Keep your head up

Grayson surprised us during tummy time yesterday with a 90 degree angle!  When we were at his 4 month pediatrician visit, we were asked if he was holding his head up at a 90 degree angle, and we had to say no.  For the last week or so, when we would try tummy time, Gray was not interested in lifting his head up at all, instead, using it as a good time to suck on his fingers.  It literally seems like he went from a 45 degree angle to a 90 degree angle over night.

Head at 90 degrees - 18 1/2 weeks

When it comes to milestones, we have decided that he is indeed a few weeks behind due to his early arrival.  As long as I keep that in mind when we go in for check-ups, I'll be okay.  He will meet the milestone...it just might take a few weeks longer.  Doesn't he look like such a big kid now!?

Wordless Wednesday

Cuddles with Grandpa F

Just the thumb!

This makes my heart sing

Loving froggie cuddles

4 Months

Graybean turned 4 months old on Friday.  My father-in-law was in town for business and was over during his photo shoot, so he helped me try to get some smiles for the camera.  One thing we have learned about Grayson is that he is all smiles and giggles until we try to take a picture or record it!  Once the big black box is in his face, he gets super distracted and stares at it.

Grayson had a 4 month appointment 4 days earlier, and his stats were: 14 pounds 5 ounces, 24 1/2 inches long, and head circumference of 16.5 inches.  All of his measurements are right around the 40% mark for his age, his head being closer to the 45% mark.  (making room for his huge brain, of course!)  The doctor helped answer a few questions that we had on a list, and then she did her examination.  She said that the heart murmur sounded much lighter this time around, and said again that we won't have to address it again for a few years.  She is still slightly concerned about the torticollis that she saw last time we were there.  She said that she was impressed with his head shape (it has rounded out more since last time), but she still sees him tilting his head a little when he is looking a certain way.  She gave us the name of some pediatric physical therapists, and we have our first appointment with them next Monday.  Other than that, our baby got a clean bill of health and we were told that we could slowly start him on some solids (rice cereal) if we want.

At 4 months old, Grayson is:
-wearing 0-3 month onesies and some 3-6 month onesies
-wearing 0-3 month pants
-in size 2 diapers
-smiling a lot more.  One of my favorite things he has done over the last few days is smile when I am
  laughing.  It makes my heart sing!
-cooing and gurgling
-loving lights and ceiling fans still
-eating a combination of breast milk and formula, making a much happier baby all around
-reaching for some toys
-putting anything in his hands into his mouth
-loving a little green frog toy (lots of things to explore with his mouth and noise makers)
-learning cause and effect with toys and their sounds
-going 8-10 hours between eating at night! (Yes, pretty much since I went back to work he has been sleeping through the night!  We think the bottle of formula before bed is what is doing it...and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon!)
-about 14 pounds

Daycare

This post is coming quite late...Graybean is already in his third week at our daycare, but we took some pictures, and it's a big day, so here is a recap. The daycare was closed for the New Year holiday on my first day back to work after the Christmas break, so P stayed home with G one more time. Our plan was for us both to take Grayson to "school" on his first day before we headed to work, but I was not feeling well (some sort of cold), and ended up calling in sick that day and going home after we dropped him off.  We paused to take a couple of pictures before we left for the day.

"Oh, this is going to be a fun day with Mommy"

"Wait, you're taking me WHERE?"

"But, I don't know if I want to go there..."

When we got to his daycare, we were shown to his room, introduced to the two women in his room, shown his crib, and the daily sign in/communication sheet. The sheet is how we let them know the last time he ate before getting there, and how the daycare let's us know when/how much he ate, how many diaper changes/what was inside (oh, the joys of parenting!), naps, if he is running low on any supplies, and daily activities. His teachers seemed really nice, and we were comforted by the fact that there were only two other kids in his room when we dropped him off. G is definitely the youngest one in his room (the others can sit on their own, so I am hopeful that he gets plenty of time in the arms of a caregiver throughout the day...plus he is the cutest one there...duh! Once we felt comfortable enough to leave him in his room (no tears from any of us!), we went into the office to fill out paperwork and get our fingerprints scanned. I love this security feature! The only way to get into the area where all of the kids are, is to scan your finger. When we left, P and I decided to go to our favorite coffee shop for a cup of joe before he went into work. I was very happy that I got to do that (although I hated feeling sick), because we got to spend a little one on one time together before our new normal started up. I think that I have just been very realistic about the fact that G would have to go to daycare from the very beginning...yes, I miss him terribly and hate that I am not with him all day, but I am thankful for my job and the fact that I can provide for my family at this phase in our life.

The other thing that really has helped me have a positive attitude about daycare is the fact that Gray doesn't have to go on Fridays.  His Daddy stays with him in the morning, and then at 11, I leave work and get to spend the rest of the day with my little squishy man.  Two and a half days with Graybean every week??  I'll take it!

Wordless Wednesday

The Alamo Bowl

Our plan was to leave Dallas and head to San Antonio for the Baylor bowl game with Grayson and Jack so that we could head home from there.  This ended up changing the night before when we found out that all infants needed tickets to the game.  The Hubs called the ticket office, and they confirmed what we had read on Facebook.  After stating in every way possible how stupid we thought this rule was, we started discussing all of our options.  We looked online for a cheap ticket, discussed selling our tickets (but out hotel room was non refundable, so we would have still lost money), and tried to think if we knew anyone in San Antonio who might babysit for one night.  Our last two options were: sell my ticket and I would hang out with Grayson at the hotel, or we go and leave Grayson in Dallas.  In the end, we went with the last option and left Grayson in the hands of three capable grandparents and an aunt while we were gone for about 32 hours.
Grayson stayed with my father-in-law during the day, who was rescued by my sister-in-law and mother-in-law around 5, and then my mom picked him up around 8 and had him for the night and the next morning/afternoon.  We got picture texts throughout our time away, which helped me get through it, for sure! 

G took a nap on his Grandpa

 The game was a lot of fun, and we are really happy that we got to go.  It was really cool to be able to cheer on our team and see a Heisman trophy winner while we were at it.  I am also glad we went, because he has now officially decided to leave Baylor next year and enter the NFL draft (can't blame him!), so seeing his last game as a Baylor Bear was pretty awesome.

Sic 'em Bears!

Baby's First Haircut

Yes, at three months old, we decided it was time for Grayson's first haircut.  Grayson was born with a pretty good head of hair, but lost a lot from the top of his head a few weeks in.  That hair started growing back in around Thanksgiving, so he didn't need much cut off of the top (just the long stragglers that he never lost), but his sideburns were starting to get to chin length, so we just wanted a good trim around the ears/neck in back. 
I had my mom call her hair stylist, who we have used as a family for many many years, and set up an appointment for while we were in Dallas. 

The first cut

Graybean was so still!

Gray's distraction

Happy Baby

Pam was going to try using clippers on the sides at the end, but every time she got them close to his head, he would turn to look at the noise.  She was afraid that he would move too suddenly and she would end up shaving off half of his head of hair, so she didn't end up using them.  His haircut was "on the house" (so nice!), and she said that he was her youngest customer ever!  You wouldn't be able to tell though, because it looks great! 

Holiday Recap

Wow, it has been a while since I updated!  Lets see if the next few posts will get us all caught up in the sweet life of Mr. Grayson Xavier.  We headed to Dallas on the 23rd of December to spend the holiday with both of our families.  We were planning on being in Dallas until the 29th, when we would head down to San Antonio as a little family to take in the Baylor Bowl game...but more on that in a different post. 
On Christmas eve, we went to church and P, G, Aunt Jess, and I sat in the "cry room" just in case we started to hear noises from the baby section. 

GBug started out in Auntie Jessie's lap...

Little baby angel

Until he started crying and she handed him off to Daddy

After the church service, we went over to G-Ma and Grandpa F's house for some heavy appetizers and our first round of gift opening. 

hmm, what is that?

Grayson made out like a bandit!

Gift opening, round 1 was a success!  We ended the night a bit earlier than usual since we needed to leave and get the baby to bed...Santa was on his way, you know!
When we were discussing what time to meet up Christmas morning, I was sure that we would be up and ready pretty early in the morning, so everyone decided on 8:30.  Boy was I wrong!  Grayson didn't wake up for the final time until closer to 9, so we weren't ready to see if Santa came until closer to 9:30.

Favorite stocking picture!

After stockings, we ate breakfast with everyone before opening all of the gifts under the tree.  We were on the receiving end of so many fabulous gifts this year, we are truly blessed. 

That afternoon, we went back over the in-law's house for our big Christmas meal.  We, of course, had to put Grayson in his new gingerbread man overalls for the occasion!
With a three month old, Christmas was definitely different, but I am looking forward to next year when he has a better understanding of everything going on around him.  I hope that the excitement will build a little bit more, and that we can start some really fun family traditions.