Spencer's First Hike

Spencer is a little man on the go!

Since his first week home with us Spencer has gone out to restaurants, trekked to the park, coffee shops and the bagel store and today he ventured out on his first hike. This weekend was great viewing of the aspen trees turning yellow and we decided to show off the Colorado high country to Spencer. He did great on his first hike, sleeping virtually the entire time including the hour drive each way in the car. Spence seems to enjoy the motion of the car and our walks with him either in the stroller or in the baby bjorn. We just got home from our day in the mountains and we gave both Spencer and Barkley their apres-hike baths. Now both of our boys are sound asleep!

Jon and I had a great weekend together with Spencer and we love getting to know him and figuring out his coos and cries. We even got a little smile out of him this evening. Friday nights (and sometimes multiple other times during the week, since we don't particularly enjoy cooking!) Jon and I always go out to eat and Spence has joined us in that ritual since the first week he came home with us. Each week we enjoy our outings more and more (possibly because I now can order a glass of wine again) and it amazes us that Spencer has not yet let out a cry in public. Jon also enjoys a few hours alone with Spencer watching football and this Saturday I went out and got a much needed massage (childbirth really does a number on your back).

Last week Spencer also made his first outings to both mine and Jon's firms and we both loved showing off the little guy. We're not sure that he showed a whole lot of interest in either investment banking or engineering, but we thought we would start exploring career options with him sooner rather than later.

On a final note, you may have picked up on our obsession with Spencer's weight. We don't have another doctor's visit until his two month birthday but we think he is over 9 lbs. In our not very scientific approach to baby weighing, Jon got on the scale with Spencer and then without him and we think he chunked up in the past week. He is sleeping like a baby (really) with stretches of anywhere from 6 to 8 hours which has made both Jon and I extremely happy parents!

Wish Spencer a happy birthday...he turns one month on Tuesday! We can't believe how fast the time has gone.

3 Weeks Old!

Play date with Ava D.

Spencer had his three week birthday yesterday. He seems to get bigger (and cuter) each day. Today Spencer, Barkley and I walked in the park with Brandy and her little guy, Ewan (who will be one of Spencer's classmates in daycare) and yesterday we walked with Denise and Ava. The adorable Dino Dig Team outfit Spencer sports in the above pics came from Beth and Grace in LA...thanks, guys.

Jon just came home and we are cooking up a quick dinner and then will take all the boys around the neighborhood for our evening stroll. We have had perfect weather here so we are trying to get outside a lot and enjoy the last days of summer.

Walk in the Park

Spencer is a few days short of three weeks old and he just seems to change each day. Luckily he is a superstar sleeper, giving us a stretch of anywhere between five and seven hours at night.

As you can see from the pictures, we have a great outdoor stroller/jogger that I have used every day since he came home. Each day Spencer, Barkley and I walk anywhere from one to two hours (including a coffee stop!) from our house up to and around the park by our house. A few times this week we met up with friends, one of which has a little boy, Ewan, who will be one of Spencer's classmates once he starts daycare in December. Today Jon, Spencer, Barkley and I walked around the park and then went to our favorite bagel shop.

Yesterday was my first afternoon without the baby - Jon took Spencer into work with him and I went shopping and got my first post-baby pedicure! Spencer had his first formula bottle which didn't sit too well in his belly but he felt much better by last night.

For those of you at GKB reading this, we're gearing up for our first trip downtown this week for you to meet the little guy. Looking forward to seeing all of you.

We're now getting ready to watch the Broncos...Spencer is a big fan!

Robyn

Week Two

The calm before the storm...Spencer was sleeping nicely before we woke him up for his bath.

Not so thrilled with his first bath!!

What a big week for our little guy!

Last Friday we had Spencer's 10 day pediatrician visit, including the big weigh-in where we found out that he now more than exceeds his birth weight (he was born at 7 lbs, 7 oz and as of Friday weighed in at 7 lbs, 10 oz...and we didn't even stuff his diaper with rocks!!). He had until two weeks from his birthday to get back to his birthweight, so Jon and I reveled in his success and celebrated with another post-doctor Starbucks latte!

Because of his weight gain we could now go through the night without waking him up. Spencer has so far slept for about 5 hours at a time at night...a nice treat for his tired mom and dad! During the day we can also spread out his feedings, but he seems to still like eating about every three hours. I am still nursing and that seems to get a little easier each day - and it's so nice knowing he's getting plenty of food. Spence had a tough day on Saturday and we couldn't seem to figure out why he was so fussy, but we think he may have had a little growth spurt and needed to eat every hour or two. Poor mom!!!

The rest of the weekend went pretty well for all of us. We took Spencer for two long walks in the park near us and then hit the bagel store and the local coffee shop. On Saturday Spencer joined his dad for college gameday...go Big Red...and yesterday he watched his second Broncos game.

As you can see from the pictures, Spencer had his first bath. Jon and I found the adventure quite comical although Spence did not share in our humor!

Today is the first day I am alone with the boys...Spencer is sitting right now in his bouncy chair and Barkley is pouting on the couch, wishing the rain would stop so we could go outside for a walk. Maybe we'll all just nap instead!!

Robyn

One Week Old

Pondering the next Fed rate cut

(Actually, Jon took this picture - someone suggested placing an object in front of the baby so you can see how tiny he is.)

Spencer obviously paid attention during mom's prenatal yoga classes

Yesterday was Spencer's one week birthday. Time flies when you're getting inadequate amounts of sleep!

Spence's big weigh-in marked the highlight of his first week birthday. We visited Dr. Spiro's office to check in with the wonderful lactation nurses, Sharon and Betsey. Spencer has officially exceeded his birthweight, which we were told typically takes about two weeks. This of course made his crazy parents proud. We celebrated with a trip to Starbucks where Spencer enjoyed his first latte (just kidding, we're not that overtired).

Robyn

What about Barkley?

For those of you wondering how Barkley has taken to his new little friend, these pictures pretty much say it all. I was nursing Spencer and Barkley came up and put his big puppy head right on the boppy. While we definitely have a needy dog on our hands, Barkley still never leaves our side and has started to show signs that he's okay sharing the spotlight.

Spencer had another great night sleeping and eating. Since he gained weight at his last doctor visit we can go one feeding at night up to five hours, and we take full advantage of that! Spencer could probably go even longer, as we had to wake him up the past couple of nights just before five hours. Hopefully this trend will continue!

It is amazing to think that one week ago I was in labor and now we're sitting here with our little miracle. Thankfully Jon is taking off from work this week and we are enjoying just hanging around the house and getting to know our little boy. When we left for the hospital last week Denver had over 90 degree weather, as it had all summer long. Today it is only in the 50s or 60s which makes it even nicer for relaxing at home.

Robyn

Spencer J - 5 Days Old

What an exciting and action-packed five days!! We finally checked out of the hospital Thursday afternoon. Spencer had a tough first night at home, in part because he was not getting enough to eat from mom. But Friday brought on a major change for all of us. Friday morning Spencer had his first visit to his pediatrician, Dr. Spiro (Dr. Spiro Papadapolous, but Spence calls him Dr. Spiro). Spencer had lost 10% of his birth weight so we were challenged to make Friday a big eating day for him. And for those of you that know Jon and I well, we love a good challenge. Luckily my milk, came in and by Saturday morning's doctor visit he had put on 6 oz in 24 hours. We all felt like superstars (although we were quickly reminded of our novice parenting when he pooped in the doctor's office and we didn't have wipes, the diapers we brought were a size too big and when the nurse said we could cover his little naked body up with a blanket, Jon and I stared blankely at each other as the thought of bringing a blanket never occurred to us...oh well, we'll learn!!).

The best part of Spencer eating more is that we found out that he is the most content little baby. We are feeding him every 2.5 to 3 hours and he has rarely let out a cry. We're allowed to go a little longer for one of the nighttime feedings so Jon and I are finally catching up on a little sleep. From the first night home we kept Spencer in his crib at night and so far that has worked well for all of us. He sleeps wrapped up like a burrito, all swaddled in blankets and we have a baby monitor that lets makes it sound like we are in the room with him.

In between feedings Spencer sits in his little bouncy chair, stares at the ceiling fan or gets a few licks on his fingers from Barkley. He has this adorable little cooing noise and loves to play with his hands. He has long fingers and loves to hold onto our hands. We are thinking that with our musical backgrounds - Jon on the piano and me on the flute - that he is destined to be a good musician. Get that recorder ready, Unkie. He is such a sweet little guy and we feel so lucky that he has had a great first few days at home with us.

Today so far has been our most relaxing...Jon and I finally got to sit down with a cup of coffee, the newspaper and Spencer in his bouncy chair on his table. Jon is watching football as I write this and we're gearing up for a walk around the park after one of the next feedings.

For those of you that we haven't called back...we're thinking of all of you and appreciate all of your calls and Emails. Now that we feel a little more in control of our lives we'll give you a ring to catch up.

Enjoy the pictures...more to come.

Robyn

Spencer Julius

He's finally here! Spencer arrived yesterday (September 4) at 11:15 am, weighing in at 7 lbs 7 ozs and 21.5" long. He's super sweet and adorable. Jon and I are pretty tired but Spencer's finally giving us a few minutes to catch our breath and gawk at him!

Enjoy the pictures.

Go Big Red

Since Jon is a big Nebraska Cornhusker fan I bought our baby his first husker sweatsuit, hat and booties. Jon was anxious to have his little buddy watch this year's first husker football game but Barkley filled in, sporting the Lil Husker hat and sweatshirt. The little booties didn't quite fit on his big paws!!

Tough day for the boys!

Still Waiting

Still no baby, but Jon and I are looking forward to a relaxing long weekend. The doctor gave us about 25% odds of having the baby before my due date (September 6). The George K. Baum & Company office pool for guessing when the baby will come has people picking dates all the way out another two weeks. Let's hope the little guy doesn't wait that long!

In the meantime I have taken a few shots of the baby's room. Jon bought me the green chair for my first (almost) mother's day and while I am anxious to sit in the chair with the baby in my arms, I am enjoying sitting in it with the boppy on my lap to hold up my book and grandma Carole's knitted blanket over my toes. Right now the book of choice is either learning what to do with the baby when he comes home (and how to get him to sleep well!) or one of my new photography books. From these photos you can probably tell I need to do a little more reading on the latter!

Happy Labor Day!
Robyn