Boogers & spit up

Mason has been sick for two weeks now and Ava and I have just hit the one week mark. Flu season is in full affect but how did we land on the lingering germ? We have hardly left the house, so it is hard to believe. Between the boogers that accompany this cold/cough that plagues our house and the split up that is acid reflux I feel dirty all the time. Matt has somehow dodged the sick built which is so nice for him and the rest of us too.  I am really looking forward to the kiddos getting better. This round of illness has taught me that 2 humidifiers are key in a 2 child household and to not wear anything that that isn't easily washable. I know there are many things I will learn on journey that is being a mom with two kids; it's nice knowing I have a few lessons learned under my belt. 

So Big...Happy One Month Birthday!

 Mason has officially hit the 1 month mark! 

He now weights 10 pounds 11oz and is 22.5 inches 

 It is shocking to me how much he has changed over this past month; smiling is no longer a sleepy reflex...he actually looks at us and smiles (heart melting really).  We are catching on to his cues and learning what he likes and doesn't like, for such a small guy he sure knows how to communicate with us.  While Mason was in the womb I spent most of my drives home from work listening to the Mat Kearney station on Pandora; one ear bud in my ear and the other on my belly (I also had the same station on in the hospital while I was laboring).  He must have grown a liking to the music on this station because when he is fussy it calms him down.  I now put on the station often; for drives to the burbs, for walks around our neighborhood & to dance around with him.  Mason is in love with Sophie the Giraffe, as a mom to be I did not register for this toy, however my mom friends were fully aware of the magic of this toy and we have received a couple of them (thank god, pretty sure we need one for every room in the house).  He also likes his time in the swing and bouncy chair, which allows Matt & I some time each day with our arms free.  Mason does not like tummy time, hats and waiting any period of time to eat when he is hungry.  

                                        

Just when the Murray family was starting to get into the swing of things Mason caught a cold (from Matt)!  I quickly learned how to use the nose aspirator (yes, the one from the hospital is WAY better then the one from the store, thanks to my mom friends for that piece of advise) and tending to a much more fussy Mason. The cold turned into blocked tear ducts and during this time we noticed blood in his stool.  So, last week all normalcy was thrown out the door and I started to worry consistently   This did not help in the sleep department for me, I felt like I was up all hours of the day and night trying to comfort him or worrying myself sick. Thankfully the cold is gone but we now have to massage his tears ducts every time we change his diaper, this will help unblock them....hopefully!  As far as the blood in the poop the doctor is thinking it may be a milk allergy.  We have had to switch to soy formula (smelly) and I have had to cut dairy out of my diet, at least while we continue to breastfeed.  Mason of course is doing wonderfully through all this it is, we however are drained.  Again, a huge thanks to my parents!  We stayed with them for a couple of nights to be closer to the doctor's office and to have extra set of hands.  This past week really made us realize our move to the suburbs can't come soon enough.  Not only are my parents going to be close by but it is easier to do everything in the burbs.  As an added bonus, most of our friends with children live out there.  We can't wait to have our friends over for pizza & beer on Saturdays nights.