I need sleep!

When I was pregnant everyone told me to rest while I could. Of course I didn't listen. I was too busy cleaning and getting everything ready for Carter. What a mistake! Now I would give just about anything for some sleep. And I mean real, restful sleep.

Carter has actually been sleeping a lot better lately though. He has been sleeping through the night most nights; I usually put him to bed around 10:00 P.M., and he hasn't been waking up until around 7:00 A.M. most mornings. However, almost all of this good sleep has taken place in his swing. I know, I'm the worst mom ever! When I discovered this amazing phenomenon I did call my doctor, and she told me Carter could sleep in his swing (or car seat) until three or four months. Imagine my relief! She said she thinks Carter probably has some reflux that makes it uncomfortable for him to sleep flat on his back.

Last night I put Carter in his crib at 10:00. He slept in there until midnight. At midnight though I heard him fuss, so I quickly moved him into his swing, where he slept until 7:30 A.M. Carter and I are off to Appleton and then Chicago next week, so maybe we'll wait and try the whole transition-into-crib thing when we get home!

P.S. The top picture is of Carter sleeping in his car seat, in his crib! I thought it was kind of funny!

Carter and Me

Remember all of the cute pictures of Jeff and Carter? Well, here are a few of Carter and me. Apparently I need to remind Carter of the fact that I'm the one who gets up with him in the middle of the night!

Carter's favorite babysitters!

Now that Carter is getting older - and a little more predictable - I am able to actually leave him with a "babysitter." I wouldn't trust him with just anyone though. On Saturday, July 11, I worked at one of my dad's stores in New Richmond while my dad and Sabrina watched Carter. They said he was pretty good; he even took a nap. But they had a hard time getting him to take a bottle, even though he was starving. My mom had the same problem when she came down to watch Carter on Tuesday, July 14, so Jeff and I could go out to celebrate our anniversary. Jeff had been giving Carter at least one bottle a day since he was three weeks old. He seemed to really like the bottle. The last month though Carter and I have been traveling more, and Jeff has been working later. We kind of got out of the whole bottle routine. With more practice, he is getting better, but Carter had several days when he would scream and refuse to take the bottle. Jeff's heart broke every time I had to take Carter to feed him! The last couple of days have been much easier. Last night I went out to eat with some friends from school while Jeff watched Carter. Carter drank his bottle and was sleeping when I got home. We've found that Carter will drink a bottle only if it's breastmilk and the perfect temperature. What a stinker!

Oh, no!

As most of you probably know, Jeff bought a motorcycle about a month ago. I told him he was going through an early mid-life crisis, but he assured me that he has wanted a motorcycle "forever." And he's already trying to influence Carter... I'm in trouble!

One boy, one girl!

Mike and Alanna found out on Monday that they are having a boy and a girl in November! Carter can't wait to meet his cousins and neither can I!

On Monday my mom went down to Lakefield to pick up my grandma Bauer, and Mike and Alanna drove up from Chicago. Carter and I decided to stay at my mom's all week too! It was so much fun to spend time with my family, and everyone was really helpful with Carter. On Wednesday we went shopping, and I bought a new swing - the Fisher Price Cradle 'n Swing. I tried putting Carter in there for the first time on Thursday night, and he slept for almost eight hours straight! I was too afraid to turn the swing off in case he woke up, so I kept it going for most of the night. Friday night he slept for six hours straight, and Saturday night he slept for seven hours straight. I turned the swing off more each night, but I have a feeling we're going to go through a lot of batteries before this is all over... We're back at home tonight, and I'm hoping Carter continues to sleep well. Otherwise, we might have to move in with my mom!

Carter has been spending more and more time awake and alert during the day. As you can see from the pictures, he enjoys lying on his blanket, usually stretching and kicking his legs. He's growing so much! On Thursday at Baby Stop he weighed in at eleven pounds and three ounces!