Davis - 1 month

Davis hit 1 month on July 26, 2014. Since his two week update, he has learned to "blow bubbles," spit up his entire meal after eating, and sleep 6 hours straight (but not consistently...). I never realized how entertaining watching an infant could be. We especially love watching him wake up - his stretches, yawns, farts, and faces are adorable. Yes - even the farts.

Davis has also met more people that love him. Lisette, Nora, Anna, Jeff, Ompah (Grandpa Griswold), and Mimi (Terri). On my birthday (July 23) we brought him along to Zada Jane's for leisurely breakfast. We sat outside and he was perfect. We also brought him along to another restaurant for drinks on the patio - that outing was a little less successful. We had a number of friends over on my birthday and Davis loved all the attention. We're slowly figuring out how to do our pre-baby activities with baby.

CoCo (Grandma Fitzpatrick) visited for a few days again. Mom and dad got to go on a date while she was here. Davis loved spending time with her. Lulu (CoCo's pup) also tagged along. At first Lulu and Tad didn't get along, but they loved each other by the end of the few days.

Later in the month Ompah and Mimi visited. Davis loved being held by both of them and they couldn't keep their eyes off of him. Love all around.

Still no schedule yet, but we do have a bit of a routine down. We wake up between 6 and 8. Eat. Change. Kilborne Acres/park walk before 9, if possible. Nap during/after walk. Eat around 10. Play for a bit. Change. Nap. Mom does chores. Eat around 1. Change. Snuggle. Nap. Mom tries to rest/nap too. Eat around 4. Change. Active time! Dad gets home. Bouncer and/or carrier while we prep dinner. Bouncer and/or carseat while mom and dad eat dinner. Eat around 7. Change. Evening walk - often in Plaza Midwood after we visit Norcross to check on the progress at the house. Eat around 9 (you like to eat more frequently at night...). Change. Fussy time! Eat again around 11. Sleep 'til 4! Repeat.

These photos were taken in our backyard at Sheridan. We loved bringing Davis home to Sheridan but we're also looking forward to our new home. We hope the two month update will be written from there!

Colors

Drywall is up and floors are down. This means we're getting to the exciting part of the renovations at Norcross - finishes! One of the big decisions that will impact the feel of the house is colors - floor colors, cabinet colors, tile colors, trim colors, grout colors, wall colors.... who knew there were so many color decisions to make!

We've settled on our paint colors. They are pretty neutral. It's hard to know what color you really want until you are in a space and really experience it. We hope we love the colors and don't need to make any changes but we'll see.

For the interior - Behr Subtle Touch will touch most spaces (living room, hallways, full bathrooms, bedroom 2/guest room, kitchen, pantry, laundry room, and dining area). We have this in a number of our rooms at Sheridan and love it. We'll also keep the same master bedroom color we have at Sheridan - Behr Porpoise. The great room will be Gladden Silver Birch. On screen it looks tan but in person it looks more like a very soft grey. All safe colors so far. The office and bedroom 1/nursery are where we're taking a bit more of a chance with Glidden Blue-Grey Slate. The half bath, trim and closets will be white.

For the exterior we've selected three colors: Glidden Shady Blue for the body of the house, Behr Stately White for the trim, and Behr Starless Night for the accents (doors, shutters, etc).

Davis - Your First Two Weeks

Davis Rittenhouse Griswold. You made a dramatic entrance into our world on June 26, 2015 at 2:13 a.m - 10 days after your due date. 8 lbs 5 oz. We immediately fell in love. Although it's only been two weeks, we can't imagine our world without you.

In these pictures you are basking in the morning light that streams through our living room picture window. In the picture on the right you are laying on one of the blankets that Great Grandma Rittenhouse knitted for you. She is the Grandma you are named after, Winifred Davis Rittenhouse.

We took these pictures during a morning walk in Kilbourne park. In the picture on the left you are laying in the hole 11 disc golf basket - the one daddy threw a hole in one into. He believes your conception and the hole in one happened at the same time... In the picture on the right you are making your classic grumpy Grandpa face. I think you inherited this from me - sorry!

A stream of consciousness about your first two weeks: 

• We call you tree frog because of the way you like to lay during skin to skin time with mommy and daddy, which seems to calm you. At just over a week you started to be able to see more with your eyes. We noticed you opening them up more widely and looking around. You love looking out windows. You also love the outdoors. Sometimes when you're really fussy dad takes you out and you immediately calm. We think you like the warmth of the fresh air and the sounds of the birds and bugs (especially the cicadas). You also really like walks. The bumpier the better so we try to take you "off roading" in Kilbourne park. When you're in a cuddly mood but we have work to do we tie you to one of us using the sleepy wrap. You cuddle up on our chests and usually fall asleep while we do chores. 
• You and Tad seem to be getting along okay. He's definitely curious and a bit jealous. We think he'll like you more when you're a toddler and able to play with him. He used to get nervous and hide when you cried - now he sits near you until you calm. He wants to protect you.
• You eat a lot. Nearly 3 ounces every 2 hours. That's what most 1 month olds eat. Your appetite and mama's ample breast milk supply are why you were up over your birth weight in less than a week. Based on daddy's precise weight calculations (using the bathroom scale) you were 9.5 pounds by day 12. That's a pound gained! 
• You sleep a lot. Except at bedtime when we want you to... You'll sleep for nearly four hour stretches once you are down - but a 2-3 hour nap is more typical.
• You require lots of love and attention, but you're a good baby overall. You are so sweet and usually only cry when you need something - food, attention, a clean diaper, to pass some gas...
• Noise doesn't seem to bother you. You startle a bit sometimes when Tad suddenly barks loudly at the UPS delivery person (we've been ordering a lot of stuff from Amazon) but quickly return to whatever it was you were doing. We've even had you in the bouncer next to the blender while you were sleeping - you didn't seem to notice. 
• You've met lots of people that loved you before they met you. Aunt Jill was there the moment you came into the world. Then CoCo (Grandma Fitzpatrick) arrived on your third day. Aunt Bailey came at 6 days. A parade of friends and neighbors came by to meet you and bring food and gifts. Neighbors Janice, Ethel, and Brad & Steve. Friends Alice (and Brennan!), the Funderburgs, Annelise, and Tim. 
• We've completed a number of successful outings. The first (besides your trip home on your second day) was a visit to our soon-to-be new home on Norcross on your third day. On your fourth day we went to the pediatrician (you are thriving and don't need to be seen again for a month!). On your fifth and 7th days we went to see a lactation consultant (let's just say - Ow!), and some time during your second week we went to ReStore. Of course, we also took lots of walks - typically one in the morning and one in the evening. 
• You don't like things on your head, getting dressed (see first item since getting dressed usually involves putting a onesie over your head), daddy's cold hands, or schedules (you like to eat, sleep, cuddle on your own time, not when we want you to).

Taking care of you is exhausting. But you're worth it.