7 weeks! - starting to go out!

hello everyone! so this week I finally worked up the nerve to take Tyler out into public by myself! I get very anxious when he's in the carseat in the back crying and there's nothing I can do, but I figured I can't be a chicken forever - its got to happen sometime...

So this past week was the week! We started out on Wednesday by going to South Coast Plaza. (Shopping excursion? How typical huh) I had a Mimi Maternity credit from when I was pregnant and I really was in need of some more nursing bras and stuff since everything I have is usually covered in breastmilk or spitup. Lovely huh! The drive there was pretty calm and I got to the mall not long after they opened so it wasn't that crowded. Things were looking pretty good! I get to the store and have just gotten into a fitting room when Tyler decided that he's had enough of the stroller. Enough! Ahh! Good thing I was in a handicap stall - I ended up nursing him in the fitting room and then he fell asleep! Good thing he took a nap - I was finally able to try on some stuff! Here's Tyler taking a little nap on the changing room bench! Afterwards we stopped by Baby Gap and also across the street to Borders to get some storybooks to read to him!. (I got Panda Bear Panda Bear and Polar Bear Polar Bear; turns out we have Brown Bear Brown Bear already!) By the time I was checking out at Borders Tyler was starting to get a little fussy again but I had just enough time to get an iced coffee (Decaf of course..) before heading home. On the way home though, after getting off the freeway, Tyler started wailing in the back. Ahhhh! We were so close but I could only take it for so long before I pulled over and hung out with him in the backseat for a bit. It's so tough - I felt like it was his first time where he was crying and crying (getting hysterical!) and no one was coming to him! Sigh. Oh well - baby steps!

The next day I got an email from one of my coworkers - one of our friends at work was leaving the company and they were having a send-off lunch, could I make it? Ooh. Was I ready for another outing? Practice makes perfect? Only thing was that it was in HB - about a half hour drive. Was I crazy to try this? Part of me really wanted to see my friends and part of me (the delusional part) thought it would be a nice drive next to the ocean and I could take Tyler for a walk next to the beach bla bla bla. So off we went! Bad idea. Tyler likes the freeway great, but is totally not a fan of traffic. Screaming Tyler! Luckily I was able to reach back and give him his pacifier most of the times it fell out, but then there were instances that no matter how much I searched for it I couldn't find it so I had to pull over and calm him down. This was not fun. He was great once we got there though! I still don't have the guts to nurse in public so I ended up nursing him in the car afterwards. Walking by the beach? Totally didn't happen. My nerves all frayed from his crying in the carseat? Check. Ooh and a funny thing - there was another baby at the lunch who was 3 1/2 months old - and Tyler weighed more than her! :)
Here's Tyler and my friend Melissa from work. He liked her! So needless to say, it may be a while before I have the nerves to head out again on my own without Tyler. It didn't help probably that Tyler started getting pretty fussy Thursday and Friday night - I think it was an effect from his vaccinations on Tuesday. Please please please let it be a passing phase! :)

Saturday Tyler had more visitors! First off in the morning Heidi and her bf Geoff stopped by. They were actually attending a wedding ceremony super close to us. Tyler had been fussy all night and was passed out sleeping when they came by. He was just starting to wake up when we took his pictures so he wasn't a happy baby! It was great seeing them though - sometimes it feels like I've been living in Tyler-world and the outside world is just passing me by! After that, we met up with friends at China Garden - our local Chinese dimsum restaurant. Tyler was really good during lunch and also good when we all went to YogurtLand afterwards for dessert! Here's Tyler and I with Joan and Jake! Mmm Tyler's eyeing that yogurt... Sunday we stopped by and saw my grandmother (nai nai) again with my other grandmother (puo puo). She really likes holding Tyler! With my grandmother (puo puo) staying with us a couple days, Will and I were able to head out on our own! It was great leaving Tyler for a couple hours and knowing he was in safe hands. What did we do with our time off? WELL we went to Target and 99 Ranch. :) Oh we also went to Ross and TJ Maxx and got some cute outfits for Tyler to wear in a couple weeks when we're up in SF for a wedding! He's going to look so cute!
So Tyler loves to smile now! Ok maybe 'loves' is too strong of a word - but I love it when he smiles! We can get smiles out of him now which is the most heartmelting thing! He does his head holding exercises with daddy and loves to look at the ceiling fan! He watches us intently and tracks us with his eyes. He also has super strong grip too! My grandmother helped me cut off the little feet in his pajamas - Tyler was getting way too long and he couldn't wear any of them! Its funny because a lot of the 0-3 months clothing says up to 12.5 pounds. Tyler was 12 pounds on Tuesday!
Tyler loves to stick his tongue out - he can even roll it like Will! I'll need to get a picture of him doing it next time!
I love this picture of Tyler - he's totally just chillin'. :)Here's Tyler's 7 week bear photo!
Oh and today I got to pamper myself a bit and got a facial! It's so great having my grandmother here to help watch Tyler! :)