Three Months

Wow! My little man is 13 weeks today! He was three months old yesterday, April 13th! He has grown and developed so much this month. It's so fun to see the new things he's learning. He's learning all about this world and I'm learning right along with him. I see the world in a whole new light now that he's come along:)

Dear Lucas,

What an amazing month it has been?! You have grown and changed before our very eyes and we are so happy to watch it. You have grown into a little baby, no longer an infant. You are developing a little personality and it's amazing.

You had your two-month doctor's appointment a little late, so it was only 2 weeks ago! You weighed 11 lbs 4 oz and were 24 inches long. You are 86% in height and 41% in weight. You are long and skinny! I don't know where you got that, because that's not a trait you would associate with Mommy or Daddy! Daddy weighed you last night and he thinks you weigh about 12 1/2 lbs now! You are still in 0-3 mos clothes, but your 0-3 mos jammies won't last much longer. They are stretched to the limit. You are in size 1 diapers, but we have some size 1-2 diapers when these run out. I think they'll do just fine.

You have started eating 6 oz at a time now and you moved to a Level 2 nipple, so your eatings have been so much faster. What used to take you 40 minutes to eat 5 oz, now takes you 20 minutes to eat 6 oz:) This makes Mommy and Daddy much happier.



You are starting to become so active! You love your bouncer now because you kick your feet to make it bounce. You love to bat at the animals and your favorite is still the giraffe:) You follow us around the room much more now and you're getting much better at holding your head up. You still let it fall once in awhile, but not very often. We still work on tummy time, but you still hate it:( I've heard once you start to roll over, you'll like it much more! You will stare at us for a long time and just talk forever. Daddy thinks he heard you really laugh the other day, but Mommy wasn't there. You haven't done it since, but I know it's coming again soon:)

You had a special visitor this month...Mommy's friend Chandra:) She came all the way from Tennessee to see you! She was so excited and you smiled a lot for her! We all wish she lived closer:(



You still love bathtime and love to dangle your feet out of your tub into the water. Daddy helped you sit down in the water last night (in Mommy's bathtub) and you loved it! I can't wait to get you in the pool this summer!



You have also started to chew on things a lot. You will hold things when we put them in your hand. You like your rattle, your raz-baby and your Cardinals blanket. We've also tried your crinkle book and you even put it in your mouth yesterday while holding it!



You still have thrush, but we think the new medicine we got yesterday will finally clear it up! It doesn't seem to bother you one bit, though. You sleep like a champ! You slept from 9p-6a last night without waking up to fuss at all! You never eat in the middle of the night anymore, but sometimes you fuss for a few minutes and all we have to do is fix your blanket and soothe you a little. You have started kicking off your blanket in the middle of the night and sleeping diagonal. I know very soon you won't need your blankie anymore, but right now I'll let you choose if you want it or not. I'm going to give it to you and let you kick it off when you need to. When it gets too hot and you start to roll over, we won't use it anymore.

Well, little man. It's been an exciting month, yet I know the best is yet to come! Each new thing you learn and accomplish bring Mommy and Daddy so much joy! We just sit and stare at you when we're all together and we talk about you when we're not. Daddy's been gone a lot for baseball, but you've been great for Mommy and very soon, baseball will be over! I know you love having Daddy home and so do I!

We are so proud of the little man you're becoming and we're blessed to be a witness to it all! We love you so much:)



All our love,
Mommy and Daddy

Our Great Physician

Colt made it through surgery and it was a success!! He was on bypass for 2 1/2 hours, which was the scariest part, and came off beautifully. They were able to close him up, which they were worried about as well. They said the first 12-24 hours after surgery are the most critical and he looked just pitiful. Because of parents' request, the picture post-surgery will not be on here. However, today they were able to take the ventilator out (which they never do for a baby one day post-surgery with this kind of defect) and he's doing great!!! Parents are very excited. He still has a rough recovery ahead, but the Lord answers prayers. They have felt prayers from all over this world for their little boy and are over-whelmed by the love and support from friends and strangers alike.

Here are a few pictures of Colt. Here's one when he was just an hour old Wednesday, March 30th!



This we received Thursday, March 31st. He had just been transferred to a different hospital and had been intibated:( So sad!



This is from yesterday morning, April 4th. He was on his way to surgery:( I don't know if you can see him in there on his little cart.



Now, his little cousin Lucas can't wait to see him! Neither can Uncle Nick or Aunt Audra (which is so hard to say...I'd rather go by Auntie A)! Anyway, here's my little man at his own little doctor's appointment to get shots! It was so hard for me, I can't imagine what Josh and Jana have gone through this past week. All you moms out there, give your little ones an extra squeeze today and say a little prayer for Josh and Jana who've only been able to hold him a handful of times since this process started:(



And a little smile because I just can't live without it:)



Thanks for your prayers! Colt will be one week old tomorrow because of them and our Great Physician:)

Quickie

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted last! I know now why I had so much trouble keeping this up last semester. I really need to do better because I want Lucas to have this someday. I also like it for myself so I can remember all that goes on with him and our lives.

Now that school has started, time seems so scarce. Lucas has adapted very well to daycare and I've done okay, too. The Sunday before I went back was definitely the hardest. I guess because of the anticipation of it all. I cried all day. I cried when I would change his diaper, even, because I knew I wouldn't be able to do it all day everyday like I had been. I was just so worried that he wouldn't remember me or I would forget something big. That is still a fear of mine, but I know now he remembers me. The first day that I picked him up, he smiled at me. It was amazing!

It's been a struggle in the evenings too. We have been trying to keep him awake from the time I pick him up (usually about 4p) until 8p when he eats and goes to bed. So in the evenings, all I want to do is play with him! I don't want to do laundry; I don't want to clean; I don't want to cook. I could care less about eating supper, even! I know it's silly, but since I don't get to play during the day, I want to soak up all that time and get all the smiles out of him as possible! I've gotten better this week at just letting him spend time in his bouncer or on his mat. He's perfectly content to do that and I can still watch him and play with him and talk to him while I'm keeping my house taken care of too.

This week has been a little crazy because my new nephew was born Wednesday, March 30th, with a heart defect. When he was born, we didn't realize he had this. They didn't find it until the middle of the night Wednesday night and it's been a roller coaster of emotion and doctors since. He will have to have open-heart surgery on Tuesday at noon. It has been really scary and stressful, but he's stable and his vitals are really good. Now, it's just a waiting game and watching game until Tuesday. Please pray for my brother-in-law Josh, his wife Jana, and their son Colt. We are all very scared, but they're strong and they are already feeling the prayers being lifted on their behalf.

I'll try to post pictures and updates of him and Lucas very soon! Until now, that's our life.

2 Months

My dear Lucas,

Wow! I can't believe it's been a whole month since your first letter! These first 8 weeks of your life have gone by so fast, but then it seems that you've always been a part of our family. What did we do before you were here? You have made our lives so full and we thank you for that.



I started taking these pictures a little late, but it's still fun to try to sit you up next to this bear. This was Mommy's bear when she was little and I'm so glad it sits in your room now. I'm sure it'll be all too soon before you are bigger than it. You had to go to the doctor unexpectedly this month because you were a little sick and you weighed 10 lbs 2 oz. You are growing like a weed! You started wearing 0-3 months clothes this month and started wearing size 1 diapers just a few days ago. Newborns still fit you around the waist (because you don't have one!), but they are too tight around your chubby thighs:) I love those thighs, by the way; they are so yummy!

You absolutely love to lay in your boppy now and you love your swing. It must go pretty fast, though, or you get a little fussy. You spend a lot of time on your mat and we figured out you love giraffes! You love the giraffe on your swing, the giraffe on your mat, and the giraffe hanging from your carseat. Mommy and Daddy got to go on another date while Grammy and Grampy watched you, and we bought you a stuffed giraffe. His name is Geoffrey and we've caught you smiling at him a few times!



Oh, and that's been the biggest development this month...your smile!It is the most precious thing I've ever seen. It just melted our hearts when you smiled at us for the first time. We both cried and still do, sometimes. The things that make you laugh the most are silly noises, your burp cloth vibrated against your lips, Daddy's tongue, and doing the bicycle with your legs.



You have lost most of your hair and have grown out of your Puj bathtub in the sink. Your little bathtub that lays in the big tub is not your favorite, so we're going to buy a little plastic one this week. You love to lay on your changing table when you're clean, but you still hate laying on your tummy. We hate to torture you, but we want to help your neck and back to get really strong. It's working, too, because you've started to hold your head up for longer periods of time. You can definitely keep it from falling backwards, but when it falls straight down, it's hard for you to pull it back up!



One reason your two-month letter is late is because on your two-month birthday, a pretty amazing thing happened. You were dedicated at the First Christian Church here. Mimi, Poppy, Grammy, Grampy, Papa Rock, Nana, Auntie Megan, and Great-great Aunt Norma were all there to celebrate! You got all new clothes to wear and Mommy and Daddy promised before the church that we will raise you to serve the Lord and always put Him first in your life. You are a gift from God and we dedicate your life to His service.



Little man, you are so fun to be around and you've made my time at home just wonderful. I hate that I have to go back to work in just a few short days. I will miss you terribly! I know I have the best job around that lets me spend my evenings, weekends, breaks and summers with you! I'm grateful for my job and I hope you know that I have it so I can provide for you. You are my number one priority and you always will be. I know the Lord will make our times together that much more special and He will bless it tremendously!



We are so proud of you and can't wait to see what these next months hold!

All our Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Life

This has been my life the past few days. Lucas woke up Saturday night sneezing and snorting:( It was so sad. He slept more than usual Sunday and didn't eat as much as usual. He woke up a few times Sunday night, but slept for almost 12 hours! I had to wake him up to eat at 8:30a! So not normal for him.

Isn't it weird how I already know what's normal and not for him?

Anyway, Nick told me to call the doctor, just in case, so we headed there yesterday morning. He rulled out ear infection, chest cold, and a fever. He said, unforunately all I can do for him is give hikm the saline drops and use the snot sucker. He absolutely hates it! It's the most awful cry when I start to go for his nose:( It's such a different cry...not like his hungry cry or pick-me-up cry...it's a cry like he's really in pain and his feelings are really hurt and he can't believe I would do that to him! It breaks your heart.

He slept all day yesterday on my chest or propped up in his boppy. As soon as we laid him down in his crib last night for bed, he started snorting again and just couldn't get comfortable. We went in there every 1-2 hours last night. He usually sleeps 5-6 hours at a time during the night:(

Now, when we went to check on him, every time he was in a different position than when we had left him. He just can't breathe and can't relax, but tell me if this is normal. One time, he had done a 180; his feet were where his head had been and his head was where his feed had been! What?! He's already so strong and mobile, but I never pictured this! It's crazy!

Anyway, he hasn't really slept today since I finally went and got him at 6:15a. Nick and I finally decided to try and put his boppy in his crib so he could be propped up. I put him in there at 11:45a and he hasn't made a sound! It's now 12:40p. This is just about the longest stretch he's gone without starting to cry. So glad we found something that works.

This picture is right before he ate a little before his nap. He's just too sweet! And the man just loves giraffes! He stares only at the giraffe on his play mat, only at the giraffe on his swing, and only at the giraffe hanging from his carseat. We had to get him a stuffed one that will hopefully be his forever friend:) Geoffrey!!!



Oh, how I love him. I hate him being sick. I don't even care that I'm not getting sleep or anything done. He is my life right now and I don't want him to not feel well or be hurting. It's just awful. Pray that he will feel better soon and be back to his normal self.

Liptastic

Go to my dear friend Whitney's page to see her amazing giveaway!!!

Yummy

Two Things Yummy

Yummy Chicken:

A lovely lady asked me to post the recipe for Muenster Chicken. It is a staple at our house. I fell in love with it in high school when my Aunt Terri, a dear friend Terry Black and my mom would make it. It is amazing. The last time I had it was Christmas. I need to make it again soon.

Recipe:
- 4-5 egg yolks (just the yellow)
- 8-10 chicken breast halves
- Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- 1 can chicken broth
- 1 pkg Muenster cheese slices

Soak chicken in egg for 3-4 hours. Bread chicken in crumbs and lightly brown in buttered skillet. Place chicken in 9x13 pan and pour 1/4 can of broth over chicken (just until bottom of pan is covered). Place cheese over chicken and bake at 350 for 30 min until cheese is melted and lightly borwn on edges.


Yummy Little Man (who loves his yummy fingers):



And because it's funny:



You can tell we love our coupons now:)