Twenty Nine Weeks

Dearest Joshua David~

Hello little man.  Today you are twenty nine weeks old!  Time is really flying by!  It seems like only yesterday we were bringing you home from the hospital.  :-)

This morning you took your normal bottle and rested on me as I relaxed on the bed.  Then, you stirred a little, lifted your head up, and completely threw up on me!  You must have thrown up the majority of that bottle!  It went all down my shirt and only a little got on you.  :-P  I had already changed your outfit at that point, so I ended up giving you a nice bath and changed you once again.  :-P  Whew!  Once that was over, you played all around and smiled at me!  :-)

A physical therapist came over today, Eliza, to take a look at you and to do some exercises to help your neck muscles.  She turned you in different directions and held you in different positions.  She was impressed with your head control and liked how you were transferring toys with hands.  She didn't notice any tilting of your head (which is good), only the rotation (how you like to favor the right side).  She also said you had nice balance!  You got fussy during the middle of it and I had to give you a little bottle just to calm you.  She wants to see you weekly to help with exercises, so we're starting on monday to get into a schedule.  So, this weekend I'm going to work hard with tummy times to help you.  :-)

This evening, we met up with your Gigi for dinner.  We went to Chick-Fil-A and called your (Great) Uncle Laurence.  We have a verbal agreement with the sellers of the house we're looking at, so tomorrow we're going to meet up with him to sign papers to try to make things official.  We're that much closer at getting a house, little man!  

This evening we played and did tummy time.  You're getting stronger and you're starting to pivot on your belly a little during tummy times.  :-)  I wonder when you'll roll over for the first time ....

Tomorrow, you, daddy, and I are doing the Promise Walk to help raise funds and awareness for the Preeclampsia Foundation.  They're going to recognize you and me as survivors.  I think it'll be nice to see other women and children who have gone through what we have.  Our team name is "Joshua's Joggers"  and we have raised $165!  :-)  Go us!

Sleep tight little precious!  We have a big day tomorrow. 

I love you!

~Mommy

Wave Bye-Bye

Dearest Joshua David~

Hello cutie!  How are you?

Today you and I had some time together before Penny got here.  We had Mommy Morning and played together.  :-)

You and Penny had fun too.  You all had music time, tummy time, took a nap, and took a walk outside.  :-)  When she was leaving, daddy said that you tried to wave bye-bye to her!  Well, it was more like you shook your hands around, but you were close.  :-)

Remember the house that we went to see yesterday?  Well, this evening, when I got home, we brought you over to Grandpa Jim and Gigi's house so they could watch you.  Then, daddy and I went out to meet your (Great) Uncle Laurence to put an offer in!  We think it will be a nice house for us, so we decided to go for it and see what happens.  You never know .... we may be moving sooner than we think.  :-)

Afterward, we came back to Gigi's and ate dinner there.  You were sleeping on Grandpa Jim, so we let you sleep as the rest of us talked and caught up. 

When we got home, you played on the bed.  You did tummy time with daddy, and while you were on your belly, you scooted a little!  How cute!

Tomorrow we get to spend the day together.  A physical therapist is coming over at lunch time to do some exercises with you.  Busy busy!

Sleep tight!

I love you!

~Mommy

Long Nap

Dearest Joshua David~

Hello little precious!  You apparently were sleepy today!  When I came home after work, Penny had written down that you had taken a long nap this morning.  I wonder if you'll sleep tonight.  :-P

Here's what you and Penny did today:

9am:  floor time and tummy time
10:15am-12:15pm:  sleeping
1:15pm:  floor time, tummy time, and music
2:45pm:  walk outside
3:15pm:  floor time

After work, I came home and found daddy giving you a bottle.  Once the bottle was done, we all hopped in the car and met your (Great) Uncle Laurence to see another house.  Daddy and I both liked this house, and I think you will too.  I took you out of your car seat and we walked all around the house together.  It has a huge bonus room that we would make your playroom!  There's a yard for you to kick a ball around with daddy and I.  It's on a cul-de-sac, and has a screened in porch!  Plus, there's a playground within walking distance.  Hummm .... daddy and I will have to discuss this one .... it has the most potential .... perhaps our house hunting is over? 

We didn't get home until late.  We gave you a bottle and daddy and I ate dinner around 8pm.  Afterward, you played on the bed with toys and did more tummy time.  You're getting better at saying "Grrrr!"  ;-)

Tomorrow you're with Penny again.  Save some kisses and smiles for me!

Sleep tight!

I love you!  :-)

~Mommy

Second Attempt

Dearest Joshua David~

Hello cutie!  Today we ran some errands and got out of the house for a while.  :-)  First, we did some morning playtime, tummy time, and I gave you a bath.

Then, we headed out to the bank and the dry cleaners.  My cousin, Julia, is getting married in a few weeks, so we needed to drop some things off so we'll have some nice things to wear.  You already have a little outfit.  One of us will babysit you during the ceremony, and then afterward, we'll take you to the reception for a little bit so you can see people.  We're staying at the same place as the reception, so we'll be able to just bring you back to the room if you get tired or fussy.  :-)

After the dry cleaners, we did some errands to pick up Mother's Day gifts for your Mimi and Gigi.  While we were out, we swung by your Grandpa Jim's office since it was around the corner from where we were.  He held you for a little bit as we visited.  Once  you started to get hungry, we packed you up and I drove you home.  :-)

This afternoon, you played with your toys and we did more tummy time.  When daddy got home, we did our second attempt at rice cereal!  It's been a week now, and you're eating a little more formula than before, so I decided to try the cereal again.  You did better!  I'm guessing out of 2 oz, you took 1.5 oz (though I'm not sure how much you actually swallowed!).  ;-)  Daddy and I had to bribe you with 2 oz of formula in a bottle, then you did some rice cereal in a bowl, then more formula in a bottle.  This kept you from getting too cranky.  ;-P  This process took one hour and we had to change your outfit afterward!  But, it only took one bib and one washcloth .... last week it took 2 bibs and one washcloth!  I found myself making those funny faces that all moms do when trying to feed their children!  I think your daddy thought I was crazy!  :-)

This evening you fell asleep between bottle before falling asleep for the evening at around midnight.  Sleep tight little one!

I love you!  :-)

~Mommy

Held Bottle

Dearest Joshua David~

Hello sweet boy!  Today you and I played together a lot!

You took a little nap this morning, but then we got into our tummy time once you woke up.  :-)  A physical therapist is coming over on friday around lunch time to work with you too (the Special Infant Care Clinic recommended it).  Daddy and I want to make sure your muscles are growing properly.  You appear to be getting stronger everyday!  :-)

You played with your new toys more today (the ones from my cousins).  You like all these new things to touch and grab.  

You had another nap this afternoon .... actually, you fell asleep on my twice while I was holding you and giving you a bottle!  Both times you fell asleep, I moved your head to the left (the side we've been working on).  I can tell you're having improvement with that side because you didn't fuss as much as you use to.  

Today I sang the ABC song to you several times.  Each time I did, you stared at me like you were in a trance!  I did it one time when you were getting fussy and you calmed down for me!  Hey, maybe you just like my singing!  ;-)

We took out your diapers today and cleaned out  your diaper container.  We also straightened up your nursery.  

Daddy had a really late soccer game tonight.  He was gone all evening, so we played until you fell asleep.  Before he left, daddy gave you a bottle and you held it by yourself for about two seconds!  Good job little man!  You woke up after daddy came home, so we ended up giving you a bottle at midnight.  :-P  

Sleep tight little one!

I love you!  :-)

~Mommy

Storm Door

Dearest Joshua David~

Hello little angel!  This morning we were up bright and early giving you a bottle.  :-)  We cleaned the townhouse .... daddy did several loads of laundry (including yours), I vacuumed, we straightened, swept and wiped the kitchen .... whew!  We were done by 9:30am!  

We put together some toys that your (Great) Uncle Laurence gave us that my cousins have grown of.  One plays music while toys spin around.  You like to reach up and grab at the toys.

Then, Mimi and Grandpa Mike came over.  Mimi watched you as we put up the storm door.  It only took 2 hours, which is pretty good for people who didn't know what we were doing.  ;-)

You then headed back to Mimi's house.  Daddy and I ate lunch and then meet up with your (Great) Uncle Laurence to look at some houses.  We made a flyer for the townhouse and put some outside for potential buyers.  

We then went back to Mimi's and we all ate dinner together.  This evening, we finished folding clothes and you did more tummy time and played on the bed before falling asleep.  :-)

Sleep tight little man!

I love you!

~Mommy

Lazy Morning

Dearest Joshua David~

Hello little man!  How are you?

Today we were all lazy .... which is good .... we haven't had a lazy morning in a while.  :-)  

This afternoon, Gigi and Grandpa Jim watched you while daddy and I ran some errands.  We went to Lowes to pick up a storm door for the townhouse to make it more attractive to potential buyers.  We purchased a solid glass one with a white frame and nickel hardware.  We had to put all the seats down in the Escape to fit it!  Tomorrow morning, Mimi and Grandpa Mike are going to come over and help us install it.  Wish us luck!  :-)

After we dropped off the storm door, we went back out to get some groceries.  We had to purchase more formula for you .... you continue to eat us out of house and home.  ;-)

Afterward, we went back to Gigi's and we all ate turkey burgers for dinner .... well, not you .... you had your usual bottles.  ;-)

This evening you played on the bed with daddy and I.  You did more tummy time and showed daddy how well you're doing.  We do tummy time several times a day, and I can tell your muscles are improving.  :-)

Sleep tight little man!

I love you!

~Mommy