Baby update...

Holy cow! I took Joel to the clinic today to have him weighed since today was his actual due date. He weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces! He weighed 7 1/2 pounds on the 16th, so he is definitely growing! He did much better with sleeping the past two nights, and slept for two and a half hours in his new crib this morning. He is VERY fussy now though, and Daddy is trying to work his magic to get him to stop crying without much luck. That doesn't bode well for sleeping tonight....Good night all!

Monkey butt!

Big Boy bed, complete with his sports mobile!

Such a big bed for such a little boy!(Now if Mom can only stand having him sleeping in the next room instead of at the foot of the bed.....)

Content and cooing!

On his way to church for the first time....his outfit says "Heaven Sent" on the front.

Our Angel!

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

Daddy's little golfing buddy!

Happy Birthday to Me and Happy Due Date Joel!

Today is my birthday and tomorrow is the day that Joel was actually due to be born! It's amazing to us how much he is growing and changing already. I am going to try and take him to get weighed tomorrow...he has to be over 8 pounds I would think. The colic situation is going a little better. With some help from my parents we got his crib and bookcases up this weekend. I will try to post pictures at some point. His room is turning out pretty cute! I also took some pictures of him in shorts, tennies, and a ballcap with his new baby golf clubs. He was not happy, but still pretty darn adorable! I will try to post those later, too. Mom is getting good at typing with one hand, but he's almost too heavy to hold now with one arm. Sigh. Anyway, things are going well, and Joel is learning to love his stroller rides. We left him with my parents last night while we went for my birthday dinner. They got some good baby time, but we were a little eager to get back to him! We took him to church today for the first time. He was pretty good, and he had quite the fan club waiting to meet him! More later (and hopefully pictures...). Good night!

Seven and a half pounds of baby lovin'!

Well, I took Joel back to the clinic today after an awful night of screaming and crying (him, not me!). I met with the nurse/practitioner that works with Dr. Foldvary (she has worked with him for 30+ years, so I guess I can trust her!) and she talked to me for almost 45 minutes about colic, acid reflux, and preemie growth. She was very nice and kind and did not make me feel stupid. We changed Joel's feeding schedule a little bit and he got a prescription for his acid reflux. Plus, we are supposed to give him Pedialyte twice a day to help his belly. So far, so good....no screaming yet and it's almost 10:00! Anyway, she did not want to change his formula because, being a preemie, he needs the extra calories. She weighed him and he came in at 7 1/2 pounds wearing nothing but a diaper! My tiny baby is starting to not be a tiny baby anymore! Like the doctor, she was very impressed by his development and growth. She actually said he had "amazing growth patterns" for a preemie! My boy is a superstar! I felt better hearing someone tell us that his nighttime issues are normal. She said that he should start doing better at night very soon since he is getting older and stronger. I love cuddling him, but sleep would be a beautiful thing! Joel turned six weeks old yesterday. It doesn't seem possible! Good night and wish us good luck.....

This picture cracks me up! I ordered this hat from Baby Gap size small/medium. When it came today, it fit Rob's head! We put it on Joel and it covered almost his entire body! I think it will be a while before he grows into that one! P.S. My husband is a dork! :0)

Joel's "Happy Easter" outfit....totally adorable!

I love his baby socks! The onsie says, "I'm bringing chubby back!"...unfortunately it is about 3 sizes too big for him!

First time in his new tub!

Time flies...

Well, Joel is a month old already! It's strange....in some ways it feels like we have had him forever and in some ways it is still amazing to us that he is here! Mom and Dad are having some problems adjusting to the lack of sleep. Joel is colicky and spends the majority of the hours between midnight and six in the morning screaming and refusing to go to sleep. This too shall pass I guess, but it can't happen fast enough! I hope everyone enjoys the pictures. He is sooooo adorable and seems to be changing a little bit every day. Tonight we tried some "tummy time" with his new play mat and Boppy thing. He does pretty well lifting his head, but doesn't seem to want to stay on his tummy for long. My house is a disaster and we are completely exhausted, but we wouldn't trade him for anything. Even Bailey seems to be warming up to him! She likes to sniff his head while he is eating and lay beside us on the couch when he has his bottle. It's taking a while, but I think they will be buddies eventually. Good night!

Hospital picture...he looks worried!

Mommy's favorite time of day....snuggle time!

Joel on his one-month birthday!