Astronaut babyMonday, October 24, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Another month has passed...
And Braxton is now 8 months old. It is crazy to think that he has been alive for as long as I knew I was pregnant with him. The past 8 months have flown by, but it felt like I was pregnant forever! Braxton is such a sweet little guy. Here are some pictures from the past month (in random order) and some developmental updates.
Playing in the leaves at Kiwanis Park. The lighting wasn't the best, so I will have to go back and take more pictures. And he didn't even put the leaves in his mouth. Miracle!
Playing with the vacuum attachments while Mama cleans.
Wired! This picture was taken at 10:30 pm, three hours past Braxton's bedtime. He got ahold of a sugar packet that day when I was at lunch with Auntie Kels, and ya... This was the consequence of that.
Playing in his walker/exersaucer thing. I love the silly face he is pulling. He has big eyes like Mama.
Nakey babe ready for his bath. How could you not want to snuggle this?!
Eating the newspaper ads. Yum.
Showing off his TWO teeth!
Sucking on both sets of toes in the bathtub. Brax is a champ at yoga.
Just playin' in the laundry basket.
Braxton has had quite a busy month. He is growing and changing so much. I don't know what he weighs, but he is very chunky right now. He normally gets really chubby right before he grows, so he will probably shoot up pretty soon. He is in between clothing sizes right now. He is mostly in 6-9 mo. clothes, but still fits in quite a few of his 3-6 month clothes.
A couple milestones this month:
Playing in the leaves at Kiwanis Park. The lighting wasn't the best, so I will have to go back and take more pictures. And he didn't even put the leaves in his mouth. Miracle!
Playing with the vacuum attachments while Mama cleans.
Wired! This picture was taken at 10:30 pm, three hours past Braxton's bedtime. He got ahold of a sugar packet that day when I was at lunch with Auntie Kels, and ya... This was the consequence of that.
Playing in his walker/exersaucer thing. I love the silly face he is pulling. He has big eyes like Mama.
Nakey babe ready for his bath. How could you not want to snuggle this?!
Eating the newspaper ads. Yum.
Showing off his TWO teeth!
Sucking on both sets of toes in the bathtub. Brax is a champ at yoga.
Just playin' in the laundry basket.Braxton has had quite a busy month. He is growing and changing so much. I don't know what he weighs, but he is very chunky right now. He normally gets really chubby right before he grows, so he will probably shoot up pretty soon. He is in between clothing sizes right now. He is mostly in 6-9 mo. clothes, but still fits in quite a few of his 3-6 month clothes.
A couple milestones this month:
- rolls from his back onto his belly over both shoulders (still working on belly to back)
- reaches for toys that I hold in the air while he is on his tummy
- pulls to a stand when Mama or Daddy hold his hands. Still working on pulling up on furniture
- laughs like crazy when you play tug-of-war with him
- loves to stand against the couch and play with his toys
- got his helmet this month
- got his two first teeth (bottom)
- eats ham!!! The first meat he will actually eat and not spit out.
- favorite toy is his little race car that we got in a cereal box. Win!
- is back on three naps a day (got way too grumpy with only two)
- Yells "maaaaaaaaam" when he cries. I like to think that he intentionally calls me that. But he only does it when he cries. Darn.
- Bedtime has been moved up to 7:00 pm, and he sleeps a lot better now. About 7 pm to 8:30 am.
- Can go from sitting to on his tummy (as of today. We'll see if he can still do it tomorrow)
- Eats solids 2-3 times a day and nurses 5 times a day.
- New foods this month are ham, blueberries, and cheese.
- Has started making this adorable closed-mouth smile (see naked pic.)
- Cries when I take things away- usually my phone or the keys
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Head Update
On Monday, I took Braxton back in to see the orthotist. He made a couple slight adjustments to Braxton's helmet and measured Braxton's head again. After three days of wearing the helmet part-time and three days of full-time use, Braxton's head is already showing significant improvement. At the first appointment with Dr. Dave, Braxton's flatness was measured at 10mm. On Monday it measured 8 mm. Braxton's cephalic index (a ratio of head length and head width) at the first appointment was .92 and on Monday it was at .89. A normal cephalic index is in the mid 80s and the normal degree of flatness is 3-5 mm (isn't it odd that it is normal for your head to be a little flat?)
So... basically Braxton has already made significant progress with the helmet. Dr. Dave said that if Braxton gets a decent growth spurt, he could be done with the helmet really soon. Like two months.
I am really hopeful that Braxton will get a growth spurt pretty soon. He normally gets really chubby before he grows, and well, right now he is rather round and squishy. More than normal, anyway. :)
That's all. Just thought I would keep y'all posted.
PS- if anyone feels so inclined, we find out if Kyle got an internship in Atlanta with EY the beginning of November and we would really appreciate the prayers. It's a lot more competitive than we thought. So far they have cut it down to twice as many qualified applicants as there are spots... so ya. Praying and fasting and crossing every body part possible that we get it!
So... basically Braxton has already made significant progress with the helmet. Dr. Dave said that if Braxton gets a decent growth spurt, he could be done with the helmet really soon. Like two months.
I am really hopeful that Braxton will get a growth spurt pretty soon. He normally gets really chubby before he grows, and well, right now he is rather round and squishy. More than normal, anyway. :)
That's all. Just thought I would keep y'all posted.
PS- if anyone feels so inclined, we find out if Kyle got an internship in Atlanta with EY the beginning of November and we would really appreciate the prayers. It's a lot more competitive than we thought. So far they have cut it down to twice as many qualified applicants as there are spots... so ya. Praying and fasting and crossing every body part possible that we get it!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Placing your feet in Christ's footsteps
I love this quote from "Our Search for Happiness" by M. Russell Ballard. If you have not read this book, you should! I really believe that it is a book that everyone should be familiar with. It discusses the core doctrines and beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In this part of the book, Elder Ballard is talking about the great changes that can occur in your life when you develop a relationship with the Savior Jesus Christ and come to know of His reality and divinity. Here's the quote:
"That's the way it is when Jesus Christ becomes a reality in your life. It isn't that He somehow makes you do things that you wouldn't do otherwise. Rather, you find yourself wanting to do what He would do and respond as He would respond in an effort to bring your life into harmony with His. And an interesting thing happens whenever you attempt to place your feet in Christ's footsteps. If you really concentrate on trying to walk the way He walked- Loving, caring, serving, and obeying each step of the way- one day you'll look up and discover that His path has lead you directly to the thrown of God. For that is and ever has been His great purpose and Mission: to lead us to our Heavenly Father so we can dwell with Him in His heavenly home."
Wow. That quote hits me every time I read it. It isn't anything new that I haven't heard before, but it beautifully states the mission of the Savior. I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for His love for me. I know that He is real and that He loves me and every person on this earth. I am trying each day to become more like Him. I know that He understands my struggles and trials and that I can always lean on Him for support. I am grateful for the atonement and that I can have the opportunity to live with my Heavenly Father again, thanks to my Savior Jesus Christ.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
So, uh, why does your son wear that thing?
This is the question that I have been dreading for several months now. Nearly six months ago, Braxton was diagnosed with torticollis. Simply put, torticollis is a condition where the muscles on one side of the neck are tighter and weaker than the muscles on the other side. This is a very basic explanation of it. In Braxton's case, this weakness was caused by being head down for most of my pregnancy. Braxton holds his head at a tilt because of this weakness, which in turn has caused a flat spot to develop on the back of his head. This is known as plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome).
For the past six months, we have been diligently implementing repositional therapy- not letting him spend any time on the back of his head. Even when sleeping. It has been quite the challenge, but he has learned how to sleep on his left side. Despite our efforts, Braxton's head is still flat although it has improved considerably.
These two conditions have had a significant impact on Braxton's gross motor skills. Three months ago, Braxton started going to physical therapy to eliminate his torticollis. The physical therapist we see, Emily, is wonderful! She gives us stretches and exercises that I do everyday with Braxton. These exercises help to improve Braxton's range of motion in his neck and to hopefully improve his mobility. At almost eight months, Braxton does not roll or crawl. Some moms would consider it a blessing to have a baby that will just sit and play in the same spot all day, but I don't see it that way. Torticollis can impair a baby's sense of balance and coordination, resulting in delayed mobility. Every increase in mobility we see in Braxton is a huge sigh of relief for us.
In addition to physical therapy, Braxton now wears a helmet to help with the plagiocephaly. Quite honestly, the helmet looks quite uncomfortable. Braxton is adjusting to it nicely though. We haven't had any problems with it at all. It does look terribly uncomfortable; however, the orthotist told us that it is kind of like wearing a hat. It's not uncomfortable, just takes some getting used to. Anyway, here he is.
The helmet looks worse than it actually is. It doesn't bother him at all. We are still in the "break in" period, but by the end of the week he will be wearing it 23 hours a day. For the next 2-4 months. Hopefully two, but I'm preparing to wait the whole four. :)
The decision to get a helmet was quite difficult to make. Obviously, Braxton will never remember this (who knows, we might not tell him at all). It will be a lot harder on me and Kyle than it will be for Braxton. The biggest factors for us in deciding whether or not to get a helmet were $$ and people's reactions.
Thankfully, our insurance has agreed to cover Braxton's helmet because we had recommendations from his pediatrician and his physical therapist AND the orthotist. If it weren't for the insurance company, there is no way we could afford this. It definitely is a little miracle that we were able to get it for him. As for people's reactions, this will definitely take some getting used to. We get lots of stares and strange looks. It is sad that people see Braxton in his helmet and think he is a little "special kid" with a helmet because his parents are afraid he is going to hurt himself. Or something ridiculous like that. Yes, the helmet is rather unsightly, but it breaks my heart to see how quick people are to judge. We have prayed for several months for help for Braxton, and we are so grateful that our prayers have been answered.
Anyway, that is the explanation for the helmet. I will admit that I am dreading church on Sunday when we will likely get lots of stares and funny looks. I'm sure it won't be that bad, but I still worry. We will be taking Braxton back to the the orthotist every three weeks to have him remeasured so I will be sure to post updates on his condition.
For the past six months, we have been diligently implementing repositional therapy- not letting him spend any time on the back of his head. Even when sleeping. It has been quite the challenge, but he has learned how to sleep on his left side. Despite our efforts, Braxton's head is still flat although it has improved considerably.
These two conditions have had a significant impact on Braxton's gross motor skills. Three months ago, Braxton started going to physical therapy to eliminate his torticollis. The physical therapist we see, Emily, is wonderful! She gives us stretches and exercises that I do everyday with Braxton. These exercises help to improve Braxton's range of motion in his neck and to hopefully improve his mobility. At almost eight months, Braxton does not roll or crawl. Some moms would consider it a blessing to have a baby that will just sit and play in the same spot all day, but I don't see it that way. Torticollis can impair a baby's sense of balance and coordination, resulting in delayed mobility. Every increase in mobility we see in Braxton is a huge sigh of relief for us.
In addition to physical therapy, Braxton now wears a helmet to help with the plagiocephaly. Quite honestly, the helmet looks quite uncomfortable. Braxton is adjusting to it nicely though. We haven't had any problems with it at all. It does look terribly uncomfortable; however, the orthotist told us that it is kind of like wearing a hat. It's not uncomfortable, just takes some getting used to. Anyway, here he is.
The helmet looks worse than it actually is. It doesn't bother him at all. We are still in the "break in" period, but by the end of the week he will be wearing it 23 hours a day. For the next 2-4 months. Hopefully two, but I'm preparing to wait the whole four. :)The decision to get a helmet was quite difficult to make. Obviously, Braxton will never remember this (who knows, we might not tell him at all). It will be a lot harder on me and Kyle than it will be for Braxton. The biggest factors for us in deciding whether or not to get a helmet were $$ and people's reactions.
Thankfully, our insurance has agreed to cover Braxton's helmet because we had recommendations from his pediatrician and his physical therapist AND the orthotist. If it weren't for the insurance company, there is no way we could afford this. It definitely is a little miracle that we were able to get it for him. As for people's reactions, this will definitely take some getting used to. We get lots of stares and strange looks. It is sad that people see Braxton in his helmet and think he is a little "special kid" with a helmet because his parents are afraid he is going to hurt himself. Or something ridiculous like that. Yes, the helmet is rather unsightly, but it breaks my heart to see how quick people are to judge. We have prayed for several months for help for Braxton, and we are so grateful that our prayers have been answered.
Anyway, that is the explanation for the helmet. I will admit that I am dreading church on Sunday when we will likely get lots of stares and funny looks. I'm sure it won't be that bad, but I still worry. We will be taking Braxton back to the the orthotist every three weeks to have him remeasured so I will be sure to post updates on his condition.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Braxton and Mama's Day(s) of Fun
Since Daddy is at school most of the day, Braxton and I have found a lot of things to help keep us busy until he comes home at night...
Once a week, we plan out all our meals for the week and go grocery shopping. And we make dinner for Daddy every night.
We go on walks almost every day. Even when it's cold.
What Mommy sees as she pushes the stroller. I love watching his little head turn and look at things.
We check the mail and read the weekly newspaper ads. Turns out Braxton isn't a huge fan of couponing...
We read scriptures and say prayers with Daddy before he goes to class.
We do laundry and tidy up the house.
Last weekend, we watched General Conference. Sometimes we watch movies too.
Lots of tummy time. Trying to get this guy to crawl.
Braxton gets a bath every day. He loves to swim in the tub. Our bathroom looks like a pipe burst by the time he is done.
Sometimes we go to the park and play in the grass...
...or play with the swings.
We go to some of Aunt Kelsey's soccer games (and I try to keep Braxton from eating the turf).
And at least a couple times a day we go sit outside and watch the cars go by our house.
We also manage to squeeze in two naps, some random trips around town, and playgroup. We keep pretty busy while Daddy is away.
Once a week, we plan out all our meals for the week and go grocery shopping. And we make dinner for Daddy every night.
We go on walks almost every day. Even when it's cold.
What Mommy sees as she pushes the stroller. I love watching his little head turn and look at things.
We check the mail and read the weekly newspaper ads. Turns out Braxton isn't a huge fan of couponing...
We read scriptures and say prayers with Daddy before he goes to class.
We do laundry and tidy up the house.
Last weekend, we watched General Conference. Sometimes we watch movies too.
Lots of tummy time. Trying to get this guy to crawl.
Braxton gets a bath every day. He loves to swim in the tub. Our bathroom looks like a pipe burst by the time he is done.
Sometimes we go to the park and play in the grass...
...or play with the swings.
We go to some of Aunt Kelsey's soccer games (and I try to keep Braxton from eating the turf).
And at least a couple times a day we go sit outside and watch the cars go by our house.
We also manage to squeeze in two naps, some random trips around town, and playgroup. We keep pretty busy while Daddy is away.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Braxton's First Temple Trip!
A couple weeks ago, Braxton and I took a little walk up to the LDS Provo Temple. The walk turned out to be farther than I thought-- about 1.4 miles each way. It was so beautiful though. The sun was shining and the flowers around the temple were absolutely gorgeous.
Braxton in front of the temple
Looking at the fountain
We might have played in the water just a little bit.
Brax really liked the noise from this fountain.
I love to see the temple!
Braxton playing on the grass. I wanted to get a picture of him in front of the flowers, but there wasn't a soft spot to set him in front of them. He was still a little wobbly when we went, so I had to settle for pictures on the grass.
We took our time walking to the temple and watching the fountain and playing in the grass, so I wasn't surprised to find this when we were about halfway home...
So I will admit that the day I took Braxton to the temple was one of those "I'm gonna kill my child" days. If you are a mom, you know what I'm talking about. If you aren't, don't worry you will someday. Braxton had just started teething and had been up about 5 times the night before. So when he decided he wanted to start his day at 6:00am, I was not in the best of moods.
Once we got to the temple, I immediately felt better. I love the peace that comes from the temple. I don't get to attend the temple as often as I would like (it's a lot more difficult to go when you have children), so I was grateful for the opportunity to walk around the grounds with Brax and just feel the Spirit. It was a wonderful experience.
Braxton and I had some great talks while we were there. A group of missionaries asked me to take a picture for them, so after that Braxton and I had a little talk about missionaries and how they teach people the gospel and about Jesus and how Brax can be a missionary someday . We also talked about Angel Moroni and how each Moroni points east (Brax kept staring up at him). And we talked about how someday Braxton can go inside the temple and make special promises with Heavenly Father. It was a good opportunity for me to try to explain things in a way a child could understand. It was more difficult than I thought it would be. And talking about the gospel and the temple helped to change my attitude and remember that my son is a child of God. I love the gospel and I love my sweet little son.
Braxton in front of the temple
Looking at the fountainWe might have played in the water just a little bit.
Brax really liked the noise from this fountain.
I love to see the temple!
Braxton playing on the grass. I wanted to get a picture of him in front of the flowers, but there wasn't a soft spot to set him in front of them. He was still a little wobbly when we went, so I had to settle for pictures on the grass.
We took our time walking to the temple and watching the fountain and playing in the grass, so I wasn't surprised to find this when we were about halfway home...
So I will admit that the day I took Braxton to the temple was one of those "I'm gonna kill my child" days. If you are a mom, you know what I'm talking about. If you aren't, don't worry you will someday. Braxton had just started teething and had been up about 5 times the night before. So when he decided he wanted to start his day at 6:00am, I was not in the best of moods.
Once we got to the temple, I immediately felt better. I love the peace that comes from the temple. I don't get to attend the temple as often as I would like (it's a lot more difficult to go when you have children), so I was grateful for the opportunity to walk around the grounds with Brax and just feel the Spirit. It was a wonderful experience.
Braxton and I had some great talks while we were there. A group of missionaries asked me to take a picture for them, so after that Braxton and I had a little talk about missionaries and how they teach people the gospel and about Jesus and how Brax can be a missionary someday . We also talked about Angel Moroni and how each Moroni points east (Brax kept staring up at him). And we talked about how someday Braxton can go inside the temple and make special promises with Heavenly Father. It was a good opportunity for me to try to explain things in a way a child could understand. It was more difficult than I thought it would be. And talking about the gospel and the temple helped to change my attitude and remember that my son is a child of God. I love the gospel and I love my sweet little son.
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