cereal) at this point? The only thing cereal does is teach him how to eat. It has absolutely no nutritional value; not that he’s actually eating the cereal. 95% of it ends up dripping down his chin.

When I do start him on solids again at 6 months, I think I may just ditch the cereal and go gung-ho with organic veggies and/or iron rich meat.

Our little Chunky Monk has discovered yet another new way to amuse us. He makes farting noises with his mouth. We were driving around today, running errands, and the entire time he was 'farting' with his mouth. You gotta love it!

Here's the little dumpling now sitting in front of our house getting fresh air and sunshine. My baby infant looks like a little boy when he dresses to go out.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Tea Garden

I took Sawyer to the Morikami Museum and Japanese Tea Garden today for a change of scenary. It is beautiful there.

The following is a description found on their website:

“The Morikami Museum Collection houses 5,000 Japanese art objects and artifacts, including a 500-piece collection of tea ceremony items, more than 200 textile pieces and recent fine art acquisitions. The 200 acres that surround The Morikami’s two museum buildings include expansive Japanese gardens with strolling paths, resting areas, tropical bonsai collection, small lakes teeming with koi and other wildlife, nature trails, pine forests and park and picnic areas.”

Here he is at the front of the Morikami.

In his car seat, ready to go home.

I couldn’t resist getting him a Japanese Yukata from the gift shop.

Sawyer's First Night of Solid Food

Sawyer took his 1st spoonful of rice cereal today! I gave him 1 tablespoon of Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Rice Cereal mixed with 3 tablespoons of breast milk, so the consistency was relatively thin. He did better than I expected. Most of the cereal came dripping out of his tiny mouth and down his cute little chin, but he took the spoon right in. At one point, he even grabbed the spoon from me. He wanted to hold and chew on it.

I plan on feeding Sawyer only organic foods for at least the 1st year of his life. His brain and body are developing so rapidly at this point, I want to be sure he's getting nothing but the best! I also plan to continue breastfeeding for as long as he'll let me. I love it so much.

Here he is checking out the box. He's reading the ingredients making sure it all passes inspection.

His first spoonful.

His bib is getting most of the cereal.

Well Baby Visit

Sawyer went to see his Pediatrician today for his 4 month Well Baby visit. As soon as the nurse saw us, she shouted out, "Oh my goodness! I can't believe how big he's gotten!" She remembers us coming in with him all ragged and tired when he was just 2 days old.

Our little peanut is healthy and thriving! His Pediatrician was amazed at how much head control he has. His neck muscles are definitely stronger and steadier than most babies his age. I think it's because we started him on tummy time at 2 weeks old, so he's had ample time to practice lifting his head. Sawyer also got his 2nd round of shots and took it like a brave little champ. He cried as the nurse was administering the shots, but the second she was done, so was he. He even smiled for his Mama.

Cat Scratch Fever

Sawyer has made a marvelous new discovery. How to scratch! He initially started doing this around Christmas, but for the past week, he has been scratching with regularity. Whatever surface his hand is next to, he will scratch it with fervor.

If we are sitting in the glider nursing, he will scratch the back of the chair with his sweet little hand tucked behind me. If he is in his crib playing, he will scratch the sheets. If he is in his car seat, he will scratch the armrest.

Not only does he love to scratch, but he also loves the sound it makes. He is mesmerized by it and will stare at his fingers in awe while doing it. Lol…

Here he is today sitting outside with our dog Enya. Enya is so sweet with Sawyer. She loves him. When they are together, I have to constantly watch to make sure she doesn’t give him a tongue bath and get dog juice all over his face.

Here he is with his daddy. What a cute pair!

Here he is napping in his chair. I couldn’t resist. He looks like an angel, so peaceful.

And last, but not least, my favorite picture of the day:

Photoshoots and the Ergo

My very 1st blog entry in my brand new blog! This time, I am going to try my best not to abandon writing in it for Sawyer’s sake. I think he’ll get a kick out of reading about himself when he’s older.

My little babe is growing up so quickly already. I can’t believe he’s 4 months old. I have been documenting his growth through pictures and it is really quite something seeing him transform before our very eyes.

I love taking pictures of Sawyer. He is generally a pretty good sport about it too, but lately he’s been reaching the end of his rope sooner rather than later, so I have to be quick with it. When we first start out, he can’t smile and coo enough. But after 15-20 minutes of being twisted and wrangled in various posing positions he starts to get a little peeved. Can you blame him though? Poor little guy. He’s just so cute and I am so proud of him, I can’t help but take a million pictures.

Today, we went grocery shopping at Super Target. I had Sawyer in his Ergo and he was content the entire time. Not one peep. He absolutely loves being carried in it. Initially, I had my doubts about trying out yet another carrier as I had tried 3 others before and he hated every single one. But, alas, the Ergo. The best little baby carrier ever made! Not only is it comfortable for him (his weight is dispersed between the hips and thighs), but it is also comfortable for me. I can carry him for hours in that thing without feeling like my back is about to give out. I can’t say enough about it. It has truly given me the freedom to shop with my hands free.

Here is a picture of his Dada wearing him in the Ergo.