Baby Books Galore

Nothing could have prepared Mommy and Daddy for my arrival. Oh, but they tried their best... there is no doubt about that! They must have read over 20 books on the topic (see their library below)

Two key books in the pile are "Babywise" and "The Happiest Baby on the Block". These books have been read over and over again. Mommy would like to re-title these books to a more appropriate name, given her experience implementing these methods:

Babywise is good in theory- WHEN YOUR BABY IS NOT ONE WEEK OLD! The concept is simple- feed the baby, play/wake time, then put the baby to sleep. Well Mommy and Daddy tried to implement this method right out the gates. They were reading to me, playing with me, saying ABCs and shaking rattles in my face. This was just too much for my little brain to handle at the tender age of 2 days old. But I will admit that just recently we tried the Babywise system once again and I had a much better time... I even slept most of last night!

The other book, The Happiest Baby on the Block is wonderful. Dr. Harvey believes there is a 4th trimester that babies enter after they are born. Parents needs to recreate the womblike atmosphere by implementing the 5 S's: Swaddle, side lying, sucking, swinging, and last but definitely my favorite is 'SHHHHUSHing'. These easy methods turn on my calming reflexes, but poor Mommy and Daddy almost pass out from lack of oxygen they exert by shushing me!

The good news is I am slowly learning and giving Mommy and Daddy their much needed sleep!

See Me Smile!

Here are two videos taken this morning of me displaing my happy side! The first one I don't know whether I should laugh or hiccup!

And this one I'm having fun on my play mat!

The Old Soul

My pediatrician says I have an old soul... that I've constantly got something on my mind. Hmmm... I'm not sure what I think about that. Perhaps I should look into geriatrics.


There is no denying that I do have some similarities to those of an old man. For example....








I need someone else to bathe me

I wear my pants hiked up to my chest













I've got a few winkles

I wear diapers













I have no teeth

Like Father Like Son

So it appears that Daddy is winning the poll on who I look more like. There does seem to be a lot of similarities between us! I have terrible tummy problems and spend most of my day pooping, as does Daddy. My shoulders are constantly cracking and snapping too. At this moment we are both pretty hungry but would rather be sleeping. Daddy says that we are both pretty intelligent but I think I get my smarts from Mommy. Oh yes, and our eyelashes are both extra long! **Disclaimer: Ben has not shown any affinity towards the University of Maryland- he is a VA Tech Hokie at heart

Here are close ups of our eyelashes:

I guess when Daddy was a baby he looked a lot like me too!

That's okay if I look more like Daddy at this stage in the game. I still have a lot of time to improve, right?!

The Reflux Ramp

So I'm not a good sleeper at night, or so Mommy and Daddy say. I have reflux and I don't do so well when it is time to lay down.

Mommy and Daddy have tried everything to get me to sleep. They have tried the bouncy seat, the infant seat, the crib, the bassinet, and the swing. They have tried swaddling, pacifiers, holding me until I stop crying. The truth is I'm very particular.

After trial and error they have found something that works! We like to call it the 'Ramp'. The tools and series of events that must occur are very specific. They include:

• The Boppy Pillow
• A memory foam chiropractic pillow
• The Swaddler blanket by Kiddapotomus
• Loud and excessive 'Shushing' in my ear

The key is getting the chiropractic pillow strategically placed on the Boppy in such a way that it is at a 45 degree angle. Using a standard pillow at the bottom will prevent me from sliding down too far. The sides of the chiropractic pillow and swaddle blanket helps me feel secure like I was in the womb. And the 'Shushhhhhhing'. Well, I just don't get that one. So when you add it all up....

The end result? A very happy camper!

My first BOO!

I was a great big helper last night handing out candy. Here are some action shots!