Grandma Rosie

We sure had fun with Grandma while she was here. We spent a lot of time in the pool. We got to the beach a few times too. With Nicholas it is easier to go in the evening so he doesn't have to have sunscreen on and we don't have to lug the cabana around looking for a good spot. Grandma got Nicholas two trucks, very cute, that make noise and move he loves to play with them. We love you and miss you Grandma...come again soon!

Daddy and me

Mama and Daddy took me to the beach on Saturday night. It was so fun. They let me play in the waves and get all wet. See me walking......I am getting better everyday.
You know there are a lot of things in the water at the beach. That white foamy stuff seems to try to get you every so often. And the sand is everywhere. It is fun to play with the waves...I step in them and they go away and then come back for more!
Oh my, did I see a fish?

Swim, swim, swim

Grandma is here and Nicholas is having so much fun. We are busy swimming and playing with the new trucks she got Nicholas! His latest crazy is holding on to the 'noodle' and having Daddy float him around the pool. It is nice to be out and enjoying the HOT weather....90's yesterday!

Life's a Beach

On Saturday Nicholas was 10 months old. My what a big boy. He is somewhere between 19.5 and 20 ish pounds and around 31 inches long. He is wearing 18 month clothes and on the move constantly. Matt calls him speed racer when he crawls. He likes to move the wooden stools and chairs on the tile, play with flashlighs (only the heavy metal metallic one) and hide under rugs. He has also been caught with his hand in Mr. G's water bowl. Matt and I joke that maybe he will eat dog food....instead of people food. What a kid.
On Sunday I celebrated my first Mother's Day. My mom sent me flowers......beautiful yellow, pink, blue, and white bouquet. I got cards from my sister and Grandma. I woke up to Matt and Nicholas bringing me toast and OJ. They gave me cards, a CD, and a Willow Tree statue. The Willow Tree collectables all have names to describe the feelings and/or emotions they are portraying. I got one almost 5 years ago of a girl/angel kneeling with wings. (Angel of Prayer)Since then I always look at them. My mom got me a pregnant mom statue (Cherish) and Rosemary (Mom-in-law) got us the Family statues (New Life) when we had Nicholas. Matt and Nicholas got me a mom holding her son. It is called Tenderness. It was so sweet...I got a little teary-eyed. I started thinking about how quickly time is passing and one day Nicholas won't be so little for me to hold, in my arms, off the ground. It was a perfect first Mother's Day. After church we went to the beach. Nicholas LOVED the sand and waves. I guess we have a real beach bum on our hands. He was really fun to watch.

Link to JCPenney pics

Customer Name (SarahValentine)
https://www.smilesbywire.com/home.asp?AC=LTP54701077001JCP

Happy, Happy Boy

I took this picture while I was checking email. He is just playing around tossing things on the floor and waiting for me to pick them up and give them back! Yesterday we were at the grocery store and he was giggling and playing. The lady behind us said, " Well you are a happy baby." Yes, yes he is!

Flashlights and rugs

"Hey mom, where did you put all my toys?"

He's got the flashlight in one hand and lifting the rug with the other. He is a nonstop kid.
We had a great visit with the GI consultant today. She basically said that as long as he stays on the 25% curve we have nothing to worry about. He simply is not ready for food. She said the only way to force a baby to eat is with tubes and we really don't want to go there. If he dips below the 25% then something is wrong. We are going back in 4 weeks for a weight check. She told me that the RAST test shows sensitivity, but not necessarily an allergy. I am still going to give up the dairy, soy, peanuts, beef, and eggs to see if that makes a difference. I can't give up corn, it is everywhere. She mentioned that if he does have an allergy to corn we are in BIG trouble, great. She also thinks that he will most likely outgrow these 'sensitivities' and be 'unallergic' as he gets older. She gave me a list of hypoallergenic formulas just in case, but she doubts he will take them because they taste nasty. "He probably isn't ready for solids...just sit him at the table and let him squish and squeeze food him his hand and one day he will eat. "
She was pleased with his growth...."He is using all of his calories to grow longer!" Her one concern was with his iron intake and thought we should have it checked again at 1 year. They checked it at 9mos and it was in the normal range. I feel better and am SO glad that I had enough sense to look into things further and not follow the recommendation of supplementing with (dairy) formula and force feeding him.
I also had good news once I got home......the new pediatrician agreed to take us! Thank you God. I will get him in for a 'well visit' in the next two weeks to talk about all of this. It was a good day.

"But sorry Peanut Butter, I didn't put your toys under the rug. I love YOU!"

My BIGGEST fear

Look at that sweet face. Every since I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease I was worried that one day my children would have it or some other food allergy. God has a plan, I am a just a wee person blessed with the overwhelming job of being Nicholas' mom. I am stepping up to the plate and I will do whatever it takes to protect his well-being, both physical and emotional. So here it goes........
The Dr's office called with the results of the RAST (allergy test) Nicholas is allergic to:
Cow's milk (all dairy and dairy derivatives)
Corn
Peanuts (ironic since I call him Peanut Butter)
Soybeans
Beef
and to make it a nice round number of 6
Whole eggs (both yolk and whites)
I will to continue breastfeeding so I must also avoid ALL of the mentioned foods, in whatever form they are found in food. This is just an allergy, he is totally healthy and happy. I am not sure how long it will take my body to be flushed of all of the 'toxins' so it might be a rough couple of days or even weeks, but nothing worse than how things are now. I will continue to comfort him at night and when I am exhausted I will remind myself that Nicholas probably has a tummy ache and doesn't understand. I hope that once all this is cleared out of my body he will sleep better and be willing to 'try' some food. I wanted to mention that the allergies don't include wheat or gluten. Ironic (again) that the food I can't eat he can and what he can't have I can. Perhaps by me avoiding the wheat has protected him against that allergy. We may never know!
Tomorrow we go to the GI Consultant. I am not sure what else he/she will want to do, if anything. But my bases will be covered and I am seeking a new pediatrician. Keep Nicholas and me in your prayers. I will need SO much will power to stay away from all the food. I will update after the Dr apt tomorrow for those keeping up with me.........

Grammie too

I meant to post these after my family left in March. I realized that I really didn't have any on my blog with Grammie (my mom) or Nana ( my grandma) so here they are! They are great pictures. We had such a wonderful time and have memories of all the fun. I can't wait until next year.

9 months

My little man is getting bigger every minute. First things first...his stats: he is 30 and 1/8 inches long and 18 lb 13 oz. Not too bad for a guy that won't touch food with a ten foot pole. The Dr was unhappy with his weight gain and suggested adding formula to his diet and 'force feeding' him as much as possible. Needless to say I totally freaked out and have been on over-drive since. I felt very rushed at the visit and had several other concerns.....all of which seemed to be solvable (is that a word?) with formula, according to the Dr. Yeah right! He did mention a possible food allergy. It is ironic that he would suggest a dairy based formula to a child with suspected food allergies, since dairy is one of the most common food allergies in babies.
So here is what we have been doing for that last week. First I started taking my 'lactation' herbs and rented a hospital grade pump to help increase my supply. Since he won't take a bottle (again with the 10 ft pole) I figured I wanted to maximize what I could get into him. I called the Dr a few days later expressing my concern. They suggested going to a dietician. I am not sure how that would help, since he isn't eating food. The nurse even said, "Maybe she can teach you how to get him to eat." Like I haven't tried everything under the sun from standing on my head to adding a little butter to fresh sweet potatoes...the kid won't open that mouth! After consulting with the Dr they agreed to write orders for a RAST test. (allergy blood test)
Being the overprotective-first-time-mom (who feels very in tune with her baby) that I am and spending every minute with Nicholas (waking and sleeping) I was not satisfied with the way the Drs office handled things. I am in the process of scheduling an appointment with a Pediatric Gastroenterology Consultant. (They need the medical records faxed over from the Ped office.) He has so many 'symptoms' that just aren't adding up to only a stubborn baby refusing to eat. I know that he has a mind of his own, but I really feel that there is something more that the Drs are not taking the time to acknowledge. Once I get into the PGC I WILL be changing pediatricians....don't you worry.
For now I am doing everything I can to ease Nicholas' tummy troubles. I love him more than anything in the whole world and hope that this is easily treated. Please say a prayer for this little guy. Babies shouldn't have tummy trouble that are so severe that they don't want to eat Cherrios and fresh bananas or drink from a sippy cup.
To end things on a happy note here are some milestones that his has reached in the past two weeks that are just so sweet to see
crawling like CRAZY
going from any position to sitting
pulling himself up to a standing position
waving bye-bye
pointing at things
using his finger and thumb to pick stuff up (like cheerios)
crossing his fingers (good luck)
It seems like it all happened almost over night. He is a pretty happy baby, but is still pretty clingy.....probably the tummy thing. I will keep you updated.

Beep Beep

Nicholas got this car for Easter. I don't want to get all commercial with the holidays, but we thought it would be a good 1st Easter present....since he has NO idea about anything yet.
It changes from a 'walker' to a 'rider' really easily. He just loves it. It has a key, horn, lights, and radio buttons that all make noise and sing 1 the ABC's or 2 the 123's. The lights flash and a voice talks....he is mesmerised!

Easter

I had a lot of fun picking out Nicholas' Easter outfit. I got it from Children's Place and LOVE it. I am going to get 9 month pictures taken this week. (I hope) Don't we look cute?
My baby boy and his Mama..........too sweet.
Look at that face, every time I look at him I am speechless. His eyes are so blue and his smile spreads across his whole face. I am not sure how I am ever going to tell him no!
Nicholas' face says it all.........I am so happy and I love my Mama and Daddy......Happy Easter everyone!

Buzzzzzz

My little man got another haircut! I figured that I needed something a little better to cut his hair with so I got "Peanut" clippers. I went to Sally's and asked what they would recommend for a little guy. I bought a very small, peanut shaped clipper. I liked it because I call Nicholas Peanut Butter. So on Saturday we put him on the table and buzzed his hair off! Up to this point I was only getting the top. The sides have finally filled in and they were getting long. It is shorter than I thought it would be, but isn't he the sweetest little buzzed head 9 month old you ever saw?

Ride 'em Cowboy

Look at him.....9 months old and riding like like a pro. He will sit on this horse and play for a long time. (20 minutes) He can even pull himself up if he starts sliding off. My how far he has come in 9 short months!

Too cute

Precious, precious, precious!

Nicholas looks just like ........

I would know this face anywhere. I will find the picture of my sister when she was little and post it next to this one. I know that Nicholas looks a lot like Matt, but every so often I see my sister in him. You know her nick name was "Blonde Bomber" because she was always on the move....and a little toughy. Can't you just eat him UP?

no pics, just stories

Unfortunately I don't have pictures to go along with these two stories, but they must be told.

Yesterday Matt and I took Nicholas to the beach. But not just any beach. It is a 'park' along the coast with a lighthouse and is dog friendly. We loaded up the crew and drove to the beach. Matt and I found this place not long after we moved to FL and LOVE it. It is an inlet and if you walk around the beach you eventually end up all alone. We set up the chairs and played in the waves with Nicholas. He loved it. I lathered him with spf 50, at 4pm. He had on swim trunks, a t-shirt and a big sun hat. He looked adorable and had a smile on his face every time he looked up. I can see (in my mind) Matt holding Nicholas' hands and walking in the water with him. It just makes me smile. In this spot you can watch boats sail by and we usually see dolphins about 10ft off shore. It is a little piece of heaven. Matt and I both sat there and wondered if it gets any better than this.......sitting together, with Nicholas sleeping in my arms, on the beach, with our dog.

I have been reading this book for what seems like forever. So when Nicholas goes down for his PM nap I try to read. Today was no exception. I was trying to finish up the chapter and he woke up. I brought him out on the patio with me in his exersaucer and kept reading....I had about 3 pages to go. I was reading and I couldn't help but notice he was quiet. I looked up and saw him holding two pages of a hard book on his exersaucer....looking very much like he was reading. I watched for a minute and he was studying those animals.......the same ones he has been looking at since October. He lasted almost a whole song (on the radio) and then his head got closer and closer to the page. He finally rested his head on the page. I was cracking up. I asked him if he was tired of reading he laughed and tensed his arms and legs. What a little character. I LOVE HIM!

Standing room ONLY

Nicholas is ready to get those legs moving. He loves to stand up. Tonight he was using his belly to balance on the couch and walk back and forth. I had to laugh...he was moving from one side to the other just rubbing that belly along the cushion, forget holding on to anything.

Faces of Nicholas

This morning Nicholas and I were out on the patio. I fed him breakfast and he was putting on a show. It was so funny. In a few you can really see those 3, yes three, teeth. He is starting to eat better....now that the company is gone. He is so much fun. I just put him to bed and downloaded the pictures, I can't believe another day is gone. He is growing up right before my eyes.

by the way the time that tells when I post these logs is WAY off....I'm not typing at 6am!

What happened to March?

It has been great having my family here for the month of March. My parents have been here almost 5 weeks and leave on Sunday, they rented a condo on the beach. I loved having them here, without the stress of having to entertain them in our house. Christie and Grandma came down for 2 weeks, that flew by too quickly. Here are some pictures of the crew with Nicholas.....he is so loved!