Black Friday at Opryland

Yesterday we went to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel to drop off the grandparents for their stay and to enjoy an evening looking at lights.  Since it was the day after Thanksgiving, I had a feeling there would be a lot of people headed to the hotel (especially since they only recently reopened after the Nashville flood earlier this year) so we decided we'd better head up there well before dark so that Dianne and Colin could check in before the hordes descended.  We left our house around 3:30, and we were way too late to beat the traffic!  Since there were no traffic/parking lines for hotel guests, we finally parked sometime around 6:30 that evening.  We self-parked because the valet line was also ridiculously long and the traffic guards said we'd have about an hour wait for valet.

Finally!  The lobby!

Happy to get to their room after the crazy wait in traffic.

Ethan, playing with finger puppets.

Ethan playing with daddy before heading out to see the lights.

Anyway, the self-parking lot for hotel guests was nowhere near the hotel lobby, so Dianne and Colin had to lug their suitcases through the Cascades garden area (and all the people) while we searched for the lobby.  Finally, they got checked-in to their room.  We fed and played with Ethan while Dianne and Colin tried to find us something to eat for dinner.  Well, the hotel was completely over-run and under-prepared, because every restaurant had over a 2-hour wait.  Even room service had a 2hour+ wait (even though they have a "30 minutes or it's free guarantee").  A free meal wasn't worth sitting in the little room that didn't even have a table to eat on so we decided to try something else.  Since leaving and coming back was not an option (since the traffic would be even worse coming back), Colin got a refund on the room, we walked around the hotel to see the pretty decorations and then headed to Outback Steakhouse for a fun, relaxing (and delicious) meal before heading home.

Happy Thanksgiving! Ethan is One Month old today!

Today was Ethan's first Thanksgiving and also his one month birthday. We had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner at mom's house with all the fixings with the family. Afterwards, we did a little pre-Black Friday shopping at Michaels to get a Christmas tree that was one sale.

Cayne and I are both thankful to have such a wonderful and healthy baby boy who brings us joy everyday. He's done a lot over the past month (and the past week). Some highlights are:

• He loves his Baby Einstein Ocean Adventure gym -- he kicks the bar to get the rattle going and we've set it so that the music plays or changes when the bar is vibrated, which he really enjoys.

• He has his 4 week/1month check-up at the doctor and is 10 lbs 3 oz now. The odd thing is that he has "shrunk" and is 21.75 inches long (but they couldn't straighten his legs out all the way, so they think that's why he seems "smaller").

• His first Thanksgiving. 

• First time in the Baby Bjorn Carrier (he fell asleep immediately).

• First time in the Lillebaby carrier. 

• He has noticed the giant giraffe in his bedroom.

What is Ethan looking at?

His Giraffe!!!!

• He is starting to really giggle and coo.

A tired daddy with Ethan on Thanksgiving morning (his one-month birthday!).

Three Weeks!!

I can't believe Ethan is already 3 weeks old!  We are more enthralled with him each and every day.  This past week was an exciting week for him -- some highlights are:

• He went for a ride in his stroller for the very first time (on a walk around the neighborhood).  

There's our house at the end of the street.

• His umbilical cord fell off -- he has a belly button now!  
• He tried official "tummy time" and hated it so much he thrashed around until rolling over onto his back.  

Tummy time on the cool blanket Auntie Monique made for him. 

Finally -- rescued from tummy time!

• He went on his first "outing" to Ted's Montana Grill for lunch and then to the Nashville Parthenon. 
• He likes his swing!

• He went on his first shopping trip to Target (after lunch at Panerra Bread).  
• He has started to get baby acne (just like the pediatrician said he would).  
• He had his first "real" bath in the bathtub.  
• He loves the tiger on the wall next to his changing table.  

• He sometimes gives what we are positive are real smiles and giggles.  

Helping Mommy with the Laundry

Today, Ethan helped me out with folding the laundry.  I think he had fun, even if he wasn't exactly sure what to do!

The Parthenon

Today we took Ethan for his first "outing".  We stuffed his stroller into the car (literally -- it barely fits in the trunk) and headed out for a late lunch and stroll through Centennial Park in downtown Nashville.  We stopped for lunch at Ted's Montana Grill to grab a delicious bison burger (Ethan was great -- only fussing a little bit just toward the end of our meal) and then headed to the Parthenon.  Ethan soaked up so much culture while visiting the Parthenon that he fell fast asleep for our walk through the park.  Then we drove around Broadway to see all the new bars and restaurants before heading home.  In all, we were out about 4 hours and I'm finally beginning to think that going places baby-in-tow isn't going to be too terribly difficult after all.  Granted, I think we'll stick with off-times for meals because it was nice to not be in a crowded restaurant and to be seated quickly!   

It fit!  Barely...and it had to be turned upside-down in order to get in. 

 

Ethan and Cayne at the statue of Athena in the Parthenon.

"Off roading" with mom.

 

Two Weeks!

Ethan is two weeks old today!  He had another doctor's appointment this morning and we learned that he now weighs 8 lb 12 oz so he has gained almost a pound since his last visit and is now past his birth weight.  I knew he was a vigorous eater!  He is still 22 inches long (which is in the 90th percentile for now, so I think we are going to have a tall little boy).  He already looks so different from when he was born (his legs are starting to get a little pudgy, which is particularly noticeable when we try to change his diapers and his face is definitely filling out)!  He is definitely the apple of our eyes!

Some milestones from his second week are:

• First time being baby-sat (by his Grandma Wade) for a couple hours while Cayne and I ran some errands.

About to be left at home without mommy or daddy for the first time!

• Sometimes letting mommy and daddy sleep for 4 - 4.5 hours at night.
• His favorite "game" is poking his tongue out at you (if you poke your tongue at him).
• He is not sure he likes his pacifier when you try to give it to him, but sometimes he will take it.

• He gained an average of about 2 ounces a day over the past couple of weeks.

• He does not like the "vibrate" feature on any of his toys (bouncy seat, newborn napper, portable sleeper).
• He is more alert for a longer amount of time every day.