Being a parent is scary business!

Saturday (Nov 13th) started like a normal weekend day would ... Chris let me sleep in (thank you!), he woke up with Elliot to give him breakfast, play and watch cartoons.  Around 11 am Chris came in to wake me up since he had a tee time scheduled for 12 noon with a friend from work.  By the time we came out in the living room, Elliot had rolled over and scooted from his play gym mat to the entertainment center ... he is on the move!  Not crawling but scooting.

Chris left for golf and I prepared Elliot's afternoon bottle as it was nearing his usual afternoon nap time.  I sat down to feed him and he appeared hungry.  After a minute or 2 of feeding I noticed that he was shaking his arm, this isn't unusual for Elliot but it is usually accompanied by agitation and whining - translation: "mommy, feed me faster" or "mommy, give me the bottle back!".  The only issue ... he wasn't whining or agitated - he was calm and almost sleepy-like.  I realized what was going on, put the bottle down, held up up and saw that his whole body was trembling - almost like a shiver ... not like a violent seizure.  He wasn't stiff, his breathing was normal, he didn't change colors, his face appear calm - almost asleep.

I immediately called our Pediatrician's office and the on-call Dr advised me to go to the ER and preferably have someone ride in the back with him.  We got to the ER and they took us right back to Peds.  Meanwhile our Moms were on their way up from Sarasota - huge thanks to Chris' mom for bringing my Mom!!  Not too long after we were there we saw the ER Doctor who said that she wanted to run a urine and blood test and that he would be admitted.  They were discussing whether he would be staying at LRMC or going to St. Joseph's in Tampa.  Urine and bloodwork came normal!!  Thank you Lord no infections or anything weird!  We spent the night and he didn't have any other episodes so we were discharged the following morning.  So far so good ... I hope to never experience that again!  All the doctors (ER, Peds, and Our Ped) feel that this was NOT a seizure episode but rather a sign of possible acid relux.  Such a relief!!!!

I have pictures but they didn't want to post so I might try again later...

THANK YOU for all of your prayers and well wishes for Elliot.  We pray this was a one-time, never going to happen again experience and should it ever happen again, we pray that it is reflux related!!

With love,
Connie

Quick update

Elliot is 4 months and 3 weeks old - can you believe it!?!  My baby boy is almost 5 months old!  Where has the time gone??  It is incredible how much Elliot changes EVERY single day!  I know he is only 4.5 months old but he has such a great personality and a sense of humor too ... not to mention a HUGE flirt!

Elliot loves to smile, giggle, and squeal ... he's such a happy and content baby.  We are so blessed!

What's new with E:  I'm pretty sure he is in full teething mode but no sight of any pearly whites yet.  He can sit up in his tri-pod stance (for longer periods), roll over (both front and back), LOVES to blow bubbles, "talks" often, likes when we dance with him and loves music in general, likes tummy time a lot more and even turns and "scoots", loves looking in mirrors, and likes eating oatmeal (prefers over rice cereal).

Here are some pictures from his 4 month photo shoot:

~~ Photography by Studio One to One ~~

~~ Photography by Studio One to One ~~

~~ Photography by Studio One to One ~~

~~ Photography by Aimee Vignocchi ~~

~~ Photography by Aimee Vignocchi ~~

~~ Photography by Aimee Vignocchi ~~

~~ Photography by Aimee Vignocchi ~~

~~ Photography by Aimee Vignocchi ~~ (notice the words on the crate)

1 year since I found out I was going to be a Mommy!!

Last year on October 27th in Louisville, KY I found out that I was going to be a Mommy!! What an exciting year it has been! We are so blessed to have Elliot in our lives!!!  


Recap on how I found out:  I decided to tag along on a business trip that Chris was taking to Louisville as I had never been before.  We flew in and I sorta felt like something was different.  I LOVE to fly but this time I felt like I could have gotten sick which is really unlike me as I've never felt that way before when flying.  Although I thought it might be because it was an early morning flight and I am NOT a morning person.  We checked into the hotel and I dropped Chris off at the office.  I explored the city but then decided to take a pregnancy test ...  I still remember that instant shock/nervous/EXCITED moment of the 2nd line on the pregnancy test popping up.


No words or pictures could possibly come close to describing how AWESOME the entire experience has been for Chris and I.  Minus a few scary parts in the beginning of my pregnancy (spotting) and extreme nausea I had a really great pregnancy.  My labor was long but not really that bad at all and Elliot has been a dream baby ... simply perfect.  He is happy and content 99% of the time and the other 1% is when I don't feed him the very instant he wants it, lol. I continue to thank God every day for giving us a healthy baby! 


If you told me last year on October 26, 2009 that in 1 year I would have an adorable 4 month old baby boy sleeping in the next room, I probably wouldn't have believed you.  It is really true when people say your life will change forever the day you find out you're having a baby.  So many people say that in a negative sense and I can't understand why ... I am truly the happiest I have EVER been in my life and every day seems to be better than the last.  Chris has always been an amazing husband but if you can believe it, he is a better husband and Daddy now that Elliot is here.  Although I think that's because without him I wouldn't have Elliot in my life.  I always knew he'd be a great Dad but seeing him with Elliot makes me love him even more than I already do (which is a lot!).  There is just something so amazing about seeing your husband with your baby.  They have such a bond already and I know that Elliot and Chris are going to be good buddies.  Minus a few of the teenage years when most teens don't like their parents, lol.  I expect that - although I'm hoping the saying is true that little boys will always love their Mommy! hehe 


Ok enough of the sappy anniversary story ... lol.


As always, thank you for your continued prayers that my family remains happy and healthy!!


With love,
Connie

Here are a few preview pictures from our Fall photo session with Aimee Vignocchi

(thanks again - we love them!!)

~~ Photography by Aimee Vignocchi ~~

4 months and sitting up!!

Happy Fall!!  

Sorry I've been soooooo behind on posting but I promise to try harder and update more often.

Earlier this week, we went to Hunsader Farms with my Mom.  It was a fun time!!  The picture above is our 1st Family Pumpkin Patch picture! lol

Here are a few more:

We also went to another Pumpkin Patch near our house ... here are a couple of pictures from there:

Elliot is 4 months old!!  He has moved from the 5th percentile to the 25th percentile - woot woot!  His head size remains in the 90th percentile, which is definitely from his Daddy.

Height: 24 inches
Weight: 13 lb 13oz

It is incredible how much joy that Elliot has brought to our family and I can not imagine my life without this little boy!!!  He is such a blessing!!

I can't believe how much he has changed in the last 4 months either ... he is literally learning something new every single day.  He is "talking" more and more.  In fact, at his Doctor's appointment for his 4 month check up the Dr said he could hear him "talking" from the hallway.  He loves to smile and giggle and is truly a happy baby!  The Doctor also said that he was one of the happiest and most socialable babies that he has ever worked with.  That's probably because he was nothing but smiles and giggles the entire time (well minus the shots which the Dr had already left the room).  Elliot even rolled over from back to tummy during his appointment but that was probably because the Dr was trying to look in his ears, lol.  Elliot CAN roll over but doesn't usually try unless there is something he wants to see or if he is agitated during tummy time.

Things that Elliot can do:
- Sleep through the night 12+ hours (since 4 weeks old, woohoo!!!)
- Smile, laugh, and giggle
- Follow objects with his eyes/turning head to follow
- Grabs and holds toys with both hands but prefers his left
- Chews on EVERYTHING but still likes his hands most (lots of drooling!)
- Rolls over when wanting something (or angry at TT, lol)
- Props up on elbows during tummy time
- Keeps head fully steady
- Grasps shirt and holds on when being held
- Helps hold the bottle and can hold on his own when almost gone
- Presses the buttons to make his jumper toy make noise
- LOVES to look in the mirror
- Mimics some faces that you make (mainly the "surprise" look)
- Likes to stand up when being held if we are sitting
annnnnnd the newest ...
- Sit up alone (in tri-pod stance) when placed in sitting position (10/23/10)

here's a pic of my little sitter and Chris ... lol.

In other big news, Elliot is now eating solids!! At his 4 month appt the Dr said we could start him on solids so this morning (10/24) we started him on rice cereal.  He seems to like it but still prefers the bottle.  We are starting slow and giving him grains for the first week, then we'll move to veggies, and then to fruits.  My Dr said that we should feed him the same food 2 times a day for 2-3 days to determine if he has allergies to them.  So far so good with the rice cereal.

Thank you for reading the blog and I hope to update more regularly!!

Random update

Sorry for the lack of updates but as you can imagine I'm a busy mommy! lol  Elliot is 3 months and 2 weeks old!

Elliot's 3 month stats as of Sept. 17, 2010:  12 lb, 2oz and 22.5 inches.

Last week I was struck with an AWFUL bout of tendonitis.  I went to a walk-in clinic because the pain was too much to handle, they took X-rays and told me it was broken, gave me a splint and told me to follow-up with an Orthopedist.  Thanks to Chris' mom for coming up on such short notice and being my right hand ... literally!  We had a good time and Elliot enjoyed having Nana stay with us!  Met with the Orthopedist who confirmed it was NOT a break however a really bad case of tendonitis.  She said it is very common in new Moms.  She gave me a Cortisone steroid shot (owww!) and a wirst brace.  Aunt Mary came up on Friday to help me since my hand was still not 100% functional.  She was such a big help and stayed Friday night so Chris and I could go on a date night!  We went to dinner and movie - of course we missed lil E but enjoyed a night with just the two of us.

My parents also came to visit over the weekend on their way back from vacation.  It was a short visit with Elliot since it was way past his bedtime but it was still a nice visit and we had dinner waiting for them.  Yummmmy pot roast!!

We have a fun weekend ahead ... Chris and I are going to a RUSH concert (thanks Aunt Mary for coming to babysit!!), Saturday we're going to my friend's son's 1st birthday / USF tailgate before picking up Nana at the airport on Saturday night.


I promise to post pictures soon ...

12 weeks old

Happy 12 weeks, Elliot ... 3 months old on the 18th!!  It truly amazes me how much Elliot has changed in the last 12 weeks.  It's also crazy to think he could have come a whole month after he did which would make him only 8 or 9 weeks.

As I type this I'm watching my lil guy play with his toys in his floor play gym.  He is batting away and cooing at his dangling toys.  Normally I play with him and thats how this started out but he didn't look like he was finished playing so I got up and figured that he could entertain himself as I watched close to make sure that kitties didn't decide to play along with him. haha  I love that he kicks his legs and moves his arms really fast when the music turns on ... is he dancing??

Things he can do:
- sit in his bumbo (not regularly but I've tried it because his head control is great)
- hold his head up when being held upright
- grasps and move his toys ... mainly his "O ball" and he also did it with a bell toy at music class
- looks for our voices (I notice he will pretty much bend backwards to look for Chris when he hears his voice)
- roll over (when he wants to - usually when he's bored during tummy time)

Likes/loves...
- looking in mirrors
- being on his changing pad (he just laughs and giggles)
- being talked to ... all smiles!
- playing with his O-ball
- music class
- when his grandparents visit ... not that he doesn't get enough attention already ... lol!

Dislikes...
- Being on his tummy for too long
- when Mommy takes his picture (over and over again)

It's been a while ...

Hello to "all" my faithful readers ... not sure if there are any but I will continue to post anyway.  I love looking back and reading all of my posts!  I'm thinking of printing my pregnancy ones to read again in 20 years when my "little boy" is away at college or wherever he might be in 20 years.

Ok, on to the actual post ... it's been a while since I've updated.  Elliot is keeping me busy!!  We have joined a couple Mommy/Baby groups which is keeping us pretty busy not to mention I have several friends with young babies who we plan "playdates" with.  He is a great sleeper and such a wonderful baby but I just hadn't found the time to update here.  Let's see what's new ... Elliot will be 11 weeks old on Friday.  I CAN NOT believe how fast the time as gone.  Seems as if my life is moving at fast forward speed ... I wish I could find the remote and take it back a notch or two ... it's flying by and my lil guy is growing so big and doing so many things.

I've noticed recently that he is no longer that "newborn" ... he is a BABY.  You're probably thinking "obviously, he is a baby!" but what I mean is that he is more like the baby that you imagine when you think of a baby ... fragile: yes BUT playful.  He smiles when I make funny faces or weird noises and he LOVES loves loves "Where's Elliot / Peek-a-Boo" game and being tickled on his tummy and sides.

Exciting news: I'm going to be an AUNT!!!  Congratulations to Chris' sister Megan and her husband Jon who are expecting their very own bundle of joy this coming March.  I'm so excited to be an Aunt and for Elliot to have a cousin so close in age!  We're planning a trip out to Cali this Spring to visit with the newest family addition.

I've been slacking on my picture uploads but once I take them off my camera, I will post some of the (what seems like a million) pictures that I have of Elliot.

Love to all,
C