Standing

Brandon stood a few times today for about 3 seconds and then realized he was standing and sat down. The first time Brandon was walking with me and I was holding both of his hands. I let go of one of his hands and he continued to walk so I let go of his other hand to see what he would do. He stopped walking and stood in place and then sat down. He can stand but he gets so nervous still when he realizes he is standing.

Brandon also has decided that two naps a day are only for babies. He has given me and the babysitters a hard time taking two naps a day since Friday. Before that he easily went down for his naps. Since Friday he has also only napped 30-45 minutes for each nap. I think he is ready for one nap a day now. Unfortunately we didn't realize that until today after he took a nap from 10-11 and then wouldn't go back down for Becky for an afternoon nap. I thought he would fall asleep in the car on the way home but he stayed awake the whole time. He then managed to stay awake until 7:00 when I finally let him go to sleep. He was asleep within 2 minutes. He will try one nap tomorrow at a later time than his morning nap is and see how he does with it.

Big Boy Carseat and a Visit to Grandma and Grandpa Jacobs' House

We switched Brandon to his forward facing carseat over the weekend since he is finally heavy enough to be in it (over 20 pounds). He seems so much happier to be in his new carseat than in his infant carrier.

We went to my parents' house on Sunday for dinner. We had a really nice time. Two people who I grew up with, Lisa and Wendy, were there with their parents, children, and significant others. Brandon had a good time exploring grandma and grandpa's house. He was crawling all around it and opening all the doors he saw. We had a One Year Home cake to celebrate Brandon being home for a year. He loved it and ate the whole thing.

So Big, Yet Still So Small

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today Brandon came home from the NICU after being there for 12 weeks and we were finally able to be together as a family. I can't believe how much Brandon has changed in a year. The first picture of him in his carseat is on the day that he came home and the second picture is him today in his carseat. Brandon has officially outgrown his infant carrier. We put his new forward facing carseat in the car this afternoon.

Fall Festival

Brandon and I went to the Fall Festival in Ocean Township earlier today with Sommer and Sydney. It was a beautiful day for it. The weather is in the mid 60's today and sunny. A perfect fall day. I tried to take some fall pictures of Brandon sitting in front of the mums but he wouldn't look at the camera. There was too much going on. Brandon enjoyed playing with his first pumpkin and he was even given a pumpkin to take home with him from Wegmans, which is a local supermarket.

Brandon also got to sit on the police motorcycle for the first time at the festival.

This morning Hershey was under the bed and Brandon got on his stomach and kept trying to pet him. It was really cute. Brandon loves Hershey and Hershey is so good with him.

Another Good Week

Brandon had another good week at the babysitters. I can't believe how well he has adjusted to me being back at work. He has so much fun playing with the other babies when I am at work.

He continues to sleep great at night. He goes down usually around 7:30 and sleeps until 6:30-7:00. Sometimes he wakes up for a little while in the night and plays by himself in his crib and then falls back to sleep. It is really nice. I can't even remember the last time he woke up at night that I needed to go into his room.

I think Brandon is going through a growth spurt. He has been eating a lot of food. He still mostly wants to feed himself. We bought a new high chair seat that hooks onto tables so we hooked it onto our peninsula and now Stu, Brandon, and I eat dinner together every night. Brandon loves his new seat and it is really nice to eat together as a family.

I am off on Monday for Yom Kippur so I am looking forward to spending 3 days with Brandon.

Game Day

Brandon enjoyed watching the Steelers game on Sunday. Bob and Sydney came over to watch some of the game with us. Sydney loves Brandon which is so cute.

Fall Weather

The weather seems to have changed from summer to fall with no in between. I was able to get some of Brandon's new fall clothes out to start dressing him in this week. I love his new fall wardrobe. Boy clothes have finally become a lot cuter than they used to be.

Brandon had another good week at the babysitter. And he is sleeping so well at night now. He goes down at 7:30 with no problem and sleeps straight through until between 6:30 and 7:00 usually. A few nights he wakes up and plays by himself in his crib for a little while until he falls back to sleep. It is so nice.

The cutest thing happened yesterday. I picked Brandon up at the babysitter and he was playing with the play kitchen. He saw me and started to crawl to me with a huge smile on his face. When he got to me he pulled up to stand using my legs so I picked him up and he gave me a big kiss.

Brandon decided three days ago that he is done with baby food for dinner. He wants to eat all by himself like a big boy. He will still take a baby food fruit with breakfast but that is it. He clamps down his mouth when I try to give him baby food with dinner. I think baby food is about to be a thing of the past.

Monmouth NICU Big Steps for Little Feet walk

Last Sunday Stu, Brandon, my parents, Stu's parents, and I did the Big Steps for Little Feet Walk to help raise money for Monmouth Medical Center where Brandon spent the first 12 weeks of his life. This is a walk that we will do every year as long as they continue to have it because if it wasn't for the wonderful nurses and doctors Brandon would not be where he is today. The nurses and doctors at Monmouth will always have a special place in our hearts. I really can't say enough good things about them.

The walk was really nice. It was a beautiful day after several days of rain and it was so nice to see all of the families (some who were at the NICU with us, others who weren't), nurses, and doctors that were there.

We did the walk and after the walk there was a presentation of the check to the doctors. Over $60,000 was raised. A few parents spoke about their experiences and then they had all of the NICU graduates come on the stage and they took a picture of them.

After the picture was taken a father came up to Stu, Brandon, and I with his 7 year old daughter because he saw the shirts we were wearing that said Proud Parent of a 26 weeker and former 26 weeker and told us his daughter was a 24 weeker. You couldn't tell at all by looking at her.

Busy Saturday

We had a busy day today. We went out to breakfast this morning at Amy's Omelette House with Bob, Sommer, and Sydney. Sydney is so cute with Brandon. She kept telling him to come over wherever she went and saying his name a lot. She will be 2 in November. It is so neat seeing how much more she can do then Brandon and knowing that in a few months he will be where she is now. Brandon had fun sitting on the lion at the restaurant (it is the kind you put money in and it rides only he didn't ride) and sitting next to Sydney on the shoe shine chair and sitting next to her in a high chair at the restaurant.

This afternoon Brandon went to get his first pair of real shoes. He is cruising so much now and so close to walking and now that it is getting cold out there have been some mornings where he has needed socks on his feet only he slips on the floor with socks so it was time to get him shoes. His feet were measured and he is between a size 4 and 5. Grandma Newman came with us and bought him his first pair of shoes. Stu and I also bought him a pair of Uggs for when it gets a little colder. He is one stylish baby.

Brandon had a bath tonight. He still LOVES the bath. He cries most nights when we take him out of the bath.