Grandee & Hoppa's Visit

Drew's parents arrived yesterday for a 5-day visit from Grand Junction. Grandee and Hoppa were happy to meet their first grandson. Elliot was sleepy for much of the first 24 hours of their visit. We took him out for TexMex last night and to meet his daddy for a workday lunch today. Tonight Grandee made us all a 5-star dinner at home, and then Hoppa's magic touch got Elliot to relax enough to go to sleep at 11pm with little fuss.

By the way, Drew's parents are known as Grandee and Hoppa. Drew's mom's moniker, Grandee, comes from her name--Deedee. (Actually, her real name is Margaret but we only hear that when David is trying to get her attention!) Hoppa comes from Elliot's 5-year-old cousin Sophia and their first grandchild. I believe she was trying to say Poppa and it always came out as "Hoppa" so it stuck.

Elliot had his one-month pediatrician appointment today. Unbelievably, he now tips the scales at 11 pounds, 5 ounces! That's right, he has gained nearly 4 pounds in a month! He is now in the 75th percentile for his weight. Dr. Hargrave said he might become a chubby baby and then lean down once he starts moving and grooving. (This would put him in line with his daddy who was nicknamed "The Michelin Man" as a baby.) Dr. Hargrave said if Elliot ever decides to sleep through his 3am feeding that's okay, just let him sleep--he has enough "in storage" to get through a night without food. But I have a feeling this won't happen for a while... my baby loves the 3am boob time. Elliot also had to have his 2nd Hepatitis B vaccine today. He squealed when the nurse stuck him, and I quickly scooped him up for cuddles and he quieted down fast. It is still heartbreaking to hear him cry like that!

Elliot is still fussy in the late nighttime, but we have learned that this is normal for newborn babies and it will just take time for him to get over it. Instead of trying to get him to sleep, we try to help him settle with soft lighting, soothing white noise and lots of cuddling. We put him down to sleep and he usually wakes himself up several times, so we hold or pat him and reassure him that we are here and he is okay. He's usually down for the night by midnight at the latest. He is so darn cute, I hardly ever mind it when he keeps me up. I love holding him and looking at his sweet face.

Elliot is also on the verge of smiling. I know any day now he will be doing it regularly. His eyes light up when I talk and sing to him, and it looks as though he is just about to respond with a big gummy grin.