Happy Valentine's Day

Loving the Exersaucer

Not too much new to report for this week. I think this may have been the first week since Brandon came home that he did not have a doctor's appointment of some kind or physical therapy at our house. Grandma Newman babysat for Brandon last Saturday so I could go renew my driver's license and Grandma Jacobs babysat this past Tuesday so I could go with Stu to Philadelphia for his eye doctor appointment. We took advantage of the beautiful weather this week by going on some walks. Yesterday Brandon started taking all of his naps in his crib. Before that I was having him nap in the pack n play in our living room but there is a 15 pound limit and I am guessing that he is close to 15 pounds, if not 15 pounds already. He actually is napping much better in his crib than he was in the pack n play. I also seem to have gotten him on a schedule which he is doing great with. He wakes up early (usually around 6-6:30 although if it were his choice he would be up between 5:15 and 5:30...I make him go back to sleep) so he is usually ready for a short nap around 7:45-8:00. It usually only lasts 45 minutes to an hour. He then takes about a 2 hour nap around 10:45 and again around 2:00-2:30. He then goes down for the night at 7:00 pm. He is so tired by then and so ready to go to sleep. We wake him for a bottle at 10:00 and then he goes right back down and then we wait for him to wake us for the next bottle which is usually between 3-3:30 am. He then goes back down after that bottle until he wakes a few hours later. I will be happy once he is sleeping through the middle of the night feeding but at least he is only up for one bottle. And he really seems to need that bottle. He seems to be really hungry when he does wake up. I have found that he sleeps much better with his arms swaddled but he often breaks out of the swaddle. I ordered the miracle blanket which will hopefully arrive quickly so hopefully he won't be able to get out of that. Brandon is such a happy boy most of the time. He is all smiles for me and Stu which we love. He does let you know when he had had enough of something though or when he is tired.

Sitting Like a Big Boy (with some help from the boppy)

All Smiles

Happy Baby

Brandon woke up from his nap yesterday in his pack n play. I looked in at him and when he saw me he started to smile non-stop.

7 Months Old Actual, 4 Months Old Corrected

Where does the time go? I can't believe that Brandon is 7 months old today. He will be 4 months corrected on February 10th (which means he would be 4 months old if he was born when he was due). Brandon is doing great. As of 1 1/2 weeks ago he weighed 13 pounds, 8 ounces. I am guessing he is close to 14 pounds now but we don't go to the pediatrician for another 2 weeks so I will know then how much he weighs. He is still getting physical therapy but is doing great with that. His physical therapist is now only coming once a month! He is turning his head both directions now with no problems. He still has a slight head tilt but it is barely noticeable and will correct too. He is awake for long periods throughout the day and wants to constantly be entertained. His favorite toy is a piano that my parents bought for him that plays different songs and has lights that light up when the songs play. He loves to stare at lights. We set up his exersaucer and he is enjoying being in that too. He wants to constantly stand which means we need to hold him under his arms since he is too small to hold himself up yet. He has discovered his voice and "talks" all of the time. Especially in the middle of the night when he wakes up for his bottle. He starts to talk as soon as he sees me. He has also started to yell when he wants to do something other than what we are doing with him. He has started to suck his thumb. He sometimes sucks it in the day and I see him on the video monitor when he wakes up during the night sucking on his thumb. Other than two nights in the beginning of January he is still not sleeping through the night. He usually goes to sleep after his 7:00 bottle and then we wake him to give him a bottle at 10:00. He then sleeps until around 3:00 am and then goes back to sleep until about 5:15. At that time I go in and settle him and he will last until around 6:30. I won't take him out of his crib before 6:00 even though I am sure he would love it. He has started to taste different solids but is not having enough yet to replace meals. He had prunes last night for the first time and loved them! As for his bottles, sometimes he loves them and drinks the whole amount quickly...other times I have to fight him to drink them. I am part of a preemie message board and it seems many of the other parents are going through the same thing with their babies. His overall intake is good in a day which is what I am more focused on.

Superbowl

We were so excited for the Steelers win last night in the Superbowl. It wound up being a very exciting game. My parents and Stu's parents came over to watch the Superbowl with us.