Great Gifts for New Moms

You always hear from people, their stories and recommendations when you are going through your pregnancy or right after having a baby. I have heard some GREAT stories and recommendations from my bestest of friends to the strangers on the street. Looking back here are some of the suggestions/items I couldn't have lived without:

• The book "Babywise". Because of the information in this book, Maxton is now sleeping through the night at 9 weeks old!!! He is also on a great routine during the day and evening for feedings, naps and waketime.
• Dunstan Baby Language CD- I watched this CD before Maxton was born to learn about babies cry's and how to distinguish between them. I learned that "Neh" is hungry, "Eh" is need to burp, and "Owh" is I'm tired. Once I caught on to his versions of those, it was easy sailing and the crying didn't bother me at all because I new what he wanted. This also helped to establish a routine.
• Help right away the very first week. Pat was a Godsend being there the first 5 days. Not sure I would have kept my sanity without her help. Thanks Pat! To all the others who came and helped the first few weeks, Mom, Lisa, THANK YOU!!!! Please help out your new mommies!!
• Portable Playyard/Baby Suite- I slept on the couch for the first few weeks and Maxton napped down there with me in this playyard during the night and day. We also have a really portable playyard that goes with us to the Grandma's houses.
• Dr. Brown's Bottles- Worth the extra money!
• Sleep Positioner- Keeps Maxton from turning or moving in the crib. Point- Took the sides off the mat to see what would happen, last night I found him twice perpendicular to the crib spindles with his legs kicking in between the spindles. We'll keep the sleep positioner for a little longer!!
• Numerous amounts of burp cloths AND little blankets.

Now I know what to get new mommies on top of the everneeded Diapers and Wipes!!

Two Month Dr. Appointment

Little Man's Updates:

• 13 pounds, 10 ounces (90-95%)
• 23 1/2 inches long (75%)
• Two shots succesfully taken in the legs
• Bad case of diarrhea (12 times on Tuesday, 5 times on Wednesday) (Virus going around)
• Eating Similac Isomil Soy for a little while to get back on track
• Right side of head is flattening a little more than the left. Feeding him in right arm now, putting him down on opposite side of crib now so he'll look left and stay off the right side of head as much as he can
• On track for his age with lifting his head up, oohing and ahhing, smiling back and responding to noises

TV TIME

Tonight's Premieres-

UGLY BETTY- 8 PM
GREY'S ANATOMY- 9-11 PM
THE OFFICE- 8 PM
MY NAME IS EARL- 9 PM


Thanks goodness for DVR!!! But with little Maxton, I'll have to be choosy on the shows I want to watch now since I don't have as much free time!

Tomorrow's Events-

Don't forget the first Presidential Debate tomorrow at 9:00 PM EST.

I hope we're on to something!!

Last night Maxton had his evening bottle around 7:30 pm. I put him down to bed right before Prison Break was starting (I know perfect timing!) around 9:00. I said to myself, come on, please sleep until midnight- 1:00 am so that I can get a good nap in. I fell asleep around 10:30 to awaken at 3:30 and realize I hadn't heard him. I gently nudged Matt, followed with, "Have you fed the baby?". I got a drowsy, "Nah". I'm like wow, this kid can sleep. Finally, I woke up to some noises around 5:00 am, no loud cry yet. He then fell back asleep and woke up at 5:23 am!!!!! Yes, you heard it folks. Doing the math, that is about 8 1/2 hours of sleep AND over 10 hours without eating!! OMG!!!!

Please let it continue like that!!!!!

NEW UPDATE- 9-25-08-
Third night in a row that Maxton has slept 6+ hours at night. Yeah!! He's getting to be such a big boy!!

Maxton's Birth Announcement

Mother and Daughter Banned from Disneyland!!

I can't understand why?

Did You Know?

• In the 1400's a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have 'the rule of thumb'.
• 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
• If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
• The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work:
  Alaska
• Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?
  A. Their birthplace
• Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?
  A. Father's Day
• In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes.
  When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase......... 'goodnight, sleep tight.'
• It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.
• In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England , when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.' It's where we get the phrase 'mind your P's and Q's'.
• Many years ago in England , pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. 'Wet your whistle' is the phrase inspired by this practice.

Upcoming Presidential Debate Dates

~Get in the Know- Tune into these future Debates~

September 26, 2008: Presidential debate with domestic policy focus, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS (Tickets)

October 2, 2008: Vice Presidential debate, Washington University, St. Louis, MO (Tickets)

October 7, 2008: Presidential debate in a town hall format, Belmont University, Nashville, TN (Tickets)

October 15, 2008: Presidential debate with foreign policy focus, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY (Tickets)

Rainforest Mobile

Maxton LOVES his new Rainforest Mobile. We had the Ocean Wonders little aquarium thingy on the side of the crib that lights up and plays music/sounds, and he does like that one too, but I think he was getting bored. I wanted to stimulate him with something above. It's 4 am and I can hear him in there oohing and ahhing over this thing. And the best part...It comes with a Remote Control!!! Genius!! The second best part....It was 30% off at Babies R Us!!!!

We have Electric!

I forgot to update you! We got our electric back on Monday around 3 pm. We were only out 24 hours. Thank goodness!

No Electric at the Balster's

We've been out since Sunday around 4ish. How about you all?? I can understand how the Amish operate now. It was kind of nice sitting around candlelight instead of with all the lights on. I told Matt we should do this more often. Thank goodness we had our portable DVD player a bit charged. We made it through about 3/4 of a movie and then it died. I'm bringing home both laptops tonight for some entertainment. Thank goodness for batteries!!! The baby swing and Ocean Wonders thingy still work for Maxton's entertainment. It sounds like we could be down for quite awhile. Hopefully they will start in Dublin but we'll see!

Why Men Aren't Allowed To Do The Shopping!!!

Matt- I'll stick to the shopping Honey!!

SHHHH!!! Don't tell Daddy!

I think he looks better in red! Go Buckeyes!! Beat USC!!

Our Trip to Notre Dame

We had SO much fun with the Chack's at the Notre Dame - San Diego St. game. ND pulled out the win- Yeh- Go Irish!! Maxton was so excited to meet his friend Vivian. I think the name Vivian Balster sounds great! Haha- Daddy Eric isn't so ready for that yet! Thanks to our Mom's, Pat and Sharlene, who traveled with us to watch the babies why we went to the game and out for some drinks afterwards. On our way up to ND, our friends Tammy and Chuck called, they were also going to the game. We ended up meeting up with them before the game and spent the day and evening with them as well. It was such a fun weekend and it was great to see all our friends. Thanks Chacks!!!

Maxton's "Firsts" This Week

He is growing up soo fast! I can't believe the progress he has made in the last couple of weeks. I think I might have gotten a smile before this week but this week I has his attention for quite awhile and was able to get a little grin out of him. He's still not at the stage where he is smiling a lot but every now and then we can coax out a grin. On Tuesday, he had a little bit of a crying fit. When I picked him up I noticed a little tear running down the left side of his face. We had our first tear!!!! The other thing that we have noticed this week is the COOING!!! I'm so excited for cooing! We heard him on the Monitor Wednesday night just talking up a storm and making the funniest noices. He is liking to hear himself talk now. We can wait for the giggles to start. Soon enough I'm sure.

First Day Back to Work

Yesterday I heard the song from Trace Adkins, "You're Going to Miss This", which brought on the tears. These six weeks have gone by soo fast! I can't believe I am already back to work. After I got there and settled in, I was feeling ok. It was great to see everyone again and share stories and pictures of Maxton. I can't lie, it was a nice break away for a little while. I'm sure it will get easier with each day to be away from him. It's hard to think the next time I will have a nice break away from work again will be when we have the next little one. Which won't be for awhile by the way for those of you who are wondering. So Maxton is off to Miss Sarah next week once Matt goes back to work. How time flies!!

Some People!?!

In Lowes the other day I am checking out. And the lovely lady asks, "So when are you due?" I politely respond, "Actually I just had a baby a couple weeks ago." When I really wanted to say, "Thanks for noticing my big tummy when I was just starting to think it was kind of going away and now I would like to punch you in your face!" Don't people know not to say that unless you KNOW someone is pregnant, like 9 months!

Then today I see a lady looking at me in Old Navy and I have Maxton in the car seat with me. She says He is sooo cute. Then followed with, "You don't look old enough to have a baby!" I then say "Thanks, but I am 28." Somewhat a sideways compliment, I think!??!

Matt's Expectations for Maxton When He is 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXFigKfdIrE&feature=email

Miss Congeniality

Miss Congeniality!!!!
Kenzie on far right
Proud Sister Adriana and Exceptional Babysitter!

CONGRATULATIONS goes out to Kenzie Matula who won Miss Congeniality at the Milan Melon Festival this past weekend. It was so much fun to come and visit and see you Kenzie. Can't wait to see you all again soon! Love ya!