Whew!

Cam has certainly been a busy kid these past couple weeks. Busy fussing and fighting naps... but mostly busy being cute! So what have we been up to lately!??!


We've been making funny faces:

Cam has started to smile... for real. It's the most adorable thing. It's slight, and not teeth-bearing but it's a smile alright. He also is starting to recognize Mommy and Daddy. When Rick comes home and picks him up, he just stares at him in awe. It's precious.

We've also been celebrating birthdays! Happy 28th, Auntie A!!

We've been having play dates with Leela! Oh young love...

And of course, we've been looking cute. The rolls and cheeks are getting bigger every day!

Poor Cam has had a rough go at it the past few days. His tummy is not happy with him, he's exhausted from interrupted sleep and I finally decided we needed to go to the doctor. So, we went this morning and they upped his reflux medication dosage. The reason for increasing the dose? Well, he's outgrown his previous dosage weight requirements... our baby is now 12 pounds 4 ounces! Mr. Chubs!!

The doctor is sure this will help, so we are hopeful too! Here's to ringing in the new year with a settled tummy and better naps :)

Happy Chrismukkah!

Though we don't celebrate Christmas for its religious purpose, Rick and I both enjoy the holiday for what it represents -- being joyful, spending time with family and friends, and giving to others. I love the holiday spirit, the smells, the lights and the way you feel when you hear that Salvation Army bell ringing at every corner.

We spent Christmas Eve as any Jewish family would -- eating Chinese food with friends and family. We went to Chinatown with Allie, Hart, Izzy and some of their friends. We had never been to Chinatown before, and it was beautiful! I loved that I couldn't read a single sign, how the streets were buzzing with people and the Christmas lights lit up the town square. Cam also really enjoyed the Chinese food -- he slept his first 5 hour stretch ever that night!

While Cam slept through dinner, this cutie pie enjoyed her Chinese Christmas Eve:

The next morning, we woke up rested (thanks to Super Cam!) and ready to celebrate our holiday at home just the three of us. Rick brewed a pot of coffee and made pancakes, we built a fire and I turned on the Pandora Michael Buble Christmas Station (yes it exists!) We danced and sang our favorite songs, and Cam enjoyed some more diaper-free time!

We spent the morning opening our Chrismukkah socks and lounging around the house. Cam loved his new toys to hang from his playmat! In fact, he got so excited, he quickly pooped out and took a nap.

Later in the evening, we went to Izzy's house for a Hanukkah party. We ate more latkes, opened more presents and had more fun. Thanks for hosting us, Passmans!

This nugget knows how to open some presents! She helped Cam open his gifts...

Then she gave him his present. She's such a good sharer! 

Then she loved on "Baby!" 

Hope your holiday was just as merry! 

Giving Back

Growing up, my parents always emphasized the importance of giving back. They mostly led by example as they donated to charities, attended non-profit galas, and opened their home to those who needed food and shelter. We had many traditions growing up which I realize I didn't appreciate until I was much older... like "adopting" families for the holidays who needed help with presents at the holidays, delivering our leftover Thanksgiving food to the homeless, and making meals for Ronald McDonald house. My dad gave jobs to those who couldn't find work; my mom religiously donated our old clothes. There are so many more examples I'm not even thinking of, but the point is my parents instilled in us a desire to give to others, and I truly believe all three of my sisters and myself are better people because of these experiences.

Of course, one of the qualities I want to instill in my own son is a sense of gratitude and generosity. I want him to know how lucky he is to have more than he needs and all that he wants. One of the ways Rick and I plan to help Cam achieve this is to let him choose a charity or organization that he feels passionate about and make a contribution to it each holiday season. Obviously, the only decision Cam can make right now is if he'd rather eat or poop, so we have made the decision for him this year.

The Starlight Children's Foundation is an organization close to my heart. I interned for two summers granting wishes for terminally ill children, organizing outings for the children and planning activities within the hospitals to entertain the kids. It was such a brilliant place to work... passionate people who just wanted to make sick children feel good. So, this year, Cam has made his contribution to Starlight. We can't wait to see what he chooses to give back to as he gets older.

And because most of you read our blog for pictures of Cam, here are a few that you may enjoy (and have nothing to do with giving back!) Happy Holidays to everyone!!

Auntie Candy and Uncle Marion sent Cam the most adorable Hanukkah present -- a book about a super hero named Campbell! Cam already loves his story (and the accompanying super hero hat!)

Poor guy has had a horrible diaper rash for too long. Doctors orders? To give his bum some diaper-free time to air out. You heard that right... no diaper for this little infant who pees and poops around the clock! So, we've been doing a lot of naked tummy time... great for the bum, not so great for the play mat! This mama must figure out how to sanitize that thing!

 

Meeting Auntie Lori!

One of Cam's biggest fans, Auntie Lori, came to visit today with her gentleman friend, Kirk. While it was a short visit, they got to see Cam in all his glory. They both couldn't stop commenting on how cute he was and how blonde his hair still is. We had fun playing and hanging out at home. 

Don't take it personally Auntie Lori. If you're not bouncing, swinging, rocking, moving, or "Shhh"-ing, this is the Cam you'll get :) Still cute, but as we call him... Mr. Fussy Pants.

We even took Cam for his first Jewish Deli experience. He enjoyed waiting in line at Manny's for his corned beef sandwich and latke!

 And, Cam had his ultrasound today on his hips to ensure they were in place and not in need of any intervention due to hip dysplasia. We are happy to report that the radiologist gave us the "unofficial" news that his hips looked great and we are in the clear. Yay, Cam!



We can't wait for Lori and Kirk to come back to play sometime soon. We LOVED having them, and Cam already misses them so much, he had to take a nap to cope with his sadness.

I mean, can you believe those cheeks?!?!

Ladies (and a Gent) Who Lunch

Cam and I were invited over to Auntie Adrienne's house to indulge in a holiday lunch today! We obviously jumped on the chance to hang out with Auntie A and her sister, Monica. What hostesses they are! They prepared some delicious and quite fancy fare. We drank wine in fancy flutes, listened to some Hanukkah music (apparently Pandora has a Hanukkah station.. who knew there were even enough Hanukkah songs to fill a station!) It was the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon catching up on the week's events and getting some quality time in together. It was just what the doctor ordered!

Cam danced with Auntie A

And he looked at the pretty Christmas lights

Thank you, West sisters, for hosting such a perfect afternoon. We love you and can't wait to do it again! 

Cam's First Hanukkah!

It's been a hell of a week around here. From a lost wallet, to a breast infection, to Cam starting meds for acid reflux and some very rough nights, I was sure glad to have some holiday cheer to look forward to last night. Unfortunately because of said week, I really didn't prepare the house for the holiday as I have in the past. In fact, when Rick came home last night and we were ready to light the menorah, I realized I didn't even buy Hanukkah candles this year! Luckily we had some left over from last year, and our celebrations began!

Rick came home with a beautiful Hanukkah bouquet of flowers to make this mama feel better after a particularly overwhelming day. 

We lit both our menorahs -- our family menorah and Cam's special menorah from Mimi!

 I put pre-made latkes from Whole Foods in the microwave so we could have SOME taste of the holiday... I have not mastered the whole cooking with a newborn thing yet!

And then we opened presents. Cam opened his present from Mommy and Daddy. You can tell how excited he is in the picture below!

Candy will appreciate this gift. You see, she bought Cam an adorable monkey outfit before he was born. I planned to bring it to the hospital for him to wear as his coming home outfit. But, when I went to put it on him I realized it was a preemie size and even my little 6 pounder was too long for it! I was bummed because I thought it was so cute. Well, I found the outfit and bought this size for Hanukkah because it's just delicious. Monkeys for my little monkey!

Rick opened his gift from me... some new warm gloves for our frigid winters!

And I opened my gift from Rick... a new fancy wallet to replace the one I lost last week.

Here's to hoping the sparkle and cheer of this holiday lasts far beyond the eight days!

Bath Time Round 2

We made a second attempt at bath time last night. Rick made the water a little warmer, we used our bathroom for more space, and I took a chill pill. It all resulted in a much happier little baby in a tub.

Splish Splash!

Due to some lengthy circumcision healing, Campbell has been getting sponge bathed for the last five and half weeks! We were finally given the go ahead to give him a real bath, but because neither Rick nor I would be home together in the evening this week, and we both wanted to be part of his first water experience, we had to wait until last night for his first rub-a-dub-dub! He definitely does NOT take after his Mama when it comes to relaxing and enjoying bath time. It was kind of stressful and borderline painful to watch him as he squealed and squirmed throughout the entire thing.

I think the water needs to be warmer and I'm sure Cam will be loving his bath in no time.

The BEST part of the bath last night? When we were done and he was snuggling up in my arms in his towel he went straight for his thumb and started sucking! It was real thumb-sucking and melted my heart.

Here's to hoping tonight's bath goes more smoothly!

How To Survive The First Month of Parenthood

Figuring out this parenting thing has been quite a trip! Rick and I are a good team and we have had a tremendous amount of help from our families and friends as we have settled into our new roles. But what we have learned about surviving these first few weeks of parenting came from trial and error -- accidentally stumbling upon tricks and tips that somehow make Cam a little happier and a little more peaceful.

So to those of you new parents or soon-to-be new parents, take note. Here are some of our favorite gadgets, tricks and tips!

The Blow Dryer: we were told to play white noise when Cam is sleeping to help soothe him (it's supposed to mimic the sounds of the womb and help him feel comforted). Well, a few nights ago when Rick was trying to calm our little fussy pants down and I was attempting to dry my hair in the bathroom, Rick shouted "turn that back on!" Apparently, the blow dryer was an instant soother and Cam was instantly asleep at the sound of it. Needless to say, my blow dryer is about to blow from the amount of use it has gotten in the last few days!

Note -- I have since downloaded an app on my phone which plays a constant blow dryer noise. Only problem is as soon as someone texts or calls me, the app is interrupted and Cam starts screaming, right on cue. So, if you try to reach me and I don't answer my phone... assume the blow dryer is to blame!

The Miracle Blanket: this thing is like crack. It looks like torture but makes Cam melt like butter. As soon as we started using it, Cam has been sleeping better. And so have we!

The NoseFrida (aka Snot Sucker): This thing totally grossed Rick out when I first told him about it. But it's amazing! Poor Cam has been congested and it has made eating and sleeping rather challenging for him. So we took out the snot sucker, hopped in a steam shower with him and sucked away. It's strangely satisfying to watch how much you can get out of such a tiny nose! It's amazing what you'll do for your kids.

Indian DancingI: It's a very special, sacred dance that involves a precise heel-toe motion. Rick's boss pulled him aside a few weeks ago to show him this magical baby dance, and ever since we have been Indian Dancing Campbell to sleep when he's fussy or wide awake. I'll have to post a video soon to show you Rick in action.


Most of all, the best way to survive the newborn weeks is to take a look at the little peanut and remember how helpless he is and how his every need is being met by you. It's an overwhelming feeling and gets me through the brief moments of frustration. It just doesn't get much cuter than this:

One Month Stats

We had Campbell's one month check up yesterday and he proved to be a super star! Immediately upon seeing Cam, the doctor commented on how big he had gotten! Cam now weighs 10 lbs 6 oz (50th percentile) and is 20 3/4 inches long (25th percentile). I don't remember the exact measurement of his head circumference but it was in the 50th percentile, too!

The doctor was so patient and kind. I had a laundry list of first-time-mom questions and she just listened and reassured us that our baby was perfectly healthy and normal and while we may drive ourselves crazy trying to figure him out or put him on a schedule, there really is nothing we can do at this stage of the game other than survive these first few months. I felt a million times better when we left the office!

One of my major concerns is Cam's hips. His hips are perfect and the doctor has been very pleased with is growth up to this point, but given our family history and Izzy's yucky experience with hip dysplasia, I really wanted to ensure that if Cam were to need any intervention, it would be caught early. So, though the doctor sees no real need for further testing, she and I agreed that we'd both have peace of mind if we did a routine, harmless ultrasound of his hips to be 100% sure that they are as perfect as we think! So, I am in the process of scheduling that appointment for next week!

Finally, poor Cam had to get a shot yesterday. I was NOT prepared for a vaccination at this appointment, but luckily Cam was a rock star. He cried for a bit and once I nursed him for a little comfort for a few minutes he passed out and slept the whole way home. I'm dreading his two-month check up when he'll have another round of shots. Poor guy.

Look at those rolls! :)

After a long appointment, Rick and I left feeling confident that we were doing something right with this kid and couldn't help but smile at the thought of our growing boy! Keep up the good work, Campbell!

One Month Already!??!

Dear Campbell,

I can hardly believe you are one month old today. It seems like just yesterday your dad and I were announcing to the world that we would be welcoming a new addition to our family in November. Little did we know, your arrival came sooner than expected and we are so happy you arrived when you did! This past month has been one of the greatest adventures of my life. You have taught me what unconditional love truly means. You have taught me patience, perseverance and the power of positive thinking. Who knew you would be so wise at such a young age!

You already amaze me every day with the new things you do. Some of my favorites so far are the fishy faces you make, the way you stick your arms straight in the air when you are in the middle of a deep sleep, and the way you grab onto me as if you never want to let go when I'm nursing you. You've developed cheeks this month and rolls on your arms and thighs. We call those "pilkes" in our family and yours are coming in beautifully! This month, you are eating like a champ, every 2-3 hours. Though you don't like to sleep very much at night, you take great naps during the day. You are becoming more alert every day!  You love to bounce in your bouncy chair, read your black and white board books, and play on your play mat. We have so much fun together!

Campbell, your dad and I are already so proud of you. We love watching you grow each day and we can't wait to share in the rest of your successes throughout your life. You are our little angel and we are so blessed to call you ours.

Love always,
Mommy

We've Been Busy!

Having a Winter baby has its challenges when it comes to staying sane. Taking walks to get fresh air isn't really an option for us, so we have to be creative in our outings. I have made it a point to be sure to get out of the house at least once a day. And, boy have we been busy!

Cam took his first trip to Starbucks to meet the Desais for a coffee break:

We've gone to Target, had lunch dates and coffee dates with friends, and getting outside has made both Cam and I stay a little sane. I have to admit, I've been bad about capturing all our adventures on the camera. I need to get better at that... New Year's Resolution perhaps!??

After all our outings, Cam gets tired. So, we've done a lot of swinging:

We've also had fun with visitors! Thanks, Elle, for hanging with us today. We loved seeing you :)

 And of course, Cam's favorite activity -- Looking cute. See evidence below:

It's kind of hard to believe it's been four weeks since Campbell arrived. On Friday, he'll be one month old! While it seems like just yesterday we were in the hospital waiting to meet his sweet face, it also feels like he's been a part of this family forever. What a ride these four weeks have been... can't wait to see what the next four bring! (Hopefully more sleep?!)

Flying Solo

Though I've been dreading this day for weeks, it had to come. Mimi had to go back to Austin today, and it was a very teary morning around here. We started our morning at Starbucks where Cam got to meet my barista buddies for the first time! Mimi fed him for the last time and showered him with snuggles and kisses.

After a waterworks show at the departures terminal, Cam and I were off to fend for ourselves.

We did tummy time:

 Clearly not Cam's highlight of the day. 

Then, Cam played with Freddie the Firefly on his playmat: 

He actually grabbed the toy for the first time! 

After all the excitement, Cam took a nap.

In general, today was a good day. I was fussier than he was. I cried more than he did. Luckily, whenever I felt a wave of sadness today, I just looked at this little face and everything seemed alright.