Up To No Good

I brought Brandon into my room with me this morning so that I could get dressed. He crawled into our bathroom and when I went to check on him a minute later this is what I found.

Firefighter Brandon

Brandon got this ride on firetruck at my baby shower. Last night we took it out for the first time for him to ride. He seemed to enjoy it. Maybe he will be a firefighter when he is older like his dad.

Ocean Township Italian Festival

Brandon got to experience his first Italian Festival this year. It is at a park near our house every August. Stu works at the Italian Festival with his fire department at the beer tent. This year he was able to walk around with us on some of the nights. Brandon rode on the merry-go-round three of the nights, went on a firetruck ride around the park two of the nights, went to the petting zoo where he loved the animals, and saw lots of his friends. I got to enjoy the delicious Italian food.

Bay Head Clam Bake and Grandma and Grandpa Jacobs' Anniversary

On Saturday Stu, Brandon, and I went to the clam bake at the Bayhead Fire Department. It was really nice. They had all you can eat steamers, raw clams, hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage sandwiches, roast beef sandwiches, and beer for one price. They also had bands playing music. My parents were there and Brian and Laura were there along with some of their friends. It was a beautiful day out and Brandon enjoyed his first clam bake.

Yesterday was my parents 39th anniversary. They came to our house along with Brian and Laura for brunch.

Brandon enjoyed seeing his grandparents and aunt and uncle this weekend.

Great Developmental Clinic Appointment

Brandon went to the developmental clinic today for a NICU follow up. He hadn't been since April. He weighed 19 pounds, 6 ounces which put him at the 25th percentile for his corrected age of 10 months old. At the clinic they only put him on the chart for the age he should be, not the age he really is. He saw the physical therapist first and she was amazed at him. She said he is actually passing where he should be for a one year old and he should only be ten months old. She saw him crawl, get into a sitting position on his own, pull to stand, and cruise. She also saw him eat puffs and was impressed with how well he picks up one puff at a time with a pincher grasp. She also watched him with some of her small toys. She showed us a few things that we can do with him at home to get him to try walking on his own but she isn't concerned that he will have any problem. After we saw the physical therapist we saw Dr. Rekedal who was equally as impressed with how great Brandon is doing. We talked to him about RSV season and people will have to watch their hands before touching Brandon and be healthy but we can take him out to places that are not too crowded as long as nobody touches him when we are out and about. I am so proud of Brandon and how well he is doing.

Smile

Whenever Brandon sees the camera now he smiles with his mouth and eyes. It is the cutest thing.

Busy weekend

We had a busy but fun weekend. Rich, Debbie, Ben, and Zack decided to come for a visit. They got here around dinner time on Saturday so we went to Stu's parents house for dinner so we could see them. Yesterday we went to a first birthday party for triplets that were in the NICU with Brandon and then Rich, Debbie, Ben, Zack, and Stu's parents came over here to hang out and for dinner. Brandon had a lot of fun playing with his cousins and going in his wading pool with them. We put warm bath water in the wading pool since we hadn't filled it earlier in the day and didn't want Brandon to be too cold so after he played in the wading pool he wound up having his bath in it.

Brandon has been sleeping much better lately. He has slept through the night 3 out of the last 4 nights and even when he woke up the one night that he didn't sleep through it was because something was bothering him, not because he wanted to be awake. Once he fell back asleep he slept for another 6 hours.

Brandon is about to cut at least two more teeth but I am guessing he is going to really cut four more. One tooth on the top is about to come through and one tooth on the bottom. The gum has already split where each tooth will come through. He already has two on the top and two on the bottom that are all the way in. The doctor said the next two he would get would be two more top teeth and then two more bottom teeth. That is why I think he may be getting ready to cut four teeth even though the gum is only split for two.

Brandon is pulling up on everything now. And is very quick at it. We finally lowered his crib mattress yesterday since Friday night he pulled himself to standing in his crib. He loves to stand and I am sure it is only a matter of time before he lets go of what he is holding and stands on his own and then takes his first steps.