Tooth and Giggles

BJ had been sleeping pretty terribly for a few nights and yesterday I was sitting on the couch, letting him chew on and drool all over my hand and I discovered why.  He is getting a tooth!  Sure enough there is a little one (his bottom central incisor- my mom helped with that description) popping through!  I rushed out to Target for some Oragel- put it on last night and he slept like a champ- what a big boy.  

His other thing- new tonight - he started giggling.  He had done noises with smiles before, but I tickled his belly while getting hime changed for bed and he giggled.  I quick called B in from the garage, and we sat there and laughed at his giggles for a few minutes.  It was so cute!  I love being a mom to such a wonderful little boy.  So fun!!

St Patrick's Day outfit- "Kiss me", "Mommy's good luck charm"

Long overdue update

This is seriously overdue.  I have plenty of good excuses- but I'm sorry anyway.  BJ turned 5 months yesterday, and we are amazed at how blessed we have been by our little gift from God.  Here is what has been going on the last month or so. 

The end of February, BJ and I flew back to Omaha for 4 days for Miranda's baby shower.  It was a great time!  We were able to celebrate the upcoming birth of Miranda and Jason's baby, and we couldn't be more excited.  Miranda has done exceptionally well being pregnant- I think (last I checked) she is still running and she is around 38 weeks pregnant!  We can attest to how being parents can be such a dicotomy- so extremely difficult and so extremely rewarding- and we know that Jason and Miranda will do so well.  There were many highlights to the trip, but a huge one was getting to visit Grandpa Bowerbank (Brandon's grandpa- in Creston, IA).  BJ and I drove out on Monday and spent around 5 hours with Great-Grandpa.  It was wonderful to see the two of them together- they do resemble each other, both chubby and without hair.  BJ is such a social guy which is such a blessing when you visit new people.  I think our visit was really treasured by Great-Grandpa.  BJ was all smiles for Grandpa, and Grandpa was eager to show him off to his sister Maxine.  It was a short trip, and I know Grandpa really would have liked us to stay longer, but I think he was glad for every minute we could spend with him.

We came back to Denver and had BJ's 4 month checkup.  Despite being so sick with RSV, he continues to be our chunk.  He was 25 1/4 in (90%) long, 15 lbs 13 oz (85%), and his head was 17 1/4 n (>95%).  He is meeting all his milestones, and loves smiling at everyone.  He was quite upset about the shots, but made sure to calm down enough to smile at the nurse before we left the office!!  He clearly has a great heart for people!

Unfortunately, BJ picked up a cold (likely on the plane to Omaha) so now has spent all but 5 days of the last 10 weeks having sometime of respiratory virus.  Poor guy.  Now he just continues with a cough and wheezing- which has really messed his night time sleeping up- coughing himself awake and hungry.  We took him in yesterday to the doctor and she  recommended starting him on an inhaled steroid neb in addition to the albuterol to help decrease the inflammation in his airways.  Nothing is for sure, but given the fact that he continues to cough and wheeze so far out- he likely has or will have asthma.  We are totally bummed about this, but know many people who do amazing despite their asthma- and know it could be a million times worse.  

Last weekend, BJ was so blessed to have both sets of grandparents out for his dedication.  He spent the weekend showing off, smiling, rolling over (still only from his belly to his back), eating his toes, and jumping in his Johnny Jumpup (a new favorite).  The dedication was really special (I only cried once).  Our church does a dinner and then each child has a quick picture video and a time to talk about the meaning of their name and a prayer.  Brandon means fervent, and our pastor prayed that he would be fervent in his love for God and his love for people.  Nothing would make me prouder than to see that prayer fufilled.  I can already tell he will be fervent in his love for people- he is definitely a social butterfly.  He loves to play hard, but would rather talk and spend time with people.  

Brandon doing "pride rock" with BJ

He continues to be huge- yesterday with clothes and a diaper on- he weighed 17 lbs. 11 oz.  Amazing.  He loves to eat and sleep, and he is definitely putting both to use in his growth.  He is doing better with naps at daycare, sleeping 1-2.5 hours at a time- which is so great.  

Work has been stressful for Brandon and I both.  Brandon has moved into a different area of work which has been more challenging and demanding- and they lost 2 people (out of an office of 24 or so) recently in layoffs due to the economy.  Luckily it seems they are done with layoffs for a while, so we can breathe a little easier.  I am back to my long hours and being on call, which has been physically and emotionally tiring.  There are still many days that I am very sad leaving BJ at daycare, but I look forward to his smile when I come home.  

That is probably enough for now- sorry it has been so long, but life is busy- as many moms or residents can attest!  

BJ's amazing dad

Those of you who know Brandon well know that he isn't the biggest help when it comes to housework. Not that he is incapable, just that he, like many men, does not see the need to clean and pick up. Whatever he lacks in domestic chore finesse, he more than makes up for as a dad. BJ really has an amazing dad. I know there are many women out there who worry about leaving their kids alone with their dad for any period of time (one woman actually told me in a panic that she had to hurry home from work one night because their nanny was out of town and her husband would be alone with the kids after work). I definitely do not worry about either one of the two (or three counting Pedro) boys home alone with each other. Brandon has really come in to his own as far as being a dad goes. BJ is becoming more interactive every day, and it is so fun to watch the two of them together. I am back on a inpatient month (the 80 hour/week 30 hour shift schedules) so I was on call yesterday and overnight. I came home this afternoon and picked my precious little boy up from a nap while talking to Brandon. BJ was still pretty dazed, but as soon as he saw Daddy broke out in a big grin (I'm only a little jealous). They are quickly becoming best buds. Brandon is so good with him-playing hard, recognizing when he's ready for a nap, even sitting at the hospital for an hour, waiting for me to have a break so I can breastfeed once while on call- everything. He has become more patient with the rare inconsolable crying spells. Today he even stepped up and washed a load of BJ's clothes quickly after a blowout diaper. He'll race me to BJ's room wanting to be the firs to get him when he is crying after a nap. I've had so many people ask how I do it, being a mom and a resident, working these crazy hours. I tell them it is because of my wonderful amazing husband and his superdad abilities! Brandon, I love you- and I never tire of watching you with our son. Thanks for sharing in the miracle of BJ.