Jacob telling Mom about his Day

Almost 10 weeks - WOW!

What a happy baby!

Put him in a body bag, Johnny! YEA!!!

First day of school in Grandma MA's outfit!


Reading "Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich" with Mom!

So we have survived the first round of shots. It was brutal for Mom - when he turned purple with the silent scream, I wanted to scream for him. He got 3 shots in the leg and then one they give by mouth. He got some Tylenol before and then when we got home he got more and was fine until about 7pm, when the Tylenol had worn off and his legs were on fire. It took a bath, another dose of Tylenol and a little cereal for him to finally pass out and stop crying, but he did sleep until after 6 the next morning. And yes, I said cereal. The boy weighed in at a hefty 14 lbs, 3oz (pretty much doubling his body weight in 2 months) and has grown 4 inches since birth. No one believes he is only 2 months old to look at him - besides the fact that he is so advanced!! Back to cereal - the doc approved giving cereal at night and then gradually introducing it during the day with his formula. He also gets to have some apple prune juice - yummy... or not - to help with digesting the soy which does tend to back him up a little. The juice only happens about once a week and I think it will be the night before he goes back to daycare, so they have to change those diapers...hahahaha! We are going to stick with the soy, just because when we switched the first time - it was a little rough on his system, so since he is doing just fine with soy and there isn't a price difference - we'll deal with the smell for the duration.

As for daycare, Jake is loving it and they love him! He is the youngest baby right now in the infant class and every time I pop in to check on him, he is cuddled up on someone's chest or cooing at one of the teachers. They love having him and have all remarked on how calm he is. They don't really understand Andy's fashion sense for him (with all the Halloween outfits), but they all get a big grin when he comes in waiting to see what Dad has dressed him in that day! Jake had a lot of curious babies on his first day and when they put him in the bouncy chair, the ones that could, all crawled over to check him out. I think one of the little girls, London, has a little crush on him, so I'll have to keep my eye on her! They already have his foot prints up on the wall and are determined to get his hand prints before long. I have been very impressed with how caring the ladies are to all the children and that has made it a lot easier to leave him every day. The one thing I wasn't ready for was the temptation of having him so close to me. Every time I get a break at work, I want to walk over there and play with him. I have limited myself to only going once a day during lunch, but then its really hard to leave him again.

As for his other progress, Jake has mastered moving his head and follows us as we walk around him. He can hold his head up for minutes at a time and now even has conversations with us! I love when he makes his high pitched squeal - it is the cutest! He smiles almost constantly (if he's not hungry or wet) and really recognizes Andy and I. Andy is working on his hand/eye coordination and depth perception today, trying to get him to grab toys and give him high fives. He is quickly getting the hang of it, too. Next the left handed knuckle ball - according to Andy!!! Pretty soon he'll be all over the place and I'll be longing for the day that I could put him down and walk away, come back and he's in the same spot!!!!

2 Month Pics and Videos

I love my pumpkin shirt!

Packed up to go for a walk on a chilly night.

Bubble beard - the only hair I can grow quickly!

I love bath time with Dad!!

Having fun in Uncle Chris's monster outfit.



Good times in the whale tub!

Mom's Back to Work - Where did the time go???

Well our little guy is 2 months old - it is so hard to believe. I am back at work, so trying to get pictures posted becomes more of a challenge, since they are on the home computer and I don't get in front of that hardly at all during the week, so I will try and post pictures and videos tomorrow. Going back to work hasn't been as bad as everyone led me to believe. It is no picnic, but knowing that Jake has been in great hands with his Dad this week made it a lot easier. Also, thank goodness Grandma B came for a quick visit and give Dad some help, since I have a sinus infection and can't go near the baby. Anyway, here's the latest on Jake...

We finally got the verdict on his galactesemia - he is a carrier, but doesn't actively have it. So, we can go back to regular formula which smells slightly better than the soy. Really bottom line is Jake just needs to be careful when he tries to have kids, since if he marries someone who is a carrier - their child could have it. But, since that is way too far down the road and too painful to think about right now, we'll move on.

Jake is a FANTASTIC baby and I'm not just saying that as his mother - he really does rule. He is sleeping through most of the night now and by most I mean he passes out at 10pm and doesn't start stirring until 5:15am and even then can be coaxed into falling back asleep for another hour. All of this is really helping Andy and I, since we are getting more sleep now, too! YEAH!!! He is still eating like a champ and guzzles down 7oz without a problem. We may have to introduce some cereal a little earlier than expected just to keep up with how much he is growing. I'll check with the doctor on Monday when Jake goes in for his first set of immunizations. I am not looking forward to this visit, since he won't be a happy camper. So we have a big week next week - Monday = shots then Tuesday = daycare. I have checked in with the ladies who will be watching him a couple of times this week and they are so excited to have Jacob come in. They already have a little cubbie labled for him and everything. I think this will be the big test for me - letting someone else who isn't related watch him, but since he's really close I can check on him whenever I want.

Lastly an update on Jake's gang - everyone is now born. Adi and Pete had their little boy last Saturday, so Jake, Owen and Camden will be ready to take over Newnan before we know it!!!

Pictures/Videos posted tomorrow...I hope...

6 weeks and Counting

My little grin

Andrew showing me how to fill up a blanket

Andrew loving the newest male in the family.

Will someone please fire my stylist...NOW!!!?

Lots of activity lately - we have had quite a few doctor visits since his metabolic testing came back abnormal for galactosemia. This is a metabolic disorder where he doesn't have enough of the enzyme to break down the galactose sugar in milk. Since the enzyme is missing - the galactose builds up in your liver, eyes, brain...etc and can cause liver failure, blindness, mental retardation...so needless to say we are following the docs recommendation which was to switch to an all soy diet. We've been on it a little over a week now and it still smells horrible. Hopefully, we'll adjust. We don't have the final verdict, yet, on if he really has it or if he has the variant version where he has some of the enzymes, but not enough to prevent a buildup. With the variant version, he can tolerate the galactose later in life, but will have to be on soy for the first year until there is more variety in his diet other than formula or milk. I had to take him last Monday to get blood drawn and his urine taken so it can be tested. Talk about hard for a mom to watch - they had to stick him in 2 places to draw the blood, because his vessels are so small and then to watch her poking the needle around after she stuck him - trying to get the vein...I was almost in tears...well that and I was completely frustrated that they kept us waiting for over 2 hours while they argued over who was going to pay to ship the sample to the Emory Lab. Anyway, its done and we should get the results tomorrow. He also went in and had his 6 week check up - he is now 22.5 inches long, and weighs in at 11lbs, 6oz - well he did on Thursday, by now he's probably over 12 lbs... Everything was otherwise very healthy and normal. He is a great baby!!!

After all the doctor appointments, Jake and I headed to SC so Grandma B could show her newest grand baby off to all her friends. He had a great time being passed around at the "Meet & Greet" and loved being held and adored by so many grandmothers. They also were very generous and he came home with new clothes, diapers and lots of gift cards to Target to buy more diapers and formula!!! Also, while we were there, he got to meet his Uncle Marc, Aunt Marianne and his cousins, Andrew, Mary Mac and Emma. Andrew loved having another boy around to even out the numbers. He can't wait for Jake to grow a little more, so he can do more than dance on his blanket - though Andrew was determined to teach him some moves and show him how you will grow as big as your blanket one day. We left early on Saturday and hated to say goodbye to everyone, especially since Grandpa was having such a good time with him, but Dad really missed us and we needed to gear up for the UGA/Arkansas game.

Today, Andy decided it was time for Jake to start learning more about government and popped in the "School House Rocks - Election Edition" DVD and wanted me to share Jake's new favorite song with you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ

I don't know how much he got out of it, but he did seem to really like the music.


Lastly, Jake's personality is really starting to show. He is starting to smile at us and definitely takes after his mom, since he doesn't like to wake up, either, and it takes him a few minutes to join reality or he instantly goes back to sleep. We are enjoying all these precious moments with him and can't believe how fast the days have gone by. I only have 2 weeks left on my maternity leave...it is hard to imagine not spending so much time with him!!! Well for now we're off to visit the Electoral College...

Just a little video of Dad trying to work on my smiling technique!!

A Month Old Already

I am loving my reflection...I am a handsome devil!

Post Game Tantrum - Mom & Dad were crying, too!

GO DAWGS!!!

I am amazed that they have let us keep Jake for over a month now. But since we have survived and no one has any serious injuries...I guess this might work. The last couple of weeks have been tough, since Andy has seriously injured his back, but it has given Jake and I plenty of bonding time. We suffered through the first college gameday, where UGA was a big disappointment, but we'll rally to beat South Carolina this weekend. We survivied another trip to the pediatrician for a 3rd heel stick for the metabolic testing...and hopefully the last one. Finally in the last few weeks, Jake has been working on his dance moves. Its pretty funny the way he kind of winds himself up with his right arm shake, then the legs get going. One day he may be coordinated...at least we hope so! Sorry this is short, but I'm too tired to think in complete sentences and its feeding time again...

Our Dancing Machine...

3 Weeks Old - Time is Flying By!

Wow - we've already passed the 3 week mark and he continues to grow and change every day. We are still trying to get on a normal routine, but since he constantly seems to be hungry, it hasn't quite happened, yet. We are getting a lot more awake and alert time and he is starting to be mesmerized by things, like his Detroit Tigers Mobile. If only the wind up on it would last more than 5 minutes...and play more than the 1st verse to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"...

We did have a great visit with Grandma MA. She broke rule #1 - "There's NO Crying in Baseball" immediately, but we gave her a break on this visit. :) While she was here we gave Jake his first real bath and the expert Grandma gave him his first shampoo! Grandma MA took us out to lunch with our friend Kim and her daughters Ava & Mia. Jake was the most well behaved child there, only because he slept the whole time! We even got in a little shopping tour of downtown Newnan! She also gave Andy & I a chance to go out to dinner alone. We stared at each other a lot and talked about what else...Jake! But, it was nice to relax for an hour or so. I don't think Jake was too happy we left, though, since he gave Grandma a hard time while we were gone! It was hard for all of us to see Grandma go, but hopefully she'll be back for another visit soon.

Since no more experts are around to help us out and keep us on the straight and narrow, we've tried a few things on our own. Andy and I gave Jake his first bath in the whale tub and Jake decided he wanted more movement in the water, so he created his own fountain. I warned Andy, but it was hilarious all the same and needless to say, the bath took twice as long, since we had to start over! We also managed to almost get through a pizza night dinner out at our neighborhood Partner's Pizza (on Friday night/pizza night, of course). We were on our last slices when he decided he wanted to make his presence known. I think he just got jealous that we were eating some good pie when he only gets tan water... We also had a fun night over at Kim & Ken's with the Knight's and Lameray's. Jake was the center of attention, as usual, and I think may have stirred up a desire for more babies in some of the ladies...

We're also at the almost halfway point of my leave from work - I can't believe it has gone by so quickly. It's a good thing I have a ton of pj's - since I basically have been living in them. Time to get back to baby land...thanks to Grandma MA for providing all the current photos...