Mural is finished

I have completed the mural. I worked on it as Xander slept.  I also decided to add coconuts above the leaves instead of a sports theme, it was more appropriate and I must say I love the way it turned out.  I'm also attaching a picture of the mobile he loves above his changing table.  When he wakes up, I change him and he just giggles and giggles.  I love him and his personality...even with all his colicky cries.  I have found what works to calm him down...he LOVES walks!  Today we ended up on 4!  Yep, 4!!!  If it helps calm him, I'll do it.  It's amazing at what stepping outside will do for this boy.  Monkey boy is even enjoying this more because he ends up on 2 walks a day rather than his 1 prior to Xander's coming home.  I walk him in his stroller and he also loves the baby carrier.  I'll have to get hubby to get a picture of us walking...since he's coming home this week!  Yep...this week!  Alexander gets to meet his daddy Friday...I'm so excited.  Ok, now for the pictures:

Have a great day!

My Birthday

Today I turned 31!  It wasn't quite the birthday I'd dreamed about, but I did have my baby boy with me before I turned 31, so that makes my heart smile.  I didn't have hubby here with me as he's still deployed, but he should be coming home within the next two weeks.  I'm so excited for his return now that we have returned home as well. 
Xander is having a difficult time sleeping the past 3 days.  I think it's because it's warmer here than he's used to and no AC.  It's making it hard for me to sleep, so i'm sure it's hard on him as well.  He's so sleepy though, I put him in my arms and he instantly falls asleep, but when I put him in his bed, he awakens and has a hard time falling back asleep.  He's been sleeping in the bed with me for the past 7 weeks, so maybe that has something to do with it also.  In time, he was adjust to his new bed and new surroundings. 
I'm having a hard time putting everything away from the long trip.  Everything is everywhere and it's driving me crazy.  I feel like I live in a mad house!  I'm not used to having stuff everywhere and out of place.  Tomorrow we're going to stay home from going anywhere that takes time and organize everything.  I'm hoping Xander will cooperate and let me get thing done.  I won't put any money on it though.  It might just have to wait until hubby gets home and he can play with Xander while I clean and organize.  As soon as I start on a room, Xander wakes up and starts screaming.  How do you get things done with a baby so young that always wants to be held?  I have a carrier thing, but it gets in the way when I need to bend over or reach for something.  Any advice or tips you'd be willing to share?  I'd let him scream it out, but I can't let him scream for as long as it's going to take me.  That would be torture. 
Ok, now for picture overload.

One month old

3 of my beautiful nieces with Xander at Atlantic Beach, NC

Xander loves him some Papa

Just for fun

hanging out with Opa

Mommy and Xander

sleeping in the airplane bassinet going home to Germany

1st sleep in his bed...only 45 minutes, but he did it

Monkey boy found comfort sleeping on Xander's new clothes

waiting to get tags taken off and washed

Loves bathtime

Have a great day!

We're home

Today my baby boy is 7 weeks!

Back in Germany!  Praise the Lord everything went through with the passport the second time around and we arrived safely in Germany Friday morning.  Although we had a little scare at the passport agency, after I already paid and was coming to pick up the passport, the agency gave me my ticket back and said they needed further information and I needed to get another ticket to see another lady.  I was devastated automatically assuming we wouldn't be coming home.  As I was waiting to see this other lady, about 30 minutes, his name was called...they had his passport!  I didn't need to see the other lady after all, so i'm not sure what the problem was, but whatever it was, I'm glad it was resolved quickly.  Needless to say, we ended up driving in DC traffic coming home, what took 2.5 hours to get there, took 4.5 hours to get back. 
Alexander was great on the plane rides, everyone praised how well he was compared to the 2 other small infants on the plane.  I was able to have a bassinet for him and he had his own seat also...he didn't care too much for the bassinet as he likes to sleep in my arms for the most part.  This is something I am trying to break, but its hard for this mama to listen to him cry.  He's so overtired right now, I feel bad for him.  He's confused, different scents, different scenery, new time zone...6 hours ahead of east coast.  I knew it would be hard on him, but I never imagined it to be this hard.  I'm hoping over the next week or two things will start to become normal for him.  He's so tired right now that he's snoring...so young and already snoring.
He does love his changing table mobile...it's a cheap mobile i found at Ikea awhile back, but it's colorful and he smiles so big at it.  He also loves when i read him stories.  Most times he'll be sucking on his paci, looking up at me read to him...he's just precious.  He also likes his mobile on his crib, when I start the music, he instantly quiets down, when the music goes off...so do his lungs.
I'll try to get some pictures posted tomorrow.  He's growing and changing so much!

Have a great day!