2 Months...We ARE FREE!!!

Baby Nolan is 2 months old today, and it brings mixed emotions for me for a few reasons!! I am so happy and relieved that he is a growing, thriving, healthy baby and the NICU seems far behind us now!! We get to leave the house as a family again, what a relief to be able to be a family of 4 outside of our home!! I have taken advantage of this a few times already and love it!! We went to daddy's work, went to a birthday party, and to the grocery store!!! This week will mark the first time that I journey out alone with both of the kids!! I am sad because my time at home with him isn't going to last forever and he had to get his first shots today!!! Man those did not get any easier of mommy or him!!! We both cried and we both stopped as soon as he was in my arms!! He's pretty much been sleeping since his shots but legs look and no fever and he doesn't seem to be in any pain. His latest stats were:

12 pounds 4 ounces (58th percentile)

22 inches long (13th percentile)

I had looked at Brayden's weight at 2 month and it was 12 pounds 14 ounces, so he is catching his brother fast, and has actually gained more weight than his brother at this point!!! The doctor was very happy with his weight gain to say the least!!!

This week Nolan is starting to hold things, in particular his pacifier, a few toys, and my fingers. He also tries to get his hands on his bottle when we are feeding him. He is making a lot more noises and staying awake for longer periods of time more often. He is still sleeping well at night and going about 5 hour stretches more often but still eats every 3 hours during the day!! He is starting to get familiar with certain blankets and doesn't like to have his arms swaddled anymore!! He wakes up very mad if we swaddle his arms!!

Big Brother is doing well!! Continues to like his video game time with mommy and daddy, and becoming quite an expert at Legos too!! He goes to the dentist for the first time in a few weeks and we have been talking it up and we keep getting out of him "They don't cut teeth there do they?" His "best friend" at school had to get a tooth pulled and that is what he refers to as cutting!! We have assured him no cutting and a new toy are in his future after his big appointment!! Brayden's letter and number recognition is improving daily, he has no interest in practicing so we are getting creative with this like making him type things into his ipad to get a game or play a game!! It seems to be helping so far!! Kindergarten is coming faster than I want it too!!!

Almost ok to get out!!!

Well, another week old!! I can't believe he is just over 7 weeks old, he seems so little and fragile still!! I have forgotten the amount of things that change from week to week in newborns!! We were told to keep Nolan in the house and away from the public for the first 8 weeks of his life due to the sickness going around and him being premature and we are almost cleared!! Honestly I can't wait to be able to run to the store for something and not having to wait for Donny to come home!!  He is progressing really well I think, but we still have things to work on of course!!! He continues to be a good little sleeper most of the time at night, but now really only likes to take naps if you hold him!!! He is starting to get a routine down on his own, he eats about every 3 hours during the day and 4 hours at night. He is eating about 4.5 ounces with each feeding!! He is out of all newborn clothes and diapers!! He loves baths both in his bath tub and in the big bath tub!! The warm water seems to really relax him!! He loves to be cuddled and talked too. He is now really watching us when we hold him and tries to duplicate whatever we do!! He coo's at us and clicks his tongue, and sticks his tongue out at us if we do it to him first. He continues to like tummy time on his terms and rolls over to his back still when he is done!! He is trying to roll over from his back to his tummy, but mostly when he is mad and gets going. He loves bright colors and music. He smiles, but still just randomly, and I can never catch it on camera no matter how hard I try!! He doesn't like to wait to eat, diaper changes, clothes being changed!! I am looking forward to doctor appointments slowing down too!!! Since we got home from the NICU we have been at a MD visit once per week!!! We have this week off and then hoping to just go monthly after his 2 month visit!!

Brayden continues to loves his little brother, but the freshness is wearing off, he made it 7 weeks I shouldn't complain!! He is going to school 3 days a week to keep his routine and get ready for Kindergarten. We got a YMCA membership this week so he can start swim lessons again and swim more regularly even in the winter!!! We are starting to think about his birthday party again and this year he wants a Batman party and he is so excited already!!! Brayden is really into snow and cold this year!! He was upset yesterday when the snow melted because it warmed up a little!! He wants to build a snowman so bad, so the next snow hopefully it will not be -25 degrees outside so we can go and try to build one!!! Brayden's playroom is progressing well, the TV is up and the xbox and wii are hooked up!! He does a great job playing both of them on his own and loves them!! He talked daddy into a tv stand that lights up with LED lights so now he thinks he is really cool!!!



6 weeks old!!!

Because of Nolan's premature status we have been making frequent trips to the Pediatrician to check weight and development!! So far we have passed the weight stipulations, and development is on track!! He does have an umbilical hernia, which is no big deal and almost always close on their own, so we just have to focus on eating and growing!! When we were at the doctor yesterday his latest stats were:

22 inches long

9 pounds 15 ounces ( 28th percentile)

We are not real familiar with percentiles this low but the key is to be consistently around the same percentile I guess!! We were 34th percentile 1 weeks ago so he dropped a little, but when dealing with weights this small anything can change it including a more recent feeding or urination!! We have nothing to worry about!! Nolan is really getting into to watching things, he focuses on one of us or the tv and just watches it!! He loves to pull my hair and finds it every chance he can. I can put it in a ponytail and he still finds it somehow!! We have been stuck inside at home except for doctor appointments and will be for at least 2 more weeks and maybe longer with all the icky illnesses going around!! At least by the summer he will be able to do things and go places, then I will have to start getting us to taking 2 kids places!!

Brayden continues to love his brother, and for one reason or another holds him when he is crying and he almost always stops!! He loves that he can keep his little baby quiet!! He has figured out that he has to compete to be first for things, and if I am feeding the baby that I am not going to stop to get him a cookie. So he now says "Mom I want to be first, for whatever it is that he needs or wants!!" I guess this is one way to learn patience and taking turns! He continues to adjust well!! He is also progressing with his letters and numbers, he writes his name by himself without throwing a fit and is willing to recognize letters and numbers with us!! He is continuing to go to school while I am home with the baby so he can be ready for kindergarten in the fall so we glad that he is welcoming learning!!