Evan's 7th Month

The biggest change this month is what Evan eats and drinks. I'm no longer nursing, which was a difficult decision, but I'm so happy with the decision. We've depleted our freezer stash and Evan is on formula and solid foods now. I'm using Simply Right Complete Formula (Sam's Club brand) and am very happy with it. It's comparable to Enfamil Infant Formula and is $9 cheaper per case. In addition, Evan is now eating purees of solid foods. He has had butternut squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, sweet peas, green beans, bananas, and apples. Evans is a great eater, but definitely does not enjoy green beans. He will eat them when they are mixed with other foods though.

I've been making all of Evan's food using recipes and how-tos from Momtastic's Wholesome Baby Food. I started by making my purees in the blender and freezing in ice trays. This worked great, but then I started making batches of food that were more than the ice trays I had, so I now use the Infantino Fresh Squeezed Squeeze Station. I love the pouches and the fact that I don't have little containers to wash each day with the bottles.

Weight: 15 lbs 6 oz

Height: 26.25 in

Size: 3-6 Month Clothes, Size 2 Diapers

Eating: 6 oz bottle every four hours

4 oz solid food 3x per day

Sleeping: on his tummy

usually through the night

Other: 

2nd tooth came in

sitting up unassisted

eats like a champ

First Christmas

Did you miss the previous months? See them here!

Month 1 | Month 2 | Month 3 | Month 4 | Month 5 | Month 6

Evan's 6th Month

Happy half birthday to my little man! We made it 6 months! Yay!

This month I became overly worried about Evan's weight because he didn't seem to be gaining much. I think this is why I started rice cereal this month...which was earlier than I planned. I guess I just wanted to get him used to taking food from a spoon so we could jump right into veggies. So, I then started with butternut squash on the day he turned 6 months and Evan loves it.

We finished up our Doc Band treatment as well and Evan's head is shaping up nicely. It was a fast six weeks and I'm excited that we don't have to deal with it while we're traveling for the holidays. As soon as we got rid of the Doc Band, we also got rid of the swaddle. I would have removed the swaddle earlier, but because of the chances of overheating we tried to keep his feet free of socks. I did the swaddle for him to have some coverage at night time.  I'm super excited that Evan is sleeping on his tummy and without a swaddle.

Speaking of sleep, we had a week with no sleep. At the time, I had no idea what was going on. As I look back on the timing, I imagine it was because his first tooth was cutting through.

Weight: 14 lbs 13 oz

Height: 26 in

Size: 0-3 Month Clothes, Size 2 Diapers

Eating: 6 oz bottles every three hours

supplementing with formula

weening from nursing

rice cereal

Sleeping: on his tummy (Yay!)

through the night more often than not

Other:

first tooth came in

reaches for and holds bottle

reaches for Mom & Dad

First Thanksgiving

Did you miss the previous months? See them here!

Month 1 | Month 2 | Month 3 | Month 4 | Month 5

Evan's 5th Month

Do you see a big difference in this month's picture? Wait for it....yep! He got a hair cut. :(

The pictures above give me all kids of anxiety. I so did not want to cut his hair, but we had to in order to get accurate measurements for his DOC band. Now that it's done and over with and his hair is growing back and his head is shaping up...it wasn't so bad. And shampooing/detangling hair is much easier.

Evan is adjusting to the DOC band well and we are seeing results.

Weight: 13 lbs

Height: forgot to measure...

Size: 0-3 Month Clothes, Size 1 Diapers

Eating: 6 oz bottles every three hours

Nursing when at home

Sleeping: on his back, swaddled with arms out out

Wakes once or twice a night

Other:

rolls over occasionally

found his toes and chews on them

can take out and put in pacifier

trying to sit up on his own

loves his bouncer

recognizes Mom & Dad

laughs

Did you miss the previous months? See them here!

Month 1 | Month 2 | Month 3 | Month 4

Evan's 4th Month

Another month has passed! Wow! I can't believe how fast time is flying. I feel like I'm saying that every month.

I'm not exactly sure, but we think Evan started teething this month. We've now seen lots of drool and the bib seems like a permanent accessory. He's also chewing on everything, but mostly his fingers. We had a week where Evan was waking up 4-5 times a night which is definitely not his norm. We're used to him sleeping through the night or waking on once. Needless to say, that was a rough week. But now, things are back to normal, so that's why I say we "think" he started teething.

We also found out at Evan's 4-month check up that he has a moderate case of plagiocephaly. We are currently looking into treating his flat spot on the back of his head with the DOC band. While Evan's case is moderate and would really only be cosmetic at this point, we are wanting to treat it now while his skull is super pliable. I don't know that any parent wants to see their child in a helmet for months, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not the end of the world and it's only temporary; and my baby is healthy, so I'm thankful.

Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. ~James 4:14 (ESV)

Weight: 12 lbs 6.5 oz

Height: 24.5 inches

Size: 0-3 Month Clothes, Size 1 Diapers

Eating: 6oz bottles every 4 hours
Nursing in the morning, at night, and all day on weekends

Sleeping: swaddled on his back
Sleeps through the night 2-3 days a week 

Other:

started teething ?maybe?

reaching for objects
can hold his bottle
sucks and chews his thumb
can take pacifier out of his mouth
can put Wubbanub pacifier in his mouth

holding head up for extended periods of time

Did you miss the previous months? See them here!

Month 1 | Month 2 | Month 3

Evan's 3rd Month

Three months have passed and Evan is doing great. We've battled a stuffy nose here and there, but nothing major. Putting a humidifier in his room has helped clear that right up. Evan is talking to us much more. His sweet coos just melt my heart. Evan's dad has started taking care of bath time, which has helped with his bonding time and freed up some time for me to get other things done...because there's always something to be done.

The biggest change this month is that Evan started daycare. I must say that I am extremely happy with the daycare we chose thus far. The teachers seem to be taking good care of my baby. They send me pictures and are recording all his milestones. His care sheet is always complete and they are sticking to my schedule as close as possible.

Weight: 13lbs 6oz

Height:  24 in
Size: still wearing some NB clothes
wearing some 0-3 month clothes (finally)
size 1 diapers

Eating: about every 3 hours, nursing and taking a bottle
now taking 5oz in bottles instead of 4oz

Sleeping: in the crib, wakes up once at night
sleeping through the night about 2-3 nights a week

Other:

returns smiles intentionally
doesn't scream in his car seat as much
falls asleep sometimes without being rocked
putting a few fingers in his mouth instead of his entire fist

Evan Talks with Daddy from Kim on Vimeo.

Did you miss the previous months? See them here!

Month 1 | Month 2

Evan's 2nd Month

Month 2, we ventured out of the house a bit. We went to several classes/group meetings at the hospital where I gave birth. Some of those included breastfeeding support, new moms group, and baby yoga. I also was introduced to baby wearing and love my Moby wrap. It's the only way we survive going out since Evan screams bloody murder int he car seat. It's also a way to get things done with hands free around the house when Evan wants to be held (which seems like all the time).

We introduced a bottle as we prepare for me to go back to work and Evan is drinking from a bottle like a champ. It almost made me sad that we lost out on something only I could do for what seems like so long. We're still nursing and getting our cuddle time though.

One of the hardest parts of month two has been watching all the changes in his skin. There's been lots of acne and dry skin, but it seems to be clearing up.

Weight: 9lbs 15oz

Height: 22.25 in
Size: still wearing NB clothes
moved up to size 1 diapers

Eating: about every 3 hours, nursing and taking a bottle

Sleeping: in the crib, wakes up once at night

Other:

takes a pacifier
smiles at everyone

talking up a storm with his sweet coos

found his hands and is putting them in his mouth

enjoys baby yoga and Gymboree

loves to play high five

Evan Plays High Five! from Kim on Vimeo.

Did you miss the previous months? See them here!

Month 1

Evan's 1st Month

It seems as though every time I put my son down, there is always something to do: laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, pumping, lesson planning...always! Well, I decided that thing to do this morning is a blog post. Those chores will still be there when I finish.

I'm happy to report that I survived the first two months as a mommy. And Evan has survived his first two months of life. Success!

As a teacher, I always look forward to June, July, and August. This summer was spent very differently than my normal teacher summer, though. I got a bit stir crazy being in the house with a newborn, but when it came time to go back to work, all I wanted was to be in the house with my sweet boy.

Typing this almost three months late, it's really hard to remember what happened during month one. My main task was to make sure Evan was fed, and breastfeeding was hard. It has definitely gotten easier though...with the help of friends, a breastfeeding support group, and time.

Our first month was spent pretty much in the house all day every day. It was a time of learning and sometimes frustration, but most of all a building of love like no other. We had lots of visitors and I am so thankful for the wonderful people we have in our lives.

Weight: 8lbs 9oz

Height: 20.75 in

Eating: about every 3 hours, latching on well

Sleeping: great when cuddled in the arms of mom or dad
Only sleeps about 30 min at a time when in the crib.
The rock and play sleeper and sleep sheep have been
amazing for getting longer stretches of sleep.

Other:

rolls to his side when sleeping

hates the car seat

starting to smile

Baby Boy has a Name...

So, the hubby and I have gone back and forth about a name for this baby for a while. Some of the names on the list have been Austin, Evan, Noah, and Preston...just to name a few. Of course, hubby would have loved a Junior, but I wasn't feeling it. While I've been okay with baby not having a name yet, hubby has wanted to get this done.

Let me warn you now...the remainder of this post may not be politically correct, but it's just how it happened and I don't know another way to say it. If you're easily offended, stop reading now.

Last week, I decided to sit in the nursery for some inspiration. I had been sitting for about 30 minutes, pining over books and web searches for names before the hubby decides to come in and check if I'm okay. He asks what I'm doing and I told him I was looking for name inspiration. His response is "Noah Evan Howard." My response was "Evan Deshan Howard." Evan has been at the top of my list for a while...but hubby wasn't feeling it because he had never met a black person named Evan. I keep telling him that name/race association is totally shaped by your past experiences. And I want our son to have a name that does not have any preconceived notions. (As my friend Ashley says, a resume-ready name.) Anyway, hubby huffs and leaves the room, going back to watch basketball. 

Five minutes later, I hear a loud "Okay."

I respond "Okay...what?"

Hubby yells "Evan Deshan."

I'm in shock. This name option has been on our list for over two months and all of a sudden, he is okay with it...I'm confused. So, I go to the living room and ask what changed his mind. 

This is who changed his mind...

After a starting player gets ejected from the game, then enters from the bench, Evan Turner, #12 shooting guard for the Indiana Pacers. Hubby sees a black guy named Evan and decides the name is now an option. 

So Baby Boy has a name...Evan Deshan Howard. 

Evan means "God is gracious" and Deshan is hubby's middle name (my compromise since we don't have a junior).

Here's a peek at my first personalized DIY project for the Evan's nursery. 

Name that Tune!

I know it's been a minute...well, more like a few months. Aside from the stress of being back in the classroom, I have another good reason...

Did you get it? I was surprised at how many people didn't get it even with the help we provided on our facebook cover photo!

Well, the news is that we're expecting! Get it...Ice Ice Baby! Yay! It has been so difficult to keep the news to ourselves...and honestly, we haven't done that good of a job. Anyway, we couldn't keep it to ourselves any longer. So here are the answers to a few of the questions I've been asked frequently when sharing our amazing news!

When are you due?
Based on the measurements at our first sonogram, we're due June 8, 2014. This was a bit different from what we had calculated on our own, but I'll trust the doctors over the Internet on this one.

I'm bad at math, how far along does that make you?
This Sunday, I'll be 13 weeks.

Did you plan it? Were you trying?
Yes and Yes! We have been trying since the end of April. The planner in me wanted to be due around April or May so that I could take off the last six weeks of the school year and have the entire summer with our little bundle. My timing didn't work exactly, but God's timing is always perfect. I'm due the Sunday after school gets out. If all goes well, that means I don't have to use any vacation/sick days...and I think I can take the first six weeks off of next school year if I choose. As of right now, I don't plan on it.

How are you feeling?
Surprisingly, I'm feeling pretty good. I haven't experienced morning sickness at this point (knock on wood). I have gotten motion sickness on long drives that seems so much more intense than the car sickness I've experienced when not pregnant. 

I've been incredibly tired and getting the best sleep of my life. My husband is surprised at how much I sleep lately, considering that normally, I'm always moving and on the go.

Are you going to find out if you're having a boy or a girl?
That's currently up for debate. I am the one who wants to wait, but Willie wants to find out. I figure it will be the best surprise of our lives since neither of us is wishing for one gender over the other. My deciding factors for whether we'll find out are:

• Can I decorate a gender neutral nursery?
• Can we agree on a name for both genders?
• Can we find gender neutral items for baby?

And I'm feeling like the answer to all of these questions is YES! I guess the other factor is if I can get my husband to agree...we shall see!

Have any other questions?
Feel free to ask! I'm looking forward to sharing our experiences with you!