Carter: Two Months

Happy New Year! And happy two month birthday Carter! (Again, I'm two days late. Babies just don't get the importance of being on time!)

The past month has been a whirlwind like the first. Carter had his first Christmas, during which he slept all day long allowing Brian and I to play Wii and do otherwise unimportant things. He also had his first New Year's Eve, but he went to bed at 9:30, as did his parents :) Here are some likes and dislikes that we've seen evolve:

Likes:

• His crib! Carter transitioned to his crib at about 7 weeks and he's been sleeping great in there! It was hard to move him to another room and I think I was awake the entire first night listening for him. I've since learned to sleep very well, and so has Carter. He sleeps for 10-10 1/2 hours at night, total, with only one wake-up in there some where. Usually it's a 6 hour stretch, followed by a 4 hour stretch. (And yes, we know how lucky we are in this department.)
• Diaper changes. He's learned to like them (most of the time). He smiles a ton on the changing pad, and likes to lay there and stretch.
• Eating-- seems to be the only way to calm him down when he's super worked up.
• Bathtime! Who knew that would change?
• The playmat. I put him on there today when he was in a happy mood, and he stayed happy and "played" for over a half hour. Success!

Dislikes:

• Gas. He grunts, screams, writhes... it's terrible. I think that this is the cause of the tears at least 75% of the time. It seems that he may (cross your fingers) be getting a little better at pushing it out... but man, when he's gassy, he is NOT happy.
• Tummy Time. Unless he's on me, he doesn't like to be on his belly. Despite the minimal time he spends on his belly, he has a ridiculously strong neck.
• Being taken out of the bath. He screams, chokes... goes wild! I think it must be the shock of sitting in warm water, then being pulled out into the cold air.
• Pacifiers-- although his hatred of them seems to be subsiding. He still prefers our fingers, but we're trying hard to quit doing it so he gets used to the pacifier.

New "mommy knowledge" of the month:

• There is no logic to babies... no patterns, no distinct cause and effect relationship, no real measureable qualities. It's been hard to accept for a science nerd like myself, but I'm starting to learn that if he seems happy and healthy, he probably is.

• Crying happens. It's not the end of the world. A full, dry, and rested baby can still be a fussy, miserable, unhappy baby. This too shall pass -- Hopefully before I develop an ulcer and/or have a breakdown :)

"Dad! Quit it with the pictures, or you're gettin' this knuckle sandwich!"