8 Weeks!

My sweet baby turns 8 weeks old today. How is it possible that it's been 8 weeks already?!

Camden is such a weed. I feel like he grows a ton every single day! He's settling into a good routine so far, sleeping and eating well...his record has been sleeping 7 hours one night (not the norm - although I can't complain about 5 straight hours on a regular basis)!

Not much to report this week, except for more smiling! I think I got a giggle out of him yesterday, but I'm not getting my hopes up too much. We spent some quality time with Grandma and Grandpa Wise, and also Nana and Jido Barrick over the weekend. Not to mention, Camden went to his first swim meet to see his cousins, Jacob and Adam swim! I know my boy is going to be a swimmer like his Mama...he's always kicking his legs!

We are enjoying being home during the day. I can slowly do more and more every day, as Camden's naps become more predictable. I love being able to spend every second with him - I don't miss anything! We've been busy though, meeting people for coffee at Starbucks (the barista's know his name now) and occasionally for lunch. Our boy is quite the socialite :)

Anyway, here are his 8 week pictures and some more of his funny faces. Also, a little comparison. Enjoy!

These next two slay me. Be still my heart.

Update on Baby Jack

I hope everyone is having a great week! I'm just checking in to give you all an update on Baby Jack. First, I want to thank everyone for their prayers and thoughts for Christina, AJ and Jack. They truly appreciate everything!

Here is an update from AJ as of yesterday:

"Just a quick update, Jack's oxygen levels are at 94, even after taking him off meds (PGE and the other heart med). He is still intubated and receiving purer oxygen, but it has been a very good day for Jack so far. They will plan to do another test tomorrow sometime.

Please continue to pray for him and thank you so much for the love and concern everyone has shown our family. - AJ & CW"

I heard from Christina just a few minutes ago and she informed me that Jack was doing so well that they tried to remove his breathing tube! However, his throat was too swollen, so they put it back in. They will have to wait 2 more days and then will try removing it again. Please pray that his little throat will be less swollen so they can remove the tube! Amazingly, this is the last step in the recovery process that Jack will have to go through!!!

God is good! This is great progress now that Jack is a little over a week old! Please continue to pray fervently so that Christina and AJ will be able to go home soon. They are so anxious to get home and recover fully as their new family of three :)

I will continue to update as I receive any information. Thank you again for all of your thoughts and prayers!

Smile

Our boy has been smiling for 2 weeks or so now and it. is. super. adorable. I'm a little biased, but still. My days pretty much revolve around what I can do to get this boy to smile.

Baby took a nap in our bed yesterday morning, and as he was waking up, I was able to snap some shots of his happy, little face!

Every day, I sing to him. Pretty much all day long, I'm singing. He LOVES it. I can get most smiles when I sing "Sugar Town" to him (love the version from the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack). Here's my first movie taken with my iPhone and made in iMovie. I'm just learning how to do it, so don't make fun of my terrible video editing skills. That is why I'm a PHOTOgrapher. Either way, take a look if you have no shame in giggling along with Baby Cam :)

Untitled from Melissa Barrick on Vimeo.

7 Weeks!

My dear, sweet, seven week-old baby. You are growing too fast. I love it, but I also hate it.

Every day, I love spending time with you. I am so thankful that I can be at home with you all day long. I get to see your every smile, comfort your every cry, feed you any time you want, and rock your sweet, little body to sleep for every nap. I thank Jesus for you every time I kiss your little face.

You are smiling more and more every day! Your little legs just keep getting longer and longer, too. You kick all. the. time. I think you're going to be a swimmer, just like your Mama used to be. If you want to be a runner, that would be ok with me too. Although, Daddy would still like you to be a short stop.

This week, you got to meet (sort of) your new cousin, Jack! I can tell that you both will have so much fun together growing up. You are almost exactly 6 weeks apart! Daddy and Uncle AJ were good friends, and I have a feeling that the four of you will get into lots of trouble together ;)

I can't wait to see what else you're going to do in the next few weeks! But in the meantime, can you still remain my little peanut?? Thanks.

Love,

Mama

Jack the Fighter

God is in control.

There is peace in that phrase for a lot of you. In particular, there is peace in that phrase for my sister and brother in law. As you know from my last post, Baby Jack (my newest nephew) was born last week. A beautiful baby boy with the most adorable round, little face and dimple chin...

Several hours after the was born, the pediatrician discovered that little Jack had a heart murmur. To check things out even further, Jack was sent to Children's National Hospital up in Washington D.C. After several tests and finally, a fairly simple and common procedure, the doctors discovered that one of the valves in Jack's heart was not functioning properly. Thankfully, the procedure was successful and Jack was on the road to recovery. About a day after the procedure was done, recovery was not going as planned. They were trying to wean Jack off any medication and oxygen to see how he (and his heart) would respond. Unfortunately, his heart would not relax as the doctors had hoped during the weaning process, so it was off to the NICU for closer care.

Yesterday we were updated that Jack had been intubated for nourishment and that his oxygen levels were slowly creeping up - this is GREAT news! The doctors will be evaluating him this week to see how he responds, and if his heart will relax enough to close the valve to the heart, which was opened during the procedure last week.

Bobby, Cam and I met up with my parents and siblings at the hospital all day Saturday to be with Christina, AJ and baby Jack. It was a day filled with support and lots...LOTS... of praying. It is comforting to know that Christina and AJ both know and are confident that God has everything under his control, and that if they fix their hopes in Him, they will experience "perfect peace." In the midst of a hospital filled with sick children and my sweet nephew, Jack, peace and hope is exactly what they need.

I ask you, dear readers, even if you've never experienced the peace and hope of Jesus, that you would pray for Baby Jack. Please pray for healing and strength for Baby Jack. Pray for continued hope and peace for Christina and AJ. Pray with thanksgiving that we live so close to one of the best medical facilities in the whole country, and that Jack is receiving the best care possible. Praise God for the miracle of life that Christina and AJ have experienced in the birth of Baby Jack. Lastly, please pray for wisdom for the doctors who are working with Jack.

Jesus is the ultimate healer, and we are encouraged by that knowledge. Thank you for praying, and please continue to pray and keep Baby Jack, Christina and AJ in your prayers. Updates will follow soon.

#10

We have a new member of the Wise Family Basketball Team...My nephew who is Grandchild #10 for my parents!

Welcome

Jack Christopher Bachmann

Born June 15, 2011 at 1:15 a.m.

7 lbs, 13 oz

20 inches long

Baby Cam is so excited to meet his newest cousin! They are almost exactly 6 weeks apart, and I can tell already that these two will be trouble growing up together ;)

6 Weeks!

It's hard to believe it's been 6 weeks already. Has time really gone that fast? I'm trying to savor every second, really I am.

6 Weeks marks something other than Camden's age. As of yesterday, I am officially a "Work at Home" Mom! Thanks to the Lords abundant blessings and provision, I am able to quit my day job and stay at home with Camden during the week. I will, however, be continuing my photography business which will occupy some weekends and week nights where Bobby will be able to watch the baby. This is truly an answer to prayer that financially we're able to do this. I have always dreamed of staying home with my children, and the Lord has answered us!

Anyway, Camden is full of smiles this week, responding to both Bobby and me as we talk to him. He's also been sleeping about 4-5 hours during the night, waking up once in the middle of the night to eat. This is also a blessing, as we all feel rested in the morning! We are currently working on the "cry it out" method so Baby Cam will learn to soothe himself to sleep for naps and night sleep. Currently, he's doing very well with it.

Other than that, we're just enjoying every second of being together. Can we freeze time please?

I see Bobby here. Moreso than in any other picture I've taken. Goodness, he's handsome.

My little man of many faces.

I like this one the best :)

He makes this face when we cuddle. It melts my heart every time.

I think he's trying to talk.

"No more pictures, Ma."

My Boys

I love these two. My husband is so handsome. He carried Baby Cam all over Central Park last weekend and it was the cutest thing ever.

Have a great week!

Just Because It's Thursday

Every day, I love this little Peanut more and more. My heart is so full.

Today, we had a quiet day at home. After a morning trip to Starbucks, we sat in his nursery, read some books, sang some songs and just talked. He's learning to coo a bit, and I can tell he's trying to mimic me when I smile.

Lucky boy, gets to see Grandma Wise AND Nana and Jido Barrick this weekend! Here are some shots from our quiet Thursday at home:

I must say... our boy hates being completely naked (unless it's bath time). Can you tell?!

Mmmm... baby rolls. About 0.25 seconds after this was taken, Camden soiled my blanket.

Mama love.

Trying some new settings on my camera... (yes, Christina, I know this is blurry)

Skinny, little thing.

Bonjour, mon petit amour.

5 Weeks!

Well, it's official. My baby is growing up. I was not prepared for how fast this would happen. Isn't there some kind of "keep this baby a baby" serum we can give him? Please?

Baby Cam turned 1 month on Friday and is 5 Weeks old today (well, yesterday). We had a very low key day to celebrate. We sat in the Doctor's office for most of the afternoon.

I was prepared. Armed with my giant diaper bag, I had a contrast book to show him, I had little rattles, and other various toys...not to mention a plethora of diapers just in case. I even nursed him right before we left so he would be good to go if we had a wait. Well, I think all children in St. Mary's County were sick on Friday, because we waited for almost 2.5 hours. Of course, once one baby starts to cry, so do the rest. Thankfully Camden was a trooper, but started to get REALLY hungry towards the end of our wait. I really didn't want to nurse in the office with 10,000 little, curious children around, but duty called. The moment I got my little nursing cover out and Camden in place, our name was called. There I sit: room full of non-sympathetic bottle-fed babies and parents, shirt up, leaking everywhere (sorry, TMI there!) and a screaming baby at my chest. I looked at the {what seemed like} 12 year old nurse and shot her a look like "You've got to be kidding." She was wondering why I didn't hop right up to meet her.

Parent Lesson #1: Just pick yourself up and move forward.

I didn't care. I got Cam to latch on, threw a blanket over my shoulder to salvage what modesty I was still clinging onto, and walked my jiggling, post-baby bum into Waiting Room #5 where I proceeded to wait another 30 minutes. Thankfully, it was just enough time for Camden to eat a full meal, which he really was going to need, because the poor little guy got his first vaccine with a big, fat needle. You'd think my baby got hit with a bullet. I don't know who was more distraught: me or Camden.

We finally left the doctors and headed to home sleep for a solid 3 hours. No lollypop. Just a boring, old bandaid and a few tears to show for his 1 Month Birthday.

Otherwise, the Doctor had nothing but good things to say about Cam's health. Here are his stats:

Height: 24 Inches (He's grown 2 inches since he was born!) - 90th Percentile

Weight: 10 Lbs, 10.5 oz (He was 9lbs, 1 oz when he was born)- 30th Percentile

I think our boy is going to be a basketball player instead. The boy is all legs and body! He's so tall! Still waiting for chubby thighs...

Just for kicks, here's Camden's 5 Week comparison from when he was born. His face has definitely filled out! Amazing how fast they grow!

Until next time :)

Just a Monday

It's Monday. We woke up early, made Bobby breakfast, coffee and lunch. We kissed him good-bye as he left for work. I nursed him for as long as he wanted to eat. We walked around the house a little bit, singing songs that my Mom used to sing to me. We got tired of that, so then we took a nap. A nice, long, 2 hour nap. Mmmm... we woke up, nursed again and carried on with the day. Bobby came home a little later and we kissed him hello. Then we ate dinner together. As a family. Then we took a walk together. As a family. And now, we're all sitting on the couch: Baby is asleep, Bobby is watching TV and I'm on my laptop...blogging about our day.

It was glorious. And I could do it again tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day until forever. I really love this Mom thing. Thank you, Lord, for giving me this blessing!

I know it's too early for him to smile on purpose still, but he does smile quite frequently! He's starting to coo a little bit with his smiles, which absolutely melts my heart.

It's ok if you want to kiss the computer screen. That nose gets thousands of kisses every day.

I love this picture... I haven't been able to capture Camden's hair very well, but this picture shows it well. It's very short in the front, and much longer in the back. As we like to say here in Southern Maryland, "business in the front, party in the back." It sticks up like this after I give him a bath <3

On our walk. I love our sunny, little street.

Cam and the Geeeetar

I have a little string bean on my hands. And for the record, I'm still waiting for some chunky baby thighs. But for now, I'll take my thin little peanut and his chubby cheeks! Our sweet Peanut was born 22 inches long and everyone keeps commenting on just how long he is. To give you some perspective, here's our little baby with his Daddy's guitar (we call it the geeeetar).

And for those of you asking about how Killian, our cat, is handling baby? He has absolutely no interest and keeps his distance. He has taken a liking to the pillows in my office (don't worry, the zebra pillows don't intentionally go with the houndstooth pillows. I ran out of places to put them before baby and they've ended up there for now!)!