Monday, July 23, 2012
Nicholas: 13 month talking
Nicholas is 13 months old and talking up a storm! He is really interested in learning the names of things, and he tries very hard to watch my mouth and copy what I say. (Time to stop dropping "f bombs" I guess, lol)
Here are some words he knows:
cat (sometimes sounds like "ca" or "ta", but he's pointing to the cat, so I know what he means)
kitty ("kit-ty" or "ti-tee")
mama (sometimes sounds like "mom-mom")
daddy ("dad-DEE!")
Teddy ("ta-tee") - my mom's dog
dog ("daw" or "gaw" while pointing to it)
He also pants like a dog when he sees a dog, or when we say "what does the dog/Teddy say?" lol it's so stinkin' cute
He just started trying to learn these:
pacifier ("pa-pa")
bottle ("bah-bah")
up ("pu-pu-pu-pu"-because when we're walking up stairs I say "up, up, up...")
birdfeeder ("BA-ba-ba" while pointing to it. He gets that it's a long word--so cool!)
uh oh ("AH!" or "AH ah!")
Every thing else is "dadadadada..."
Here are some words he knows:
cat (sometimes sounds like "ca" or "ta", but he's pointing to the cat, so I know what he means)
kitty ("kit-ty" or "ti-tee")
mama (sometimes sounds like "mom-mom")
daddy ("dad-DEE!")
Teddy ("ta-tee") - my mom's dog
dog ("daw" or "gaw" while pointing to it)
He also pants like a dog when he sees a dog, or when we say "what does the dog/Teddy say?" lol it's so stinkin' cute
He just started trying to learn these:
pacifier ("pa-pa")
bottle ("bah-bah")
up ("pu-pu-pu-pu"-because when we're walking up stairs I say "up, up, up...")
birdfeeder ("BA-ba-ba" while pointing to it. He gets that it's a long word--so cool!)
uh oh ("AH!" or "AH ah!")
Every thing else is "dadadadada..."
Friday, April 6, 2012
Hospital Stay
It's been a busy and stressful few weeks.
At his 9 month check-up, we discovered Nicholas had yet another ear infection and he was just starting to develop a cough. His cough got much worse over the next 2 days and he was up all night screaming, crying, and gasping for air. We went through this once before a few months back, so I knew he would end up needing nebulizer treatments again. Little did I know how bad it actually was...
We had to take him in to the doctor 3 days in a row to check his oxygen levels. The first two days, his oxygen was 93% (considered "borderline") and the third day it had dropped to 86%. The pediatrician told me he was admitting Nicholas to the hospital for bronchiolitis (not the same as bronchitis). Everything is sort of a blur from that moment on. I was shaking and fighting back tears and trying to figure out what on earth to have my husband bring from home. We walked right over to the hospital and were admitted that afternoon.
Strangely enough, the afternoon nurses and doctors didn't seem at all in a rush to get my son breathing normally. They all said they heard a lot of wheezing and he was using his abdomen a lot to breathe (which is NOT good), but for some reason we ended up waiting around for hours before the NIGHT nurse came on duty and finally hooked him up to some oxygen.
The rest of our time in the hospital was great. The nurses and respiratory therapists were wonderful. He was given steroids (to reduce inflammation in his airway) and antibiotics (for the ear infection), and he was hooked up to oxygen tubes and had his oxygen levels monitored around the clock. It took 6 days before they were finally able to wean him off the oxygen, but he was a trooper and he charmed the pants off all the nurses.
A week later, his breathing is back to normal, but he developed a stomach virus which my husband and I both caught. It has not been a fun few days in my house, but we're all on the mend. I'm on Spring Break this week, so I have Nicholas home with me, but he will return to day care full time next week. Fingers crossed that he can stay healthy for the next 2 months since I'm out of sick days!
Here are some pictures of Nicholas from the hospital:
At his 9 month check-up, we discovered Nicholas had yet another ear infection and he was just starting to develop a cough. His cough got much worse over the next 2 days and he was up all night screaming, crying, and gasping for air. We went through this once before a few months back, so I knew he would end up needing nebulizer treatments again. Little did I know how bad it actually was...
We had to take him in to the doctor 3 days in a row to check his oxygen levels. The first two days, his oxygen was 93% (considered "borderline") and the third day it had dropped to 86%. The pediatrician told me he was admitting Nicholas to the hospital for bronchiolitis (not the same as bronchitis). Everything is sort of a blur from that moment on. I was shaking and fighting back tears and trying to figure out what on earth to have my husband bring from home. We walked right over to the hospital and were admitted that afternoon.
Strangely enough, the afternoon nurses and doctors didn't seem at all in a rush to get my son breathing normally. They all said they heard a lot of wheezing and he was using his abdomen a lot to breathe (which is NOT good), but for some reason we ended up waiting around for hours before the NIGHT nurse came on duty and finally hooked him up to some oxygen.
The rest of our time in the hospital was great. The nurses and respiratory therapists were wonderful. He was given steroids (to reduce inflammation in his airway) and antibiotics (for the ear infection), and he was hooked up to oxygen tubes and had his oxygen levels monitored around the clock. It took 6 days before they were finally able to wean him off the oxygen, but he was a trooper and he charmed the pants off all the nurses.
A week later, his breathing is back to normal, but he developed a stomach virus which my husband and I both caught. It has not been a fun few days in my house, but we're all on the mend. I'm on Spring Break this week, so I have Nicholas home with me, but he will return to day care full time next week. Fingers crossed that he can stay healthy for the next 2 months since I'm out of sick days!
Here are some pictures of Nicholas from the hospital:
Sunday, February 19, 2012
8 Months
I can't believe how quickly time flies. My little man is becoming his own little person. He's hilarious, and he and I have our own little inside jokes.
His favorite thing to say is "Dadadada..." He says this when talking to himself or us. Sometimes he shortens it to "Da" when he just wants to insert his opinion into the conversation, lol. He babbles a lot at me when he's breastfeeding, and he is just beside himself with laughter when I jump in first with my own rendition of "Dadada."
Nicholas desperately wants to crawl. He starts out sitting, then lunges forward and rocks back and forth on his hands and knees. Then he scoots his butt and arms back until he's sitting up again.
Another new thing he does is wave his hands furiously in the air. I have no idea why, but I absolutely adore it! My husband and I always clap when he does this and we say "Yay!!" Today he watched our hands very carefully, then started trying to clap! He is learning so quickly, and he's such a smart and observant little guy.
Here's a video of him waving his arms like crazy:
His favorite thing to say is "Dadadada..." He says this when talking to himself or us. Sometimes he shortens it to "Da" when he just wants to insert his opinion into the conversation, lol. He babbles a lot at me when he's breastfeeding, and he is just beside himself with laughter when I jump in first with my own rendition of "Dadada."
Nicholas desperately wants to crawl. He starts out sitting, then lunges forward and rocks back and forth on his hands and knees. Then he scoots his butt and arms back until he's sitting up again.
Another new thing he does is wave his hands furiously in the air. I have no idea why, but I absolutely adore it! My husband and I always clap when he does this and we say "Yay!!" Today he watched our hands very carefully, then started trying to clap! He is learning so quickly, and he's such a smart and observant little guy.
Here's a video of him waving his arms like crazy:
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Nicholas learned a new game :)
Nicholas turned 6 months old yesterday. I can't believe how time flies. The good thing about that, though, is that it means the school year is also flying by and summer will be here before I know it. I have been terrible at keeping up with my "weekly" blogging. I may have to start doing monthly blogging instead...
I promise to spend time during my winter vacation updating my blog, but for now I will post this awesome video that we were lucky enough to get last night during a hilarious family moment. My little man is so much fun!
I promise to spend time during my winter vacation updating my blog, but for now I will post this awesome video that we were lucky enough to get last night during a hilarious family moment. My little man is so much fun!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Nicholas's Laugh Attack Video
I admit I have watched this video about a thousand times. It never fails to bring a smile to my face. I love this little guy so much!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
14 Weeks
Nicholas had his 3 month check-up this week and was diagnosed with pink eye for the second time. His nasal congestion has never really gone away, and we still have to keep his mattress elevated and give him nose drops & suctioning, which he hates. Now we have to do the eye ointment again. I feel like a large part of the time I spend with him during the week consists of me torturing him with treatments that don't even seem to be helping.
On a happier note, Nicholas is obsessed with hands this week. He spends a lot of time looking at his hands and trying to stuff them into his mouth. He discovered my hand this week and he studied it for about 15 minutes straight, lol. So cute.
On a happier note, Nicholas is obsessed with hands this week. He spends a lot of time looking at his hands and trying to stuff them into his mouth. He discovered my hand this week and he studied it for about 15 minutes straight, lol. So cute.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Nicholas: 12 Weeks
This week I got a call from Nicholas's day care saying that he woke up with pink eye. His eye had so much gunk in it that it was crusted shut and they had to get it wet and pry it open. My poor little man. That phone call was at 10 am and I still had to teach until 3pm. Luckily, my in-laws were picking him up early anyway so I made an appointment for them to take him to the doctor. The doctor said the pink eye was caused by the congestion, and there's a chance that it will progress to an ear infection.
I feel so bad that my baby was sick and I couldn't be there for him. And if he wasn't in day care and I wasn't around a bunch of kids all day, he wouldn't be sick at all...so I can't help but feel guilty. My husband stayed home with him on Thursday since he was still contagious, but I kept him home on Friday and I stayed home with him just so I could spend some extra time with him.
I didn't take many pictures this week, but here's a funny stink face picture from Labor Day:
I feel so bad that my baby was sick and I couldn't be there for him. And if he wasn't in day care and I wasn't around a bunch of kids all day, he wouldn't be sick at all...so I can't help but feel guilty. My husband stayed home with him on Thursday since he was still contagious, but I kept him home on Friday and I stayed home with him just so I could spend some extra time with him.
I didn't take many pictures this week, but here's a funny stink face picture from Labor Day:
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Nicholas: 11 weeks
Nicholas can now consistently find his hands, and he is starting to put blanket and other things in his mouth. He is very interested in exploring different textures with his lips and tongue. He is learning to suck his thumb, but he isn't great at it yet and he gets frustrated.
Nicholas has been very congested and he's been spitting up a lot lately. I just realized I have no earthly idea what to do with a sick baby. My husband ended up going to the store at 2am and bought saline nose drops and a humidifier. I hope they help and he doesn't get worse.
Watching the first USC game of the 2011 season:
Nicholas has been very congested and he's been spitting up a lot lately. I just realized I have no earthly idea what to do with a sick baby. My husband ended up going to the store at 2am and bought saline nose drops and a humidifier. I hope they help and he doesn't get worse.
Watching the first USC game of the 2011 season:
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Baby Blues are hitting hard a little late...
Well, we made it through our first week of full-time day care. I confess that I've cried every day this week, both after dropping him off AND in the evenings when I'm home with him.
I know he's probably just going through a phase, but I feel like this week he avoids looking at me, and when he does look at me he just won't smile. I can't help feeling like being away from him all day is destroying our bond. All summer, I was the first thing he saw when he woke up, and he would instantly smile when he saw me. Now I'm lucky to get a smile when I put him in his car seat, but that's the only time he really shows me that he recognizes me. To make matters worse, when my husband walks into the room, Nicholas immediately follows him with his eyes (something he used to do with me) and he smiles when my husband plays with him.
I can't stop these thoughts I have every day...I find it so disheartening that I am raising other people's children while strangers are raising my son. And as I do planning for the school year, I'm reminded of how much I have to teach and how long the school year is. Nicholas will be almost a year old when school is out and I'm able to spend all my time with him. I feel like there are so many milestones I might miss out on.
Nicholas has been sleeping in our bed quite a bit lately. This is partly because he sleeps better next to me (this is the only thing that keeps me going sometimes); partly because it's convenient to nurse him there in the middle of the night; and partly because I want to spend as much time with him as possible. So for now he sleeps the first stretch in his crib and then my husband brings him to me when he cries and he spends the rest of the night in our bed. I know it's taboo, but it's working for us. I just wish he would smile at me when he wakes up like he used to.
I keep reminding myself that it's possible that he doesn't look at me as much because he doesn't need to. I read on a forum on Circle of Moms that when babies feel safe with their moms they will spend more time looking around and less time looking at Mom. I know for a fact that his eyesight is getting much better, so I need to keep reminding myself that he knows I'm holding him and he feels secure enough to explore his surroundings. I also know that he can sense my mood, but it's really hard to fake happiness when I'm singing to him or playing with him and he just doesn't seem to care.
I knew starting day care would make me sad a lot. I'm not sure if this is actual PPD or if it will get better soon...but so far I'm not too hopeful.
**My husband found this post on Circle of Moms this morning and showed me. It helps a little to know that other moms experience periods of feeling like their babies don't recognize or love them. It's worth reading if you are experiencing similar feelings.
I know he's probably just going through a phase, but I feel like this week he avoids looking at me, and when he does look at me he just won't smile. I can't help feeling like being away from him all day is destroying our bond. All summer, I was the first thing he saw when he woke up, and he would instantly smile when he saw me. Now I'm lucky to get a smile when I put him in his car seat, but that's the only time he really shows me that he recognizes me. To make matters worse, when my husband walks into the room, Nicholas immediately follows him with his eyes (something he used to do with me) and he smiles when my husband plays with him.
I can't stop these thoughts I have every day...I find it so disheartening that I am raising other people's children while strangers are raising my son. And as I do planning for the school year, I'm reminded of how much I have to teach and how long the school year is. Nicholas will be almost a year old when school is out and I'm able to spend all my time with him. I feel like there are so many milestones I might miss out on.
Nicholas has been sleeping in our bed quite a bit lately. This is partly because he sleeps better next to me (this is the only thing that keeps me going sometimes); partly because it's convenient to nurse him there in the middle of the night; and partly because I want to spend as much time with him as possible. So for now he sleeps the first stretch in his crib and then my husband brings him to me when he cries and he spends the rest of the night in our bed. I know it's taboo, but it's working for us. I just wish he would smile at me when he wakes up like he used to.
I keep reminding myself that it's possible that he doesn't look at me as much because he doesn't need to. I read on a forum on Circle of Moms that when babies feel safe with their moms they will spend more time looking around and less time looking at Mom. I know for a fact that his eyesight is getting much better, so I need to keep reminding myself that he knows I'm holding him and he feels secure enough to explore his surroundings. I also know that he can sense my mood, but it's really hard to fake happiness when I'm singing to him or playing with him and he just doesn't seem to care.
I knew starting day care would make me sad a lot. I'm not sure if this is actual PPD or if it will get better soon...but so far I'm not too hopeful.
**My husband found this post on Circle of Moms this morning and showed me. It helps a little to know that other moms experience periods of feeling like their babies don't recognize or love them. It's worth reading if you are experiencing similar feelings.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Nicholas: 10 Weeks
We made it through our first week of day care! We did half-days this week while I set up my classroom. I cried as I was driving away the first 3 days, and then I was ok Thursday and Friday. But I know next week with full days will be so much harder. I just don't even have the energy to play with him much when I get home, let alone have the energy to clean the house or take care of the pets. I find myself wishing that I didn't have all these pets (4 cats and 1 tortoise). I feel bad about that.
I cried a few times this week after I picked him up because I felt like he didn't remember me. He avoided eye contact and seemed withdrawn. Someone on The Bump message boards suggested that he just needed "down time" after his busy day at day care and avoiding eye contact is the way babies say they need a break. I'm also wondering if he has trouble recognizing me in a different setting, because a couple days this week, I put him in his car seat and all of a sudden he looked straight at me and smiled the biggest smiles I've ever seen! That made my day to see how happy he was to see me.
My favorite time of day this week has been in the afternoon after day care when Nicholas and I sit in the glider and have quiet story time. Sometimes he looks at the books, and sometimes he just closes his eyes and sucks on his pacifier. But I know he's listening and I read in a calm, soothing tone. If he falls asleep, I take him to my bed and we nap together. I think he needs a break from all the stimulation of day care, and I know once school starts I will need that quiet time also. After his afternoon nap, he's ready to play when Daddy gets home from work. I love my little family!
Nicholas practicing his Russian dancing:
Nicholas and his new friend (a dinosaur blankie I got him that he naps with - I bought one for day care and one for home, so he'll always have something with him that smells like Mom. I hold it between us when I nurse him so he has something to grab onto.)
Future Bad-Ass:
I cried a few times this week after I picked him up because I felt like he didn't remember me. He avoided eye contact and seemed withdrawn. Someone on The Bump message boards suggested that he just needed "down time" after his busy day at day care and avoiding eye contact is the way babies say they need a break. I'm also wondering if he has trouble recognizing me in a different setting, because a couple days this week, I put him in his car seat and all of a sudden he looked straight at me and smiled the biggest smiles I've ever seen! That made my day to see how happy he was to see me.
My favorite time of day this week has been in the afternoon after day care when Nicholas and I sit in the glider and have quiet story time. Sometimes he looks at the books, and sometimes he just closes his eyes and sucks on his pacifier. But I know he's listening and I read in a calm, soothing tone. If he falls asleep, I take him to my bed and we nap together. I think he needs a break from all the stimulation of day care, and I know once school starts I will need that quiet time also. After his afternoon nap, he's ready to play when Daddy gets home from work. I love my little family!
Nicholas practicing his Russian dancing:
Nicholas and his new friend (a dinosaur blankie I got him that he naps with - I bought one for day care and one for home, so he'll always have something with him that smells like Mom. I hold it between us when I nurse him so he has something to grab onto.)
Future Bad-Ass:
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Nicholas: 9 Weeks
Nicholas is experimenting with new noises. He now makes a panicked, bird-like squawk when he loses his pacifier or if we take it out of his mouth momentarily. He also makes a cooing sound in his sleep that is rhythmic, like a snore but so much cuter. I'll have to remember to get it on video the next time I hear it.
Nicholas is starting day care tomorrow and I'm a wreck. I keep feeling like I am going to miss out on so much this school year. He will be almost 1 year old by the time I can stay home with him again! Sometimes I just look at him and cry, and I know he picks up on my mood and it affects his mood as well. Then I feel worse and cry more. I don't know how to break the cycle.
Tummy time on the arm of the couch:
Getting ready for football season:
His first trip to USC at 2 months! Fight On!
Here are some shots from our 2 month photo shoot:
Nicholas is starting day care tomorrow and I'm a wreck. I keep feeling like I am going to miss out on so much this school year. He will be almost 1 year old by the time I can stay home with him again! Sometimes I just look at him and cry, and I know he picks up on my mood and it affects his mood as well. Then I feel worse and cry more. I don't know how to break the cycle.
Tummy time on the arm of the couch:
Getting ready for football season:
His first trip to USC at 2 months! Fight On!
Here are some shots from our 2 month photo shoot:
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Nicholas: 8 Weeks
Nicholas is such an alert little man. He likes to look over my shoulder at the trees moving outside. He giggles at pictures, patterns, and toys. He stares intently at our faces and he can beat anyone in a staring contest.
We are convinced he will crawl early because when I put him on his tummy, he kicks his legs and scoots himself forward if he has something to push off of.
I am hopeful that Nicholas will start sleeping through the night soon. He ate at 10 pm last night and then didn't eat again until 4am. He was up until midnight, but then slept for 4 hours straight.
I'm still trying to find a pattern in his naps during the day. On Monday, he slept through our whole Mommy and Me class. I paid $30 to watch my baby nap for an hour while all the other mommies and babies sang, danced, and played with musical instruments. We have another class tomorrow-we'll see if 11am is going to be his regular naptime.
Here's some pictures of my smiley man:
Smiling in his sleep:
And here's a picture of him when Daddy wouldn't give him his pacifier quickly enough:
Monday, August 8, 2011
Cutest Video Ever!
I am so lucky to have captured this adorable moment on video! Check out my little man:
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