Video of Brandon Laughing Hysterically

I started choking on a piece of my dinner tonight and Brandon thought my coughing was the funniest thing ever. I then started to fake cough and he was laughing hysterically.

Playdate

Brandon had a playdate this afternoon at Abby and Tommy's house. Four of Abby and Tommy's other friends were there too. Brandon had a good time watching the bigger kids play, playing with the sand and water table, and sitting under the sprinkler.

Showing off his teeth

Getting into a sitting position

Brandon has been sitting up unassisted since the beginning of April but I always had to put him into the sitting position. He didn't know how to get into it on his own. A few times in the past week I have seen Brandon get himself into a sitting position on his own from his belly but I don't think he really knew how he got himself there. Until yesterday. He got himself into a sitting position and then started doing it all day and has been doing it all day today too. I can't get it on video because whenever I get the camera out he just smiles at me from his belly. I will keep trying. This morning he actually army crawled over to the chair that I was sitting in, sat himself up, and then pulled himself to a stand. It is amazing how quickly everything is just coming to him.

Eating Grilled Cheese

Brandon tried grilled cheese tonight for dinner and loved it. He ate about half of a sandwich cut into bite size pieces. I gave him a jar of vegetable baby food to go with it. It really amazes me that my baby is eating food. He is growing up too fast for me.

Almost All Transitioned to Whole Milk

I have been working on transitioning Brandon to whole milk since his well visit last Monday. At first I tried to gradually mix some milk into his formula but Brandon didn't seem to like that. He was drinking his bottles but it was a fight to get him to drink them some of the times. I then decided I was going to start by having him drink one bottle of whole milk and the rest formula bottles for a few days. Once he was ok with that I would switch to two bottles, then three, and then four (that is the number of bottles that he gets in a day). I realized that he doesn't like cold milk. I need to warm it up like I was warming up his formula. But he is at least enjoying the taste of it now. He is up to three bottles of milk a day and one bottle of formula. On Thursday I will start to give him all bottles of milk and then we will be done with formula. My baby is definitely growing up.

I have also been transitioning him slowly to table foods. He is doing well so far with table foods but doesn't eat enough to be considered a meal so I am still giving him baby food along with the table food. He has tried hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, blueberries, and pizza and likes it all. He has gotten really good at feeding himself when I put the food on his tray.

Busy Weekend

We have had a very busy weekend. Stu and I went out to dinner in Marlton on Friday night to Flemings Restaurant. I won a gift certificate at ladies night out in March. The restaurant was really good. Yesterday Brandon, Stu, and I went to JJ's 3rd birthday party. After that I went to a friend's bridal shower while Stu and Brandon came home. Brandon was wiped out from the party and napped for 2 hours. Today we went to a 1st birthday party for Charles and Rebecca who were in the NICU with Brandon. It was really nice seeing them. Brandon had fun going down the slide and playing on the seesaw at the party. He also saw Mickey Mouse for the first time since Micky visited the party. Stu and I are going out to dinner tonight for our friend Rachel's birthday which is today.

12 Month Well Visit

Brandon had his 12 month well visit appointment at the pediatrician today. He weighs 18 pounds, 14 ounces, 28 3/4 inches long, and his head circumference is 46 cm. That puts him in the 5th percentile for weight for his actual age of 12 months, in the 25th percentile for length for his actual age, and the 50th percentile for his head for his actual age. Dr. O'Brien couldn't believe he was born at 26 weeks, 1 day. He said we can switch to whole milk, Brandon can now have berries, tomatoes, and citrus, and he can start having table food. When he reaches 20 pounds he can face forward in his car seat. Brandon had two shots today (prevnar and hepatitis a)and he cried after each of them and he had the mantoux test done.

Brandon now has 4 teeth, 2 bottom and 2 top. He loves to feed himself banana and puffs. He is still army crawling all over the place and can walk if I hold his two hands. He is in 12 month clothes from Carters and 6-12 month from baby gap and gymboree but is almost in 12-18 month from those two stores.

A Day at the Beach

Brandon went to the beach for the first time today. We went to my parents beach house in Point Pleasant. Brandon LOVED the water. At first I had him standing and the water was going over his feet which he didn't mind at all. I then decided to put him in the water to see what he thought of it and he couldn't get enough. He had a huge smile on his face the whole time and kept shrieking because he was so excited.

Swimming

Brandon and I went swimming today with Becky and Logan. Brandon had a great time in the pool. He enjoyed floating in the tube and standing on the steps with my help and splashing. We will be going to the pool with Becky and Logan several more times this summer since he enjoyed it so much. The raft made Brandon's coloring in some of the pictures look a little weird.

Firefighter Brandon and Playing with Hershey

Brandon got firefighter pajamas for his birthday and wore them last night. Brandon loves playing with Hershey. Now that he can crawl he constantly crawls over to Hershey.

Brandon's 1st Birthday Party

Brandon's first birthday party was today. Brandon's party was extra special because we weren't only celebrating his first birthday but we were celebrating how far he has come in a year. He went from being a tiny 1 pound, 14 ounce, 13 inch baby when he was born to an 18 pound, 1 ounce, 28 1/2 inch (as of the middle of May...he is probably longer now) one year old. It was also his first time meeting a lot of friends and relatives since he was under house arrest during RSV season until May 1st. A few babies that were in the NICU with Brandon were at the party to celebrate, Kate and Sue who were two of Brandon's primary nurses when he was in the NICU, and lots of friends from different times in our lives, and family. Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us. All of you have been there for us so much during the last year and we are so happy we finally got to share our little boy with you. It means the world to us that you were able to come and celebrate our special day with us.

We had his party at Oakhurst Fireman's Field. The weather was beautiful and the day went great. We had Pinebrook Fire Department barbeque ribs and chicken which was nice because we didn't have to worry about cooking the food and setting up the food. They also included dinner rolls, potato salad, macaroni salad, plates, napkins, and plasticware. I had four different inflatable water things set up for the babies and kids and they had so much fun playing with everything. Brandon had fun playing in the pool and meeting and seeing everyone. He was so good the whole time at the party. He dug right into his cake and then even tried to eat the plate!