Thanksgiving & My 30th (Week 12) POTW

I chose my two favorite pictures this week since we had both Thanksgiving and my birthday back to back. It was an amazing week. Lots of first for Parker but, I will wait to mention the "firsts" till his 3 month post later this week.

Thanksgiving 2010


My kiddos on my 30th Birthday

Letters to Parker

Dear Parker,

Today is my 30th birthday and last year I made a birthday wish for you. Now I sit here in the early hours of my birthday just holding you. I love you so very much.


Love forever and a day,

Mom

Christmas Pictures (Week 11) POTW

Well, we attempted our Christmas pictures this past Sunday. I didn't want to waste money at a professional photographer for two reasons. The first reason is my mom does photography. Although she doesn't have a fancy studio, she has the talent. The second reason, with a newborn it's really hard to know exactly what pictures you will get. Awake? Asleep? Crying? With my luck we would waste money at a studio and be disappointed because we didn't get what we wanted.

Parker decided that he would show off his attempts to roll and push with his feet during the whole session but my mom still managed to get some amazing photos. Here was my absolute favorite photo from the session and the reason it is the picture of the week.

Tummy Time (Week 10) POTW

Another week has gone by. My Lil' Parker is getting so big. Every day he seems to amaze me with another skill he has mastered. This week he has made huge improvements in holding up his head. I had to choose this picture because I feel this is a milestone he truly mastered this week. The greatest thing about watching your child reach a milestone is the look in their face.....a look of accomplishment. When I look at his photo I see that exact look in his face.

To vax, delay or not to vax (Week 9) POTW

So why this photo?

This past week Parker had his 2 month well child check-up and the first round of vaccinations began at this check-up. Since I will be getting on a immunization soap box for this post, I found it fitting to take a picture of Parker's leg where he received his immunization.

I had been debating for awhile throughout the pregnancy whether or not we were going to immunize Parker. Okay...I knew we would immunize him but, I wasn't sure if we would put him on a delayed schedule or follow the normal standards. Even if you follow the normal CDC recommended immunization schedule, you should educate yourself about the things that are being injected into your baby.

Here are a few books I recommend reading:
"The Vaccine Guide" by Randall Neustaedter
"The Vaccine Book" by Dr. Sears
"What your Dr. may not tell you about Children's vaccines" by Stephanie Cave

I also recommend that if you are even debating the possibility of delaying your baby's shots, choose a pediatrician that is "vaccine-friendly." Basically, they won't threaten to call CPS or tell you that you are a horrible parent for delaying or not immunizing your little one. Some pediatricians will even make you leave their practice for simply suggesting a delayed schedule.

Here is a link to the list on the Dr. Sears site for vaccine-friendly doctors, we LOVE our pediatrician.

Vaccine-friendly doctors

After all the research I did here is the schedule we decided to go with(at least for the first 7 months.)

2 months: DTaP (this is already 3 vaccines in 1 shot, so if you went with the CDC standards that is 7 vaccines in one visit, just scary in my opinion.)
3 months*: Pc, HIB
4 months: DTaP
5 months*: Pc, HIB
6 months: DTaP
7 months: Pc, HIB


This is the CDC& AAP recommended schedule:

2 months: DTaP,Pc, HIB,IPV, Rota virus
4 months: DTaP,Pc, HIB,IPV, Rota virus
6 months: DTaP,Pc, HIB, Rota virus

While we may have a few extra visits, I feel more comfortable spreading out the immunizations rather than bombarding my little one with so much at once.

I'm 2 months old!!

Our little guy is growing so fast. I don't just mean the time is going by fast, he is growing out of everything in his closest. He is grew out of newborn at 3/4 weeks, and out of 0-3 months by 5/6 weeks and now he's nearly out of 3-6 months. I started digging into his 6-9 months this week. I thought maybe it was the cloth diapers since they are a little more on the bulky side. I put on an emergency sposie and nope, he is just that big. He has his 2 month checkup on Wednesday and I'm going to guess he is close to 15 lbs(I weighed myself and then weighed myself holding him and the scale was showing around 15 lbs heavier.) I measured him and he is over 24"!!

I made him his 2 month onesie a couple weeks ago. At that time it was too big for him so I thought, "No problem should be perfect by 2 months." Boy was I wrong! Nolan said he looks like he's wearing a muscle shirt, lol. I just love his poses in these pictures.




Parker is doing amazing. He is a very intense little guy. When you see him watching things it looks like he is taking it apart and putting it back together in his head. He will stare at different things for long periods of time till he has satisfied whatever mental processes he is going through.

We picked up some sign language videos for him to watch, though the TV is not in the least bit interesting to him. Instead I have been watching them when he naps so I can learn some signs and I use them when I talk to him.


Milestones this month:

1st time at church
1st time sick :(
1st Halloween
1st big open mouth smile 10/27/10

What is he doing?:

He can follow objects very well.
He follows my voice.
He tries to grabs things like toys, my hair, my face.
He can hold his head up very well, only a little wobble.
His big thing is kicking, he loves to feel things with his feet. If you put something he likes near his feet, he will kick it repeatedly and get really excited.
He coos a little bit says goo and ooo though he mostly yells at us, it's quite cute.
He sleeps pretty good at night. He goes to sleep around 8 or 830 and wakes up around 7. He will usually wake up two times in the night to nurse but with my insomnia it doesn't bother me at all.