The Walder family: 2014

Monday, May 19, 2014

Gannon, 5 months

Ok, I guess I should rename my blog to All About Gannon, or something of the sort, since that's all I can seem to blog about these days. I really want to have the time to keep up on the other activities of our life, but I just haven't. Like Drew's 3rd birthday. Poor Drew. That deserves a blog post too! And Grady, when he rode his bike without training wheels for the first time last month! That deserves a blog post. Ok, must work on those...

Anyway, babies change sooooo darn much so so quickly. I hate it. I love it but I hate it at the same time.

I see so much personality budding in this boy every day. I can't help but smile any time I look at him. And that's exactly what he does, whenever someone smiles at him. First thing in the morning, he looks up with the. biggest. smile. ever. I love it. And his dimple just melts my heart <3

He found his toes somewhere early in the month or last month. He LOVES his toes - seriously. Obsessed. He loves being on his back the most. Kicking like mad. Or flailing his arms - even if he has nothing to play with. Non-stop-mover.

He's still not super excited about his tummy. Sometimes he'll roll right back over (and that's about the only time he will roll - he really doesn't like his tummy). Although, for being on his tummy hardly ever, he is so super strong. He pushes up high on his arms, looks around. Then he just gets mad and flops around like a fish :)

He sat up, for the first time, unassisted! The day before he turned five months. I think Drew was a little later before he sat, and Grady was a week or two after he turned five months. Gannon must think he has something to prove being the baby ;)

Gannon also had his first bite of solids/rice cereal the day before he turned 5 months as well!

He LOVED it. Also my first child that has loved rice cereal. Drew wouldn't eat it ever (or anything until well after 6-7 months), and Grady completely despised it, so we had to skip to oatmeal with him. But Gannon is a big fan, and did SO well. Now on to the days of messy foods...

Anyway, what else happened this month...

You went backwards with your sleep. You are a HORRIBLE sleeper. Period. Horrible.

You do nap a few times during the day, and usually one of them is 2 hours long, but otherwise, not a good sleeper. Especially at night. You are now waking up about 3 times a night. You're killing me buddy. I think it's probably mostly my fault, as I still have you in your itty bitty bassinet in our room (which you are way too big for). You probably wake yourself up by bumping into the sides of it. But you still don't like laying down on your back after your first wakening to nurse. It's always a struggle. Either you will only sleep in my arms, or the bouncer. I get very little sleep...need to fix this.

It will be my goal, that before your six-month birthday, you will be sleeping in your crib (AND sleeping through the night). :)

A girl can dream, right? ;)

Anyway, you bring me so much joy little one. I look forward to what each new day (and month) brings <3

Monday, April 14, 2014

Gannon, 4 months

Holy moly...4 months... here we are.

You are looking like less of a baby and more like a little man each day. Your smiles and giggles just make my day though. Seriously. That's the best.

You would stare at someone for hours. We talk and you just stare, smile, and coo back. You love the conversations.

Your sleep is still about the same. Occasionally sleeping through the night, but usually getting up around 3:30, then camping in bed with mom until you are up for good at 6:30-7.

Your naps are getting more regular. Short one in the morning, longer one mid-day, and short one in the evening... to bed for the night around 7:30-9.

We quit the Zantac. You are happy now with or without it, and it's torture for all of us giving it to you twice a day, as it is peppermint flavor and you act like it's the most disgusting thing ever (which I can believe from how it smells)...and more is spit out than actually digested... I really do think you have reflux, however, I don't think that it bothers you an awful lot. We will see how you do without it for awhile.

You developed mastitis and got your first trip to the ER! (why are there no urgent care or after-hours walk-in clinics around here!?) The weirdest thing I have seen in a baby, and didn't even think it was possible for a baby (boy) to develop mastitis. I've never even had it. But that's exactly what it was. The Doc we saw had never heard of it either, and had to "google it" (yes, he actually told me that).

You had your 4-month well baby checkup today...

17lbs. 2oz. & 26.5in

(Grady was 7lb 5oz & 25.5in; Drew was 14lb 8oz & 25.25 in)

The laryngealmalacia has improved significantly! However, you still have a soft murmur. Your pediatrician anticipates it will be resolved by your next checkup at 6 months, but if not we will follow up with a cardiologist to get it checked out.

Otherwise, you are very happy and healthy!!! <3

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Awareness

April is autism awareness month. And today (April 2nd) is National Autism Awareness Day.

It was just released that autism now affects 1 in 68 children (previously 1 in 88).

I know we have a long way to go, to the day where people really understand what autism is all about, but we are headed the right direction.

I know when I got out, people stare. They see him flapping (or stimming), and wonder what is going on. They see him screaming in a restaurant, and his parents pulling out an iPad to try to calm him down (because seriously, this is the only way we can have dinner out as a family), and judge us. It bothered me initially, but not so much anymore. People just don't understand. But I don't care. He is who he is and he is amazing... I wouldn't change him for the world. I just want others to understand. To understand that my child is just a child. He is still smart. Smarter than anyone will ever give him credit for. He is still loving. The biggest love bug of all my boys. He is happy. So happy. I see him for who he is every single day. He is growing, learning, and fighting. He is growing into an amazing little boy. He makes me smile. Makes my heart happy. Makes me a better person.

Love my baby <3

Phoenix

My mom and stepdad own a home just outside of Phoenix, where they stay for the winters. My friend Alicia and I planned to meet up there the beginning of March. I haven't seen her since we moved from Washington a year ago, so it was SO much fun to see her again finally. And, we've both had little babies since then, 3 months apart. So, we just took the little ones with us.

The winters can get really long, in both SD and WA, so it was great to get away from it all and spend some time in the sun and warm weather! It was also nice to be able to spend some one-on-one time with Gannon, since he has to share my attention with the other boys all the time. He LOVED it. I know he's young, but I could tell. He was so good...so happy...so cuddly. This mama loved it too :)

We spent some time with my mom, stepdad, and family. Went shopping in Scottsdale. Had lunch at an awesome little restaurant. Went hiking around Lake Pleasant (saw a huge snake!) & had lunch at an interesting biker(ish) bar {great burgers}. Went also went to happy hour at a little joint just next to the Mariners/Padres training field.

And although Alicia and I chat through texting almost daily, we got to do some great catching up as well :) Look forward to seeing her again this summer when we visit in Washington.

Lake Pleasant

Took a lot of iPhone pics - need to upload and post those as well :)

Pretty flower - Not sure what they were

Jerek was just turning 6 months. I wanted to take a few pictures of him. He is so stinkin cute!!

I took these few, then Alicia and I BOTH stepped on a cactus and that was the end of that. She was pulling out thorns from her flip flops...I was pulling out thorns from my foot. Fun times ;)