What's Up with the Higgs: January 2008

Monday, January 28, 2008

Ryan's Birthday Dinner

Last week was Ryan's birthday and for the first time since his senior year in high school he was in Dallas to celebrate. Fortunately, he did not have training that night so we were able to go out to eat with his parents, sister Kaylee, and the McBees. Here are some pics:

I love this photo - I am so sad Kaylee isn't in it!

Milestone Monday

Happy Monday to everyone. Due to the weather being miserable here today in Dallas - chilly, cloudy, foggy - Brayden and I stayed in the house all day. Ryan was home too because, well - he works from home. :) We had a good day because we finally were victorious in a battle we had been fighting for a few weeks now. As some of you read last week we have been having trouble with Brayden wanting to take a bottle. After hearing lots of advice on what to do from friends & family, reading numerous parent message boards online and various how-to baby books, a phone call to the pediatrician, and a trip to Babies R Us to buy several types of bottles we really felt like we had tried everything. I kept hearing about this one type of bottle called the Adiri Natural Nurser - there are only two places in Dallas that sell them and when I called the places here to see if they had any they were out of stock. There was even a waiting list at one place! Since these particular bottles seemed to be in high demand I figured they must work, right? I had to have one. Luckily I could get them online. They finally got here last Friday. Ryan tried to give him a bottle today and guess what?!?!?! He TOOK it. A whole 2 ounces. Yeah! Ryan said he thought that he probably would've eaten more but we only had been trying a few ounces at a time to keep from wasting milk. I couldn't believe how excited I was! It's amazing how the smallest milestone can make you so proud of your baby. For all of you mothers out there - if you ever run into the same problem - please try this bottle. http://www.adiri.com/ I highly recommend it. We still have a way to go - one day of taking the bottle doesn't mean he will take it tomorrow. But I am hopeful!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!!!

It's Ryan's birthday tomorrow. Brayden and I wanted to wish you a happy day! We love you!

Brayden - 3 months old

Brayden is 3 months old this week - hard to believe!

Trip to Starbucks to meet Michele Ring and her baby boy Dillon (8 months)

Naptime in the swing

Jenn and Brayden having fun

This photo cracks me up - looks like he had too much milk to drink :)

There's that smile!

Aunt Kaylee stopped by for a visit

After bathtime - check out the hair!

He's going to be the first 3 month old to need product for his hair.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Whew! This week has been a doozy....

Well, I finally had one of those crazy, hectic weeks with the baby that all of my friends that are moms have been telling me would eventually come. I mean the past 12 weeks haven't been easy as pie but I have to say I thank my lucky stars every day that Brayden is such a great baby. Here's a recap:

1. Saturday - I totally lost out on any chance of winning mother-of-the-year when I left Brayden for a millisecond laying on the couch by himself (far away from the edge) to run get my cell phone that I had left in our room. I was walking back down the hall to the den when I heard a cry of pure terror come out of my child. I sprinted to the den where I found my sweet baby on the ground on his back, legs and arms flailing, holding his breath and his face as bright red as a tomato. Sheer panic ran down my spine as I scooped him up and held him close as he cried a cry that was indescribable. I ran back to the bedroom and inspected his limbs to make sure none were broken and felt his head for any goose eggs that were potentially forming. Luckily he was still intact and looked at me and started flashing his million dollar smile. I knew then that he was going to be okay. How in the world did that just happen? I asked myself. I felt terrible. I didn't quit shaking for an hour. Thank GOD Ryan wasn't here - he was out getting lunch for us. I told him when he got home and let me tell you I haven't heard the end of it. :)

2. Wednesday - I had to leave for a few hours in the morning to go to Baylor to take a postpartum blood glucose test to make sure the gestational diabetes has gone away. I left Ryan a bottle to feed Brayden while I was going to be gone. Two hours later I am in the middle of my test when I get a text from Ryan that Brayden is refusing to take his bottle. Let me first say that since Brayden was born Ryan has always been the most patient one of the two of us whenever Brayden gets upset - he always seems to have the magic touch to calm him down. So when I heard Brayden screaming bloody murder in the background I knew Ryan was in dire straits. I told him to keep trying - that hopefully he would eventually take it - but an hour later he calls back and tells me he has Brayden in the car and he was on his way down to meet me. Twenty minutes later I find myself in the backseat of our car in a parking lot feeding our baby. A Nike jacket of Ryan's that was in the trunk turned into a nursing pillow. Lovely. So now we are in limbo as to how we are going to get Brayden to take a bottle. This should be a fun guessing game. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

3. Today - Jenn came by this afternoon to visit. We were laying on the bed catching up after I had fed him and all of the sudden Brayden projectile spits up all over the place. Spit up like I have never seen. The scene in the exorcist comes to mind as I replay it in my mind. I couldn't believe that much milk could actually come up out of his little tummy and spray like a water fountain all over him, me and our comforter. Jenn and I just started cracking up in disbelief while Brayden looked at us wondering what all the fuss was about.

So these are a few highlights of our week. I know, I know - all of you experienced parents are laughing at me right now thinking "Julie - you haven't seen nothing yet!" Even though there were some hairy moments this week I still can't wait to wake up every morning and see what the day will bring taking care of my son. Apparently, parenting is always going to keep you on your toes and this is the first of many other crazy, hectic weeks. Brayden is going to fall again, refuse food again, and spit up even more unsightly items than milk. It's hard to believe he is already 12 weeks old. Time is going by way too fast.