Simon: 4 Month Update

Guess who is 4 months old!!!

Poor baby had to get shots :( he was such a trooper though! We love our pediatrician but they take forever. We got in on time and were there for two hours. I had to feed him twice before the shots! Heck, he had put himself down for a nap right before the shots. Nice way to wake up huh?

Stats:

Weight: 12lbs 9oz (10th percentile)

Height: 26 inches (83rd percentile)

Head circumference: 16.2 inches (20th percentile.

He is a long lean baby! The doctor isn't as worried about his weight. We are still behind however, he appears to be gaining the appropriate weight at the right speed for a 4 month old. We have a weight check in a month but there is no talk of putting him on formula in any degree or having to start solids before 6 months. It is expected that Simon will be fine at the weigh in. And I don't mind having him weighed every month. I like knowing the official numbers and I think that I will bring baby #2 in once a month regardless for a weight check. 

His head is normal size and is not flat thank goodness. While the "back to sleep" campaign is good for SIDS 50% more babies are having issues with flat heads then before the campaign. Simon having a flat head was a big worry for me.

Simon is meeting all of his milestones but here are some that I want to remember that happened this month:

-mastered the yoga move "happy baby" ( holds both feet in his hands at the same time). He has been working on this ever sine Grampa showed him

-is taking the pacifier more. I don't think we will have an issue getting rid of the pacifier but I think it is important to note that he is taking it more

-sucking on his fingers. Not thumb to Brian's dismay, just his fingers

-can roll over from tummy to back

-nursing is getting better

-finally starting to eat more at daycare again. We are averaging 12 oz. When Brian babysits on overtime Saturdays he consistently drinks 4 oz at a time. He still drinks more from Brian in the 6/7 hours I'm gone then in the 10 hours he is at daycare

-loves the jumper though he is still to small

-teething. Everyone but Brian agrees with me. He is getting the 2 bottom middle teeth.

-still loves standy man and he is starting to push himself up

-still cooing and laughing up a storm. Especially in response to us. People are very impressed with how interactive he is.

That is it for things that happened in his third month. Right around his 4 month mark he started doing other things but I will leave those for his 5 month update.

Oh and the ducks name is Mr. Quackers.

Simon is Three Months Old!

Simon is three months old! It has flown by! We know he is 11lbs 1oz because we had to take him in due to his bottle strike (future post). He is still very long but I don't know his exact length. He has to be over 24 inches at this point.

He can successfully roll over front to back multiple times. He can do it about three times before he gets tired. I have a video that I am going to post later.

He is laughing and giggling up a storm! He still likes it when Brian does "nose" and thinks it is hilarious when I growl at him. I often get a belly laugh! I am going to try and get a video of that.

As you can see he has found his fist. And just like his Aunt Helen he can get his whole fist in his mouth! Finally a trait from my side of the family. We will have to wait until he is older to see if he takes after Aunt Betsy and her skills at tying cherry stems in a knot with her tongue!

Someone is practicing his double fisting for college :)

He has also begun to show interest in his feet, I can't wait until he starts eating them! He has also realized that he can grab and play with his giraffe Nigel which is just precious. He also follows us when we walk past, not just with his eyes but he turns his whole head.

His goosey noises are starting to go away. Others think the change is drastic, Brian and I disagree. They are definitely going away but slowly still.

I think that is it for this post...stay tuned for more!

Simon at Two Months

On 7.19.13 Simon turned two months! Today we had his two month check up.

Weight: 10 lbs 6 oz (25 percentile)

Height: 23 3/4 inches (75 percentile)

Head circumference: 15 1/4 inches (25 percentile)

His weight is an issue. While he is gaining weight he isn't gaining it fast enough. He is supposed to be at least 11 lbs 6 oz. The doctor does not think it is a supply issue, heck she called me super woman after hearing what I've been pumping. She also thinks he's been asking for food enough. She also thinks he is eating the right amount at a time based on what he eats st day care. The current idea is that my milk doesn't have enough calories in it and that's why he isn't gaining. 

So we are experimenting. Currently we are going to add formula to his diet and he will get his weight checked again next week to see if that's it. She gave us a different type of formula as well. We half and halfed the first bottle which he allowed Brian to give him and day care will give him a bottle or two. So he will get mostly breast milk at day care but some formula this week and at home he will still be exclusively breast fed. Hopefully this solves the issue.

He did a first at the doctor's office! He rolled over front to back! He scared himself silly and spent the next 10 minutes crying hysterically and this was before the shots! He has been working on rolling over for awhile now but hasn't done it until now. We have also been doing tummy time on beds which make it harder for you to roll over. I wonder when he will do it again!

On to his two month photo's!

And finally:

Simon's Growth: 1 Month Photo Shoot

On June 19 Simon became one month old!

"I still don't like this Mommy!"

"Maybe if I pretend to fall asleep they will stop"

"Yo!"

Things Simon has accomplished this month:

-Clasping his hands
-Finally at the very end of his first month he decided it was okay to sleep outside of mommies arms, still not fully in the crib but showing signs that mommy may be able to sleep in her bedroom again.
-As the month has gone on he has become much more awake and alert
-Still makes the goose noises
-He has decided he likes the swing under very certain circumstances which mommy has yet to figure out
-Likes the Moby and car seat
-Poos and Pees like a pro

Stats:

Weight: 9 1/2 lbs

Length: 22 1/4 inches

Simon's Growth: Birthday Photo Shoot

Just like I did with the pregnancy belly I am going to take pictures of Simon on a monthly basis next to a stuffed animal on the same chair to see how he grows month to month. Simon's stuffed animal is a big yellow duck!

Here he is after he was born:

"Mommy I don't like this!"

"Maybe if I pretend that I am hungry this nonsense will stop"

Initial stats:

Weight: 7lbs 13 oz

Length: 21 1/2 inches

Some nicknames/terms of endearment Simon has been given...

From me:

-Goosey Goose (he makes goose noises)

-Goosey Goosey Love bucket

-Love Bucket

-Honey bunches of Oats

- Fuzz

-Sye-man the pie man

-Sye-man

-Chubby Cheekers

-At the hospital I was calling him my little "bambino"

From Brian:

-Baby man

39 Week Update: May 14th

On May 14th I became 39 weeks and people at work started to get concerned that I might actually have the baby at work! I did not...Thor/Simon came two days early. I had gained a total of 31 pounds and was ready to go. 

Not much was different with week 39 then week 38 or even previous weeks. I do tend to get more and more crooked when I stand as I get more pregnant. I swear I am standing up straight or that it feels straight.

38 Weeks Update

Well I wasn't planning on doing another update until after Thor came but with everything that is going on...I want to make sure I keep up with the pictures and if I do that..I might as well document what is going on.

Thor has definitely started his journey home. I still don't think he will be here much before his due date and am still hoping for Memorial Day weekend but I don't want new mom naivety to ruin Thor's pregnancy photo book.

At 37 weeks I was 50% effaced. At my 38 week appointment which was actually on the 10th I was 70% effaced and 2 centimeters dilated. My 39th week appointment is on Wednesday the 15th so we shall see where I am there.

I knew on Friday (the 10th) that I had made some progress because I was having bad, constant cramps....similar to the menstrual cramps I used to have. These lasted 2 hours and were strong enough for me to think that maybe he was coming so I started to rush at work to finish or get as much of a project done as I could. I figured I would just go to the doctors appointment as usual and go from there. The doctors office is quite literally across the street from the hospital so I figured I was fine. By the time the doctors appointment had come the cramps had subsided. While I was being checked by the amazing midwife (love her...if Thor could come when she was on call....I will be SOOOOOO happy) I actually had a contraction so maybe the "cramps" I was feeling were actually contractions". I continued to "cramp" on and off the rest of the night. Based on the doctors appointment I finally got off my butt and packed the hospital bag. Brian just needs to put jeans and socks in and we are set! 

The midwife has said that I could come this weekend but she thinks it could possibly be by Wednesday (coincidentally my next doctors appointment). While I have made progress I know too many women, including my mother, who have made significant progress and the baby still didn't come for weeks so who really knows.

Because it could really be so close I made Brian take my photos. I apologize for not smiling much...I was still cramping at the time :)

Half way to an outie...

Yup....Brian is still Brian

No baby yet but we are getting there :) 9 days till due date!

Seventh Month Update!

As I am officially starting my 8th month it is time to update on the 7th month.

Nothing too exciting happened except I finally started looking pregnant and I have a text book boy belly. It is heavy! Thor is moving a ton! I am supposed to count his movements...he is supposed to move 10 times in 3 hours. Um...this little man only needs three minutes! He is constantly moving. I am still trying to catch it on video...he is still taking after his father on this one.

Still no agreement on a name. Everyone at work is getting nervous that we are actually going to name him Thor. Thor may stick as a nickname but will not be on his birth certificate. Thor Carter wouldn't be taken very seriously on college applications, job applications or wedding announcements. Brian is becoming more helpful in suggesting names but still no luck. He really likes the name Parker (yes he really likes Spider Man) and I do like that name...however it is AWFUL with our last name. It rhymes. His other favorite is Paul. Fine name, nothing wrong with it exactly it just isn't very fun. I don't think of a sweet little boy with that name. I think you should name a child with a name that will fit through all stages of life and Paul just makes me think of an old man.

I haven't gotten sick in a while which is nice. I hope it stays away but I am on the look out for it to come back. The sickness came back for my mom when she was pregnant with my brother and so far I am taking after mom with this pregnancy. I am up a total of 26 1/2 lbs so I am still doing well. I can't wait for this little one to be here...for many reasons but the main one right now is that once he is out mommy is going to make me Eggplant Parmesan and I cannot wait to eat that!! I know I am going to eat too much of it at once but oh well!

I am still sleeping well which is nice. Every once in a while I will have a "bad" night but even that is not so bad. My back is starting to hurt more. That is annoying. Also I have been having to get up once a night to go potty which is also annoying. Two more months, two more months.

Here are this months pictures:

Still an innie!

My backside really isn't as big as it looks in this picture...

Yes, Brian is still Brian

The crib is set up, sheets are on the bed and everything is in place. All that is left to do is get the electrician to come in and move the security system outlet into the closet where it was supposed to be in the beginning which will be done in April and we are still trying to find a way to get the entertainment center disposed of.
After the baby shower I hope mom will help me organize all the clothes we have received so far. Once we do that the nursery is all set up. It is nice to know that we are ready for baby if baby makes a surprise showing (very very doubtful, fully expected to make it to full term...40 weeks).

My co-workers have been beyond generous which is greatly appreciated but it leads to lots of organizing and mom may have more insight on how to do it since she has already raised two kiddos. I have a few pictures from work's baby shower and I will definitely take more myself of what I have gotten so I can document it. I do not want to forget their generosity. I will also post pictures of Mom's baby shower and of the baby shower Brian's work is throwing us.

We are getting closer!

Six Month Update!

I finally look and feel pregnant. I am still tiny but I am definitely pregnant. Getting up is awkward. Not difficult, just awkward.

I am still limited in what I can eat but as long as I stay within my limitations I am fine. I have put on 24 lbs since the beginning. We are thinking there was a scale error last month because I did not do anything differently and I did not just gain 8 lbs in one month. I do think I am up a total of 24 lbs but I think I gained more then one pound between month four and five.

I have gotten some energy back but I get exhausted really easily. I am sleeping well so far.

Baby has been moving up a storm and I love it! I am definitely going to miss it once the baby is born.

Brian being Brian

Still an innie!

Oh Brian....

Still no name.....