6 Months!

Today our sweet little man is six months old!  Our lives were certainly turned upside down a half a year ago today with an unexpected traumatic birth, l-o-n-g NICU stay, and adjustment to life as a family of four.

Samuel has come so far from that tiny little 4 pound baby on a ventilator...

Our first snuggle

At his six month checkup yesterday, he weighed in at over 15 pounds.  He's in the 10th percentile for both height at weight on the full-term growth chart (unadjusted for his prematurity).  He's smiling, cooing, laughing, grabbing, and standing.  He "swims" in place while on his tummy, kicking his legs and moving his arms as fast as he can.  He loves baths, snuggles, and watching his big sister's antics.

We are so grateful for our handsome little man and all the joy he brings to us every day!

What we've been up to...

We have been very busy...

...being adorable

...looking for the "monkey in tree!" spotted outside Nora's window (we're guessing it was the neighbor's cat?)

...celebrating Christmas Eve

...opening Christmas Stockings

...loving baby's first Christmas!

...getting all dressed up

...adoring cousin Mimi

...concentrating on coloring

...watching the sunset with Daddy

...making a bed in the laundry basket

giving messy kisses (she thinks it's hilarious!)...

...and the stunned reaction

...and loving it!

...enjoying first ride in yard swing 

...and being a caretaker to all stuffed animals

It was our first Christmas in Tucson, away from the usual family traditions we love.  Although it was hard to be far from family, we had a lovely Christmas (a Christmas Miracle!) at home.  We spent the entire day opening presents at a leisurely pace, allowing plenty of breaks for playing, eating, and napping.  We had dinner with Ben's Aunt, Uncle and Cousin Mimi which was also lovely.  I have to say, I didn't miss the crazy holiday travel, airplanes full of germs, and cold snowy weather, but it was sad to hear family gatherings over the phone full of laughter and craziness.  All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas, and I am just so grateful to have my kids, home, healthy and happily celebrating together.

Since Christmas, (and Natalie's much-anticipated return from PA!) we've been busy going for long walks, playing in the backyard, and enjoying elaborate games of pretend.  Eleanora's favorite is to be a doggie.  For up to an hour at a time, she will follow Charlie around the house and imitate his every movement.  She will only respond to questions with various barks, pants, and growls, but obeys commands to "sit" and "stay" very well.  She even scratches her ears with her foot.

She also loves to baby her stuffed animals, treating them exactly as I treat Samuel.  She feeds them, rocks them, sings to them, reads to them, changes their imaginary diapers (with exclamations of "Oh my!" coming from her room and oodles of wipes being used), putting them to bed, and then admonishing us to "peas be quiet, bear seeping".  

She is also very protective of her baby brother, reminding Natalie to, "Be gentle, Na-Na.  Peas don't hurt Baee Sammy". 

She also always lets me know when Samuel is crying - even when I'm holding him.  

"Mommy, Mommy! Baee Sazmmy cying! I sing him! Giggle Bews, Giggle Bews, Gigle aww da way!" 

("Jingle Bells" is her second favorite song after "Happy Birthday!).

Samuel is growing beautifully, weighing in at over 14 lb at his last check up.  He loves to watch his big sister's shenanigans, and seems to be quietly dreaming of when he can join in the fun.  He is a sweet little snuggler, generally happy and peaceful as long as he has a good view of the action.

After the horrors of last weekend's events in Tucson, we are reminded to count our blessings and pray for those lost or injured within just a few miles or our home.  As Gabrielle Giffords and others recover at University Medical Center, the hospital we know so well after spending nearly 8 weeks watching over our sweet Samuel, we are thankful for how far we have come in the last six months.  We will never take for granted having both of our children under one crazy, fun, loving roof.

Hurry home from your conference Ben!  We miss you!

Merry Christmas!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

The dressing up...

Yes, that is lipstick.

The baking...

 The decorating...

Being naughty...

And Nice...

Beautiful Christmas lights...

Visits to Santa (accompanied by lots of "No! No! Noooooo!")...

Santa arrived at Liam's base on a plane!

And dreaming of Christmas miracles...

Happy Giving!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, or a very "Happy Giving!" as Eleanora said throughout the day.  As per tradition, we started the morning with Lindsay's a-mazing cinnamon roll recipe (ice cream in the frosting, need I say more?!) and the Macy's Day parade.  Eleanora loved watching the floats, dancing to the music, and having everyone all together. 

At one point during the morning, Natalie and Eleanora spotted something very unusual strolling down the sidewalk...a miniature horse!  Being the super-fun aunt that she is, Natalie scooped up Eleanora and took off running down the street to get a closer look.  I grabbed the camera and started running behind them.  We were quite a sight, all in our pajamas, me chasing Natalie who was carrying Eleanora, all of us chasing the horse and it's owner.  Several people stopped on the sidewalk to gawk, wondering if a kidnapping was taking place (they talked to us later after realizing we on a pony chase!).  

We had a wonderful dinner with Sissy, Rich and Mimi complete with a turkey grilled to perfection.  Eleanora's favorite part of the meal was eating the pudding pie with Mimi.

What a wonderful day with so much to be thankful for!

Thankful

We have so much to be thankful this year, and this sweet little face is at the top of the list...

Our sweet Samuel has come a long way since starting out so tiny, hooked to a ventilator, bruised and swollen from his traumatic birth.  He is pink and perfect, healthy and well.  At his 4 month check-up yesterday, the doctor was thrilled with his weight gain (she clapped with glee!) and declared that she couldn't be happier with Sammy's progress and that he is fantastic.  She plotted his growth on the full term 4 month growth chart, even though he is technically only 2 months old adjusted for his prematurity.  The fact that he even landed on the chart (3rd percentile for weight and 25th percentile for height!) was a huge win!  Samuel gained 12 ounces in the 12 days since his last appointment which is amazing.  He now weighs 11 pounds 8 ounces!

Samuel is also developing very well.  He is tracking movement, smiling, cooing, and holding his head up with little effort.  He is such a sweet, sweet baby.  He is so patient, so content, so happy to snuggle.  We've even laid him down awake a few times and he's fallen asleep on his own!  That was unheard of with Eleanora!

Our days have found a predictable and comfortable rhythm that is manageable and enjoyable.  During the day, Samuel eats at least every three hours and then is sleeping for about an eight hour stretch at night. Thank goodness for some uninterrupted sleep!  As far as eating, things are the same.  We've seen the lactation consultant several times and "the best" occupational therapist for feeding issues in town.  All to no avail.  It seems our little guy is just not likely to nurse.  I'm slowly making my peace with this reality and am scaling back pumping to a more reasonable 3-4 times a day.  I'll keep doing that and hopefully be able to give him breastmilk through the scary cold/flu season.

Because Samuel was so early, he qualifies for the RSV vaccine to prevent serious lung disease from a respiratory infection because his lungs are still developing.  He will get the vaccine every month through the winter.  I am grateful for this added protection during the months ahead.

On this day of Thanksgiving, I am so grateful for a healthy, happy family all snuggled together in front of a roaring fire to watch the Macy's day parade.

A Bear-y Good Halloween

For Halloween, we ventured out of the house for the first time all together and a attended trick or treat event at a local outdoor mall.  Eleanora was a bit shy at first, whispering her "Tick o treat?", but once she realized there was candy involved she bravely marched into store after store cheerfully yelling, "Tick or teat!  Tan ooo!" (translation: "Trick or treat! Thank you!").

My sweet little bears

A flapper, two bears and Dwight Schroute from "The Office"

The lovely Wendy and her Peter Pan

 A few other fun pictures...

  

Enjoying her morning "coffee" and toast