One Month Old!!

I can hardly believe that Axel is a month old today. It's SO true what they say about days being so long, but the years are so short. Some days feel like they may never end (especially those long nights), but here we are already a month into his life outside the womb!

Some people have asked where we came up with Axel's name- no we aren't huge Guns 'N Roses fans :) Kellen likes less than run-of-the-mill names- a name that when you call it out at the playground only one kid reacts. I was looking through a baby name book and I loved the meanings for Axel (according to the book: Hebrew: Reward from God, Scandinavian: Father of peace), and thought, "I could live with that, and it's just weird enough that Kellen will go for it." so there ya go :)

He is a wonderful baby- content/happy when awake, a good sleeper, only seems to cry if he is uncomfortable (cold after a bath or diaper change), gassy or hungry- and man oh man does he eat! He lost a pound in the days after his birth, and I was so stressed about producing milk and getting it into him that I worked up a fever blister that first week. What a useless worry! He has no problems getting calories. He's up to 12.5 lbs already! He's wearing size 3 month clothes, and can even wear some size 6 month- big boy like his Daddy. He eats every 2.5 -3 hrs, but stretches it to about 4 hours during the night, so I'm not getting a solid night's sleep, but I get enough rest.

Axel is a lot more interactive. He smiles a lot, and is so close to laughing! He has been smiling and even laughing in his sleep for several weeks, but no wakeful laughter yet. He loves to be sung to and loves to hear Pops (my dad) whistle.  He is starting to make little coos/moans and is a noise factory of grunts and snorts when he's stretching and waking up. He is happiest in the morning right after feeding (a morning person like his Daddy!). He has been spoiled a bit with so many arms willing to hold him and help him fall asleep, so that's a difficulty we're facing now- weening him off being held/rocked to sleep. But if that is the biggest of our troubles, then we're doing ok :)

Axel's stats at birth:

9 lbs 11 oz

22 inches long

Axel's stats today:

12.5lbs

23.5 inches

In other news: Kellen is loving his new job. He started the Monday after Axel's birth. He has long days (7:30- 5:15) but they are rewarding hours. Although he comes home exhausted he really is enjoying it.

We are under contract for a home in the River Chase development in Winston Salem. It is new construction and we got to pick the floor plan and some colors, etc. It should be under construction starting next month and we should be moved in by the end of January. In the meantime we are very thankful for my parents opening up their home to us :)