Thank you for visiting my blog! If you are visiting because you have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss, let me say that I am so very sorry. I started this blog shortly after our Baby Grady was stillborn on November 12, 2008. Please visit the sidebar below called "Labels" to find the topic in which you are interested, or just read as your heart desires.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Matthew - 5 Months Old

***If you saw this post earlier on dashboard and then couldn't find it, that's because Emma Grace accidentally published it before I was done!***

One of these months, Matthew's monthly update is going to be just the way I want it! It just wasn't meant to be this time, though. Again! The printer was out of ink. I was going to hand write a sign. Then Gib said he would just photoshop "5 months old" into the picture I took. I tried to get a picture of him tonight, and I took a few, but none of them turned out great.

This picture was taken Friday while waiting to see Santa (the day after he turned 5 months). I do LOVE this boy!



This was taken tonight.



And I really want this one included because you can see all of him, but for some crazy reason, it flipped when I uploaded it. Just tilt your head to the right to get the correct view. And excuse his green socks with his outfit. This was not the outfit he started the day in, and since he was staying home, I didn't change his socks to match.



At this point, it is late, and I should be in bed. But I am determined to get this post up tonight because it was on this day, one year ago, that we found out we were expecting this sweet, precious boy. I remember very well the excitement mixed with fear and the dance in my heart between the two. I had absolutely no idea what God's plans were for this little one, but I knew I was thankful to even have the opportunity to wonder again.



On to the post itself...

Matthew's chronological age is 5 months, but his adjusted age is 3 months, 3 weeks. I include that because he seems to be developing all across the board. Some things are right on with his actual age while others are more on track with his adjusted age. I really don't care which way he develops, as long as he reaches his milestones!

Sweet Matthew, what are you up to these days?

Your personality is definitely starting to shine. You let your needs and wants/likes and dislikes be known, loudly! You love to look at us and watch our every move. You follow us around the room and will stretch your neck as far as it will go to keep your eyes on us. You really know Mommy's voice, too. We were at a family get-together yesterday, and you were in your grandmother's lap. I walked in the room, and when I spoke, you almost broke your neck trying to find me. That, of course, warmed my heart!

You smile all the time, and your cheeks are so big they look like they might bust with every grin! You smile almost every time you are spoken to and return our smiles with one of your own. You chuckled for the first time two weeks ago but you haven't really done it since...just one chuckle here and there, not multiple like you did the first time. You really are a happy baby boy. You mainly cry only when there's a reason, usually because you are tired or your tummy hurts (you are the pooping-est boy with the biggest blow-outs I've ever seen!).

You are very good at reaching and swatting with your left arm/hand. When you have a toy in that hand, you love to bring it to your mouth. You actually just discovered that hand a few days ago, and it's so cute! You look at it like it's the most interesting thing you've ever seen.

You are getting better with your right hand, too! You will now bring it to your mouth on your own, and you have started opening that hand a little to get those fingers in your mouth. A special friend, who we call MeMe, gave you a little Taggie car for Christmas. You absolutely love it! I gave it to you, and you immediately put BOTH hands on it and brought it to your mouth! I couldn't believe it. It made me SO happy for you!



I really haven't been too concerned about your right leg, but I have been watching it more. Cerebral palsy usually affects one whole side of the body, not just one extremity. You might move it a little less than your left but not by much. I'm trying to stay on top of it, though! You will start physical therapy in January, and I will make sure to keep your progress well documented. Hopefully one day we will look back and read this and see God's miracles and hands at work in your life! In fact, I know we will!

One thing you don't mess around with is eating time. You do love to eat! I am still pumping breast milk for you, which is your main nutrition. You average about 2-4 ounces of formula to fill in the gaps every day (but you didn't have any formula today!). You eat 6 1/2 ounces every 3 hours. Sometimes you don't quite make it 3 hours, and that's ok. Sometimes you go longer if you're napping well. I haven't started you on any solid foods yet. I'm still not sure when we will do that, but it is definitely in your near future. You are just now starting to watch us eat. That's my first cue that you're getting ready! You are certainly growing well. Two weeks ago, when I took Jessica for her check-up, I plopped you on the scale in the room. Granted you had your diaper on (which had just been changed) and your clothes, the scale read 15 lbs, 15 ounces. My guess is that by now you have surpassed 16 lbs! Go boy!

You can still wear some of your 3-6 month clothes, but you are quickly fitting into 6 month and 6-9 month clothes very well. I really did think I was set with clothes for you for a while, but if you keep growing at this pace, you will need more clothes very soon! You are still in size 1-2 diapers, but the next time I buy them, they will probably be size 3!

You are getting better and better at holding your head up by yourself. You're almost a pro! You are trying hard to start turning over from your back to you tummy. You love to practice when I'm changing your diaper! I make you have tummy time, but you don't like it at all. You have a hard time getting your right arm up under you. But when we start and I prop you up, you do very well supporting yourself. You are starting to try to sit by yourself, and you try very hard to get out of your bouncy seat. You stretch your neck up and grunt real hard to try to sit up while you are in it. Cute!

You continue to be a GREAT sleeper! You still take several naps, a long and short morning nap and a long and short afternoon nap. You don't stay awake very long after you first wake up in the morning, usually a little more than an hour. Your first morning nap is usually 1-2 hours; the next is only about 30-45 minutes. You follow the same pattern in the afternoon. If you don't get your daytime sleep, you do NOT go down easily at bedtime. You struggle more at bedtime than at nap time, even on a good day. For the most part, you go to sleep by yourself. Sometimes we have to rock you or stand and bounce with you, but we don't mind the extra cuddle time. You go to bed between 7-8 at night, and you get up around 6-7 in the morning. You go most of the night without your paci. You usually need it between 4-6 am, and then you go back to sleep. I'm so proud of you, and I appreciate you doing such a great job so I can sleep, too!

You fell asleep with your bottle tonight which doesn't happen too often. But the amazing thing is that you stayed asleep after you were finished. Daddy came in and took this picture of you. You remind me of your big brother.


You absolutely love to get a bath! I wasn't bathing you every day, but with your blow-outs lately, you've ended up getting one almost daily. You just sit and chill while I wash you, and it relaxes you right before bed.

You drool a lot and blow bubbles at times. Your favorite word/sound to make right now is "Geee". You still coo and "talk" to us which we all love.

I'm sure I've left something out, and if so, I will come back to add it.

I love you and am having a great time watching you grow and become your own little person. I just hate that the time is passing so quickly! I'm so blessed to have you in my life!

Love,
Mommy

Dear Lord, Thank you so much for this precious boy whom you knit perfectly and wonderfully in my womb. Thank you for the hope and healing he has brought into our lives. Thank you for the opportunity to have a living son here on earth as part of our family. He has stolen our hearts, and we are truly blessed. We praise you and give you the glory for him and all of our blessings. Amen.

5 comments:

  1. Posts like these will be such a blessing for your whole lives. You can both look back and read about all these little details we tend to forget as time marches on. Matthew is growing so fast, and he is such a cute baby. I couldn't be happier for you, Tonya -- for your whole family!

    Merry Christmas, sweet friend!

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  2. Awww, love the pictures! What a great way to document this stage.

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  3. I love this post! What a precious baby boy!!! And I am really glad to hear that he is using both hands with the tag toy!

    Still praying, ae

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  4. Man I could eat up those cheeks... so amazingly cute! Thanks for posting all that he is doing... it just amazes me that he is 5 months... And then I remember talking to you while we were in Ca doing the embryo transfer at that same time. Crazy!! I continue praying for you and Matthew friend!

    I pray you have a great Christmas sweet friend... will be thinking of our boys with Jesus!
    Love you!
    Sara

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  5. He's getting so big and so so beautiful. I love his sweet little face.

    I got your email and your phone call.... oh, crazy crazy... we had a CRAZY time in GA. We are back in St. Louis and trying to settle back down. I am so sorry we didn't get to see you. None of our plans worked out b/c of weather or sickness or just bad timing. We only got to see two of our friends- I almost cried thinking about you and your family. I really wanted to see you guys.
    I'll have to appease myself by promising to see you this summer. We have to do it!

    love you.
    hope you had a great Christmas. and a Happy New Year! The snow was great, wasn't it?

    love,
    ebe

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