Church Goin' Baby

We are finally out of our cocooning phase and are joining crowds since Jeffrey's had his vaccinations. He is a Go Baby! He loves to be out and see people, listening and studying everything around. We had a busy week that included Lainey's piano recital, visiting my school, a luncheon with coworkers, hamburgers at a friends house, shopping and church! It was so good to be back at church with people that care about us so much and loved seeing Jeffrey, whom they have prayed for!

Harriet: "You tied the knot well, Mike!"



Mike tying our knot 3-17-07, 6 years (almost to the date) before our beautiful son was born!

Some wonderful friends at church
Rex: "He's got long fingers, perfect for hook 'em horns!"

I loved his special outfit he wore today. Thank you Alice and Nance!!! Precious!

Daddy thought it was too frilly for a boy after he changed his diaper, he said, "Men should never wear anything that buttons in the back. That's a rule." Ha ha ha!

 

More pictures from this week:

 

 

Go Spurs Go!

The Hopkins and Gigi came over to watch the Spurs game Sunday. We made popcorn and took turns holding Jeffrey. We went to Chris Madrid's for a burger Saturday. Other than that, our week consisted of walks in the park or neighborhood in the morning and one outing a day. Jeffrey loves to be out and about. So far we've taken him to a Kentucky Derby party and a couples wedding shower and he LOVED both parties. He looks around studying everything and seems to like the noise and energy!

Brant has noticed Jeffrey really likes to be around men. Brant thinks he likes their facial hair and that he knows he is one of them!

Listening to Lainey sing

Laughing with Uncle Mark

Some other pictures from this week, Jeffrey's 9th week!

 

 

2 Months Just Flew By!

Jeffrey Lee was 2 months old this past Saturday. He gave me a wonderful Mother's Day gift of 6 hours sleep Saturday night! Today, he got his 2 month vaccines and took 'em like a champ! (Although Scooby Doo band aids are cute and fun, they may hurt worse coming off than the actual shot!) We're working on enjoying tummy time and neck stretches so he doesn't have a flat head. Hopefully he'll be holding it up on his own in the next couple of months so this will not be an issue! We are slowly getting into a routine. Bedtime is our favorite time of day-calm, low lights, low voices, stories and lights out. Jeffrey is great about getting in his crib drowsy and putting himself to sleep at night. Naps during the day are trickier! His personality and curiosity are really beginning to show. This is going to be fun!


Brant calls him Squeaks (he's very squeaky) and I sometimes call him Boo-kah for some reason.  

He usually enjoys bath time, but we've gotta be quick! It gets cold fast!

 

Daddy's bed time stories

Mama's bed time stories

9 lbs. 6 oz.

 

"You is kind, you is smart, you is beautiful!"

 

You've Come a Long Way, Baby!

A look back...
Week 3: Upon Brant coming home from work one day: "I've gone from 'oh yeah, we can do this' to survival mode." I'm one of those people who needs and actually makes sure I get 8 hours of sleep a night, so this is really tough.
Week 6: People tell you "get your rest now," and you understand about the crying and the middle of the night feedings and lack of sleep. I just didn't realize I would feel like a POW with my form of torture being sleep deprivation! Amazingly as I lie in bed and think I can't do it anymore, Jeffrey begins to cry and I get a whoosh of renewal to tackle the job once again. Choosing to exclusively breast feed is definitely what we want to do for him, but this means I am the only one who can help him the majority of the time. I know it will be worth it in the future.
Week 8: Ahh, he's been sleeping a whole lot better since we got him on Zantac last week. I really didn't want to put him on any meds, but I SHOULD HAVE GONE IN SOONER! That first six weeks was crazy. What was I thinking that we could tough this out! I know their little digestive systems are immature and will hopefully be good by 4 months, but that was rough! Life in the Burris home is getting better and better. Jeffrey still has trouble sleeping during the day, but sleeps 4-6 hour stretches at night.


***I was originally going to title this post "Sleeping Like a Baby?" but as I kept coming back to it, the sleep kept getting better. I hope I don't jinx us by saying that! I may be revisiting to add to it! Ha!

A Happy Mother's Day

This Mother's Day I have everything I have ever wanted. We had a great day that started out with a wonderful breakfast Brant made and a smiling baby boy. Brant gave me a sweet card and wrote a beautiful poem about our family, (that of course made me cry because being a mother isn't easy and it's so nice to be appreciated!) He also wanted to make plaster imprints of Jeffrey's feet and hands for me, but we haven't had time to do it today, (but what a great idea he had to commemorate my first Mother's Day!) We went to see Brant's family and celebrate this day with Jeffrey's special grandmother, Gram and great-grandmother, Lolly. My Mom is on a fantastic European vacation with her college roommate and I am missing her! I can't wait to "hug her neck" on Tuesday when she gets home!
Happy Mother's Day to all and to all a goodnight!

 

 

I am so thankful to be Jeffrey's mother.
 

 

From the Boob

     Ok, I have to admit I'm writing this post largely in defense of what some people have already said to me regarding our decision to breast feed. I'm not judging if you choose to formula feed. It is definitely easier. I do think breast feeding is incredibly difficult and not for everyone, but it is clearly the best for the baby- ask any doctor or consult any baby book. The facts about breastfeeding continue to amaze me and I just don't think people know!
     Did you know that breast milk contains live white blood cells that destroy bad bacteria in baby's intestines? When the baby breast feeds, (not pumped milk, but actually on the boob,) any virus they may have acquired from daycare or Sunday school, (which I hear from friends is the most likely place for a baby to get sick!) goes from baby's saliva into the mother's bloodstream and her body creates antibodies then given to the baby through the milk to fight the virus. Same with vitamins. If a lack of vitamins are detected in the mother's bloodstream, voila!- out comes the right balance of vitamins that are also better absorbed. Breast fed babies have less allergies, they are protected from high blood pressure and high cholesterol through adulthood, it is better for brain development...the list goes on and on and on. AND there's another long list of benefits for the mom! Like Brant said, "Why would you want to give your baby something that is man made when you can give him what God created and intended." AND it's FREE!
     Our teacher at our breast feeding class said not to let grandma tell you your baby is starving and to just give him formula, because it will happen. Breast fed babies are leaner. Fat babies are cuter, I agree, but our society has put that image in our heads. Lean babies are actually healthier.
     I went to my first La Leche League meeting Wednesday and it was fantastic. I was thinking there may be some real hippie type people there, which there were, but there were all kinds. I stayed after the meeting and talked to 4 girls for about 2 hours and learned so much. All the mothers there just want what is best for their baby. One girl gave me a sample of essential oils for Jeffrey's gas/tummy issues. After reading about essential oils I think I could really get into them instead of over the counter meds and other household products.When going to La Leche, Aunt Jen said, "And you think I'm a hippie!" I replied, "I'm seeing the light!"
     So what, I'm getting a little "crunchy"? Motherhood is funny. You'll do ANYTHING for the little one.

A Baby Named Jeffrey

A Baby Named Jeffrey

Written by Lainey June,

8 years old
April 1, 2013