4 Months

4 months

14 lbs 10 oz

25 1/4 inches

James,

4 months old! What a month it has been, full of change for both you and I. Biggest change for mommy has been the day after your 4 month birthday my maternity leave concluded and work commenced. It is a bittersweet thing, going back to work.  I miss you terribly but I am also enjoying intertwining my old job at Bayer HealthCare with my new job as your mommy. 

Morning before I left for work

For you, little man, so much has happened this past month.  Unfortunately, you had to face your first real sickness. You came down with RSV the week before Christmas. You woke up with a horrible cough and stuffy nose. Just as I was contemplating calling the Doctor, I received a call from your sitter, Teresa, who was calling to let me know that 3 of the daycare kids were out sick and one was diagonalized with RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus).  This disease is so contagious, so I wasn't going to be suprised if this was also RSV rearing it's ugly head in the Shempp household. By the time we got to the doctor that day, you were having a lot of trouble catching your breath and the cough was getting worse by the minute. I have never been more scared for you. You were so miserable and watching you struggle to breath...awful. I hated not being able to help you. After a few days and a few trips to the doctor to monitor your breathing, check your oxygen levels and ears for infection, we went home the 4th day with antibiotics and a breathing treatment. You didn't love the treatments but by the end of the day were you breathing much better.  Of course once you were on the mend, both mommy and daddy came down with horrible colds ;) Thanks buddy.

You were doing so well with your sleeping and eating, having many nights of sleeping from 8-6 and eating 25-30 oz of formula a day (5-6 oz/5 times per day).  However, after your bout with RSV you have regressed a little, taking smaller meals of 4-5 oz per feeding and getting up twice a night for a snack (11pm and 4am).  You are still going to bed around 7:30pm and waking up at 6:30am (for the most part, happily).  You take 4 naps a day of 45 minutes to 1 hour.  You will only sleep longer if we rock you back to sleep.  I know it is probably a bad habit, but it is one of my favorite things to do.  Nothing better than snuggling you and watching you sleep.  You still insist on being tightly swaddled and we have since had to buy you new types of swaddles that are harder for you to break free.  You think you want your arms out, but are really mad once they are ;)


New tricks this month...rolling from stomach to back. You hate being on your stomach so much that the minute I put you there, you roll right over.  You also have really started playing with your toys and putting everything in your mouth (except your paci, which all the sudden you hate!)  Your favorite toys; anything that sings or krinkles.  You have also been insistent on sitting up as much as possible.  You can't quite it do on your own, but you want us to help you so you can sit up and interact with your world.  You have also started cereal, although you are not quite sure about it, so we are taking that slow.  You are really laughing and smiling now. What really gets you going is "play fighting" with daddy (punching and kicking him) and chasing Charlie around the house.  Goodness...you are all "BOY"! I love that about you ;)

You are growing up so fast little man, I'm trying to soak you all in. Happy Birthday. Love you so very much!

Ohio Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was such a wonderful event, full of exciting things to celebrate. First, new family members! Of course, the new addition of PJS III and "officially" joining the family with a May 2013 wedding, Danny, who proposed to Jacqueline a few weeks back.  This year we also had the whole Shempp clan in for a visit.  Peter's Grandmother and Grandfather flew in from Buffalo as well as his Aunt Emily from NYC. We were so thrilled that James was able to meet all of his great-grandparents on Peter's side. Not many people have the opportunity to do that. We had a wonderful time and James did great despite all of the commotion!  He was a party animal and was exhausted when we got home.

 Wilie, around for his 18th Turkey Day ;)

 Enjoying time with Grandmother

 Mimi and Poppy

 

A few of Jacqueline's beautiful event decorations

 I love this picture of the two James'

 Aunt Tracey made this beautiful sapphire baby ring that looks so similar to Jacqueline's engagement ring! I cherish this little ring and wear it everyday around my neck. Thanks Aunt Tracey we love you!

 Tuckered out...

 We are so Thankful!

Fall Beauty

Thanks to our wonderful friend Megan, we were able to catch a bit of Texas Fall with a few pictures of this new family!

 

3 Months

James

 

3 months old, Buddy! I can't believe it.  I have been waiting on this day for oh...about 3 months now ;) Not because I wanted to wish away your newborn wonders...but I was sort of  looking forward to what everyone referred to as the "miracle age", when things get a bit simpler, you cry less, and begin to (shhh...dare I say)..."sleep through the night"?? Well the day is here and for the last two nights you have slept from 8-6!!!!!!! I hesitate to even type this, in fear of the curse of "speaking too soon". Mommy feels like a bright and shinny new person with this uninterrupted sleep.  I can't thank you enough and I BEG you to continue.  As for crying less...you are doing that as well.  However, the first two days after your big 3 month bday...were not good and I was cursing all those who raised my expectations ;) To give you credit, we were just getting home from your first trip to Ohio and you also got your first head cold.  Needless to say, I have never seen you quite so out of sorts and exhausted.  You are catching up now with two nights of good sleep and a 3 hour nap this morning. You are in much better spirits.

This month has also brought new firsts. You started laughing, which is the absolute best part of my day.  You laugh the most when chasing Charlie around the house as we fly you like "superbaby" after him.  Charlie is not as amused ;)

You have also started holding and batting at your toys.  You hold your head up like a champ and have even started to try a baby push up! Rolling over will be next.

Your new toy! You can almost touch ;)

 

 As for me, I finally gave up on the breast milk.  You continued to have trouble, despite my best effort, so it is 100% formula for you little man and you are doing just great.  I envy those women I see, happily nursing their little ones...but it just wasn't for us kiddo. Solid foods are just around the corner!!

 Happy Birthday Baby! Love you more than words. Momma

2 Months Old

James,

You are two months old today! Two months has been a major milestone for you as we have finally figured out your allergy to milk and soy.  After many weeks of trying new diets, new formulas, new medications....we now have the answers we were desperately searching for and you finally have relief.  The days of agony and tears (for you and for mommy!) are far and few between these days, and for that, I am so grateful.  Mommy is still on a pretty strict diet as you are very sensitive to any dairy, soy, soybean or soy lectin products.  We even tried to give you a hypoallergenic formula and you had an adverse reaction to that as well.  We are still breast feeding, although you have decided to only take it from the bottle....you prefer the faster output ;) We have also started to supplement some even more hypo-allergic formula that we get from the Doctor, called Elecare, and that seems to be working just fine.  You definitely don't love the taste, but you humor mom since you know how hard this diet is for me and I just can't continue it for a full year.  You're such a team player ;)

At 2 months, you are talking up a storm (and complaining too). You also love to sing and scream at the top of your lungs...just for fun! You continue to suck on your fists and much prefer that over the paci.  However, the paci does the trick to get you sleepy while wrapped in your "baby straight jacket" (aka swaddle). You still need to be swaddle to sleep and are sleeping pretty good at night 8-10, 10-4, 4-7.  You are napping great too...however...only in the swing...ughhh. We are going to have to work on that.  I really don't want a 4 year old climbing into his swing to sleep ;) HA.  Still eating every 2.5-3 hours during the day, hence the chubby cheeks! You still love your bath and spend lots of time kicking and splashing. You do hate getting out and throw a huge tantrum when lifted out of the water, temper, temper!  Still hate your car seat and stroller, but we are working on that as well.  Mommy makes you get in every day...like it or not! Activities you love: bath, playing on your play mat, listening to music (love Wheels on the Bus), watching the ceiling fan, talking to mom and dad, being naked ;), bouncing on the exercise ball, swinging in your swing.

You were a trooper at the doctor for your 2 month check up where you had to get 3 shots and 2 oral vaccinations.  You cried of course, but were soothed easily once in momma arms. Here are your stats:

Weight: 12lbs 6oz: 67%
Height: 23 inches; 56%
Head: 23%

We love you big boy and can't wait to see what next month brings!

Shempp's Come For a Visit

Popsie and Mimsy came for a visit this week and what a great time for them to come, as James finally turned the 'happy corner" after a long few weeks of battling not only a milk protein allergy but also a soy allergy. The doctor continued me on my strict diet...and thankfully it did the trick! This week we got a bunch of smiles of out Mr. James as well as some new sounds (that sound a lot like words!) "HEY", "OOOH", "OUH". We also had 2 nights of great sleep 7-5:30!!! We sure do love this happy baby and are so glad that Popsie and Mimsy could come!

All The Faces of James

 

Hanging Out :)

 Watching the ball game!

 

 Bath Time with the Boys

 

Getting Ready to Cheer on the BUCKEYES!

 Pumpkin Patch

 

James, Popsie & Mimsy

 The Shempps

 3 Generations of Peter James Shempp