Check Up for The B-Man

18 Month Check Up.  Wow!  18 months seemed so far away.  And now we're here.  Well, technically he'll be 19 months old tomorrow!  I could totally get teary eyed.  Might just have.  Nonetheless, he's 18 months now.  And with 18 months comes another check up.  

This guy is growing like a weed...but a cute weed.  I get asked all the time if he's 2.  Then just the other day a lady asked if he was THREE.  Yeah, I know, crazy.  I was thinking, "No, lady, does he seriously look that big?"  Instead, I politely said, "He's 18 months about to 19 months."  It kinda cracks me up.  To think that he was born NOT premature, but Pre-Term and to be a pretty good sized boy is mysteriously crazy (since most babies born before term usually have a hard time catching up to "term" babies).    Meaning he was born after 34 weeks but before 37.  Since he was born at 34 1/2 weeks, he gets to be labeled "pre-term."  Yeah, I get technical up in here.  Which reminds me of that song, "Y'all gonna make me loose my mind, up in here, up in here...." Yup - I just did wrote that.

Anyway, as usual, we took pictures at his appointment while waiting for his doctor to see us.  

Little naked munchkin.  

Love it when a part of his butt cheek hangs out of his diaper.  Ha.

 "Dada, there's the horsey!"

 Love this guys face/eyes/hair/fingers/biceps....e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.

 My son and my boytoy.

 Momma's turn.  For the memory book.  Look a little more enthused, Bos...

Not sure what I'm doing here.  Probably just gazing into his eyes like I do about 10 times a day.  In aw of him and his awesomeness.

Not sure why, but he's going through a phase of no kissies for mommy so I just steal them on his cheek when he lets me.

Bam.  Momma's been rejected.

Oh and as for his growth stats....well he's above par (for his height) for being a "pre-term" baby.  He's actually been above average since he was about 6 months old.  Must have been because of my power milk err his daddy's genes.  ;)

Height: 34 1/2 inches (94%)
Weight: 28 lbs 6 oz (79%)

1 Year Check-Up

One week ago, we took B to his one year check-up!  He's still above average despite being 5 1/2 weeks early.  He's more than half my height.  Yes - Jer had to remind me of that.  Ha.  We are so proud of him we can't stand it!

We are so blessed to have a healthy child that was "preterm."  He was called preterm instead of premature because he was born a little after 34 weeks.  Any baby born before 34 weeks is considered premature!  Did you know that?!  Well now you do.  :-)

Daddy and B trying to read about the vaccines he was about to be getting.  :(

He loves to be on daddy's shoulders.  Typically he tries to hug daddy's head.  I have to say it's very cute!

So serious.

Later that evening, Jer and I went to the Dallas Stars opening game!  Date nights...there's nothing like date nights with the LOML.

We had an absolute blast.  We've never been to a hockey game, and let's just say it was quite an experience with all the brawls that happened between the players.  Ha.  Not to mention, we were only 8 rows up and in the center of the rink.  :-)

While we were at the Stars game, Grammy and Grandaddy (Jer's stepmom and dad) came to watch our little guy for us.  It was their first time to babysit.  Usually it's my mom that comes.  But this time we were delighted to have them spend some time with B-man.

We got to show Grammy and Grandaddy how B can walk with his little walker.  They loved getting to see that.

You can see his bandaids on his little/big thighs from his shots that morning.  Poor fella.  :(  But he's a trooper.  :)

BUT.....before we left to the game we decided to see if Boston could walk on his own without his little playskool walker.  And for the first time, he took 5-6 steps all on his own!!!!!  We were thrilled, over-joyed, ecstatic.....and everything else.....about what we just saw him do.  Plus, it was great to have witnesses.  Ha.  But, of course, I didn't have my camera on hand at that time.  

This is a small glimpse of him walking (when I did get my video camera).  He gets SO excited when he tries doing it all on his own.  He giggles and giggles.  Plus, we were in a little bit of a rush to get out of the house so I wasn't able to get much footage.  :)

Hopefully my next video of him walking will be of him walking all over our house unassisted.....keeping fingers crossed!  :-)

Hope everyone has a great and safe weekend,

~Jeni

B's 6 month check-up

Yesterday, was B's 6 month check-up...that means shots.  :(  I have never been able to watch the nurse give his shots so that leaves Jer to help comfort him immediately afterwards.  Usually, B does pretty good.  He'll barely cry.  But this time, it was a little more rough for him.  He cried more than usual.  It even made Jer a little sad because he hadn't ever really watched the whole shot process, until yesterday, and it hurt his heart seeing it.  Typically, after the appointment, he'll come home with us and spend the day with us while working from home.  But this time Jer had to leave right after the appointment to two meetings and he didn't get home till 7:30pm.  He missed B all day and was sad for him.  So sweet. 

His doctor was very impressed with his development (being a preterm baby at 5 1/2 weeks early) and his stats.  We are too!  :)
Height: 27 1/2 in (82%)
Weight: 18lbs 15oz (73%)
The new things we get to do:
*start sippy cups
*start pureed meats (yep, I'll be pureeing organic chicken breasts for little man)
*we can give him juice and water.  We probably won't start the juices until 8 months.  I'm in no rush to give him anything too sweet too early.  He'll get enough later in life (I know, mean mom).  We'll be sure to start him on water, though. 
*and...sadly, she told me that she prefered I not make my organic brown rice for him because it won't have enough iron in it.  :(  so, I'll just buy the organic cereal that has the right amount of iron in them. 

About to head out the door

waiting in the (non-sick) waiting room.  that's what we love about Dr. Shori's office.  she has a separate waiting room for non-sick kiddos. 

our big boy sitting up waiting to see Dr. S. 

us with Dr. Shori.  we love her. 

~Jeni

4 month check-up...a little late

Yesterday we went to Boston's 4 month check-up.  He turned 4 months on February 2nd and we originally had his appointment scheduled for Feb. 4th but due to the snow that day we had to re-schedule.  We had been so excited for this day.  The last time he was weighed and measured was early December and we were dying to know his stats (mainly how much he weighed since I feel like I'm carrying around 100lbs)! 

Since it was his 4 month check-up, that also means it was "shot time."  Even though he's a tough kid and cries for about 2.5 seconds, it kills me to hear his scream.  I turn my back when she sticks him but when I hear the scream I know it's been done.  Jer quickly picked him up to comfort him and he's fine.  :)  Good job, Boston, you rock. 

Anyway, as usual, I took pictures while we were there to document his visit.  Here are a few from the visit and the day.

patiently waiting to be called in to see the doctor

he's such a happy baby.  we put on a disposable diaper for the weigh-in

When we got home, we changed him back into his cloth diaper and had a little picture session.  (makes me sad to see his little bandaids on his thunder thighs)

thank you for my shirt, Nana!

  

We go back for his 6 month check-up April 8th! 

Thank you for reading our blog!

~Jeni

Got great news at our "not so fun" 2 month check-up

Friday, we took Boston to his 2 month check-up.  He did great.  We got there and stripped him down to his diaper, and then went into another room where he got all of his measurements.  We couldn't believe that he weighed more than 10 pounds - a whopping 10lbs 15oz to be exact!  Over the past two weeks he felt a little heavier but we never expected that he'd weigh almost 11 pounds.  He also measured 22 1/2 inches long.  It's no wonder he's outgrowing all of his newborn clothing.  Another part to this appointment was what I had been dreading, SHOTS.  I knew he would be getting several shots and there was no way I wanted to hear him cry from pain.  The nurse came in, laid him down and started by giving him an oral immunization.  Then before we knew it she was giving him shots in his thighs.  I turned my back for 3 seconds and it was all over!  She wasted no time.  I heard him start crying and by then she was all done.  He cried for about 15 seconds and was fine after that.  He doesn't have to go back to the pediatrician until his 4 month check-up, and unfortunately, he'll get another round of shots. 

worn out from his appointment

2 Months

Blessings,
Jeni

Since we've been home

Boston's first pediatrician appointment...
The day after we were released from the hospital Boston got to meet his pediatrician at his first appointment. Then we went back a week and a half later for his 2 week check-up. At both appointments Dr. Shori said he looked great!

Visitors ...
We have been blessed that so many family and friends have come over to meet Mr. B. We are expecting more in the near future!

Bath Time...
Boston had his first bath a few weeks ago and, of course, we had to document it. We took some video and some pictures. We love taking pictures of his "firsts" so we'll have them for his photo albums. We might be going a little overboard with pictures for him but hopefully he'll appreciate all of them when he gets older. I know I will! :)

Boston's Newborn Photo Session...
Last weekend, we took Boston to get some newborn pictures taken. We were referred to Pumpkin Pie Photography by Elizabeth Fuller. We can't wait to see his photo gallery! I know we're gonna love them all. They should be ready within the next couple of weeks!

Our first trip to the grocery store...
About a week after we got home from the hospital, we finally took our first trip to the grocery store. It was a little bit of a challenge because we didn't know what to do with Boston's car seat. It wouldn't fit on the cart. So Jer turned the car seat around and rigged it to fit but it was crooked. So Jer had to hold it constantly so that we didn't tip him over! Not sure what I'm going to do when I have to go to the store by myself. Especially since I couldn't see over the car seat to drive the cart! Ha.

Tummy time...
We heard that having tummy time will benefit Boston so we decided to try it a few weeks ago. Needless to say, he DID NOT like it. I wasn't sure if he was too little to try it but after some encouraging words from friends I'm confident I did the right thing. We are going to continue to practice each day and I hope he doesn't hate me for making him do it. :)

Here's a video of Boston hating tummy time.

Love,

Jeni