Hunter: 2 Months!

Well, Hunter, this month has been a whirlwind of fun and some crazy, scary chaos! You've grown so much this month, are giving us some adorable smiles and coos and you fit perfectly into our family - I already can't imagine life without you. 

 

You are two months old today, and we're celebrating by welcoming you home from a 5 day stay in the hospital. Last Thursday, we took you to see the nurse practitioner for what we thought was just a cough and you weighed 13 pounds, 4 ounces. Since then, you've lost a bunch of weight but are starting to gain it back. Last night, you weighed 12 pounds, 8 ounces. Your official two month stats will have to be updated Tuesday when we can finally go back for a WELL visit (crossing my fingers!) and get those dreaded 2-month shots. 

This month, you've transitioned easily to a good schedule of eating about 5 ounces every 3.5 hours, and I'm hoping to get back on that track pretty quickly. We've switched from Similac to Gerber Good Start Gentle and you've tolerated that really well. 

We have been starting your bedtime routine at 7:30pm, laying you down by 8:30 and waking up for the nighttime feeding around 3:30am. You usually wake up again between 6:30am and 7am for a bottle and will doze in and out for an hour or so more. We wake up a couple of times at night to put your pacifier back in; you absolutely love your wubbanub and it helps calm you down and gets you back to sleep right away.  

You are wearing 0-3 month and 3 month clothing, but I'm starting to pack some of those things away and it won't be long before we're on to 3-6 and 6 month clothing. It's getting warmer outside and I have so many cute matching and coordinating outfits for you and your brother to wear. You've also graduated to a size 2 diaper. 

We attempt tummy time 2-3 times a day. You tolerate it and sometimes you'll just fall asleep. A couple of weeks ago, you just decided you'd had enough and rolled over. I haven't seen it happen again, but I know it will probably happen a lot more this coming month. You have started sitting up in your bumbo for short periods of time with little assistance and also like that a lot. You're still not a huge fan of the bouncy seat, but that's ok! 

You are still Luke's very best friend. He tells us that you're his baby and he is always asking to hold you. He helps with bath time, bottle feedings, diaper changes, gives you lots of kisses, wants to wake you up when you're sleeping (because it's a beautiful day!), and is always talking about you. He tried to teach you to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and he is still willing to share his beloved Bevo with you.  Don't worry - you have your own for when he won't share anymore! 

In the evenings and on pretty days, we take you and Luke for walks around the neighborhood and to the park to play. You love looking out your bassinet and watching the sky. I usually put the phone on lullabies and let you listen the entire time, and it will slowly put you to sleep and we can just walk and walk.  

People are still coming by all the time to meet you and see you! Earlier in the month, my dear friends from college and church hosted a precious sip and see for you. It was absolutely perfect and you got passed around and held and loved on by so many wonderful ladies. They spoiled you silly with enough diapers to last a year and some other fun goodies and gifts. 

This month, we were quite busy with birthday parties, extracurricular activities and just plain fun! You went to Aunt Amber and Uncle Brad's house for a play date (by yourself!), rode Thomas the Train in Grapevine, went to Family Day at church, hung out at the country club quite a few times and went to Canton with me. We've been busy - starting school will be a break for you! 

For the past week, we've made the 5th and 6th floors of Medical City Dallas our home. Thursday, we took you to see the nurse practitioner who diagnosed you with a cold. You were fine for a few days, and then you gave us quite the scare Sunday when your cough went from just a cough to labored breathing, hacking and wheezing. You woke up Monday with a slight fever, so I decided to take you in again to see the doctor. We saw Dr. McClard in the hallway and she listened to your chest and got you into a room immediately. The nurse weighed you and took your pulse ox test, which was 74 (should be around 95 or higher). She rushed to get Dr. Watters and they started you on oxygen and called an ambulance. Dr. McClard came back in and waited with me as I sobbed and texted your daddy to hurry up and come meet us. So, you and I took our first ambulance rides together, where we were in the ER for a few hours before being moved to ICU. We were in ICU for 3 days and then moved to a regular room after being weaned off the Heliox machine. After multiple rounds of steroids and being off of wall oxygen completely for 24 hours, you got to go home! Woohoo! Let's not be in a hurry to go back there ever again, ok? 

Brother, we love you so so very much. You are so sweet and lovable and I'm so glad God chose you to be my son. I'm excited to spend the next month cuddling you before you go off to school during the days. The thought of that just brings me to tears, but I know Luke will be so protective of you and watch out for you when I'm not there. Baby boy, I'm so thankful for you and all the joy you bring to my life.

Love, Mommy 

Hunter: One Month!

My itty bitty Hunter, I love you so much! In the month since you made your arrival, you've changed our world and I already can't imagine our family without you. You are the sweetest little baby and it's my joy to be your momma. 

You are one month old today. At your well checkup today, you weighed 10 pounds 4 ounces (75th percentile), measured 22 3/8 inches long (90th percentile) and your head measured 14.5 inches round (45th percentile). Last Tuesday, you got a stomach bug from big brother and were so sick until Sunday. I think you would have been in the 90th percentile for weight had you not been sick. Even sick, you were so happy and content and weren't fussy at all. Yay, Hunter! 

You sleep most of the day, and you just aren't ready to wake up for long periods of time yet. You were on such a good schedule and were eating 4oz. until the tummy bug attacked, but we got off the schedule since you couldn't eat very much at one time. Now that you are better, we are back to 4 oz. and I'm working on getting back to feedings at 9, 12, 3, 6, 9. We will get there very soon, I'm sure! 

You are still in a few of your newborn clothes, but have moved up to mostly 0-3 month clothes. I am using up the last of the newborn diapers but you are ready to move to size 1 and already wear those at night. Your legs and booty are still tiny tiny, but you have a big round belly so those size 1s work. 

Your bedtime routine starts at about 8:30 at night. We have bath time, which for some reason, wakes you wide up. At about 9pm, you get your last feeding, get swaddled and go down (in your crib!!!) until about 1 or 2 in the morning. You've been waking up again after 3 hours, but I'm hoping those second stretches become a little longer soon. However, it's not so bad to wake up to cuddle you and catch up on recorded shows :) 

You really like to be held and are content in the nap nanny for naps or when we eat dinner. You HATE the bouncy seat, and since your swing is currently broken, you get held a lot. I'm completely fine with that and so are you. You like tummy time for the most part and are great at moving your head back and forth and holding it up. You're already scooting off the mat little by little. 

You are a great car rider. You never fuss while in your car seat (as long as the car is moving) and you usually are fast asleep. We haven't had you in there for any long periods of time, but my guess is that you'll do just fine on road trips in the future. 

You've taken to being a little brother quite well. Luke absolutely adores you and can't get enough of you. We have to watch him closely so that he doesn't smother you with kisses. He drags his step stool around the house to help bathe you, change diapers, burp you, kiss you. We have an eager helper who assists with whatever you/we need. I can't wait to watch the two of you grow up together and be the best of friends. 

We've had a ton of visitors this month and lots of help. Friends and family have stopped by, brought lots of delicious food and helped lighten the load a bit. We are extremely grateful for that! You've been cuddled and loved on and spoiled - just as it should be with newborns! 

Due to Luke's schedule and activities, we've gotten out quite a bit too. You've already been to the country club, Luke's school, swim lessons, Target and a few other places. It won't be long before you're running alongside him and we become even busier! I can't wait until we can go to church again - just a couple more weeks and we should be good to go for an hour or two! 

Hunter, your daddy and I are so proud that you are our second son. The Lord has blessed us tremendously and we are so extremely thankful for you and your little life. We are excited to watch you grow and change and become a little boy, but feel free to take your time growing up! It's my joy to raise you and call you mine. 

XOXO, Mommy  

Choo Choo! Luke is 2!

This past Saturday, we celebrated Luke's 2nd birthday with a train party! I decided on this theme for Luke long before his first birthday, and ideas have been swirling in my head for the past year. This party was so much fun to plan and even more fun to host. It was the best thing in the world to see Luke's face when the train rolled down the street up to our house. It's something I'll never forget. 

 

We had about 60 people come over to celebrate. Our house was filled with friends and family, and lots of happy little train riders. I must admit - the train was such a fun thing and half the kids didn't get off the entire time it was running. Luke didn't.

 

I went a little overboard on the decorations this year. I made a LOT of it... train signs, railroad crossings, the train fare chocolate favors, right down to the banners. It was just so fun! I would dream it up or see it on a blog and had to do it. The day before the party, I sat myself down with 4 rolls of duct tape and made a railroad track from the street to our door. It was so whimsical and fun! 

 

Indoors, we asked all guests to sign a train book for Luke to keep. It's a sweet souvenir for him that he can read for years to come. We had all the food indoors including the cupcakes and precious cookies that were almost too pretty to eat. The party was at 10am, but with everyone riding the train, I knew they probably wouldn't eat right away, so at the main table, we had hotdogs, fruit cups, individual chip bags and popcorn (from Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children - the best in Dallas!). In the kitchen, we had mimosas for the adults, along with cinnamon rolls, coffee cake and muffins. 

Outside, we had sodas, beer, juice boxes and water bottles. I wrapped all the water bottles in the cutest printables. 

In the living room, we kept it simple and just did a banner of Luke's monthly pictures and did LUKE letters on the mantle.

 

The sunroom was my favorite! We rented kid's tables and chairs and I went to town decorating the heck out of that room. We rolled out butcher paper and at every seat, placed a conductor's hat and bandana and train whistle and train fare - chocolate coins wrapped in burlap. Down the middle of the table, I rolled red burlap and then did navy railroad lanterns every foot or so. There were also crayons on the table and, at each end, train coloring sheets. Since balloons are Luke's favorite, we had plenty both inside and outside.

Once the party started, everyone rode the train multiple times. It was the neatest train and the conductor was so nice. The train had authentic sounds and played train songs and I'm pretty sure it was the very best day of Luke's little life so far. 

 

After the last train ride, the conductor let Luke climb up into the front and ring the bell. Best moment of my sweet baby's life! He got to press the "All Aboard!" sounds and ring the bell to his heart's content. He is still talking about that choo choo train non-stop.

 

Once we were able to pry him away from the train, we went promptly inside to sing happy birthday and eat cake and ice cream (or in Luke's case, a cinnamon roll and ice cream!). Luke's little face was so precious when everyone was singing to him; he relished every moment. Isn't it so wonderful to see life through your child's eyes?!

 

This was absolutely the perfect party for my little train lover. He was in his element riding the train, being with his friends and getting to eat ice cream and cinnamon rolls (together!). It was so much fun for me to be able to make and do all of this for him, and his smiles and excitement of that day will stick with me a lifetime. 

I'd like to give credit where credit is due! 

Train and Table/Chair Rental: Bounce 'N More (ask for Conductor Steve!) 

Cookies: SweetFace Cookie Boutique

Invitations: Party Monkey on Etsy

Drink and Cupcake Printables: 3 Little Monkeys Studio on Etsy 

Train Coloring Page: Sugar Pie Studio on Etsy 

 (my mother in law made that beautiful burlap table cloth)