4 Months of Parenting Under Our Belts

 

The last month has been very eventful.  I feel like we're finding our groove and from what I've heard from other parents, that means things will be changing shortly.  Otis is sleeping better, we get four to five hour stretches at the beginning of the night, followed by another two to three hour stretch and sometimes a little more depending on the morning, the awake times in between the sleeping are much shorter now, usually ten to fifteen minutes rather than an hour.  I've been feeling so much better than I was for the first couple of months as my sleep deprivation is lessening.  Otis is much more alert and active.  He spends time playing with toys on his own, grabbing and putting things in his mouth.  He's been drooling a lot, so could be teething soon, according to our doctor.  He hasn't rolled over yet, but I think it's going to happen very soon.  He's able to get his head and chest off the ground and sticks his butt in the air.  Seems like he just needs to figure out what happens next.  Otis' four month well baby doctor appointment was yesterday morning, he had his third round of vaccinations.  He did great!  He weighs fourteen pounds, two ounces and is twenty four and a half inches long.  Our doctor says he's exactly where he's supposed to be.  I love the rolls on his thighs!!!!  Otis laughs a lot now and is talking like crazy, he gets frustrated and lets me know all about it.  He's also really into standing.  Bev (Otis' Nonni, Tony's Grandma) still comes over every Tuesday to spend time with Otis and help me around the house, she is a HUGE blessing!!!!!

Visiting with Nonni Bev

Chewing on EVERYTHING he can get into his mouth!

The weekend of March 12th Otis went on his first road trip.  Heather, Roxie, Otis and I drove down to San Luis Obispo for Shannon's 40th birthday celebration.  Otis did great on the drive down.  The drive back wasn't as good.  We were only in SLO for about seventeen hours and then back in the car for another eight hours.  I think it was just too much car for Otis at one time. 

 

While in SLO we stayed at Cole's house with the Yoches', Otis and Dylan were able to spend some time together... 

 

 

Jeni Fujita was in California from New York and stopped by for a visit on March 14th.

Jeni and Otis

Post Bath Time

March 30th was absolutely gorgeous, Tony came home from work and told me to get myself ready and pack up Otis for his first beach outing.  We drove out to Bodega Bay and had a wonderful time!!!!

Greg, Karen and Devon (who's ten months old) arrived for a visit on April 2nd.  It was lovely having their company and getting to see Otis and Devon together was absolutely precious.

Cousin Devon and Otis

Cousin Devon, Otis and Auntie Karen

Click on the link below for a video that was taken last Friday (April 8th).  Debbie came over to hang out with Otis, while Tony and I went out to dinner and then to a surprise birthday celebration for Xochitl.  

Otis & Nana (Debbie) Stumbaugh

Otis went to his first party last Sunday, April 10th.  The Sunset season opener at Stafford Lake.  A beautiful day spent with friends

Otis and Lacy

Otis and Xochitl

These last two photos are of Tony when he was a baby, just to see how much Otis looks like his Dad!

Three Months of Otis

Just about 3 months into the parenthood roller coaster now, our ride has been surprisingly mellow. Well, aside from the lack of sleep and everything, but that has gotten much better. The last few nights in particular Otis has slept up to 6 hours at a time. Thank god/buddah/satan/whotheflipever as the extra rest has been much needed.

Otis has started to smile, and the act is a gift that gives a feeling of happiness that cannot be matched. His smiling has added to the destruction of productivity around the house, we are luckily we have enough time to eat and use the bathroom. Sometimes we even get to shower! His laugh has started to form, previously it was like a kitten soundlessly choking in the desert, now its more like something between an elephant squeezing a rubber horn and a drunk hyena who is beginning to squeeze out a cackle.

Our dear friend Patrice visited us a few weeks ago to assist in our belated holiday photo shoot. We're still in the editing phase and excited to show off the final results, coming soon to a mailbox near you. Patrice took over 300 photos and gave us a couple of teaser shots to share with the extended family.

It's incredible and strange to notice to slow and steady growth of an infant. You get really caught up in the daily activities, changing diapers, cooking food, going to work, changing diapers, cleaning up baby projectiles, doing dishes etc. that the daily growth and changes happening can go unoticed. All of a sudden clothes aren't fitting right, an extra layer of baby fat has emerged from the chin and the legs get round and beefy.

The past week has been a little rough as Otis got his first bout of sickness. He has since gotten both Melanie and I sick and we've been pretty messed up ever since. It's quite sad when your baby is crying because he is confused about being so sick. The hardest part being that there is nobody to take care us, normally when Melanie is sick I can take care of her and vice versa. Who takes care of the family when every member is feeling like a dumpster truck filled with manure?

We've had another wave of great visitors! Crisco and Nicole, Brandon and Annie, and Caryn. It's been nice to see so many friends make the trek up here to meet the Dirty Diaper Prince. Otis seems to enjoy the social atmosphere and tends to be calm when alot of other people are talking wild. Plus the wine we drink helps him sleep:)

My Grandma has been coming by every Tuesday while I'm away at work to help Melanie out. We've been getting spoiled as she brings food with her every time and has done a number on weeds growing in our front yard.

I know it must be common for parents to think they have the best/cutest baby in the world, but we think we win!

We're looking forward to spring time, the hills are calling and I'm anxious to take Otis into the woods for some good hikes. I've basically missed/missing the mushroom season this year due to Otis being born, it's worth it though! Every time I see chantrelles at work I miss the Santa Cruz mountains. But sometimes we just miss Santa Cruz in general. I'm definitely missing my old friends at Beckmann's, relationships through work that special aren't easily attained. Even though we've been in the north bay for two years now, we are still in the process of planting our roots, making new connections, and extending our community.

We're also starting to plan projects for the house in the summer season. The biggest of the projects is getting a new roof. We're also going to be giving our master bath a makeover, the supplies are purchased, now it's just about timing with getting it done. Also Whitney Anderson has got me convinced that we can paint the outside of our house, we'll see if we can pull that out off as well. Apparently all we need is a keg of beer, some pizza, and the volunteers will come. Sounds fun either way! We've also been doing some OODE prep, taking our baby to Oregon for a camping trip is going to be a big new experience. Usually the car is packed to the gills with our own junk (and hooch), not exactly sure how we're going to manage getting all of it in our car along with Otis' big back of tricks.

Thats all for now folks, lots of love from the Stumbaugh's, more good times to come!

-TMO