Baby LaTour: Happy Birthday Daddy!

This week we celebrated Craig's birthday (the big 44!) and Gabriel's 10 week "birthday."

I ordered a beautiful card from Shutterfly for Craig from Gabe; it arrived just in time for Daddy's birthday party! Here's a look at the cuteness:

Front of card

Inside of card

Back of card

Gabe is regularly sleeping from 8pm to 4-4:30am, feeding fairly quickly, and then heading back to sleep till 7:15-ish. It kind of works with my schedule, as I intended to be waking up by 5am to get ready for work so that I can be feeding him by 7:15 before I leave for the day. I have been heading to bed by 9:30 to combat this early rising. This week I've been enjoying a late afternoon nap with my boy, and I'm sure that will continue until I get used to the early wake ups (plus the every-3-hour pumping schedule during the night).
Gabriel has been "talking" a TON this week. He mimics the sounds we make fairly well, actually. My favorite is his attempt at "I love you" when I say it to him first. Makes me smile every time! For a little taste via video, click here; for a recording of him singing along to the ABCs, click here.
I didn't realize how complicated it was going to be to go back to work and figure out how/when/where to pump. I had to send several e-mails to make sure I had coverage for 20-30 minutes during my teaching labs and to let the Dean know I will be checking out every 2 hours or so to pump during the two days of faculty workshops this week. Luckily, especially with laws supporting breastfeeding moms nowadays, everyone at work has been very supportive. I am making pumping a priority, which should help me maintain my milk supply.
I am determined to do everything I can to breastfeed (whether at the breast or through bottled milk) Gabriel for the first year of his life. I have successfully made it to 10 weeks! Only 42 more to go, haha! At least after the next 16 weeks (until the end of the semester), I'll have 3 months during the summer to be at home with him again. I'm sure time will fly! [On a side note, Chelsea shared a news article with me about Pope Francis supporting breastfeeding women in church. In my research of the US laws about breastfeeding in public, the fine print actually says that "places of worship" are excluded. I'm happy to hear the Pope supports us breastfeeding mamas!]
Craig & I had our first date night without Gabe (thanks Justine for babysitting!) to celebrate his birthday. We went to our favorite Japanese hibachi restaurant, Takara, in Kelley Square. I have to admit that I was a little anxious because it was the first time Craig & I were both away from Gabriel at the same time. All went well, and we enjoyed our hour and a half out of the house alone together.

Dinner out for the new parents

We had our usual monthly LaTour family birthday party (plus Gabe's Godparents & Wyatt), this time for Craig. Tacos & cake - yum! Thanks to all the ladies in the family for helping out with bringing toppings!

Happy 44th to Papa Bear!

There aren't nearly enough candles on that cake...

Grammy, Auntie Lorene, & Gabe at Craig's birthday party

Craig & I finally got around to taking Gabriel's hand & foot prints. (We got footprints from the hospital when he was born, but they don't do handprints. Babies clench their fists, which makes it really difficult; I saw this firsthand when both Gabe & I ended up with inked fingers during this process! Somehow, the ink on him came off easily with a wet washcloth but my fingers remain black, even after several handwashings - not fair!)
So, with the addition of the prints, I finally completed the "Gabe wall" by our front door. It will get his monthly picture added as he gets older, but it's all set until February for now!

Finally filled the frames!

A fun fact: I was reading in the book "Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5" (thanks Missee!) about the one to three month milestones for babies. I found out what the reflex is called when babies who are laid down onto their back throw their arms out to the sides (kind of like they are saying "Wasssssssuppppp?") - the Moro reflex. This reflex is lost around 3-4 months of age. I will be sad to see it go - Gabriel does it mostly when I'm setting him into his little bath sling for tubby time. (And I always say, "Wasssssssuppppp!" and laugh!)

Here are some other pictures from this week: