Jack Laughing While Watching Sesame Street

Jack loves to watch Sesame Street. Yes, I know all of the recommendations regarding letting your baby watch T.V. before they are 2 years old, and I honestly thought I would be able to get through the first 2 years of his life without letting him watch it; however, it simply didn't work out that way. He truly loves music, and when you have a crying, discontented baby---Elmo singing is sometimes the only answer. It all started at my Mom's house, who has a 46-inch flat screen T.V. mounted on the wall of her back porch/den area. Jack went there one day, looked up at the screen, and that was it...he started smiling and babbling at Big Bird and Elmo. My Mom, of course, pointed out objects to him and asked him questions as they watched. On this particular night in the video, I was down the hall getting his stuff ready for his bath, while Corey was eating supper in the kitchen. We put a recorded episode of Sesame Street on, since we had to put him in his swing for a bit. Suddenly, I heard him absolutely cracking-up and grabbed the video camera. I hid in the hall and zoomed in on him as much as possible. The original video was too large of a file to upload, so we converted the video to a smaller file--which lowered the quality of the video. Just be sure to turn your volume up...I hope you get a few chuckles...we sure did!

"I'm TEETHING!"

"Where's my breakfast? Oh, and by the way, I CAN get out of this BUMBO thing! What are you fixing, Mommy? Where's my bottle?" So, here's Jack's first bit of rice cereal and milk.

Needless to say, he didn't like it. Poor little thing!

"Ahhhh...there's my milk."

His 3-month immunizations gave Jack fever for a few days. He was totally wiped out by the time we got home. I put him in his jammies, and he went right to sleep.

Jack taking a break from his first big shopping trip at Lakeside. He was so good all day long. He never cried and smiled at everyone all day.

Jack was overwhelmed the first time he was big enough to use his Jumparoo. I think he was on "Sensory Overload" with all of the toys, lights, and music...not to mention, him being able to bounce. He cried to get out after about 5 minutes. Now, he can play in it for up to 30 minutes sometimes.

Who's that little baby in the mirror?

Jack discovering his reflection in the mirror...So cute!

Fall 2009

Yummy!

Mmmm...Prunes!

Jack's Baptism--It was actually at the end of August...the date on the picture is incorrect. We had a pleasant day. Corey and I hosted a little celebration at our house for Jack Michael. Both sets of Grandparents attended, his Great-Grandmother Zeringue, Great-Grandfather Naquin, Uncle Brenton (Godfather), Aunt Connie, Cousin Lauren, Aunt Nicole (Godmother), Uncle Jason, Cousin Reese, and Cousin Paige were all there to share in this special day.

An Update On Jack Michael

Wow...I cannot believe how terrible I am at blogging. Jack is now 7 months old (30 weeks.) He is quite a little character! He has been very busy...learning to laugh, sit-up without support, scooting and crawling, growing two bottom teeth, eating solid foods, and babbling. Jack has always been an alert, active, and curious baby. He's definitely a wiggle-worm, and will make you work up a sweat just changing his diaper and getting him dressed! Seriously, it's quite a workout. Here's an updated look at Jack's first 7 months.

Jack Michael at 7 weeks old. He was smiling at me and Corey on a regular basis at this age.

At 8 weeks old, he developed eczema all over his face and scalp. He also began teething and drooling. The 2-month mark was a tough time for us. He didn't sleep much during this time, and had stomach cramps, gassiness, fussiness, and just seemed pretty uncomfortable most of the time. He cried and fussed every night, as well as, fought his sleep. He slept in his swing (which I hooked onto my bed, so that it he layed at an incline) to prevent him from spitting-up and choking. This phase lasted for at least the next 2 months. He had a wonderful visit with his Great-Uncle Ronnie and Great-Aunt Gina over the summer. We were so happy to see them, and so glad they were able to spend time with Jack.

Jack has no problem showing how he feels. As you can see from these photos, he can go from happy to about to have a meltdown in mere seconds. When he is about to cry, he becomes frozen and quiet, sticks his bottom lip out, looks right at you, then lets out the loudest cry. He usually ends up coughing and crying at the same time. It's all VERY dramatic. It might last only a minute, or it could go on for several minutes. Yes, I do have to laugh at him sometimes--if it's over nothing. If I'm holding him while giving him a bottle, and I sneeze, he has a meltdown! He gets startled easily, poor baby. ;-)

...And Then There Were 3!

O-Kay, so I'm not very good at blogging. I blogged for a whole 2 days back in March! Oh well! After much anticipation, Jack Michael has finally arrived. He was born Sunday, May 31st, at 10:53 a.m. His weight was 7 pounds, 13 ounces; and he was 21 inches.Here I am...ready to pop! I went from 129 lbs. to a whopping 194 lbs.! (Not funny!) This was taken at 9:30 pm Saturday evening on our way to the hospital, after having contractions since Wednesday. My water had broken and we were on our way out of the door. As you can see, I am no longer amused with being pregnant.

Jack Michael Zeringue is here!
Holding him for the first time after his trip to the nursery. Proud Daddy...after sleeping 2 nights on an uncomfortable couch and no shower!
Maw-Maw Betsy...First in line to hold him.



Uncle Brent and Jack...He was a little hesitant to hold him. It's been 13 years since Lauren was this little. (Godfather)

Grandpa Zeringue

Maw-Maw Diane Aunt Connie Great-Grandfather Naquin
Great-Grandmother Zeringue

Big Cousin-Lauren

Aunt Nicole-Corey's Sister (Godmother)

Going home from the hospital
Home at last!

After Jack's first diaper change at home

With much trial and error, we have been settling into a routine the last few days. He has a wonderful disposition. His first Dr.'s appointment was this morning. He did great--(besides "christening" the nurse the minute she unfastened his diaper to examine him!) Doctor Cruse was very impressed with his weight, appearance, easy-going personality, and the fact that I already had him on a schedule. The pictures from above were a few pictures from the first two days. I'll post more as the weeks go by.

Changes

So, going from a briefcase, to a diaper bag is quite interesting! It is a BIG change for someone like me...A self-described, 34-year old, slightly OCD, perfectionistic, super productive type, who is always thinking of what needs to be done next. LOL! One major change is I’m used to being in control...especially of my body. Now I am completely having to let go of my control because the baby has taken over. It’s a wonderfully strange experience. Before I was pregnant, I used to have to make myself go to sleep at night. I would literally pray that I would stop thinking, and just fall asleep. However, my entire first trimester, I would almost fall asleep while trying to eat supper. The fatigue just wouldn’t allow me to be my O.C.D. self. It used to be when I got home from work, I needed a glass of wine (or a cosmo), with a jacuzzi bubble bath to relax. Once I was pregnant, all I wanted was a nap and a bowl of ice cream! Instead of tackling a dust bunny, I watched it float across the wood floor!! Yes, I still noticed what needed to be done--which, of course, bothered me--but not enough for me to get up and grab the Swiffer! I used all of my energy at work, so I was exhausted by the time I got home. I have more energy now...but I'm still not "sweating the small stuff" like I used to. I guess that's a good thing, huh?

Speaking of fatigue, (WARNING: Completely random thought coming on) thank goodness I broke my ridiculously terrible coffee habit in December 2006, or else I would have really been exhausted! I literally had to put myself in my own coffee rehab. Since I couldn't work and stop drinking it at the same time, (for fear of killing someone or having a meltdown), I had to use my entire week-long vacation to ween myself from drinking coffee every day. Pregnancy made me so tired, (especially in the beginning), that I really feel sorry for any woman who has to break the coffee habit cold turkey. The headaches must be unbearable!

Umm, anyway, as for other big changes, steaks and sushi are two other big taboos during these 9 months. As far as sushi, it wasn't that big of a deal because I wasn't eating it all that often. However, I did notice an ever-so-strange increase in cravings for it once I was pregnant. Hmmm...Could it be that we always want, what we can't have? : ) However, steak is a different story! Grrrr...Yes, that's me growling angrily, AND my stomach growling too! I want a medium rare filet mignon as soon as possible!! What's the point of eating a steak if it's well-done, I ask?!?! Oh, and of course, with my steak craving comes a pretty strong craving for a glass of good smooth Pinot Noir. Ahhh...Heaven! :-)

My First Blog...Yay!

Wow! I am 7 months preggers and I have officially left my job behind. I have really mixed feelings about leaving. It's completely strange for me. After 12 years of driving to Houma every single morning, I am now staying home. I used to wake up every day to my cell phone's alarm going off---now I wake up to the sound of a bird chirping outside my window. My morning used to start with turning on the news, and checking company emails from my phone before I even got out of bed. As I got dressed, I tracked medication shipments and inventories for 9 clinics, and I hardly ever left the house without at least one text message or a problem email to handle. I'd pack up the good old laptop and head to work; always feeling like the drive was wasting precious time. My perpetual "Things To Do List" would grow before I even arrived. Luckily, I was sick the first week I stayed home. I say LUCKILY because without being sick, I wouldn't have handled this new life very well. Being sick made me slow down enough to CHANGE GEARS.