5 Months Old!

Little Lady Abigail is 5 months old!

~Our happy, smiley gal now has wonderful, infectious belly laughs! Although, they frequently result in hiccups!  Her entire face lights up when she smiles...and she loves to smile!
~Grabby Abby -- She's become quite proficient at grabbing for things.  More often than not, she then intentionally brings objects to her mouth.
~Abigail has been doing well at sleeping at night.  She frequently sleeps through "baby nights", which aren't always Mommy/Daddy nights, especially because she goes to bed earlier.  She will, however, go back to sleep after nursing.  Towards the end of this month, she frequently enjoyed sleeping in Mommy and Daddy's bed.  Mommy was on an antibiotic and we suspected it may have upset Abigail's tummy (or perhaps just a coincidence in timing) as she would frequent squirm and seem uncomfortable in her bed.  After starting the night in her bed, she would wake and be unhappy.  Out of exhaustion (and who doesn't love extra snuggles?), we would bring her to our bed after failed attempts to get her to stay asleep for extended periods of time in her own bed.  She's out like a light in Mommy and Daddy's bed, though.
~She's still just an umph away from rolling over, however she doesn't seem quite as interested in reaching this milestone recently.
~She can sit independently for very short periods of time.  She hasn't yet figured out to hold out her arms for balance, so she frequently falls over.
~Abigail has discovered her feet!
~Abby is imitating kisses!  She will often suck in her bottom lip and open and close her mouth repeatedly after we blow kisses at her.
~She's growing very quickly!  I feel like we can barely keep up with making sure we have the correct size clothes in her drawers.  We recently started getting into the 12 month clothes!
~Abigail loves her big brothers...and they love her!  She is full of smiles and giggles when they talk/sing to her or play with her.  Just when we think one of them may be getting too rough, she smiles even bigger!  We think she's prepping to keep up with them when she gets bigger!

4 Month Stats

Abigail had her 4 month appointment today.  Our little girl is growing fast!

Current stats:
17lb 6oz (92nd percentile)
26 3/4 inches (99th percentile)

4 Months Old!

Little Miss Abigail is 4 months old!

~Our smiley sweetie is now also a giggly gal!  Abigail has a sweet and infectious giggle!
~Abby seemed to wake up over night more often than sleep through the night during the past month.  After a diaper change and feeding, she heads back to dream land.  We're continuing to work on naps in her crib at home on the weekends.  She's napped for about an hour in her crib several times.  Morning naps are tough because we're often running errands and she'll sleep while we're out and about.
~Abigail has increased her milk intake while at the babysitter's house.  She previously drank 15 oz a day.  We're now up to 20 oz!
~She's quickly outgrowing 3-6 months clothes and fits comfortably into 6-9 month outfits.
~Abigail continues to be "Gabby Abby."  She loves to "talk" and has many sounds, pitches and volumes.
~She is very close to rolling over from her belly to her back.  One more umph and she'll be there!

Help Me Grow Update

We've had one official Help Me Grow home visit with Gavin's Early Intervention Specialist.  Gavin warmed up to her relatively quickly.  She was impressed with his attention span and commented that he is "smart as a whip."  She also commented that he seems to have a bit of a stubborn side as he would act as though he didn't hear her/us talking to him.  She has created a picture board for us to use.  He hasn't used it independently yet, but will retrieve specific pictures when asked.

Gavin has recently made great gains in his expressive language!  He is much more willing to repeat words.  He has added several animal noises to his collection.  He is also using more words and a few word phrases.  Some recent additions: "Mommy!  Look this!", "Nain!" (train), "Hup!" (hoop), "Mommy! Done!", "A bus!" and "Mark! Go!" (on your marks, get set, go).  Definitely steps in the right direction!

3 Months!

Our little lady is 3 months old!

~Abigail is such a happy girl!  She's very smiley and content.  There are time I've had to wake her in the morning and she wakes up with a big smile!
~She is growing fast! We've commented a few times that she seems to look bigger during a day at the babysitter's.  We've packed away many clothes that are too small and will be digging into the 6-9 month clothes soon
~Abby is a good sleeper!  She has slept through the night about half of the past month.  She sometimes goes back to sleep without difficulty.  Sometimes, she ends up in tired Mommy and Daddy's bed where we can easily return her pacifier to her mouth after she looses it.  We put the boppy pillow around her head for safety.  Naps are inconsistent and are usually in a vibrating chair or Mommy's arms.  She's so snuggly and Mommy can also sneak in an afternoon snooze, it's hard to resist!  We plan to work on naps in her crib soon.
~She enjoys being around people and wants to be in the same room as us.
~Abigail is adored by her brothers.  Gavin likes to snuggle with her and try to make her talk by "coo-ing" at her.  Brennan likes talking to her, receiving smiles from her, and making comments such as, "She's so cute!"

2 Months!

Our adorable Abigail is 2 months old!  Abby celebrated her 2 month birthday with her first trip to Grandma and Grandpa Mealy's house.  She was also attended the beautiful wedding and reception of Susan and Mark Mitchell.

~Gabby Abby!  Abigail loves to coo and be cooed at.  She'll carry on a "conversation" for several minutes!
~She has an adorable smile that lights up her entire face!  She's a very smiley young lady and we love to receive her smiles!
~Abigail is a great sleeper!  Naps vary throughout the day.  Sometimes she's awake the majority of the morning and sleeps away the afternoon.  Sometimes she takes cat naps throughout the day.  Naps at home are in a bouncy seat or in our arms.  We'll transition her to her crib for naps soon, but we love having her around and snuggling!  She sleeps in her crib overnight.  Recently, she's fallen asleep around 9pm and wakes up once over night for a fresh diaper and to eat before heading back to dreamland.
~She's been doing very well at the babysitter's house during the day.  She typically drinks about 15 oz and is adored by the sitter and the other kids.
~Abigail is doing a great job holding up her head.  She can hold it up for extended periods when being held, including changing directions.  She'll tolerate tummy time for a few minutes.
~Abby's hair is beautiful!  She hasn't lost any of it and it's growing longer and longer!  It's quiet dark with beautiful red and blonde highlights.
~I frequently comment that Abby is a perfect third child -- very snuggly, happy, tolerant and patient.  We can't imagine our family without her.

Current Stats:
24.5 inches (98th percentile)
13 lbs 13.5 oz (93rd percentile)
15.25 inch head circumference (60th percentile)
She's getting so big!  The doctor gave her a clean bill of health and oogled over her adorableness.  Abigail got three vaccines (1 oral, 3 pokes) at her appointment.  She wasn't a fan, but calmed down quickly with snuggles and nursing.  Our next appointment is at 4 months.

Help Me Grow

We've decided to take the next step to help progress Gavin's expressive language.  After continued concerns, seeing him become frustrated when unable to effectively communicate with us, and witnessing other kids that are receiving speech assistance make incredible progress, we decided it was time.  I spoke with the pediatrician about our concerns at one of Abigail's appointments.  It was recommended that we start with Help Me Grow, as the doctor has had many patients have positive experiences with the program.  She explained that if we weren't happy with Help Me Grow, she could make a referral to outpatient therapy.

First, I met with our Service Coordinator, who briefly observed Gavin at home and asked me several questions. Based on our intake appointment, she predicted that he would qualify for services.  Our next step was to complete an evaluation, using the Battelle.  At the evaluation, Gavin scored well within the normal limits for all measured areas -- cognition, receptive language, motor skills, adaptive behavior, social, etc -- with the exception of expressive language, where he scored 1 point below average.  His score alone did not qualify him for services, but the evaluators agreed that he would benefit from services and he qualified through clinical override.  We met with our Service Coordinator and Early Childhood Intervention Specialist and developed our Individual Family Service Plan.  Our EIS will meet with us 2x a month. Since he qualified through clinical override, he will be evaluated again in 6 months.  He won't receive direct therapy, but we'll be given strategies and resources to help encourage his expressive language skills. 

We've toyed with the idea of also starting him in outpatient therapy but are putting it on hold for now.  He scored higher than we expected in the area of expressive language through HMG.  Through my career, I've yet to see an outpatient therapy report not find area(s) of need, but we wondered if he would qualify.  Also, through talking with the office, we've discovered it will be difficult to get him to therapy sessions while we are both working full time.  Of course, if we take this route, we'll find a way to make it work. The pediatrician provided us with a referral, which is good for a calendar year, should we choose to pursue this option later.

Of course, as kids like to do, Gavin has decided to prove us wrong.  Since our initial intake appointment, he has gained many words and is very willing and excited to repeat words -- something he showed little interest in doing before.  He has the sweetest voice when he says words and is very proud of himself!  His language skills still need some work, but we're heading in the right direction!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Gavin!

Our sweet Gavin is two!  He is such a joy and we love him to pieces!

We celebrated his birthday at a local park.  Gavin loves to play outside and we thought it would be a perfect place to celebrate his special day!  Due to still being on part-time maternity leave, Mommy was able to stay home with the birthday boy on his actual birthday

~Gavin is starting to show his independent side.  He likes to do many things on his own, including putting on his sandals, zip his pajamas and put on his pants.  He also attempts to put on a diaper.
~He continues to enjoy going to the potty.  When asked if he wants to sit on the potty, he'll drop what he's doing and run to the bathroom.  He still follows his routine, although he will sometimes flush before he gets on.  We're not consistent about taking him, but want to do better so we don't miss a great window of opportunity!
~After a few sad mornings when dropped at the babysitter's house, Gavin is doing much better!  His tears were short lived on his sad days, but it's much easier to leave when he isn't upset!
~Gavin is our little informer.  He lets us know when Abigail is upset, when a buzzer goes off in the kitchen, when a toy makes a noise after the boys are done playing with it, and when a train/loud car/airplane are  within hearing distance.
~He loves his baby sister!  He frequently gives her kisses and hugs.  He'll bring her pacifiers, burp clothes and blankets and likes to help pat her back.  He also likes to attempt to pick her up and lay on her when snuggling.  It's also wonderful to see his relationship with Brennan continue to develop.  The boys frequently share giggles and play together.  However, Gavin occasionally gets a bit defensive (i.e., squealing) when Brennan comes near his toys, presumably fearing that he will take them!
~Gavin loves to play with sports balls!  He has quite the arm and can throw very well!  He also loves to throw the balls into the basketball hoop!

Current stats:
33.5"
24 lbs, 4oz
25th percentile for height and weight.  He's our peanut!

One Month Appointment

Abigail had her one month doctor appointment today!  The pediatrician made frequent comments about how adorable and alert Abby was during the appointment.  She was pleased with Abigail's growth.  We go back in another month for her next check up.

Current stats:
11lb 9oz
23 inches

One Month Old!

Miss Abigail is one month old!  She's such an amazing addition to our family!

~Abigail loves to snuggle!
~She's a champion nurser!  She typically eats every 3-4 hours during the day, more frequently in the evening.
~She usually has 3 awake periods during the day in the morning, early afternoon, and evening.  Each awake period can last about an hour, usually longer in the evening.  She is very alert and loves to look around when she is awake.
~Abby is a great overnight sleeper!  She goes to bed around 10/10:30 and wakes to eat between 2:00 to 4:00am.  She makes a few newborn noises in her bed before going back to sleep.  She wakes again in the morning between 7:00 to 8:00am.
~Abigail slept in our room in a vibrating chair until she was just shy of 4 weeks old.  She seemed to be uncomfortable in the chair immediately after feedings and we wondered if it was from being in a somewhat-sitting position.  She now sleeps in her crib in the nursery.  She continues to make some uncomfortable "newborn noises" after being put down, but not as many.
~A downfall of long locks--pulling your hair with your newborn grasping reflex.
~Abigail enjoys her baths and getting her hair washed.
~She is just starting to "talk" and coo.
~To prepare for Mommy's return to work, we've given Abigail a few bottles.  She did great!

Her one month appointment is next week.  We're looking forward to seeing how much she has grown!

23 Months!

Gavin is growing up so quickly!  Our snuggle bug is almost 2!

~He has cut his last two year molar!  He has a complete set of teeth!
~Gavin has proven that he has many words--when he wants to.  He has said several new words, but won't repeat them when asked and won't always say them consistently.  He continues to frequently state "Did it!" with great pride and "Danks!" ("Thanks") when given things.  Gavin is consistently saying "Haaaaa" ("Hot") when eating and asks for Mommy to blow on his bite of food.  He will also blow on it when prompted.  One of my favorite words: "Mom!"  Sometimes he'll exclaim it repeatedly, which is also adorable.  He'll also call for me, followed by "Where you?"  He'll also consistently state "What?" after you call his name.  Not the most polite response, but still very cute!
~Gavin likes to "count" objects, especially blocks as he stacks them.  He'll give an enthusiastic "Daaaa!" with each one. 
~He has transitioned phenomenally to being a big brother!  He frequently brings her blankets and her pacifier. He'll occasionally give her snuggles and appears concerned if she is crying.  He also likes to "dump" her diapers into the diaper pail.  At times, Gavin, who wanted nothing to do with a pacifier as a baby, has taken Abigail's pacifier for himself.  He has, however, become more attached to Mommy.  It may be his age, having a younger sibling at home, and/or having Mommy at home more often, but I frequently joke that he is my shadow and has started having a difficult time during drop off at babysitter's house.  Both boys have gone to the babysitter's house once a week to give them play time with their buddies and help with the transition when I return to work.
~Gavin has insanely long eye lashes!  I love them!  I've jokingly referred to him as Snuffaluffagus, the long-lashed Sesame Street character.
~I'm not sure why, and would love to foster this behavior, but Gavin loves to pick up!  He does a wonderful job sorting the piles of toys that end up on the floor at one time.  I can sometimes convince him to go from one room to another by asking if he wants to help pick up!
~He's doing a great job on the potty.  He has indicated that he wants to go a few times and will drop everything and run to the bathroom when you ask if he wants to sit on the potty.  You must, however, let him go through his own routine, including getting toilet paper to put in the potty after he's done and washing his hands prior to re-dressing.
~Gavin is a great sleeper and loves his "big boy bed."  After being put to bed, he'll read/entertain himself quietly before heading off to dreamland.  He naps during the afternoon for about 2-3 hours.  He has, however, started wanting to be covered up and will occasionally cry for someone to re-cover him. 

Belly Button!

Abigail lost her umbilical cord stump tonight and now proudly sports a brand new belly button!

This little lady sure does have impeccable timing.  Not only does she flip into the head-down position just in time, but she also looses the remainder of her umbilical cord while wearing her last newborn size diaper with a cut out to protect the stump!

One Week Old!

Abigail is one week old!  She is a sweetheart and a cuddle bug and an amazing addition to our family!

~Abigail had a busy day today!  She had her first appointment with the pediatrician, went to Mommy's work where she was passed around and loved on by many of Mommy's coworkers, and went on her first dinner date out with Mommy, Daddy, and two of Mommy's coworkers.
~She is a great sleeper!  However, she is not a big fan of the bassinet. Her first night at home was spent with Mommy in the nursery recliner.  After attempting sleep in the bassinet on the second night, we brought her into our bed where she slept for 9 consecutive hours! Whoa!  We've found success in putting her in a bouncy seat overnight.  She typically wakes up every 3-5 hours to eat and usually goes back to sleep easily.
~Abigail is still in her sleepy stage during the day.  But, when she is awake, she is very alert and has great eye control!
~Due to her very long fingernails, Abby spent her first week wearing baby mittens to prevent scratches.  She received her first manicure today.
~Abigail's eye lashes are growing longer and thicker every day!  Her eyes also appear to be more blue every day!
~She has an adorable dimple on each of her cheeks!
~We're not doing tummy time until Abigail loses her umbilical cord stump, but she is working on her head control.  When laying on Mommy/Daddy's chest, she can lift her head for several seconds and turn it from one side to another.
~Her hair, while dark, has some lighter undertones and beautiful highlights of red and blonde.
~Abigail is a champion eater!  She's doing a great job nursing!
~She is a very content baby!  She rarely cries and is easily soothed when upset.

Brennan and Gavin are transitioning wonderfully to our new addition.  Brennan is a good helper and likes to kiss her.  He has had a few questions, including why her teeth are red (referring to her gums).  Gavin has also done well with her.  He has given her a few kisses, brought her blankets and her pacifier, and appears concerned when she is crying.

We are very thankful to have the help of Grandma and Grandpa Mealy at our house during Abigail's first week!  They were a huge help!  They also took Brennan and Gavin to Cincinnati, leaving this morning, for a few days of fun.  Uncle Matt came to visit her at home.  Abigail was also able to meet Uncle Will, Aunt Adrianna, Ava, Corinne, Elise, Grammy, and Bob at home on the Fourth of July.

1st Pediatrician's Appointment

Abigail had her first appointment at the pediatrician's on her one-week birthday.  She weighed 8lb 13.5oz, surpassing her birth weight!  The doctor was pleased with her growth and said she's doing great.  Her next appointment is close to her one-month birthday.

Our Time At The Hospital

Our time at the hospital after Abigail's birth was short and uneventful!  After moving to the postpartum room and Abby returned from her bath, she nursed and slept until about 5:30am.  Then, we had several visitors -- nurses, OB intern, housekeeping, phlebotomist, on-call OB, etc.  It was a busy time, but we appreciated that they all came within a short period of time.  We asked if we would be able to leave later that day and were told it was possible as long as Mommy's and Abigail's doctors determined it was okay.

Throughout the day, we were visited a few more times by medical staff, including the hospital pediatrician and nurses to check on Mommy and Abigail.  We had to wait until she was 24 hours old to complete two of Abigail's tests, but the nurses were able to schedule them very close to the 24 hour mark.  We were clear to go home later that evening!

Grandma and Grandpa Mealy brought Big Brothers Brennan and Gavin to visit Abigail earlier in the day.  Brennan was briefly interested in her, but was quickly distracted by the toys he brought with him.  Gavin seemed a bit apprehensive and was not very interested in sitting next to her for a picture.  When asked where baby sister was, he initially started to point to Mommy's belly and then pointed to a drawing of a baby on the wall. 

Abigail's Birth Story

After hearing the status of Abigail's position, just days before our likely induction, we did everything we could to get her to flip -- prayers, giving her words of encouragement, and several sessions of Mommy on her knees and elbows.  I tried to analyze her position.  She felt more vertical, and we hoped that her head was down rather than her bottom!  Not knowing what the day would hold, I was very anxious as we left the boys and Grandma and Grandpa Mealy and took off for the hospital.

We arrived at the hospital just before 6am, registered and headed up to the Labor and Delivery Unit.  I was previously told that I could have a numbing cream for my IV by the OB's nurse, but was told otherwise by the L&D nurse.  Due to my high anxiety and previous unfavorable experiences with IVs, I got a little emotional and then felt silly for getting teary-eyed over it!  The nurses were wonderful, though.  One nurse took a close look at my veins and confirmed that they are, as previously described, "valvely", making IVs difficult to insert.  She got the nurse anesthetist, who was able to insert the IV successfully on the first attempt!  I also have my blood drawn for labs.

6:50am: Dr. Rinkes, my OB, and Dr. Bunner, another OB who delivered Brennan, came to check on Abigail's position via an ultrasound.  Dr. Brunner was there for assistance with the inversion, should Abigail not be in the head down position.  Through feeling my belly, Dr. Rinkes explains that there is "something hard" at the bottom of my stomach.  As she starts the ultrasound, she immediately determines that it's Abby's head!  She's head down!  What a relief!  I'm also 2-3cm dilated and 50% effaced.  Not only is Abigail head down, but I'm making progress on my own!  She explains that I won't need a "ripening agent" for my cervix, but she wants to start with the induction quickly and would like me to stay in bed to decrease the likelihood that our little acrobat will change her position.  My anxiety level is much lower now!

7:30am: Pitocin is administered.

8:00am: Dr. Rinkes breaks my water.  There is a lot of fluid and "light meconium."  I'm 3cm dilated.

9:45am: 3cm dilated, 60% effaced.   I'm starting to feel some of the contractions, but they are manageable.  Time is spent resting, chatting and playing games with Adam, and catching up on daytime television.  My Pitocin is increased frequently, eventually being put at it's maximum dosage.

2:15pm: 4cm dilated, 70% effaced.  Contractions are getting stronger, consistent, and closer together.  Dr. Rinkes explains that she and the nurse anesthetist are heading into a c-section.

2:45pm: Contractions are getting much stronger.  Adam asks the nurse how long the nurse anesthetist will be unavailable.  It was predicted that he should be available for my epidural in about 30 minutes.  I turn down the option of getting Nubane via my IV due to hearing others' negative experiences with the medication.  Contractions continue to intensify.  Ensue much moaning and grimacing from me, and many reminders to breathe from Adam.

3:45pm: Epidural is administered.  The nurse had prepped me as much as possible so the nurse anesthetist could begin as soon as he was available.  The effects kick in quickly, although I'm able to feel some pressure on the underside of my stomach.  It was explained that they don't medicate for the pressure.  The discomfort intensifies quickly and turns into more sharp pain than pressure.  Moaning and breathing reminders return.  The L&D nurse contacts the nurse anesthetist about my condition.

5:00: I'm give an extra dose of medication through my IV for the pain.  The nurse anesthetist explains that it will make me "very numb" for awhile.  6cm dilated, 80% effaced.

5:40ish: Dr. Rinkes checks on my progress again.  She quickly responds: "Oh!  Are you ready to have a baby?!"  She brings in the delivery materials and preps me for delivery.  I'm feeling some pressure again on a small section of the underside of my stomach with each contraction, but it's very tolerable.  I have very little control over my numb, heavy-feeling legs.  The nurse takes my dinner order, fearing that I may still be pushing when the cafeteria closes at 6:30.  I joke with her that I'm quick when it comes to pushing out babies! With my first push, the doctor exclaims "Whoa!"regarding how much she moves, including turning from a posterior position, and there are many comments about her hair. I push for 2 contractions and then...

5:59pm: Happy Birthday, Abigail Lily!  I help pull her out and lay her on my chest.  She's absolutely beautiful!  She is cleaned up and assessed and looks perfect!  Her Apgar scores are 9 and 9.  She weighs 8 lb, 7 oz and is 21 inches long.  Abby is brought to me for skin-to-skin and her first nursing session.  Adam and I fall in love with her immediately!


We stayed in the L&D and delivery room for several hours, as I have very little control of my legs due to the extra dose of pain medication.  Grandma and Grandpa Mealy come to visit and meet their newest grandchild.  Abigail loves to snuggle and nurses for a very long time.  At 11:00pm, I attempt, with the nurses' assistance to stand and walk as I'm growing impatient to have control of my right leg.  I'm very wobbly, but they let us move to the post-pardum unit with specific instructions that I cannot get out of bed without a nurse's assistance.  Abigail is given her bath and we settle in for the night.  She is amazing!



The meaning of Abigail's name:
Naming a child is no easy task!  We've fallen in love with Abigail's name and the meanings behind it:

~Mommy shares her initials with her Daddy.  Abigail also shares her initials with her Daddy
~Grandma Mealy's name, Susan, means Lily
~Abigail means "father's joy"
~We like "Abigail" and it's shortened version, "Abby" although there was some discussion over the spelling of her nickname

Happy Birthday, Abigail Lily!

Welcome to the world, Abigail Lily!  Abigail was born on June 30, 2014 at 5:59pm.  She weighs 8 lbs 7 oz and is 21 inches long.  She has a lot of long, dark hair and is a snuggle bug.  We are in love!

Little Miss Gymnast

Mommy had her 39 week OB appointment today.  We were planning to schedule an induction the following Monday at 39 weeks, 5 days.  The night before the appointment, I felt something hard just above my left hip and found it odd.  I tried not to worry about it and wait for my appointment.

Just prior to my cervical check, the OB and I were joking that I likely hadn't made any progress.  While completing the check, the OB states, "Oh, golly.  That's a hand."  A hand?!  Despite being the last patient of the day, the OB snuck me for an ultrasound to check on her position and we saw this:

Buckeye's feet (crossed at her ankles) and hands where her head should be! 

We discussed options and decided that we would try to flip her on Monday morning and, if successful, I would be induced immediately.  If it was unsuccessful, we could proceed with a c-section or wait a week to see what she did on her own.  The OB was optimistic that Buckeye could be flipped because she was "moveable" and there was a lot of fluid around her, but still only gave her a 30-35% chance of flipping.  Her estimated weight based on ultrasound measurements, 9 lb 8 oz, would work against us.  The ultrasound technician gave another disclaimer that the weight was likely an overestimate due to Buckeye being in a transverse position. The OB suggested that I spent time on my knees and elbows over the weekend several times a day in attempt to get Buckeye to correctly position herself. 

21 & 22 Months!

Our dearest Gavin, please forgive me that I am combining these posts!  Third trimester fatigue, working full time, and keeping up with you and your brother has postponed your 21 month post.  We love you!

~Gavin continues to be such a snuggle bug!  He loves to snuggle, give kisses and hugs, and sit on our laps.  Our babysitter recently said that she and her husband have commented that he is the sweetest kid she has ever watched!
~In preparation for their baby sister's arrival, the boys are now sharing a room, referred to as the "big boy room".  He's done a great job in his "big boy bed!"  Our original idea was that they would share a room at bedtime and Gavin could continue to nap in the crib since Brennan is not consistently napping.  After seeing the panicked look on his face after taking him into the nursery to read a book before bedtime, we decided that he was done with the crib and officially a big boy bed sleeper!  The boys love sharing a room and we frequently hear giggles from both after putting them to bed.  He wakes up content and will happily look at books or play with stuff animals in his bed.
~Gavin is not a fan of being groomed--hair cuts and nail trimmings require much distraction and speed.
~He continues to be a great helper!  He loves to throw things away and put his dishes in the sink after meals.  He does a great job picking up his toys and helping his brother clean up.  He gets a kick out of putting clothes in the dryer.  He delivers things to others with pride, even tempting objects such as sweets!
~Gavin can be quite particular about things.  He will pick up tiny objects from the floor and throw them away.  He doesn't like food on his fingers. Don't even think about leaving the trash can lid open.  As soon as you are done with the vacuum and/or broom, he'll go to the closet door where it belongs to let you know where to put it away.
~Gavin has cut his bottom two canine teeth and 3 of his two year molars.  We're almost done with teething!  Overall, he does a great job with cutting teeth, but he can get picky about what he eats and a little dramatic at times.
~We're continuing to work on his expressive language.  It baffles us that he will consistently make animals noises, getting verbal praise in return, but won't say "cookie" (a word he previously said frequently) even when being tempted with a cookie after he says it!  Some words he consistently says: "Yuck", especially when getting his diaper changed;"Thanks" ("Danks") after getting something; and "Mom" for Mommy or more.  He very frequently says "I did it!" after doing something independently.   He makes many different sounds and will frequently repeat the same sequence of sounds when pointing at something.
~Gavin loves to be outside!  He especially enjoys climbing the ladder (with a spotter nearby, just in case), throwing balls, and playing in the sandbox.

Potty Practice

Gavin has shown some interest in the toilet in the last few days, so we thought we'd give it a go and see what happens.  He loves it!  He'll run to the bathroom when you ask if he wants to sit on the potty.  Then, he'll lift the lid and position the potty seat.  Once sitting, he'll give a little push and clap after he goes.  He'll do this several times, clapping each time as he flashes a huge grin.  It's adorable to see how proud he is of himself!  After we take him off of the seat, he'll independently flush the potty, take the potty seat off, close the lid, and go to the sink to wash his hands. Earlier today he peed and pooped on the potty!  After he finished, he retrieved some toilet paper and attempted to wipe himself.

He still has plenty of wet and dirty diapers and doesn't seem bothered by them, so we're not anticipating that he will be potty trained soon.  But, practice never hurts!

Claps!

 Personal cheerleader

She's Almost Here!

We're quickly approaching Buckeye's due date and are very excited for her arrival!  Brennan and Gavin frequently give her hugs and kisses.  Brennan has a good understanding of what is to come and talks about having another baby at home and how he can help.  Although we talk about it with him, we're not sure how much Gavin understands but anticipate that he will transition to his new Big Brother status well.

Due to Buckeye measuring big and not being in the head down position yet, I had another ultrasound at 35 weeks.  Luckily, between my previous appointment and the ultrasound, Buckeye positioned herself head down!  Everything with her and Mommy looks great.  She was measuring in the 95th percentile (7lb, 8oz), but the ultrasound technician explained that the bigger the baby, the more likely the weight is overestimated. It was neat to see how much she has grown.  Buckeye was a bit camera shy, but with some effort we were able to get a good picture of her sweet face!

I've had weekly appointments since the ultrasound appointment.  Much like my pregnancies with Brennan and Gavin, I'm not making much progress on my own.  If this continues, we'll look at induction close to her due date.

First Year of Preschool

Brennan finished his first year of preschool!  He attended Wee Care Preschool in Fremont three days a week.  Brennan absolutely loved preschool!  His teacher, Mrs. Rusch, was wonderful and frequently commented about how much she enjoyed having him in class.  We're so proud of him!

Wee Care had a spring program/graduation at the end of the school year.  Unfortunately, Brennan had a bite of a cookie that, unknowing to us at the time, had peanut butter in it.  He complained that his tongue hurt, got sick several times, and broke out into hives on his stomach and chest.  Adam took him to the ER, where they administered his Auvi-Q and several other medications.  He did a great job and was as good as new!

31 Week Appointment

I had my 31 week OB appointment today!  It's hard to believe we're getting so close!

My blood pressure looks great.  The doctor commented that Buckeye is very active!  I'm measuring at 33 weeks, so we may have another big baby!  She's currently "oblique" or laying diagonally, rather than head down.  The doctor assured me that she has plenty of time to move into the correct position.  She would like me to have another ultrasound in a month to check on Buckeye's size and position. 

I'm feeling good.  Fatigue and heartburn are my biggest complaints.  I was having difficulty staying comfortable on our super-plush bed.  Daddy saved the day by finding a memory foam mattress pad that helps a lot.  Heartburn comes and goes, depending on the day.

My next appointment is in 2 weeks.  I'll start the weekly appointments, and have the follow up ultrasound 2 weeks after that!

20 Months!

It's hard to believe that our sweet Gavin is already 20 months old!  He's such a joy and has a wonderful personality!

~His bottom canine teeth are cutting through and they seem to be taking their time.  After these, he'll only have back molars left to cut through!
~He continues to show affection towards his baby sister.  He'll give her a kiss when we ask where she is and is beginning to do the same when we refer to her by name.  He'll also give her a snuggle after his smooch.
~His language is starting to take off!  He has said several words and phrases, but rarely repeats them when asked.  Some words/phrases include: Momma, My Momma, Daddy, Here go (here you go), Chocolate, Buckle, Door, Logan (the babysitter's son), Hungry, All done, All gone, Waffle, Grandma, I did it, and Puzzle.  He continues to make many different syllables and strings of sounds.  His receptive language continues to flourish, also.
~Gavin has several cute animal noises.  Current noises include lion, kangaroo, cow, elephant, monkey, bear, and fish.
~He blows his nose into tissues.
~Gavin is quite particular about things being clean and picked up.  He'll clean off his hands and face with a paper towel and/or water after meals.  He enjoys picking up his toys and wants everything put in the correct containers. He had also become a bit upset when taken out of the bath prior to putting all of the toys away.  Gavin is also known to find small bits of food/paper/etc on the floor and will either bring them to Mommy or Daddy or throw them away in the trash.
~Gavin loves to play outside!  He was weary of the sandbox last year, but loves it this year!  He'll spend a good amount of time filling up buckets and then dumping them out.  He's learned the fun of dumping the sand on himself.  He also loves his swing.

29 Week Appointment

Brennan joined me on my 29 week OB appointment.  His eyes lit up when he heard Buckeye's heartbeat and he did a great job at the appointment!

Everything with Mommy and baby looks good!  My blood pressure is "great" and my OB (who is also pregnant) is "envious" of my weight gain, which was encouraging and surprising to hear!  My next appointment is in 2 weeks.  The doctor asked that I complete "kick counts" twice a day.  I should feel Buckeye move at least 6 times within an hour.  If I don't, I should go to the hospital to be placed on monitors.


Since my last appointment, I also completed my 1 hour blood glucose test.  To my surprise, and dismay, I failed it!  I scored a 150 and the cut off for passing is 130.  I completed the 3 hour test the following weekend.  It wasn't as bad as I anticipated, despite it actually lasting closer to 5 hours and feeling out of sorts during the last half hour.  I learned the day before my 29 week appointment that I passed this test!  The nurse briefly reviewed my results and explained that I was well within the normal limits for each blood draw.

Best Big Brothers!

Brennan and Gavin are already proving their status of the best big brothers! 

Brennan enjoys singing a bedtime song to his baby sister and giving her kisses.  He's also given her a role in his family-wide assignment of superheroes.  He's understanding that Mommy can't pick him up because of his baby sister in Mommy's belly.

Just this past weekend, we started to talk about "baby sister" to Gavin.  Mommy would point to her belly and say "Baby Sister is in Mommy's belly!"  After a few introductions, Gavin independently began giving Mommy's belly a kiss every time he is asked "Where is Baby Sister?"  He'll even lift Mommy's shirt to give her a kiss.

26 Week Appointment

Mommy and Buckeye had our 26 week appointment today.  Everything looks great!  I'm completing my blood glucose test between 27 and 28 weeks.  I'll also get my Rhogam shot. 

Next appointment is in 3 weeks.  The doctor explained that patients are typically start their 2 weeks appointments around this point in their pregnancy, but since everything is progressing well, we'll go back in 3 weeks.

Buckeye has a (currently secret) name!  We're in the "waiting period" that we also had with Brennan and Gavin.  Once we are positive that her name is "the one", including referring to her by name (not around big brothers!), we'll make it official!

19 Months!

Our little snuggle bug is 19 months old!

~Gavin continues to be quite the lover.  He loves to give kisses, hugs and snuggles...and we love receiving them!  He'll give us snuggles every morning and throughout the day.  He'll also give random kisses, prompted or unprompted, throughout the day.  He's also known to run to Mommy and Daddy to give us a snuggle after we've left the room for a few minutes.
~Gavin has some pretty consistent, and some comical, eating habits.  He always wants a spoon and/or fork when he's eating.  It's common to hear a "hmmmm" after bites of food.  He also frequently accompanies bites with an "Ahhhh", quickly popping the bite into his mouth, followed by an "hmmmm."  He's also starting to mix some of his food--such as plopping spoonfuls of applesauce on top of his main dish.  Don't, however, allow regular condiments, such as ketchup, touch his food.  It's guaranteed that he won't eat it.
~Gavin loves bathtime!  He can't get into the tub soon enough and does not want to get out!
~He also loves playing outside!  At the mere mention of "outside", he'll point to the window or go to the garage door.  It takes much convincing to get him back inside.
~He's becoming a big fan of puzzles.  He enjoys putting them together, including turning the pieces to fit in the appropriate spots.  He also enjoys playing with his shape sorter toy.
~His receptive language skills continue to flourish and we're starting to hear more word approximations!
~Gavin has discovered the joy of climbing onto furniture.  Due to our couch and recliners being over-sized, he uses toys or a stool to climb.  He's quite proud of himself!  He's also discovered he can climb onto the recliner in his room and the kitchen table chairs.
~Gavin has a definite right hand preference.
~He's a great sleeper!  He very rarely makes a peep after we put him to bed and he sleeps over night.  Naps are typically 2-2.5 hours.
~Gavin enjoys mimicking his big brother!  Our most recent favorite is Gavin playing Duck-Duck-Goose.  He'll travel between the game players, exclaiming "Dut!" (and sometimes "Goo!") while tapping their legs.  Then, he'll start running around the house, giggling and squealing the entire way!

Making Moves

Daddy was able to feel Buckeye move for the first time today!  She's typically pretty calm, but I can feel her move several times a day.  Despite previous attempts, Adam wasn't able to feel her jumps/kicks/punches.  Her movements seemed stronger than normal this morning, so we tried again.  Daddy's eyes lit up with excitement as he felt her move about!

It's a Girl!

Buckeye is a GIRL!

We had our long-awaited ultrasound appointment this morning!  Buckeye looks perfect and is measuring right on target.  It was a relief to hear the ultrasound technician repeatedly make comments such as, "Looks perfect" and "That looks just as it should."  We also learned that Buckeye is a girl! 

Buckeye was quite calm during the ultrasound.  She cooperated and gave the technician opportunities to get great views of her important organs, etc.  She was a bit camera shy, though, when the technician was trying to get a good picture of her face and kept her face hidden.  We were able to get some good views, though!

We told Brennan and Gavin about their little sitter tonight at dinner.  Initially, Brennan replied that he wanted another brother, but he quickly warmed up to the idea of having a little sister.  He asked to give her a kiss during our nightly "family hug" and sang her a song before going to bed.

Introducing, our little lady!

Profile

Feet!

Hands!

"If that's not a girl, I'll pay her college tuition" -Ultrasound technician

Legs on bottom and top, pointing to the left

Trying to hide!  Face, hands on her head

Our lovely lady's beautiful face!

18 Months!

Our little man is 18 months old!

~Gavin enjoys making animal noises.  Noises include lion ("Arrr!"), bear ("Arrr" or "Grr", which sounds more like he has a hairball in his throat), kangaroo ("Ai-ya!"), and elephant.
~He likes to identify body parts, including his own, on Mommy/Daddy's face, and on some of his stuffed animals.  He can identify nose, eyes, mouth, ears and belly button.
~Gavin is a great eater!  He eats quite a bit and enjoys feeding himself.
~He shakes his head for "no"
~He continues to be our little "lover."  He loves to snuggle, hug, and blow/give kisses.  At times, he's tried to use his charm to his advantage.  At home, he started whining because he couldn't reach an object on the couch.  Mommy, who was sitting next to the couch told him "That's not the way to get what you want!"  He immediately came to Mommy and gave her kisses.  Also, he sitter told a story about when the kids were putting away toys, but Gavin was trying to get them out again.  When she reminded him that they were putting the toys away, he went in for a few kisses!
~Gavin has also been known to give himself kisses in the mirror.  He consistently kisses a mirror on the page of one of his books.  He also recently gave a kiss to pictures of animals in another book.
~He has a new, extra cute smile which involves scrunching his nose while flashing a huge grin.
~Gavin's receptive language continues to flourish.  He understands many things that we say or ask him to do.  He says a few words consistently, including Mama, Dada, thank you ("take-um"), you're welcome ("el-come"), this and that.  He babbles quite a bit.  When asking for items, he'll get our attention and point to the item.  When we label the item he wants, he'll sign "please" and say "ahhh" with a huge grin.
~Some of his more recent "jobs":
~~~Trying to empty the dishwasher by removing dishes and handing them to Mommy/Daddy (This "job" is much more desired when the dishes are actually clean)
~~~Removing his shirt after we take his arms out of his sleeves
~~~Wiping his nose with a tissue
~~~~Picking up toys--including removing them from incorrect bins and taking them to the correct toy bin.
~~~Buckling himself into his highchair
~~~Acting as our delivery man.  He'll take things to people when we ask, or will take them without prompting such as bringing Brennan his drink cup.
~Gavin had his 18 month appointment and is happy and healthy!  The doctor was impressed with his temperament and happy demeanor.  We discussed Gavin's expressive language.  Based on our description of his language skills and the doctor's observations of Gavin's wide range of babbling and desire for objects to be labeled, he's not concerned and said that his language skills are typical of 18 month olds.  He explained that most children hit their "language explosion" between 18-30 months, so we're just entering this range.  We confessed that we were comparing Gavin's language to Brennan's at this age--an unfair comparison since Brennan was extremely verbal.  We'll continue to carry on as usual--reading, playing, labeling, talking, etc.--and we'll discuss his expressive language skills again at his 2 year appointment.  Gavin received 4 vaccines at his appointment--ouch!  He settled down quickly with some snuggles and even blew several kisses to the nurse before she left the exam room.

Current Stats:
Length: 32" (~27th percentile)
Weight: 22lbs (~25th percentile)
Head circumference: 50th percentile

He's our little peanut!

18 Week Check Up

Mommy had her 18 week OB check up.  Buckeye and Mommy are doing well.  Buckeye's heartbeat was strong (I didn't get the exact beats per minute).  S/he was very active!  The doctor would find the heartbeat, then we could hear him/her move on the doppler and she would have to search for the heartbeat again!  Mommy has been able to feel more movements.  What an amazing feeling!

We go back on February 28 for the next checkup and the big ultrasound! 

Gavin's Allergy Update

Daddy took Gavin to his follow up allergist appointment.  We were keeping a "diet diary" but stopped after his face starting looking great consistently.

They did a prick test to test his reaction to peanuts and eggs.  Because he was tolerating small amounts of garlic in food (tacos, spaghetti sauce, etc), they didn't test it.  He didn't react at all to eggs and had a small reaction to peanuts!  We'll continue to avoid peanuts and were given the green light to introduce eggs.  The doctor explained that we could slowly introduce them and if he didn't react we could go "hog wild" with eggs!  We haven't given him eggs by themselves, but he's had food with eggs without any problems!

They also gave him his follow-up flu shot at his appointment.  Because of the results of the prick test, they gave him the regular vaccine, rather than the egg-free.  The nurses were wooed by Gavin and commented on how well he did at the appointment, especially during the prick test and vaccine.  No tears at all!

17 Months!

Our sweet snuggle-bug is 17 months old!  He is such a blessing and is growing up so fast!

~Gavin has cut his top two canine teeth!
~He is on the move!  He can walk, nearly a run, very fast!
~Speaking of on the move, he loves to play chase!  He thinks it is hysterical when someone chases him.
~As of his 17 month "birthday", Gavin is officially weaned.  He was only nursing for a few minutes before bedtime and Mommy suspected he wasn't getting much.  We altered our bedtime routine a bit to have less transitions in and out of his room and with and without Mommy--making the routine more similar to his nap time routine.  We also started giving him a sippy cup with a small amount of water in bed.  He's done great!  We read a book or two, sing a few songs with the lights out, he gives  Mommy a kiss (or two!) and hug, and into bed he goes!
~Gavin likes to dance!  His dance moves include bobbing his head and squatting.
~Gavin loves "helping!"  His self-appointed jobs:
~~~Closing doors, drawers and cabinets doors
~~~Bringing Mommy her chapstick from her nightstand.  No one else can take it, it has to be Mommy.
~~~Putting his shoes away at the babysitter's house
~~~Assuring that Mommy always has her slippers.  This includes helping her put them on...sometimes taking them off to put them back on.  He also brings them to her after she already has shoes on to leave the house.  Sometimes he'll try to put them on his own feet.
~~~Pushing the garage door button
~~~Turning on the CD player in his bedroom
 ~~~Putting clothes in the dryer
~~~Letting Mommy and Daddy know when the microwave/oven buzzers go off or our phones ring.  He'll drop what he's doing to approach and point to the noise maker.
~~~Supervising vacuuming, including the floor vacuum and the dust buster
~~~Informing Mommy and Daddy where to return objects.  For example, he'll go to the coat closet when we're finished with the vacuum, point to the appropriate cabinet when we're done with the dust buster, and go to the food cabinet when we're done with a box of food, etc. that we store in the cabinet.
~~~Throw away trash.  He's getting better about not throwing away objects that aren't trash!
~~~Picking up toys.
~We've recently introduced utensils at mealtimes and Gavin loves it! He's quite proficient! He attempts to eat just about anything with his spoon and fork.  He also wants his plate on his tray--no more getting a few bites of food on his tray at a time!  If he's not able to get his food fast enough, he'll sign for "more" and will accept help.  A not-so-desirable eating habit: He'll sometimes tongue food out his mouth after putting too much in his mouth or seeing something else he would rather eat.  Overall, he's a good eater!  Despite his small size, he eats a lot!
~When he's frustrated or not getting his way, sometimes Gavin will repeatedly stomp his feet and fuss for a few seconds. This is cute--for now. We're very cautious to not give in when he does this!
~Gavin's receptive language continues to flourish and we're (im)patiently waiting for his expressive language to take off.  He'll sometimes repeat things we say, but sometimes is a stinker and doesn't.  While we're well aware we shouldn't compare kids--Brennan was much more talkative at this age!  We're planning to talk to his pediatrician at his 18 month well check about his expressive language.  He "baby talks" a lot and has many sounds.  He also frequently says "dis" and "dat" when pointing to things.  Demonstrating his manners, he says "welcome" ("el-come") after we thank him for bringing us things.
~He continues to use his sign language frequently.  When he really wants something, he might sign "please" with both hands simultaneously!
~Gavin loves to copy his big brother!  One of our favorites is when Brennan runs around the family room saying "ahhh!", followed by a jump and a fall to the ground.  Gavin then runs while saying "ahhh!" and intentionally falls to the ground. 
~He loves giving his stuffed animals hugs! He's such a lover!

Happy 4th Birthday, Brennan!

Happy 4th Birthday, Brennan!!

Our sweet Brennan is 4 years old!  Brennan was very excited about his birthday this year.  He started a countdown to his birthday very shortly after his countdown to Christmas was over!

Brennan is growing up quickly and we love the young man he is becoming!  He is caring, hilarious, intelligent, curious and fun-loving!

Current interests and favorites:  

~Puzzles!  Brennan loves puzzles!  He can complete them quickly and easily memorizes where each piece goes.  He has a few 100 piece puzzles, but seems to prefer ones with ~48 pieces

~Cars!  Brennan could probably play with cars all day.  His favorites are figurines of Disney Pixar Cars and Planes (a.k.a. "Cars with eyes").  He narrates conversations, sets up races complete with spectators, and runs races throughout the house.

~Art!  Brennan enjoys painting, coloring and stickers.

~Books!  He loves to listen to stories and look at books.  He has a large stack of books by his bed.  At times, "quiet time" turns into 2 hours of looking at books in his room.

Brennan had quite the week-long birthday celebration!  He spent his actual birthday at the babysitter's house and took cupcakes to share with his friends.  He also had a birthday celebration at school.  They have monthly birthday parties and, being the only January birthday in his class, it was his special day!  Mother Nature sent us a nasty snow and ice storm on the day of his birthday party at home, which kept many guests at home due to safety concerns.  We continued on with his party as planned with the guests that could attend and had a great time.

A few days after his birthday, Brennan had his 4 year well check.  He's in great health!  Our only concern was his occasional toe-walking.  He is able to stand and walk flat-footed without issue and can extend his foot easily, so the pediatrician wasn't concerned.  We'll continue to remind him to walk on his "whole foot" and hope his occasional habit ends.

Current stats:

Height: 43 inches (95th percentile)

Weight: 42 lbs (90th percentile)

Party of Five!!

We're having another baby!

We're thrilled to share the news that we're having another baby!  Baby Swartz #3, nicknamed "Buckeye," is due to arrive on July 2.  We're currently at approximately 15.5 weeks, and are relieved to be in the second trimester.  We were a bit surprised to learn about Buckeye, but are thrilled to be adding to our family!

Since discovering that we were pregnant, we've had several doctor's appointments.  My first appointment was the standard 8 week appointment with the OB nurse.  Due to our previous miscarriages, they also did an ultrasound.  What a relief to see a healthy baby with a strong heartbeat! Headcount: 1.  Prior to this appointment, I began taking my cocktail of medications, including a prenatal vitamin, baby aspirin, Folgard, and Progesterone (during the first trimester only).  Overall, I was feeling well.  Fatigue and occasionally feeling "blah" were my main complaints.

I had another appointment with the OB at 10 weeks.  At this appointment, they took some cultures and listened for a heartbeat with the doppler.  It took the doctor several minutes to find the heartbeat, making Mommy very nervous.  The doctor explained that I was measuring on target and that heartbeats can be difficult to find at this appointment.  After some manipulation due to a "tilted uterus" and more searching, the doctor asked the nurse to check the ultrasound schedule.  While the nurse was out of the room, the  doctor found Buckeye's sweet heartbeat.  Nice and strong and in the 160s/170s.  Phew! 

My next appointment was at 14 weeks.  The doctor found Buckeye's heartbeat quickly and noted that s/he was moving a lot.  Heart rate was in the 150s. "Blah" feelings have subsided and I have more energy than earlier.  It's not uncommon for Mommy to pop a few Tums after dinner due to heartburn.

We told the boys about their future sibling around 12 weeks.  Brennan giggled and had a huge smile when we told him he is going to be an "extra special big brother."  He waivers between predicting if the baby is a boy or girl.  He also makes occasional, random comments about the baby.  For instance, very shortly after waking up one day he commented, "Next  Christmas, there will be another baby here to open presents!" 

We've announced our pregnancy to family, friends, and coworkers.  It's comical, as most immediately comment that Buckeye will be a girl or that we want a girl.  Honestly, we're thrilled to be having another child--son or daughter!

We're so excited about Buckeye's upcoming arrival and having another child join our family! 

Upcoming appointments:
Check up: January 31
Check up and BIG ultrasound: February 28

Tubes for Brennan

Brennan had tubes put in his ears just before Christmas.  He recently had a double ear infection that did not clear up completely with different antibiotics.  Because of this, we were referred to an ENT.  We previously saw this ENT when Brennan was about 1, but were advised to see how he did throughout the rest of the winter rather then pursue tubes then.  During this appointment, the doctor noted that there was fluid in both of his ears and he didn't do very well on his hearing testing.  He was scheduled for bilateral tubes shortly after.

Overall, Brennan did very well.  He left with the nurse easily and the procedure was completed quickly.  The doctor explained that everything went "perfectly" and he was able to remove the fluid.  Brennan had a bit of a rough time coming out of anesthesia, which I wasn't expecting.  He didn't know what he wanted and didn't want what he asked for.  I was assured by the nurses that this behavior is very typical.  Prior to leaving the surgical center, Brennan had to eat or drink.  He had a small sip of apple juice shortly after surgery and wasn't interested in the snack crackers they originally provided.  After some convincing, he decided he wanted chocolate ice cream and quickly perked up after starting to eat it.  We were on our way home about an hour after he got out of surgery.  He was back to himself, playing and running around, as soon as we got home.  Brennan and Mommy had a special lunch date later that day to reward him for doing so well!

In other Brennan news--he's growing up before our eyes!  He has a wonderful personality and a contagious laugh.  He started attending Wee Care Preschool in Fremont three days a week this school year and loves it!  His teacher reports that he's doing very well and making a lot of new friends.   

Christmas 2013

Christmas this year was full of fun and activities!

Our celebration began on Christmas Eve with Grandpa and Grandma Swartz, Grammy, Bob, and Uncle Matt.  The boys enjoyed opening their presents and playing with their new toys. 

We spent Christmas Day at home.  Since we didn't have plans to go anywhere, we declared Christmas Day to be a "Jammie Day."  The boys enjoyed opening their presents and we spent the day playing with new toys!

A few days after Christmas, we traveled to Cincinnati for a Mealy Christmas.  Gavin was baptized in a beautiful ceremony at Sharonville United Methodist Church, where Mommy and Daddy were married.  For our Christmas gifts, Grandpa and Grandma Mealy treated everyone with two days and one night at Great Wolf Lodge. It was a blast!  Brennan enjoyed the slides, especially the family slide, the wave pool, and the lazy river.  Gavin enjoyed splashing in the fountains, the wave pool, and "jumping" in and out of the water.  We had a great time visiting everyone!

We had a great Christmas...but what would Christmas be without a few illnesses?  Brennan got his ear tubes on the 23rd.  Both boys had very runny noses, starting on Christmas Eve.  Gavin woke up with a fever on Christmas Day and an ear infection was confirmed on the 27th.  He also cut his top two canine teeth.  After a few days of on again, off again fevers, we took him back to the doctor.  The pediatrician said his ears looked great and said he was probably getting over a virus.  Later that day, he broke out in rash on his trunk, so we decided it was likely roseola.  Fortunately, within a few days, everyone back to good health!