So close!

4 months

Finn turned 4 months on December 23rd. Here is his 4 month photo:

A New Year

Of the many "resolutions" or goals I have for this year, one of them is to blog more. I enjoy blogging but it is really hard for me to make time for blogging. I am going to really give it a try this year though. I like being able to share pictures and funny stories with family and friends near and far. And I really like going back and reading the entries myself.

This afternoon Adam and I did a prediction run. The course was 8 kilometers (almost 5 miles). You can start the run any time after 2:30 and the person who finishes closest to 4pm wins. I have no idea who won because we did not stick around for awards - I just wanted to do the run. This is the farthest I've run since July of 2010. I am really slow but it feels great to be running again. Here is a picture of Adam and I after the run.

After the run we went over to Adam's parent's house for dinner. They were watching Charlie and Finn (thank you!). They have a jumperoo (or jumping seat) that Finn goes wild in. He will jump for 20-30 minutes if we let him. I took this cute video of him wanting to fall asleep but then continuing to jump. Enjoy!

3 months old

Griffin is growing like a weed! I ordered these cute stickers that can be put on a onesie. Here are pictures from the last three months.

One week old

1 Month Old

Yesterday Griffin turned 1 month old. In some ways this past month seems to have flown by and in other ways it has felt like a year. Overall, Griffin is a very good baby. He is not at chill as he used to be but I take that as a good thing as he is checking out his environment more and more and becoming more aware.

For Griffin there doesn't seem to be an in between. He is either content or mad. He goes from being completely fine to FEED ME NOW in less than half a second. I hope this is not a sign of things to come because I don't have a lot of patience and neither does Charlie. Adam has enough for Charlie and I but I am not so sure he has enough for Griffin too.

Days can be long because sometimes the only way I can get him to nap is on me. While this is nice because it forces me to take a break too, mentally it is difficult for me because I stuck there thinking of all the things that need to get done around the house. I have started putting him in the front carrier so I can still be mobile and he can sleep too. Although today he took a 2 1/2 hour nap in the bassinet so I really can't complain.

The best part though is Griffin falls asleep around 7:30 or 8pm and will sleep for 2 1/2 or 3 hours. This is usually his longest stretch of sleep. It is nice because Charlie goes to sleep around the same time so I have the evenings to myself. I probably should sleep too but I don't. It is my time to catch up on things around the house or sometimes just watch TV. Throughout the night he sleeps 2-3 hours at a time and usually goes right back to sleep. Thankfully he doesn't take after his sister and scream from 3-5 am.

On another note I have run twice since Griffin was born. I try to go for walks a couple times a week but there were two occasions when I was able to go for a walk/run by myself. IT WAS GLORIOUS!!! I haven't run since the marathon (July 2011). I really love running and it has been difficult to be away from it for so long. The first time I started out I did two miles (very slowly). We have a loop near our house that is exactly 1 mile. I walked for two minutes, jogged for 1 minute and did two laps. It was great on so many levels. One it was nice just to run. It had been so long. It was nice to be alone with my thoughts. And it was nice to know that I still love running. My body did really well too. Much better than I expected. Yes, I am more jiggly in areas that I would like but I know with time that will go away. I am taking a very slow, cautious approach when it comes to running because I don't want to get injured again. But I am already thinking of some of the local races I want to do next year.

Also on the running front, last weekend we bought a double stroller. We had been contemplating what kind to get and finally decided on a double BOB. I found one used and I think we got a pretty good deal. It was barely ever used and is in really good shape. However, this thing is a monster! It is so heavy and is so wide it doesn't fit though the door frame of our house. We haven't tried yet but I am really hoping that it fits in the trunk of my car. But it is perfect for Charlie and Griffin and the areas we like to walk. Adam will be able to run with both of them in the stroller and hopefully I will get to the point were I can too. We have a single BOB stroller too which we still use. Charlie sits in the stroller and Adam or I wear Griffin in a front pack. But the double BOB will allow us to take both of the kids running.

Obviously it has been an adjustment having two kids but we are surviving and each day is getting a little bit easier. I am not wishing away Griffin's time as a newborn but I really have my sights set on the three month mark - more smiles, more interaction, a little more independent and hopefully a little more sleep!

1 month old!

The maiden voyage with the beast - the double BOB

Sleeping boy

Smiling boy

1 Week Old

I really can't believe it has already been 1 week since Griffin was born! This past week has gone by so fast and I can honestly say it is not because I am sleep deprived. Griffin, or Finn as we like to call him, is such a good baby! So far he sleeps great at night. I really hope he continues that trend. Last night I got up with him at 1 am, 4am, and 7am. I just nurse him and he goes back to sleep. I actually feel human!

Finn is the polar opposite of Charlie. Charlie cried A LOT and always had to be held. I am not trying to jinx myself but Finn just seems chill and calm. He sleeps a lot which I hear is what newborns typically do. I wouldn't know because Charlie would literally sleep 20 minutes at a time 3 times a day. Other than that she was a awake.

Part of the reason Finn sleeps a lot is because he was/is jaundice. Yesterday we had his blood checked and his bilirubin had gone down. He is pooping and peeing more too which is a good sign. His next appointment is Thursday so hopefully his weight continues to go up. I know he may not always stay like this but right now I am counting my blessings. Tonight at dinner Adam said, "I am not taking these past 6 days for granted!" Although, I've been told this is what newborns are supposed to do. I wouldn't know. I have never experienced this before.

Adam started working half days this week. All of us spend the morning together, Adam then drops Charlie off at Grandma's, Adam goes to work in the afternoon and Finn and I hang out. Actually, both yesterday and today we had a little photo shoot. I love photography and really want to become a better photographer. I am using cute little Finn as an excuse to learn. He is so easy to get to sleep and then I just start taking pictures. He prefers to sleep on his back so I haven't been able to take many stomach shots although I did get a good one today. It is so much fun to play around as he sleeps. I was NEVER able to do anything like that with Charlie. If I ever did get her to sleep I would just sit there and watch her because if I made any noise whatsoever she would wake up. I know one day Charlie is going to say to us, "Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know. Finn was the good baby and I was the cranky baby!" Adam and I are just so amazed at the difference.

Here are some pictures from this past week:

Charlie reading stories to Finn

On his way to his first pediatrician's appointment.

Charlie holding Finn for the first time.

A sample of yesterday's photo shoot.

Griffin Bryan Rutz

Griffin Bryan Rutz arrived Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 9:45 pm. The day was full of excitement. That afternoon we experienced a 5.9 earthquake. I was at work and was trying to figure out if I was having a contraction or if my office building really was shaking. My building was evacuated to check for structural damage so I went home, grabbed Izzy, went and picked up Charlie from my mother-in-law and we all went for a walk. On our walk, Izzy was stung in the butt (and by butt I mean poop hole) by a wasp. Adam had to meet us at the park because Izzy would not walk. He took her to the vet and $120 later and a cortisone shot she was fine. All of this happened as I started having contractions.

We started timing contractions about 6pm and by 8:45 we were ready to leave for the birthing center (my in-laws had already come to pick up Charlie). It is a 30 minute drive to the birthing center and I seriously thought I was going to have the baby in the car. I stopped counting after 6 contractions but I probably had at least 10 contractions in this 30 minute time frame. I really had to concentrate on not pushing. Adam and I didn't say much to each other during this time but I do remember saying, "No more babies" and his response was, "Yes, ma'am." I also told him to drive faster :)

We arrived at the birthing center at 9:15 and I was fully dilated. They told me not to push until the nurse arrived. I think the nurse arrive 5-10 minutes later and Griffin was born at 9:45. We are just now getting over how quickly he was born. When he was born he was 20 inches long and weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz.

Overall, things are going well although he is jaundice and we had to take him to the doctor yesterday and today to have his bilirubin checked. We have another appointment tomorrow because it did increase from yesterday to today. But he also gained 4 ounces since Friday (currently at 7 lbs. 8 oz) so hopefully things are improving.

We weathered hurricane Irene just fine. Our power stayed on but there are a lot of people without power in our area. Tomorrow was supposed to be the first day of school for kids in our area but it has been cancelled. Needless to say this past week has been very exciting for us. I am hoping for a more boring week this week :)

Here are some pics of the little man:

Not too bad of a picture considering it was 3 in the morning!

Just being cute!

Adam, Charlie and Finn