Summer fun

Fowler- 3 and 4 months

I've let time slip away from me when it comes to posting.  I've enjoyed just hanging out with my boys.

 

                              

 

Fowler had his 4 month check-up on the 17th.  The shots resulted in a slight fever and an entire day of sleep.  Fowler woke up long enough to eat and was right back asleep.  At his appointment he weighed 13 lbs 2 oz  (I thought the nurse said 10 oz, but the dr said 2).  This puts him in the 10th percentile.  He was 25 inches long which means he is in the 40th percentile for height.  He is a long and thin baby.
Currently he is:

• establishing his nap routine.  He takes a two hour morning nap and a two hour afternoon nap.  He will take 2-3 30 minute power naps throughout the day.  Those are usually him just drifting off while I'm cooking or while he is playing on his play mat.  At night he typically falls asleep between 8-9 and wakes around 6.  He eats and goes right back to sleep for about another hour or two.
• He is eating rice cereal in the evenings and I just started offering green beans.  Fowler wasn't a fan of green beans after about 3 bites.
• He has excellent control of his head
• He HATES tummy time, but is getting better at it.  We slacked on tummy time up until a few weeks ago because his reflux was so bad.  He still ends up spitting up nearly every time, but it isn't as bad.
• He has been sitting in his high chair and for the most part he likes it.
• He can grasp a toy and has even learned how to take his pacifier in and out of his mouth.
• His favorite things are: his play mat, lights and music, his big brother, and just cuddling.
• Loud/sudden noises scare him to the point of him letting out an alarming scream.  It's pitiful.  He is very sensitive to sound like his big brother Dylan. 
• His laugh and smile are contagious!

We are working on:

• sitting up
• increasing solids
• getting him out and about more (Michael is working at our new house EVERY evening and all day on Saturdays, so we have been somewhat stuck at home).

My Boys

Baby Fowler- Two Months

            

                              

My baby is 2 months old.  I just can't believe how fast time goes the second time around.  He is changing every day.  He had is 2 month check-up this morning and had to have 5 shots!  Our BIG boy is slowly become a tiny boy like his brother.  He is still pretty high on the charts for height, but he dropped a good bit.  I expected his weight to be lower simply because he just has really started eating well.  He had really bad reflux (silent reflux) but after adding zantac we are good to go!
Weight: 11 lbs 2 oz (25th percentile)---getting to be a tiny little one (he was 59th)
Height:  23 in (60th percentile)--slowly declining on the charts (he was 98th)
Head:  16 in (50th percentile)
Clothing:  He is wearing mostly 3 months outfits, but really needs 6 months in pants.  His legs are so long.  He is long and thin, but beginning to get those sweet chubby legs and cheeks.
Motor:  He is still kicking his legs and "punching" his arms every where.  He is very strong and is beginning to hold his head up more and more.  He loves to look around.  He can follow an object and turns his head when he hears my voice.  He, like Dylan at this age, has learned to cry when he wants something.
Feeding:  He is taking about ounces every 3-4 hours during the day.
Sleeping:  We are still working on a routine, but he is adjusting and setting his little schedule.  He has started sleeping ALL night.  He typically has his last feeding around 10 or 11 and will sleep until 5 or 6!  He wakes up just long enough to get enough milk to put himself back to sleep.  He wakes up around 8 or 8:30 and stays awake until 10-1030.  He takes a nap for about 2-3 hours and then is awake for about 1-2 hours.  He takes another 2-3 hour nap and then awake until about 8:00.  If he is awake later than that, his last feeding puts him to sleep.  If he is asleep before 8, we wake him up to feed him one more time before bed.
Moments to remember:  Fowler gave us his first smile at 6 weeks.  He started "talking" to us around the same time.  He is such a happy baby and loves to smile and coo.  His sweet face melts my heart!

Home Remodel

BEFORE

                                                                                                             

DURING

Just a sneak peak inside our new house.  It's coming along, but still has a lot to go.  Michael is working so hard painting.  He has primed all the walls and trim.  He is working on the caulk and putty on the trim and then comes... COLOR!!  I can't wait to be in this house!!

30 Day Challenge

When I was pregnant with Fowler I realized how out of shape I really was.  It was difficult towards the end of my pregnancy to stand for long periods of time or walk long distances.  Of course, he was taking up every inch he could (all 21 inches of him).  After having Fowler I knew I wanted to focus back on getting in shape.  When Michael and I met I was in the best shape of my life (and also was at the heaviest weight).  As we started dating and dinner dates became more frequent and spending time together nearly every day started taking away from my exercise time (I wouldn't trade it for anything), my fit body wasn't so "fit." Then came the proposal......I joined the gym and worked out religiously!  After getting married I started back to school to embark on my second career and once again... the exercising stopped.  Then came Dylan....no exercising....he became an active toddler....exercising came in a different form....I had health issues....slowed me down.....back to school again....slowed me down even more......baby Fowler was in the making........I became LAZY.....and here we are now!

I started a 30 day challenge yesterday and LOVE it.  For thirty days I will focus on squats, leg lifts, and push-ups.  I selected this plan (using my exercise science background) because I thought it would be a great way to jump start three areas of my body.  The squats will focus on my legs, the push-ups will focus on upper body, and leg lifts will help me focus on abs.  This is the chart I'm using:

                                              

I took pictures of myself before and plan to take pictures once I complete this plan.  I will be home for 20 days of this plan, but return to work on day 21.  I hope I can find the time before or after work to maintain my hard work.  Until then, I hope to add some walking/running a few days a week.  I'm motivated.  After completing this challenge I will begin two more fitness challenges I found.  One focuses just on legs while the other focuses just on abs.  WISH ME LUCK!!  I can't wait to share the results!

A Family of Four--Adjusting

Dylan wasn't so sure about Fowler when he met him at the hospital or when he came home.  I will never forget our first night home as a family of 4.  Dylan did great.  He wanted to know all about his baby brother and wanted to love on mommy and daddy.  He had spent the previous 3 nights with my parents.  We all played and cuddled and involved Dylan in EVERY part of "the new baby."  Michael and I tucked Dylan in bed that night and went to bed ourselves.  The next morning I was already up with Fowler when Dylan came running in the living room.  His first question, "Where is Fowler? Is he going to stay?"  I guess he thought we were going to keep him for a few hours and send him back.  LOL.
The next few days we enjoyed just being a family.  We let Dylan stay home from "school" for two days simply because I missed him so much while we were in the hospital.  side note----I already had a "guilty" feeling because I was going to have to share my love, but oh my!  I would tear up every time I thought about Dylan while I was in the hospital.  I missed him soooo much and wanted him to be right there with us.-----  The more Dylan was around Fowler the more I could tell he just wasn't so sure about this tiny little baby that had turned his world upside down.  Dylan refused to hold Fowler, but would sit beside one of us.  He "forgot" how to do the simple things like putting his shoes on, getting dressed, picking up his toys, etc.  It was tough.  My sweet boy who loved his mommy was UPSET.  I knew I had to do something and do it fast.  It broke my heart that Dylan didn't "like" his mommy.  Dylan helped us take Fowler to his first official doctor's appointment.  No luck making him happy there.  We had family pictures made.  I think Dylan is in two of them.  No luck making him happy then.  BUT FINALLY...bath time!  It was time to give Fowler his first bath.  Guess who helped and is still helping with EVERY bath.  Fowler is 7 1/2 weeks old and Dylan still doesn't want to hold Fowler but we are getting there.  Dylan loves giving Fowler a bath, he thinks it is funny to watch Fowler have his diaper changed, and will help get anything we need for Fowler.  I know one day I will look back on this post and laugh as I write about them playing together and becoming best buddies, but for now...we will simply take each day as it comes.