2009

Happy (belated) Christmas and New Years. 2009 crept up on us and here we are already at Serbian Christmas...my goodness!!
The holidays were extra special this year with our latest addition. We got to visit friends down in Springfield, welcome a new friend, baby Caden Frederick, and spend extra time with the people we love. This included the chance to spend time with all of our family over the course of the month which really made the magic of the season seem to stretch through the entirety of December. Chris and I are constantly reminded how blessed we are to have such loving and supportive family members who not only love us, but are crazy about our kid too!
Josh's first Christmas was full of memories. We took Joshua to his first candle light Christmas service (which made him so relaxed he slept through the entire thing). Christmas day he was showered with new baby ornaments, books, cloths, and some 'big boy' toys. We tried to really soak up this Christmas as I am sure by this time next year we will be chasing him 'round the Christmas tree. Speaking of trees, Joshua even had his own baby tree this year set up in our living room. Standing about three feet high it was decorated with Mommy's crystal ornaments and Joshua's baby blue glass ornaments. We also added his ornaments from others including his 'baby's 1st Christmas' teddy bear and snow globe...so precious!!!
Chris is busy with work, looking forward to warmer nights and April when he has a chance (and I do intentionally use the word chance as being the rookie we both understand his 'luck' is partial to the mood of his superiors) to possibly switch to the day shift. He has been enjoying his waking hours playing his new video games online with friends from Springfield and of course, playing super Daddy. Chris and change a dirty diaper in under 1 minute now...he's my hero! He has been a huge help to me and there is nothing more special than watching him play with, cuddle with, kiss on, and adore his baby boy.
As for me....I got a job!!! I accepted a part time position (17-20 hours) with Parents As Teachers, a Missouri program for parents of children ages birth-4 to help support them in educating and screening their children prior to kindergarten. It is a completely government funded program that allows teachers who are also parents, to have the flexibility to continue to 'play mom' while still continue teaching. I am SO excited to start and really hope that the position will enable me to spend more time with Joshua (than I otherwise would as a full time teacher). With the acceptance of this job comes the transition for Joshua into daycare mode. Hopefully this job will mean only 3 days a week with a sitter...but, for this coming week, Joshua will be going the full week so I can attend the training institute. The good news is that we have been preparing. Joshua takes regular day time naps, can play on the floor by himself (entertaining our self has been an issue), and is used to not being held all day. He is up to size 2 diapers, is eating every 4-5 hours (about 6 oz. a sitting), and can ALMOST roll over. He is very independent, active, and lovable...sounds like an add for a new puppy.
For now, that's our news. Hope this posting finds you well!

Family

Already three and a half months old. Unbelievable how time flies! As I think back on these past few months I am so grateful for our amazing family and friends. In the past month Josh has had visits from my college friend Carla, his GREAT Nan Lowry, his Lowry and Sinnokrak uncles (including a visit from Uncle Nick all the way from San Diego), and his adoring Grandparents. I can't imagine how we possibly would have coped without our family and friends. I am beyond thrilled to report that we have officially out grown colic. Joshua is now a complete charmer. He smiles, coos, snuggles, and sleeps without scream-fests. He even flirts with his eyes (thats right ladies, watch out!) Our baby boy is the joy of our life and has been since his birth (we are just so thankful we can now enjoy his sparkling personality without being distracted by the Xena warrior cries that came out of his cute little mouth).

Our updates include:
A love affair with bath time (our sweet pea is a little fishy)
Lots of smiles
1-2 transition diapers
5-6 ounce feedings
7-8 hours of regular sleep during the night
Happy daytime hours (NO MORE COLIC!!!!)
3-6 month outfit sizes
Morning greetings of songs and smiles...I LOVE this!!!

EXTRA EXTRA

I can't believe I forgot to include our most recent development with baby Josh...
as of yesterday we have had 6 nights of sleeping from 10pm until 5am. Yahoo!!!
That's all...when you have a baby it really is the little things that are the biggest deal. xoxo

So BIG!

Josh is 10 weeks old today and I just can't believe how much he is changing. He gets more beautiful and lovable every day. My last update included lots of information about our struggles with GIRD (gastro-intestinal reflux disease) and I am happy to report that we currently have the reflux under control and have now officially transitioned into colic...a concept my mother finds entertaining since she swears GIRD and colic are essential the same problem. Other than the occasional scream fest our sweet baby boy is happy, healthy, and growing. At his two month check up last week he weighed in at a 11lbs. 7oz. 22inches. Right on target for where he should be...hooray!!!
Among my favorite changes in my little Joshua is his new found ability to smile and "talk". He has always been a lovely 'singer', but Chris and I much prefer his pleasant chatter and baby conversations.
Josh loves to move. We affectionately call him our mover and shaker. He loves to walk, bounce, sway, swing, rock, and roll. Anything but sit still. It has gotten so bad that even when I am not holding Josh I find myself swaying, bouncing, and the like...I guess Johnson's had it right, having a baby changes everything! The good news is that Josh has kept all of us on our feet and moving, and as such has contributed to more exercise throughout the day.
Back to the updates.
Halloween-Chris and I carved pumpkins for baby Josh-mine looked like a baby with baby hair and a signature baby tooth and Chris' just looked cute with cut out shapes for a traditional jack-o-lantern look. Odie went as a hotdog with mustard and relish (thank you Granddad Lowry) and Josh dressed up as a reigndeer. He will be wearing his reigndeer outfit for Christmas as well--yay for double use!
Christmas-has come to the Sinnokrak household. Now I realise that we are still at least 6 weeks out from the holidays, but I was so excited for Josh's first Christmas that I just couldn't contain myself. Josh even has his own baby blue decorated mini tree--he loves it! We have figured out Josh will stop crying for Oldies (thank you Grandpa Sinnokrak) and Christmas music-a true Christmas lover already. Poor Chris, he just smiles and lets me be excited. What a good man I married.
Other than outgrowing our newborn outfits life continues to be pretty predictable and quiet (minus our colic episodes). Our next big adventure is days with Nanny Lowry and an upcoming visit with Uncle Nick Sinnokrak.

Our growing boy

I know it has been a while since my last post and I apologize. Life has been busy. Since last writing Josh has taken his first trip to Chicago to visit his Grandma and Grandpa, outgrown his newborn diapers and graduated to size 1, and gotten his first hair cut. Josh is also getting much better about staying awake during the day and sleeping at night (big yay!!!) and has been handling his tummy issues with much greater ease. There is so much to update I am not even going to attempt to do it all tonight. So tomorrow you will find the details, but tonight I give you pictures...enjoy and thanks for reading!

That's my baby...

Josh was a month old yesterday! Needless to say, this past week has been quite a trip. To celebrate surviving the week/weekend we called the nurses exchange and got Josh scheduled for an appointment with our fabulous pediatrician, Dr. Felkel. The man is hilarious, kind, and smart...perfect for sick baby Josh and stressed out Chris and Kate. After what seems like a 72 hour marathon of nonstop screaming and bottles of Maalox and Tiny Tummy's Gas Drops later we finally have a diagnosis for our baby's unhappiness. It seems that our "little boy" (Josh weighs in a healthy 9lbs. 7oz. as of today!) has what is commonly referred to as G.E.R.D.-a painful baby disease that combines acid reflux and increased acidity of the stomach. Simply put our baby has projectile burps and a belly full of bubbles. While neither of us would wish anything bad upon our baby, Chris and I were both mildly relieved to learn that our child's banshee screams weren't from the fact that he outright hated us...yes, a week of nonstop shrieking has given us a complex. The medicines are suppose to take 2 weeks to take full effect, so we are praying that Josh's bubbles stay in control until the prescriptions can fully occupy his system. In the mean time we are using some good old fashion home remedies to keep our kiddo comfy for the next few weeks (i.e. elevating his mattress, holding him upright for 20 min. after feedings, applying warm blankets to his tummy, and occasionally slipping hard alcohol into his milk-just kidding, we have our limits). All in all we are doing just fine. We have been sincerely trying to enjoy every day with our baby boy and remember that our little one won't be little for ever.

More pictures to come....we are having a few issues with our computer, but I promise some updated photos soon! xoxo

3 weeks old

Phew! Time flies when you are having fun (and not sleeping). Amazingly, Josh turned three weeks old on Sunday, Chris and I both don't know where these last three weeks went, our baby is getting so big so quickly! This week was an exciting one. Josh and I spent two days with my parents this week . Chris was working several nights in a row and my parents graciously allowed me to "move home" for a few days so that they could help me with Josh during the night. Nana Lowry, much like Grandma Sinnokrak, has a knack for getting baby Josh back to sleep during my 3-5 AM feedings when Josh only wants to scream at his Momma. Thank goodness for Grandmothers! Granddad Lowry also lent a hand during the day so that I could nap and get some laundry done. Grandparents are a wonderful thing (for babies and new mommies).
Sunday brought our trip to Springfield. Josh did very well in the car-sleeping almost the whole way-again, another blessing. We arrived into town around 3pm, got settled at the hotel for an hour and then headed off to spend time with Dana, Teresa, Angie, and Jeff (our Missouri State buddies). From there it was off to Qdoba for a baby reunion with our Sunday school class-4 babies within 3 weeks of each other makes for quite a reason to gather! Zack, Ellie, Maddux, and Josh were fast friends, and it was fun for me to have the other new mommies to share stories with for a few hours. Monday Josh and I took Chris to court and spent the morning with the new mommies and babies for some more play time. After picking Chris up around noon we all went over to Ozark North for a quick visit with the Kindergarten teachers (who just ate Josh up!). It was SO much fun to introduce Josh to my North friends who were so sweet to both of us during my pregnancy. I was also able to see a few of my former students in the hallway on their way to specials which was so fun. All my kiddos have gotten so tall. I forgot that happens over the summer! After leaving school we grabbed a quick dinner with Dana and Teresa and headed home-happy but exhausted.
Monday night we didn't sleep-Josh was ready to play and thankfully Nana Lowry was willing to humor him.
Tuesday night we bought gas drops-and all of us slept...ahhhh! Life is good.

This week's updates:

Josh weights 8lbs. 1oz.
Josh is working on holding his head up on his own
Josh has mastered three baby cries (the billy goat, the piglet, and the chipmunk)
Mom and Dad have been able to sleep up to 3 hours at a stretch