Update on Rhylan

Rhylan had his 4 month well baby check up yesterday. All is well with the little man, and here are the stats:

12 lbs, 1 oz. That is up a full pound since October 3rd!! However, he is still a little runt- in the 6th percentile on weight. He is 25 inches long (although I don't know that the measurement was all that accurate- that seems really long!), and in the 53rd percentile for height. But, that is on the 4 month old growth chart, not adjusted age. Typically if a baby is 3 or more weeks early they are charted by due date for growth and milestones. Even though he was 5 weeks early, his doctor has kept him on the regular chart because he has been doing so well. He is at the low end, but is consistantly growing, which is what she is watching for. As far as developmental milestones, she was more than happy with how is is doing, and said that he is right on track for a "regular" four month old!!

Halloween Festivities.... so far

We have only made it to October 28th, and already have had several Halloween festivities. The fun all started last week at the annual Halloween Party hosted by the Mom's group I am in. The kids all dressed up and played in a big, open gym that our group rents out. Everyone looked so cute. After lunch, some of us went to lunch at Brayden's favorite restaurant (aka- "Chinese Noodle Restaurant). I am sure you can imagine the expressions on several faces in the place when 5 moms came walking in with 6 children 4 and under AND 5 infants in car seats!! The "big kids" got to sit at their own table, and were very well behaved.

Last Friday, our Mom's group took the kiddos trick or treating at the county nursing home. This is an event that I coordinate every year- the joy that it brings to the residents just really touches my heart!

Then that night, Brayden's school had a Halloween Party with games and dinner. I got some good action shots of him playing some games, but my camera died, so I had to use my phone, so the quality isn't the greatest. He did a great job at all of the games, but the bean bag toss (like the Grand Prize Game from Bozo Show) he did really well. The teachers were all commenting on how impressed they were, and had him do it several times to show fellow teachers. He got the bean bag in the sequential bowls every time on the first toss!

Saturday night we went to the Planetarium with some friends. The kids loved it!! After the show, we all went out to dinner, and then back to their house for a little while. Brayden spent the night there, and had a blast. They had actually set up a tent in the family room for the kids to sleep in!!

As you can see, we have certainly been keeping busy. Jason has been out of town for work quite a bit lately, which only adds to the chaos (he is in New Hampshire as I type this!). Brayden is getting quite excited for the actual Halloween day to come- although I don't know how he will know the difference!! We still have trick or treating at another nursing home and his class party, then Halloween night. He hasn't decided yet if he wants to go door to door, or to an inside trick or treating party at the recreation center in a neighboring town.

Today Rhylan is 4 months old! I can't believe how quickly time has flown (why couldn't 4 months have passed so quickly during my pregnancy?!?!). He goes to the doctor tomorrow for his well baby check- I am quite curious to see what he weighs/measures in at!

Trash Talk

Today was trash day, so Brayden was nice enough to help me bring the recycling bins back to the garage. One of them had apparently not been totally emptied, and the cardboard holder from his Dannon Danimals yogurt was still in there. He dropped the tub when he saw that, put his hand on his hip and asked:
"Who drank my last sippy yogurt?!?!"
I assured him that no one had consumed it, that it was still in the fridge, but that I had just put the holder in the recyclables to go out with the trash. He then asks:
"So I have one in there?"
"Yes, Brayden, you still have one."
"But only ONE?"
"Yes, just one."
"Well, Mommy, you hafta go to the store and get me some more Damn Animals, and fast!!"

Pumpkins

Last night we decorated our pumpkins for Halloween. Brayden decided this year that he didn't want to carve jack-o-lanterns, but wanted to paint them. He assigned us each a pumpkin and told us what he wanted us to put on it- plus I had found a Mr. Potato Head pumpkin making kit that was a ninja, so we of course had to get that for one of them. On the left is Daddy's Ninja Pumpkin, the middle is Brayden's "creepy green guy" (he actually did most of the design and coloring, but Daddy came along and touched it up a bit), and then the little one on the right is Mommy's Ghost/Bat creation. Have I ever mentioned that I have zero artistic ability or talent?!?!

Brayden is getting excited about Halloween this year. Every year seems to just get more fun with him, and we have so many activities coming up (I am sure there will be lots of pictures in the next couple of weeks!!). The fun already starts tomorrow with a Halloween Party with the Mother's Group that we are in.

On a side note, here is a picture, from yesterday, of our littlest family member doing "tummy time" and discovering himself in the mirror. He has wonderful head control already, and really enjoys doing tummy time and sitting in his Bumbo. In the last couple of days he has started trying to pull his head up when he is laying on his back when we are holding him, or he is in his swing/bouncy seat, like he wants to sit up. He is just getting so big so fast!!

And I had to add this one.... just because. Check out those thighs!! No more chicken legs here!! He has gotten a new nickname around here lately- Brayden had been calling him "Brudder", which then morphed to "Bubba", and then shortend to "Bubby", and now the latest that his big brother has come up with.... "Chubby Bubby". (It fits!!)

Keeping Busy

I have had posting an update on my "to do" list for several days now. Obviously, it has taken a back burner, and is just now getting done. I don't know where time goes these days. It seems like we are always busy and the days fly by, but I can't tell you what exactly we are busy doing (by looking at my house, it certainly is NOT cleaning!!).

Here is a little glimpse as to what we have been up to since the last post.....

Brayden went to a birthday party at the Orchard on Saturday. He loved it, and has told us several times how fun it was and that he wants his there next year. Here he is on the pony ride :

On Sunday, I loaded up the boys and headed to Indianapolis. We went to meet some fellow Hyperemesis survivors from neighboring states, and their children. It was wonderful to finally meet these women in person. I don't know how I would have made it through my pregnancy without them, and many of the other women on the Hyperemesis Education and Resource Foundation forums! These forums were my lifeline for many months- a support network of women that are going through HG pregnanies and survivors.

We met at a park, had beautiful weather, and the kids had so much fun playing and getting to know each other. One of the girls is an amateur photographer, and took several pictures of all of the kids (somehow we forgot to get a picture of the mommies- I guess that we can make that our excuse to have to get together again soon).

(To view all of the pictures she took, click here)

That night we spent the night at a good friend's house that lives in Indy. I hadn't seen her in about a year, and we had a really nice visit.

On Monday we finished our whirlwind visit by going to the Zoo. Brayden has been begging to go see the Dolphin Exhibit for quite some time. We met another close family friend, that I grew up with, and her sons there. Brayden and her oldest son are the same age, and had a wonderful time together. It was a really fun day-- Brayden even got to pet a shark!!

Rhylan's Baptism

Rhylan was baptized this past Sunday, October 7th, in my home town, in the church where I grew up. It was a wonderful weekend surrounded by family and friends. It meant so much to us to have so many travel so far to share this special day.

Halloween Pictures

Here are some of the pictures that the boys had taken for Halloween. Brayden had changed his mind about a million times as to what he wanted to be this year. I had given up on any thoughts of trying to coordinate the kids, and went ahead and bought Rhylan a duck costume. Then, that very next night Brayden jumped up and said "I got it!! I wanna be a fireman, and Rhylan can be my dalmatian doggy!!". And there the hunt began for a 0-3 month size dalmatian costume......