Yeah!

Ok so I know I have talked non-stop about this whole putting Ryden on a schedule thing but guess what my little boy did? The past two nights he only woke up once! He was in bed by 8:30 and slept all the way until 2:00am. I fed him and then he went right back to sleep and slept until about 6:00am! And he even slept in his crib so Jason and I were able to get some much needed rest also. Yeah! I shouldn't jinx myself though.....But what a rock star!

Success??

As you all know, yesterday I started Ryden on a schedule. How did he do last night you ask? Well before I start doing a happy dance I do need to see what happens tonight but I must say...last night went better than I thought. Before the schedule I was getting up about 4 times at night to feed and put him back to sleep. Last night I got up TWICE! WOO HOO! He went down for the night at about 10pm and slept until 1am. I fed him for about 15 minutes and he was back to sleep and didn't wake up until 4am! I fed him again but this time he didn't go back down until about 4:45am and wasn't fully asleep. He was making grunting noises for awhile until eventually he fell asleep. The noises don't really bother me but since he is still sleeping in our room in a bassinet I worry about poor Jason. He said it is ok with him but I know that he is such a light sleeper. After he finally feel asleep around 5am and slept until about 6:30am when Jason got up with him for their morning Daddy/Ryden time while Mommy sleeps for an extra hour. And we are back on schedule today! Eating~playing~naping. Still sleeping in the swing because I am not brave enough to ween him just yet. We are hoping by next week or the week after he will be sleeping in his crib. Cross your fingers!!

Here are a few pictures from the past few days.

He is starting to hold on to things:
Loves his jungle mat!

Also loves his Ryden blanket

Routine

After many days of a fussy baby and feeding Ryden every 1 1/2 to 2 hours I decided I need to get this kid on a schedule. A few of our friends suggested a book called "Baby Wise" to help get a routine in place. I officially started it today. It entails feeding him, playing with him, and then putting him down for a nap every 2 1/2 to 3 hours during the day. This is suppose to also help with the nightime sleeping. I must say we kept on schedule pretty well today. The only downfall is that the book says you need to let the baby cry when putting them down for a nap because this will teach them to fall asleep on their own. Yeah....no thank you! After attempting to let Ryden cry...I made it about 45 seconds until I started crying myself and had to pick him up. So since this kid will not fall asleep in a stationary place, I had to put him in his swing for every nap time today. Bad habit I know but I just can't handle letting him cry when he is only four weeks old! So please wish me luck for tonight!!!! Hopefully I will have some good news tomorrow....like....I got a decent nights sleep! But I am scared because I don't want to put him in the swing everytime he needs to sleep. This parenting stuff is hard!!!

Oh and by the way...my little guy is ONE MONTH OLD today!!!! Where did the time go?

ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING by Jason M MacMaster

WOW - I cannot believe how many times Amy has updated this BLOG!

After days of hearing how much work it was to watch Ryden all day long - I decided to take the day off and babysit while Amy hit up the dentist in Laguna. I had a bottle of milk and a lot of activities planned for me and this boy they call Ryden, but to my dismay we played for about 30 minutes, I fed him his bottle, and then he passed out on his swing for about 3 1/2 hours. In fact, he was still sleeping when Amy came home. I think I could get used to babysitting :)

RYDEN REPRESENT!

Visitors

Ryden had a few visitors this past weekend. His other grandpa (Jason's dad) came up from Arizona to visit his grandson. He came over to have dinner and hung out for awhile and then we went to breakfast the next morning. This is his first grandson and he was quite the proud grandpa.

Family picture. Too bad I am not looking at the camera but that is better...I think I have a ton of luggage under my eyes..haha!

Yes ladies..he does diapers!

All my girls came down from Costa Mesa to visit also. Love them!

Ryden's Friend

Cuteness caught on video. Ryden loves this little seahorse that plays music so I filmed him "talking" to it. If you listen closely you can hear him laugh a little. Oh and don't make fun of his acne. He is going through his awkward teenager stage a little early.

Mommy and Ryden time

I had fun with Ryden today. When I talk to him he is starting to smile and reach for me.

Sleepy

Love this little boy!

The last few nights have been pretty rough. Ryden has been a little congested so he has had a hard time breathing. And also, he has some gas issues which makes it difficult for him to sleep. So he has been sleeping until about one in the morning and then he will be up for several hours and it takes a long time to get him back to sleep. Jason has taken him for a few car rides and even ran the vacuum to help him sleep.

But last night was an amazing night. He went to bed at 9:00pm and slept until 2:00am....woke up and fed...went back to sleep around 3:00am and slept until 5:30am! I was overjoyed. In my book that counts as "sleeping through the night". Of course today he didn't sleep much at all. A few cat naps here and there so I am hoping that will be a good sign and he will repeat his sleeping habit from last night.

I have enjoyed being home with Ryden. Like I mentioned before, his favorite thing is to lay on his jungle mat and look in the mirror. He does this cute laugh thing that I have been trying to catch on video with no luck. It melts my heart each time I hear him and see him smile (which most books say is just from gas but I don't believe that.

He is getting bigger every day and his personality grows more and more. I can't believe he is already 17 days old!

He actually smiled while he was sleeping



So I let Jason dress him and this is what he ended up in. It is his "hip hop" look according to Jason:

Play time

Ryden's favorite thing to do is lay on his jungle mat and look in the mirror and see how handsome he is. He will kick his legs, smile, laugh, and reach for the mirror. It is the cutest thing to watch!

My parents left so I have been solo for two days. I was nervous at first but since I have such a mellow baby he makes the days fun. I have enjoyed my bonding time with my little guy. I have to say that Molly misses her Grandma and Grandpa the most.

Aunt Melinda even came to visit for a few days. Ryden took a liking to her immediately.

Getting Bigger!

My baby is over a week old! My how time flies. Next thing I know he will be in college. The past week has been pretty good. Jason and I are finally adjusting to this little guy and he is starting to get into a routine. The beginning of Ryden's life was a little rough for him. He had to get his blood drawn twice because he was a little Jaundice so the doctor wanted to make sure that he wasn't getting worse. After the second blood draw they wanted him back for a third. When I took him back the doctor took one look at him and said his color looked much better so we didn't have to prick his foot for a blood sample for the third time. That made me happy!

Ryden really has been a calm and amazing baby. He eats all the time and hardly ever cries. He just fusses and that is mainly when he is hungry (which is about every two hours on the dot!) He has been sleeping pretty well at night. He will wake up, I will feed him, and then he usually will go right back asleep. Yesterday he decided to sleep all day so last night he wanted to party instead of sleep and kept me up half the night but I still love him.

My parents have been awesome! It has been so nice having them around to help entertain Ryden and let me nap when possible. I just learned that they are leaving tomorrow which makes me a little nervous. I will be alone for the first time but I am feeling more comfortable now then I was a few days ago. Wish me luck!
Ryden has also had a few visitors. His Aunt Sara and Uncle Steve came by along with his cousins, Ben and Jacob. His Aunt Melinda is in town also. Special birthday shout out to Melinda! Yesterday was her birthday...Ryden was born so close to her.

Here are a few pictures from my Paparazzi Mom.

First bath....not happy!

Spikey hair like Daddy

Homemade Bear from Grandpa

Sitting in the indirect sun to help with his Jaundice

He loves looking at cousin Katie's painting

Passed out

Gangsta baby

Grandma T-Dawg love

Cousins

Aunt Sara and Uncle Steve