Fun July Outings

We had some fun outings in the month of July... as we gathered more courage and confidence in taking Charlie out into the world. I would get very stressed and apprehensive about taking a fussy baby out anywhere. I realize that everyone understands that babies cry and it is not that big of a deal, but I guess when it is your own and you feel responsible and guilty for their cries it is a hard thing to handle. No one expects having babies that are fussy...you only imagine little happy, smiling angels!

But enough of that talk! We were able to go on several outings and they all turned out being very enjoyable (even with a baby crying on and off). When Charlie was a little over a month, we met up with the Grubers and Tuttle for a yummy pancake breakfast up the American Fork canyon. These picnic breakfasts are always a lot of fun. Jason had a good time fishing in the stream, and I had a good time taking Charlie for a walk in his stroller.

Later that day, we headed up to Draper. My mom had offered to tend Charlie so Jason and I could go on a date. We quickly took her up on that offer. Our first date away from Charlie! We dropped Charlie off and headed to Jordan Commons to see the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises, which had just opened that weekend. It was also Draper Days, so after the movie my mom continued to watch Charlie as Jason, my dad, Bryan, and I rode bikes near the Draper Elementary to watch the fireworks. We were right next to the launching area, which made for a spectacular show! I even felt a little too close for comfort for some of the bigger fireworks! It was probably one of the more amazing firework shows I had seen, mostly because they were all exploding just over our heads. I remember making some kind of comment like it was like being visited by alien spaceships that were about to abduct us all! Yeah, I was a little crazy.

A few days later, we celebrated Pioneer Day walking along the trail at Canyon Glen Park. We took Charlie in the stroller and Jason could not help but make some fishing stops along the way.

That evening, we met up with Jaleah and Mark, and a couple of their neighborhood friends for a delicious Pioneer Day BBQ! The food was amazing! We grilled up some quality steaks, had herbed red potatoes, corn on the cob, salad, watermelon...everything exceeded our expectations! So good! After eating, we enjoyed pleasant conversation in their basement and played a little Mad Gab. I LOVE that game and the girls rocked it! 

We also had an Arbon Family gathering at the end of July. My Uncle Brad was going to be getting re-married soon, so we all got together to celebrate their marriage. It fun to see him and his family, since we so seldom do. My Grandma Arbon also thought it would be a great opportunity to take family pictures with most everyone there. You know how family pictures go....they take forever and everyone is grumpy, right? But we got it done, and of course we are all glad we did it. 

The Original Arbons

Brad, Erin, Scott, Loyanne, Linda, and Dave

Grandma and Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa with the Grandkids and Great-Grandkids

Past Grandkid Photos:

 Oh, how we have grown!

Four generations of the Arbon bloodline

Great-Aunt Erin and Charlie

Speaking of celebrations....of course we can’t forget about Nancy’s birthday! We enjoyed a Sunday dinner of grilled brats, homemade salsa, and yummy chocolate brownies in her honor.

Charlie's First Month

 
Charlie’s first month just flew by! Life was definitely different here in the Gruber household, and it definitely was not easy. Charlie was the cutest little thing, getting cuter with each day, but at the same time it felt like he was getting fussier each day. We believe he was (and continues) to have some pains from gas. He would cry so hard, put his little hands into fists, and alternate between arching his back and bending over his tummy. We got some of those infant gas relief drops, and those seemed to help a little bit at first...but maybe he just got too used to them. I’m not sure...but he sure liked the sweet taste of the drops.

At one and a half weeks, when we finally got settled back at our place, Charlie started getting some bad baby acne...and I mean bad! I never knew babies could get that...boy, was I awakened! Poor Charlie...his perfect baby cheeks became rough like sandpaper. I know babies go through a lot as they experience this new world, but it was still so sad to see. (Charlie is now two months and it has gotten A LOT better, but it still lingers). 

Our first evening at our apartment in Pleasant Grove -

It was pretty hot, hence the naked baby. His baby acne started up the next day...I think the heat could have been a factor in bringing the acne on. 

Sweet sleeping baby 

 Sleeping baby the next day - you can see the beginnings of the baby acne

At two weeks, we had our first doctor’s appointment. That’s when Charlie was circumcised (poor guy), for some reason they don’t do it at the hospital anymore. But the good news was his measurements were right on track:

Weight - 8 lbs 10.5 oz - 47 Percentile (almost back to starting weight!)
Length - 21. 75 inches - 85 Percentile
Head Circumference - 36.9 cm - 45 Percentile

Charlie did a great job nursing. The eating schedule and routine changed a few times during the month, but overall he did an awesome job! What a relief! He also does just fine taking a binky (thank goodness for binkies!) and a bottle. He also did really well with sleeping in the night (as well as a newborn can). He would sleep in good 3-5 hour blocks between night feedings. He would wake up, cry, eat for ten minutes, and then fall right back asleep. Of course, there were the nights here and there that he would not want to fall back and asleep...and he would just cry and cry. Those were the really hard and frustrating parts. But for the most part, night-times were predictable and manageable. It was especially nice since Jason didn’t have work early in the morning. He was able to sleep in as well, so I didn’t feel as bad getting the help I needed from him in the nights (Jason would always get Charlie from the crib and return him after his feeding, up until about six weeks while I was still recovering).

We started noticing some of Charlie’s habits early on. As much as he liked being swaddled, he liked having his left arm out and free. He would frequently wiggle it out of the swaddling. It got to the point that for awhile there we would wrap him up with his left arm already out and put a little sock on his hand to keep it from getting cold. He looked just like the Statue of Liberty. Another habit is whenever he sits in the carseat and is falling asleep, he likes to have his little hands curled up near his chin...like a raptor or rabbit. So cute! Another is crying whenever we lay him on his stomach....he HATES tummy time!

Jason has developed his own unique nicknames for Charlie...I have no clue where they came from, and I don’t think he knows either...but they have stuck and are frequently heard from Jason’s mouth. And the nicknames are: “Little Man Fred”, “Charles Munser”, and “Munserooner”.

And now to the endless supply of pictures and videos we have taken throughout Charlie's first month:

Being introduced to the swing we borrowed from Max and April

His umbilical cord stump fell off at nine days old

Charlie's first "legit" bath

Sometimes we would see this side-sleeping: our little praying mantis!

The Gruber's came to visit Charlie:

Amy and Charlie

See the little raptor hands?

Flying Squirrel

All the MANY faces of Charlie

Sister Karen Adams was so kind to bring over a cake

"B" for boy!

Charlie and Clara

A typical wake-up routine for Charlie

 Meeting Great Grandma Gruber at the "famous" Trellis Cafe

And to the best pictures, thanks to my friend, Amy Stallings - 

Charlie's One Month Photo Shoot:

Charlie, we love you to pieces!