4 months

Well, now that our son is almost 5 months, I'll go ahead and post the 4 month blog! Our internet was down for awhile and I'm just now getting time to post it.

Brasen is such a fun baby. He laughs and squeals with the best of them. He loves going outside. He loves to play. He's discovered his toes, and grabs them to pull to his mouth. However, when he has a diaper on, it's not happening. Too much belly. :) At his 4 month check up, he was 16 lb, 10 oz and 25.5 inches long. We WERE sleeping through the night, but on his 4 month birthday, that all went down the drain. That first week he was waking up every 2-3 hours. It's a little better now.

To all you nursing momma's, if your baby is a little fussy and you can't figure out why: if you're drinking caffeine that may be why. We couldn't figure out what the deal was but he was having quite a few fussy days in a row. I didn't drink a lot, but I'd have a glass of tea at lunch or a coke. Nothing over 12 oz. a day. I quit that to see if it has made a difference, and oh my word. He is such a happy baby. It is unbelievable the difference it has made!

Here is our chunky boy and his 4 month stats:

3 months

 

How can it be that I have a baby that is 3 months old?? I remember thinking when he was born, soon he will be a few months, and then a few years old before I know it. And a few months is already here. Brasen has done so much this month- he amazes me at what he's doing daily. Here are some things:

-observing things and finding them with his hands
-staring at his feet
-"sweet talking" to me in the mornings with soft cooing
-squealing when he's playing on his mat
-rolling over (not consistently yet)
-holding his head up really well
-sleeping through the night
-napping in his crib
-chewing on his fingers/hands

We went through a phase where he wouldn't let me lay him down for his naps. And now I kind of miss it. I love the cuddling time. He stayed for the first time with a babysitter that will be watching him when I go back to work. It was tough for me to leave him but she sent pictures throughout the morning so it helped. She said he did well. I know the more he goes, the more he will be used to her. She has three boys (whom are all very polite) and I really think he will love it there.

Brasen is such a light in all of our lives. He is a precious boy with a sweet and predictable personality. New things scare him but he observes them and the more he gets used to something, the better he does. My dad had an accident last week in which he broke a vertebra in his back, fractured some ribs and 5 transverse processes. He will be down for the whole summer and some of the fall, I'm afraid. So no hay, no feeding/working cows, no taking the boat out, no camping...you get the drift. The things my dad loves to do- he can't right now. One thing he can do is love on Brasen, so I've been taking him down every day to see him in hopes that it will make his day a little better. Both of his son in laws have helped out around the farm and dad likes to go watch. He said, "I know they are doing it right, it's not that. I just want to be out there to watch them." Please keep him in your prayers.

Some things that I love about our baby boy right now:
-how he rubs his fingers back and forth on my back when he's nursing
-how he puts his arm up by my neck when I'm rocking him to sleep
-how he follows me until I'm out of sight when I leave the room
-how he recognizes me when I walk into his field of vision

Happy 3 months, sweet boy! Momma and daddy love you so much.

2 months

Big boy is 2 months old! He amazes me every day at what he is doing. He loves to look at anything with color contrast. He is beginning to find us in the room by following our voice. He still doesn't enjoy tummy time that much, but with a little help he can hold his head up for awhile. He just gets ticked off quick and wants to roll back over. He loves to lay in the floor or propped up on the Boppy pillow and sing or play with us. His naps during the day are shorter (unless he sleeps while we are holding him...he loves to cuddle!) and he is still sleeping well at night. I get up either once or twice to feed him.

Brasen loves to be outside. I hope he continues this because I do too! We go to the park, sit on the porch, or lay on a pallet on the ground and he is perfectly content! We haven't quite mastered a day out with momma yet...the car seat is what gets us every time. If he gets fussy back there, I can't reach anything to help him calm down. Solo trips with just the two of us are limited. :)

We go for his 2 month check up, which will actually be 10 weeks, next week. I'm not sure what he weighs, but 3 weeks ago he weighed 12-6. So I'm guessing around 14 or so pounds? We will see. He's had a growth spurt this last week and has been eating every 2 hours. And it's showing in his thighs! Such cute fat rolls.

We started cloth diapers this month. I'm still trying to figure out the best ones, how to not make them leak, and how often he needs changing with them. I think I will use them exclusively at home, and if he stays with someone and when we start the babysitter he will use disposable ones. I just don't want to ask anyone else to spray his dirty diapers out. I wouldn't want to do that if it wasn't my kid. :)

Much happier with our monthly picture this month than last month!

I love this little boy so much and am so proud to be his momma.

Nursery

I'm behind on posting these, but I wanted to post pictures of his nursery. I love it. And I think he does too. Well, he doesn't spend much time in there yet, except for diaper changes and occasionally we will do tummy time in there. He loves to lay on his changing table and look at the mirrors, and then look back at his sunshine painting. And the fan of course. 

Changing table: repurposed dresser with top added and new handles (Papa's Shop)

Mirrors and Frame: Hobby Lobby

Baby bed, "You are my Sunshine" wall decor, and "Brasen" name stand: Papa's Shop

Baby bedding done by my cousin Peggy Hale

Rocker: repurposed by Papa's Shop. Padding on the rocker by Debbie Mott.

Yellow and gray afghan made by my aunt Beverly Stanley

Curtains made by Peggy Hale

        

Toy baskets: hanging flower pots purchased at Lowe's

Side table: repurposed by Papa's Shop

Turquoise lamp: Garden Ridge

Yellow Frame: by Simply Squared Designs (find their blog here)

1 Month

Brasen is now 1 month old! I don't have anything to compare him to, but I think he is a good baby. He is now sleeping at night up to 4-5 hours. I usually feed him at 10 or 11, and then again at 3 or 4, then he sleeps until about 7. So I can't complain! Our day consists of eating, sleeping, and diaper changes! He is beginning to wake up for longer periods of time. When he's awake we will go outside on the porch, or lay in the floor for tummy time. He only likes this for about 5 minutes :)

At our 2 week check-up he was back up to his birth weight plus 2 ounces, weighing 8'13 and was 21.5 inches long (grew an inch). The doctor was happy with his progress and his health and doesn't want to see us until 2 months! We went to baby weigh-in at 4 weeks and he had gained 2 more pounds. I made them weigh him twice because I just didn't believe he weighed that much! And, I was a bit nervous that was too much weight to gain. But everyone has assured me that's ok. Hope so.

I tried to get a good picture in his crib for his one month birthday. Didn't happen. And I tried several times throughout the day... The little guy loves to be held, and loves to cuddle. I suppose I don't mind that. :)

This is as good as we got!!

Brasen's Birth Day

...and here it is...Brasen's birth story...



Monday, the 18th, we had our weekly checkup. I was still dilated to a 4 at 90% effaced. My doctor knew I wanted a natural delivery, and since nothing was wrong with my vitals she didn't even mention inducing. So it was still a waiting game. Kyle was a little disappointed that I wasn't any more than a 4 after a whole week. There was nothing we could do so we just said when it happens, it happens! I was a little down too because after all the squats and walks and everything...no progress.

So Tuesday I asked if Mom and Allie wanted to go with me to Little Rock to take back duplicates I got from the shower to Babies R Us and WalMart. We ate at Shipley's that morning and walked around the store picking out things in place for the return items. My lower back had been kind of hurting but nothing bad. It was more of an uncomfortable feeling on and off. We ate lunch at Applebee's, where I didn't have much of an appetite. I had about 1/4 of my chicken and ate most of the veggies. We decided to go on home since our shopping was pretty much done, with the exception of Hobby Lobby. We stopped there in Conway. All of us had to pee, so we darted to the bathroom first thing. I no more than walk out and looked at Allie and said, "I have to pee again! I hope I'm not getting a UTI!" Allie ran to mom and told her she thinks I'm in labor because I had to turn right back around and go back to the bathroom. :) My back was getting a little more uncomfortable at this point. I picked out a solid color for the rocker for Brasen's room and we were out. I asked mom to drive on home so I could stretch out.

I felt a contraction at 3:15. I had been having Braxton Hicks on and off for about a week, so each time I had one I would look at the clock just in case it was the real thing. Nothing was ever consistent. Then at 3:35 I had another one, each lasting about a minute. I had one more at 3:55 and quietly told mom, "I think I better just call Kyle and see where he is." To which my mom replies, "Why? Did you have a contraction?" "Yes, I have had 3, 20 min apart." Mom goes into panic mode. I tried to explain they are not painful but they are consistent. No need to panic! We made arrangements for Kyle to meet us in Danville and then we were going to head back on towards Conway if they got more frequent. Well, they didn't. They stayed at 20 min apart for a good 4-5 hours. We went to eat (I still had not appetite) and WalMart. Still 20 min apart. So we called the dr on call to just let him know what was going on and tell him how far away we lived from hospital. His advice- go home and take a shower. Lay down for about an hour or so and come back if contractions are still there. I knew if I went at 20 min apart they would send me back home. So I had it in my head to go back when they were 10 min apart. Which happened at about 10 pm. And quickly moved from 10 min to 4 min, to 3 min. About Morrilton I told Kyle to step on it. We weren't driving fast enough.

They admitted me about 12 a.m. and wouldn't you know, I was "almost a 5." I looked at Kyle and said, well crap. I've had contractions all day and only progressed "almost a centimeter." I was doubting whether or not I could do this without help if it takes me that long to progress. He said, let's just wait and see- you can do it. (I had previously told him whatever I said when I was in there to remind me what I really wanted and tell me that I can do it!!) They let the family in (all grandparents and siblings, and my aunt and uncle). They stayed with me for a good while helping me through the contractions and laughing when I got a break from them. At this point, they were painful but totally bearable. Nothing too bad. About 3 am, I had to use the restroom. My nurse (who was WONDERFUL) unhooked everything and made sure I got in the bathroom ok. This is where it began to escalate!

My water broke in the bathroom, and I knew something wasn't right. It had meconium in it. I had the nurse come help and she said her main concern now was if Brasen was ok and tolerating the sac still. She made everyone leave and hooked me back up. The little champ was making it just fine- no signs of distress whatsoever. She informed me that now the contractions will be closer and more intense. And at this point I was already to an 8. From this moment on, I don't remember a whole lot. I remember bits and pieces but I had my eyes closed and would rest when I wasn't contracting. Kyle was so amazing- feeding me ice chips, rubbing my back, putting my hair up, turning the lights down, connecting my headphones, and yes, even wiping my snot! I got sick at my stomach twice during delivery, so thank the Lord I did not have an appetite earlier in the day. To me, things progressed quickly. It was really over about 2 1/2 hours. I finally looked at Kyle and said, "I either need to push or go to the bathroom!" To which the nurses all came and prepped the room for Brasen's arrival. I heard, "Hang on, we're just waiting on the doctor!" After he got there, I pushed for probably 20 min or so and our sweet baby was born at 5:27 am. He is a perfect miracle.

Brasen Kyle Klober
03.20.13
8 lb, 11 oz
20.5 inches

No complications whatsoever and I had the delivery I had been preparing myself and praying for. It was by far the most work I have ever done in my life but I am so proud of our sweet baby. My husband is such an amazing man and daddy. I could not have made it in there without him helping me through. For those of you that know him, and his weak stomach, it is a testament to say that he did all he did in there. He watched his sons birth and cut the cord, 2 of the things he said he wouldn't be able to do. I am so blessed to have him. :)

We prayed for this child, and the Lord granted us what we asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:27

36 weeks

To Our Sweet Baby-

Wow! A lot has happened in one month! You have had lots of people showering you with gifts galore! Your room is almost done (when it's all ready I'll post some pictures). We are certainly ready for you to be here. What have you been up to? You still get the hiccups about 2-3 times a day. You are growing and growing, which makes mommy grow and grow! You should be fully developed by now and ready to meet the world. We are just waiting on you to make your grand entrance!

What's mommy and daddy been doing? Resting, writing thank you cards, cleaning, resting, walking, resting...you get the drift. Yes, we have been super lazy. We are just taking everyone's advice when they say, "You better get your rest now!" That includes ordering out for dinner as well. No shame. Mommy got a massage and pedicure yesterday and it felt oh so nice.

At your 36 week checkup last Monday you weighed almost 6 pounds. My blood pressure was still good- staying around 110/75. Weight...well, I just keep gaining as you keep gaining. :) The doctor checked me and I was dilated to a 3. I got a little nervous that day but now (since it has been almost a week) I am thinking you could drag this out for weeks! I've only had Braxton Hicks contractions so far, and maybe some small contractions but nothing consistent. Your daddy is oh, so excited and asks all the time if I'm having contractions. He's anxious to meet you! Any day now, baby, we are ready. Bags are packed, and car seat is in the car! Hopefully next time it's time to post I can post a picture of your sweet face. We love you so much already!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy