Updates

Sorry it has been so long since the last post. Time has just gotten away from me, and we've been busy with appointments and visitors.

Even though Owen will be 19 months in less than two week, we just had Owen's big 18 month appointment last week and it went great! The doctor said he looked perfect, and we couldn't agree more :) His stats were as follows:

Weight: 27lb 3 oz = 70%

Height: 33 1/2 inches = 80%

Head: 19 inches = 80 %

My prediction was correct...he is starting to plateau a little.

I feel like I say this about every age, but I think that 18 months is one of my favorites. He is getting to be so independent, loves "helping" out around the house, and he is picking up on new things every day. Everyday I feel that we see more and more of his personatity and sense of humor shining through. Verbally he has about ten to fifteen words that he uses consistently. He tries to communicate a lot of other words, and will attempt to do imitate almost anything, but he is still developing some of the key sounds. He does animal sounds for a dog, cat, bird, owl, snake, cow, pig, duck, bear, sheep, and a horse (my personal favorite). He also loves making sounds for motorcycles, trucks, boats, airplanes, and a baby crying (this is a new one since Adam has arrived). His level of understanding seems to impress me everyday, and this makes reasoning with him (the very little that you can do at this age) a little easier. The temper tantrums/meltdowns are still come and go, and I am sure this will be the case for quite a while yet, but that is all a part of being 18 months.

On another note, Adam turned three weeks old on Tuesday! I can't believe that he will be a month old this week and how quickly the time is flying by. He is continuing to eat and gain weight at a great pace...I can tell by how the newborn diapers and outfits are not fitting him these days. The last couple nights I have gotten a couple 4 - 5 hour stretches which have felt heavenly :) During the day he eats about every three hours. He has been having some great alert times in the mornings...the other times of the day are hit or miss depending on his mood. He is such a sweet little guy and is adjusting to the world very nicely :)

So sweet...

Owen has been a big help during Adam's bath.

Life at Home

Adam is one week old today...the time is already flying by! We have slowly been getting back into our daily routines and activities. Rob went back to work on Monday and Owen went back to daycare. I think daycare has really been helping with Owen's adjustment. He will be staying home with me one day a week for the first month or so of my maternity leave, and then I will start keeping him home with me two days a week. The adjustment at home is going very well so far. Owen is doing better than we could have expected. He still has his meltdowns from time to time, but part of that is him just being an 18 month old. He loves to "help" (and I use that term loosley) with any household/baby task that he can. He loves pushing Adam in his baby swing, reading him books, laying on the floor with him, and giving him his nuk (even if he doesn't want/need it). Other times, Owen just carries on with his life like Adam isn't even around :) We had Adam's first doctor appoinment today and he was doing really well. He already is back to his birthweight!! He nurses like a champ...every two to three hours during the day and every three and, occasionally, four hours at night. He typically has a fussy period during the evening hours; however we are getting clever by trying to break it up with a walk or a bath (which he is not to fond of at this time) and that seems to be working.

We have had a lot of visitors and it has been so fun to introduce Adam to everyone! More with that and pictures to come later.

Also, Owen has his 18 month appointment next week and I will post more about where are little man stands on the charts these days. He has been in at least the 90% in weight, height, and head circumference...I am curious to see if he is beginning to plateau.

Meet you little brother...

Owen was able to come to the hospital yesterday morning and meet Adam for the first time. I could not get over what a bog boy Owen looked like next to little Adam. Initially he was just excited to be in a new room filled with all sorts of new things he could get into to. Once he realized that there was a little baby, he was very interested in him...for about two minutes. Then it was on to stethoscopes, remote controls, telephones, and anything else that he could get his little hands on. Every so often Owen would run up to the person holding Adam, sign please, and then touch him...then he was off running again. I think that the whole experience has been quite confusing for Owen, and you could tell that when he left, he wasn't quite sure why he was leaving mom and dad with this baby behind. He will be even more confused when Adam comes home with us this afternoon. Here are a few pictures from Owen's visit:

Owen really wanted to share his phone with the baby...

Adam Louis

Well, I had a doctor's appointment yesterday afternoon. At the appointment, my doctor was able to do some nudging in hopes to move the little guy along on his own. He offered to do an elective induction the following morning, given the progress that I had made. We decided to schedule it. It worked out great because we were able to call my mom and have her come up that evening to stay with Owen. However, there ended up being no need for the scheduled induction, as Adam Louis decided to make his appearance last night at 11:47pm. He weighed 7lb 11oz and was 21 inches long. We are all doing really well :) A very different birthing experience than Owen's. Owen will get to meet his little brother this morning...I will share more later. Here are just a few pictures from the last night.

New Camera

Today Rob, Owen, and I went to Best Buy to pick out my Birthday/Christmas present...a new camera!! I have had so much fun playing with it all day. I still have a lot to learn and need to continue to play with the settings, but so far I LOVE it! Rob thought it would be a good idea to get it before the baby decides to arrive so that I have lots of great pictures to hare with everyone when the baby arrives. Thank you to my wonderful husband for such a great gift! The pictures that I posted are all from today with my new camera as I continue to learn and play. I am very lucky to have such wonderful, and willing, subjects to practice with :)

As far as baby news is considered...there is nothing new to report. My doctor's appointment on Monday went well, but not a whole lot of news. I see him again on Tuesday (the day after my due date) given that Baby Boy has not arrived by then. We are all hoping and praying that he makes his arrival soon :)

Hope everyone is having a safe labor day weekend!!