Chase 2 month update

Our baby boy is 2 months already. Time has flown!

Chase had his 2 month well check today and weighed 11lb., 2oz.(45th%) and 23 1/2" (55th%). He was in the 5th % at birth, so this is a huge gain. I could have told you that he would catch up quickly, given how much he eats. The average 2 month old eats 4-5oz. per feed and Chase usually tops it off at 6...having even gotten to 7 ounces on a couple of occasions. I've started pumping because it seems to fit our lifestyle a little better (and by that, I mean the fact that Addison and I usually have a lot of activities planned throughout the week, which doesn't allow Chase to "graze" as much as he would like when I nurse.) He is still taking mostly breast milk, though I am supplementing with formula once in a while. It's hard to keep up with such a hearty appetite!

He had 3 shots and 1 oral vaccination at his appointment. He cried for a second, but was calm as soon as I got him back into my arms. His doctor was impressed with his neck/head strength. Recently, I have noticed his head becoming a little flat in the back (towards the left side) and brought this to the doctor's attention. He wasn't overly concerned, but advised me to increase tummy time. He thinks that Chase has a mild case of Torticollis. You might have to look that one up! I have been working on getting him to favor both sides equally, though he definitely prefers to look to the left. Ironically, Dustin's mom remembers him turning his head to one side as an infant. She said every picture she can remember of him, he has his head turned to the right. It's encouraging to know that he turned out okay!

Chase is a good, happy baby. He is beginning to intentionally smile and coo, though I think he is still too busy either eating or sleeping to interact too much just yet!

He is sleeping from about 10pm-8am, with one waking to eat during the night. He cat naps in the mornings and takes a 3+ hour nap in the afternoon. He alternates between sleeping in his crib or the pack-n-play in our room and his car seat, depending on my mood and his. (I can usually count on longer sleep sessions when he is in his car seat). At night, he is still rooming in with us. A couple of times this past week, I have put him in his room after his night feed, usually around 4 or 5am, until he wakes for the day. This is so I can fall back to sleep without ear plugs. Our boy is a GRUNTER, though I must say I have been noticing less of it recently. I believe he has reflux like his sister did. Oh joy!

He is in 3 month and 3-6 month clothes. He has long arms and legs. I think this came from my side of the family. My dad has longer arms and legs. He also appears to have big feet.

Look at the chubbiness!

Wearing his 2 month onesie. It cracked as I was trying to get it over his head. So disappointed in my iron-on transfer project! Anyone know how to keep this from happening?

Big Sister loves her Little Brother to pieces!

And she's such a little ham!

OSU and Purdue

This probably isn't news to anyone, but both of our teams (well, all 3 counting Ohio University) didn't make it beyond the sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament this year. I got the kids dressed up in their Purdue and OSU apparel for the big game day. Chase stayed up late enough to see OSU blow it and I was dumb enough to stay up to watch Duke clobber Purdue. Oh well...maybe next year!

Friends - I got lucky in that department!

I am so lucky to have the friends I do. One in particular, Abby, has been especially helpful over the past few months. She watched Addison in a pinch (on numerous occasions) while I was on bed rest, took her to gym class for me when I had to take Chase to a last minute appointment at the pediatrician, made us dinners, and has offered several times to take Addison for a play date while I got some rest (or work done around the house, which unfortunately trumps rest on most days).

I took her up on her offer last week. Not only did it really help me out, but Addison was in heaven when I told her she was going to her Rae's house. She watched for them at the window for 20 minutes and when Abby and Raegan finally rounded the corner with their little red wagon - one seat empty for Addison - she belted out some of the happiest screams I've ever heard! I barely got a quick hug and kiss goodbye before I heard her saying "See ya next time, Mommy!" And she never looked back! When Chase and I walked down to get her a couple of hours later, she threw the biggest fit about having to leave. I'm pretty sure she would like to move into Raegan's crib with her. :)

I caught up...wait, scratch that. I made a very, very, very small dent in my mile long to do list while Chase napped and Addison played with Raegan.

Abby sent me some pictures of the two little cuties playing inside and once it warmed up a bit, outside. They even had a picnic!

Mommas

There's a group of ladies who make being a stay at home mom wonderful (some would say bearable, but I actually enjoy being a SAHM). My mom's group holds events almost daily (sometimes more than once a day). I never feel lonely or isolated or bored. It's nice to know that I always have a fellow mom to use as a sounding board - most within walking distance of my house! It's a tight knit group (of about 35) and I have developed some wonderful friendships within. These ladies are my support group during those challenging times as a mother. God love 'em!

This picture is of a few of us out on the town for our monthly Mom's Night Out on St. Patrick's Day.

Yo Gabba Gabba video

"head arms legs feet. head arms legs feet. bee-dee-beep-beep bee-dee-beep clap clap!"

Chase meets Great Grandma

Yo Gabba Gabba!

Addison's favorite TV show is Yo Gabba Gabba!. We discovered it when I went on bed rest and needed to find ways to keep her occupied. (She had never really watched TV much before then. Well, with bed rest and a new baby, that has certainly changed!) After seeing her immediate enamoration with the show, I got online and googled it to see if there were any Yo Gabba Gabba! toys I could buy her. During my search, I came upon Yo Gabba Gabba! live tour dates. They happened to be coming to Cincinnati and tickets would be going on sale the next weekend. So we bought them thinking it would be a nice time with just Addison once Chase came along.

We had the best time. I'm not sure who got into the show more - the kids or the parents! Everyone was singing and dancing. We had great seats (5 rows back) in the very large P&G theater at the Arnoff Center.

The cast (DJ Lance Rock, Foofa, Muno, Brobee, Plex, and Toodee)

Addison wouldn't take her eyes off them.

They had bubbles coming from the ceiling. They also had balloons fall from the ceiling at one point. The kids went crazy. Addison got 3 of them!

Dancing in the aisles.

Sporting our DJ Lance glasses during intermission.

Even Biz was there beat boxing!

The 3 of us.

As an added bonus to the weekend, we got to spend the night at Gammy and Poppy's. Julie, Josh and Noah flew back from their vacation to Florida that night, too. Poppy enjoyed spending some time with his babies when they woke up the next morning!

Little Mommy

Addison is a GREAT big sister and when people ask me how she is, I tell them just that. But, I also always have to add that she is even a better "little mommy". She is so sweet and nurturing towards Chase. She says the same things to him that I do. For instance, when he wakes up from a nap, she goes to him and says "Oh, hi little buddy. How was your nap? I missed you. Yes, I did. I missed you so much! It's okay, little guy, I'm here now."

She loves to feed Chase (and change his diaper and change his clothes and swaddle him and hold him and rock him, etc., etc.). Eventually, I might not have to do anything around here. I mean, she already sets the dinner table and cleans the house! :)

I LOVE MY LITTLE HELPER SO MUCH

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from my two Irish munchkins!

Chase's buddy, Andrew

Chase met one of his best buddies yesterday when our friends, Beth and Josh, came over for a visit. You might recognize little Andrew from previous posts. He is our Godson and is just as sweet as can be. Chase and Andrew are going to have a lot of fun growing up together!

Chase's signature sleeping position

I vaguely remember Addison sleeping like this. It just makes me giggle every time I see it!

Addison on scooter

With the warmer weather we've been having, Addison has been getting a lot of use out of the scooter she received for her birthday. She really enjoys it and gets going pretty fast, which scares me, but at least her head is protected!

Chase's first walk around the neighborhood

The weather is getting nice. We love getting a little preview of spring! It was in the 60's today so Addison and I took advantage of it and took Chase on a walk around the neighborhood. Addison decided she'd like to ride on her scooter, rather than in the stroller. She is getting really good at it!

Chase meets his cousin, Noah!

Aunt Julie, Uncle Josh, Noah and Bailey came to visit last weekend. And Gammy, too, as she usually tries to do when Julie and Josh are coming down from Cleveland. We were excited to introduce Chase to his cousin and Uncle (he had already met Julie).

We had an action packed 27 hours. We hit up Chuck E. Cheese, the pool, and the zoo (Chase's first time to Chuck E. Cheese and the zoo). It was lots of fun and as always, too short.

The kids checking out the Manatees

Our "twins" at the pool

Chase's first picture with his Aunt Julie, Uncle Josh, Cousin Noah, and Cousin ? (yep, there's a BABY in Julie's belly!!!)