We Got A New Baby!

Well, it's been  awhile.  I didn't feel like I had much to share - the on-going saga of a fussy baby and frustrated parents ('specially Mom).  We did have a good Christmas - a couple days on the Cape with Nana Mimi and Papa Lyle, a great visit from his cousins (courtesy of Aunt Jen and Uncle Scott), visits with local friends, and a Grandma Tibboel cameo in the new year.  But he continued to cry a lot and not sleep much.  Laurie continued to not sleep much or eat much.

Cool Cousins

But, lo and behold, a new year and a new baby!  I suspect the elimination of an as-yet-unidentified allergen and a bit of maturing contributed, but on Monday, the 3rd, the miracle nanny Krystal paid a third visit and provided us with a major turn around.  Krystal has a full time job with another family, but had made a couple previous visits.  Each was well worth it: she's got Jake's number, and teaches us better parenting techniques each time.  But this third visit was a watershed event.  Jake's now on a pretty strict sleep schedule, and he's a content baby.  He was even heard to giggle the other day after a bath.  But it's not the highs that are so noticeably different.  It's the absence of lows.


Our duplex neighbor stopped by in wonderment at his new quietness (perhaps she was worried about what had happened to the neighbor baby?).  And we've been skyping heavily to show off the goodness that is now Jacob.  He goes to bed much easier (he smiled as I left him to sleep this morning).  He wakes up calmly (again, often with a smile).  He, for the most part, eats better.  He hardly even cried when he got vaccinations on Friday.

I really hope we're not just riding with the wind again, but it's been a week, and the difference is monumental.  I'm optimistic! 

In other Baby Jake news:  he's learned the soothing power of his own fists, and they find their way to his mouth a lot now.  Jake's also learning to grab things on his own - definitely fun to watch.  New Jake is content to sit in laps, and has started to take a passing interest in the books we read him.  However, not nearly as much as the TV, which he watches with rapture.  The up-side is, he finds the same interest in the computer screen when we skype.

So, for 2011, out with the old Jake, and in with the new.  Out with flustered parents, in with delighted ones.  Out with the dirty diapers, and in with crates of new ones!

(excited baby parent note: see him grab the bunny rattle on his own? How cool is that?)