Halfway through the walk and a quick stop for a picture in "front" of the Washington Monument. 

Waiting for the train. 

Elliot hanging out with Paul thinking, I hope I grow to be that tall some day. 

So big.

I am getting so strong I can hold my head up for awhile. 

Hanging out with Jay 

So much fun

 

First game

Here is Elliot at his first Phillies game. He was great. He wasn't too fond of the rowdy fans behind us but he liked walking around the stadium. Too bad they lost. 

The Blair Witch Project

"I'm so scared!" sniffle, sniffle.
"We lost the map!" sniffle, sniffle. 

Mom has been having fun messing with some pictures 

Update

Elliot is growing like a weed. He now measures a full 2 feet tall. He is startigng to try and blow bubbles and has moved from the bassinet in mom and dad's room to the crib in his own room. He is still sleeping well, getting up 1-2 times a night to eat. He is trying really hard to suck his thumb but mostly he just licks his hands and then mashes them around his face. Mom is doing the mom thing and keeping u with clipping his nails to reduce the scratches.

Mom, dad and Elliot went to the Phillies game yesterday. The boy's first ballgame - a memorable event. Elliot slept most of the time and in general seemed to have a good time.

I'm sure there is more but that is what I can think of right now. More to follow soon.

Phillies Phan

We are going to a BPS today and here is my outfit! 

Can you see me?

 

Ride 'em cowboy

 

My what big ears you have

Happy Easter! 

So tired

It was a long hard day at work for both of us. 

Dad and son

 

Update

Well it has been an interesting week. Last Saturday I noticed that at certain times Elliot would stop breathing and then take a huge gasp of air. He did this 1-2 times a day usually when falling asleep. Needless to say I called the doctors who were concerned but couldn't see us until Monday. We went in on Monday and he thought it was apnea but needed to see a specialist to make sure and ordered him to be put on a monitor. We got the monitor on Wednesday (thanks to a delay from the insurance company) and an appointment with the specialist on Friday. Went to see the specialist who was even more concerned and said he needed a Numeragram which can only be done in the hospital. So he called the hospital to see if they had a bed available (which they did) and off we went. They hooked him up to 4 electrodes and put a wire down his throat. He was excellent all night (it is a 12 hour test). Tim stayed in the hospital with him while I went to get some sleep at home. By the time I arrived the next morning all the wires were off and he was sleeping peacefully. The doctor called later that night to tell us he has central and obstructive apnea. Obstructive is due to his reflux and is protecting his lungs from inhaling any of the acid. Central is where his brain forgets to tell him to breath. So he will be on the monitor for at least 2 months. The doctor will download the information periodically to see if it gets worse and then he may need to go on medicine. That is it in a nutshell. We are still trying to control his reflux. Zantac is not enough but his stomach does not handle rice cereal (which is needed to weigh down the formula) We may try barley or oatmeal next.

Giggles

 

Update part 2

So that's the medical update. Now for the developmental update (the fun stuff). Elliot weighed in at 9 lbs. 10 ozs. last week so he is gaining weight at a nice pace. He is smiling all of the time and making more definined noises (gurgles, sweaks, etc.). He is also feverishly trying to suck his thumb. When he gets his hand (or hands) out of the swaddle they go right to his face and he mushes them around trying to get something in his mouth. Soon he'll realize that he needs to ball up all of his fingers EXCEPT his thumb and then he'll be in business. He has gotten the thumb a few times. He is also getting stronger and may be close to being able to hold his head upon his own. He is recognizing sounds too. The other day he was on the changing table and the mobile in the crib was turned on (it plays music) and he turned his head in that direction to see what was going on.

I guess that's everything that is fit to print for now.

Interesting

John thought that Elliot's mouth was so fascinating and didn't mind that he was screaming his head off. 

Cousins

Elliot and John finally got to meet. 

Bubbles, bubbles everywhere

This is mommy's favorite picture. It is me in my bubble bath a few nights ago. 

2 Month Update

Well we went to our two month well baby visit and Elliot is doing great. He now weighs 8 pounds 11 ounces and is 21 inches long. I was shocked at his weight gain (3 pounds in a month). He is still in the lower 1/3 for his age but he was born early. He received 4 shots and screamed like a mad man but other than a red bump he is fine. He is now on Zantac 3 times a day due to reflux. It was hurting his throat (we think) and he just wasn't himself for 5 days...not sleeping during the day and having screaming fits. Hopefully this will work and he will outgrow his reflux very quickly. Aunt Kate and cousin John are coming this weekend to meet Elliot for the first time...can't wait for that and will post pictures when we get them.

Butterfly kisses

 

I like it

I really like bath time now. What I don't like is getting out (it is too cold) 

Inchworm

Mom and dad wrap me so tight it makes me look like an inchworm...but it makes me sleep good! 

Mommy and me!

Look I am smiling (sort of) 

Kicks from Aunt Kate

 

My Hospital Picture

 

Update

Wow, it has been a while.

What's new since the last update? Elliot is on a strict formula diet and all seems to be well. He is gaining weight which is evident by his cheeks, feet, etc. plumping up. His 2 month Dr. visit is this coming Tuesday and we expect that he should have gained an appropriate amount of weight (1-2 lbs. in the last month).

His sleep paterns for the most part are very good and he continues to be an overall happy little guy. He is sleeping 3-4 hours at a stretch and eating 3-4 ozs. when he wakes up. He did have some indigestion (we assume) when initially changing to the formula and bowel movements changed from just about every diaper change (coincident with feedings) to one a day. At first the once a day movement was quite an event - he struggled a lot and wasn't too happy about it and the result took two people to manage. Since that he seems to be used to it and the consistency has become more manageable.

This past week there was a time or two when he didn't sleep for long stretches (maybe 8 hours?). He wasn't sleeping because he was fussing (don't really like this term but when you don't know exactly what is going on with him I guess it works). Then he would get overexhausted and very unhappy becuase he was tired and couldn't sleep. Mom primarily handled these times becuase I was either trying to get some sleep for work, trying to get sme sleep because I was sick or I was actually at work. It is really hard to know that he is unhappy and not know what to do to make him happy becuase nothing you try seems to work. As aluded to previously I was pretty sick over the last two weeks (fever and coughing episodes followed by strep throat) so we had the added worry about whether or not he caught some of what I had. The thought of him being truly sick and not just unhappy is very unsettling.

Last weekend Mom and Dad went on their first date since Elliot entered the world. They took a few hours to see a band at xpn while Gram and Aunt Mag took the first babysitting duty. All went smooth and tomorrow Mommom and Poppop will have their first opportunity to babysit while Mom and Dad play in a poker tournament (for charity of course).

All in all I would say things are still going really well. It is amazing how you can come home or wake up and look at your child and feel an overwhelming sense. Sometimes the sense is clam, joy or worry. It is unlinke anything else.

Dad