Vermont Trip and Napping Better

Last Friday I only worked half a day because Rad and Jen couldn't watch Caleb in the afternoon, because they were headed up to Vermont for the weekend. So, Grammy watched Caleb in the morning and then I left work at noon and picked Caleb up after that. Here are a couple of pictures from Grammy. She was very proud of herself because she successfully used the Baby Bjorn for the first time to take Caleb to an estate sale.

 

It was nice to have Friday afternoon home with Caleb. It was a little bonus. Sabbath morning we were headed up to Steve's parents' house for the weekend. Since Caleb usually gets up somewhere around 6:00 or so and then goes back to sleep after eating, we decided we would leave after he was done eating so he would go back to sleep in the car. So, we left around 7:30 and I don't know what happened with Caleb. He usually does really well sleeping in the car, but it took him about 40 minutes to go to sleep and then he only slept for half an hour. He was then awake for awhile again and then only slept another 30 minutes. So, in a 3 hour car ride, he only slept 1 hour, which is crazy. So, I knew he was pretty tired, which was not going to be good for the rest of our day. Shannon and Sean and Finley go to Steve's parents' church, so we sat in the mother's room with them during church. I had to feed Caleb, but then he and Finley were on the floor together and Finley was kissing him. Here are a couple of the pictures from that episode. It was really cute and Caleb seemed to really enjoy being kissed by Finley!

 

Going in for the kill - his eyes are closed in anticipation

A full-on kiss!

After it was all over

 



We stayed for potluck after church and then went back to Steve's parents' house. However, they had a guest speaker at church and they stayed for some afternoon meetings, so they didn't get home until about 7:00. Shannon and Sean and Finley came over for awhile in the afternoon, but they left at 4:00 and then we were on our own for a few hours. We did take a nice walk with Caleb and the dogs. Caleb was eating before bed when everyone got home, so they didn't get to see him. After he went to bed around 8:00, I stayed up and worked for awhile and then went to bed and Steve then stayed up for hours talking to Caroline and Corey.

Sunday morning, Caleb woke up at 3:45, which is very unusual. He fussed a little, but just seemed to want to be awake. I let him just lay there, but of course I was awake the whole time. In hindsight, I probably should have just fed him, because that probably would have put him back to sleep sooner, but I didn't feed him. He just lay there, talking to himself and didn't go back to sleep for probably an hour. I got up around 6:30 and took a shower and everything and then Caleb got up for real around 7:30. Even though we were in Vermont, I needed to do several hours of work, so Steve got up to feed Caleb at 7:30. I was able to get 4 1/2 hours of work done, which was good. Caleb got to hang out with Steve's family during that time. Here is a cute picture while we were Skyping with Amy and Greg in Thailand.

 

 

Caleb was done eating around 1:30 and we were hoping to leave at 2:00 and then we wouldn't have to stop on the way home. However, we ended up leaving at 2:40 so we could stay for lunch, so then we knew we would have to stop to feed Caleb on the way home. Again, I don't know what was wrong with Caleb, but he was terrible in the car, which is so unusual. He cried for about the first 40 minutes of the trip and I had to sing every song I could think of to keep him from screaming. He finally fell asleep, but only slept for 30 minutes again. We stopped about halfway home to feed him and he was very hot and sweaty, so after I fed him (which made him very happy), I just left him in his onesie in his car seat, hoping that would help the situation. No such luck. He cried again for another 30-40 minutes and then finally fell asleep for the last 35-40 minutes of our trip. It was a bad trip and I was so happy to get home.

 

Caleb slept good on Sunday night, so I was happy about that. I had a work meeting that I had to go to in Hyannis on Monday morning, so I had arranged to have Rad come over and watch Caleb for about 2 1/2 hours while I went to my meeting. Caleb got up around 6:45 or so and then it took him awhile to fall back asleep, so he had just gone back to sleep a few minutes before Rad got there at 8:20. I told Rad that I hoped Caleb would sleep for him at least an hour and that he could put him in his jumper when he got up. My meeting went well and I got home around 10:50. Rad was feedin Caleb a bottle when I got home and he was excited to tell me that Caleb had slept until 9:55 and then spent 40 minutes in his jumper, so Rad did not really have to do anything. He had only fed him a couple of ounces, so I just took over, because I would have had to pump anyway if Rad continued to feed him. So, it was a very successful babysitting for Rad, and he still hasn't had to change a diaper!

 

Monday afternoon Caleb took a nice long nap for me. I put him down around 1:00 and he didn't get up until 3:15, although I did have to go up and put the pacifier back in a couple of times. That was fine with me. It was really nice to have such a long stretch to myself.

 

Tuesday was another good day. Caleb slept until about 6:30 and I put him back down around 7:30, but this time he only slept until about 8:45. I was on a work conference call, so I put him in his jumper and then on his mat until I was done with my call. I put him down for a nap at 11:30 and amazingly, he slept on his own without me having to put the pacifier in until 1:15!! I am getting very encouraged that he is going to keep taking longer naps. I don't know if it's because he is more active now with the jumper, or if I am keeping him awake longer in between naps. But, whatever it is, I am very happy with it. He also took a 45 minute nap later in the afternoon. So, that was good too.

 

Wednesday was another work day. Caleb had a good day with my mom. Here are a couple of cute pictures of Caleb with my dad at the office. My dad sure does love that kid! And the feeling is mutual! And a couple of pictures from Grammy's house.

 

 

 

We have been taking lots of walks lately with Steve and the dogs, because it has been so nice out. I think we have taken one every night this week. Here are a few more pictures from this week, including a couple of pictures right before and right after Caleb rolled over again.

 

Sucking his thumb!

Loving the jumper

Very intently watching daddy on his phone

After our terrible car trip - in his onesie with lots of toys to keep him happy

Right before rolling over

Right after he rolled over