Updates

Life with a toddler and newborn is quite busy leaving little time for me to blog.  I actually have a minute (maybe less) so I wanted to update my readers on our family.

Austin was tested for a speech delay the beginning of August.  He was found to have a mild speech delay of 7 months.  Next Monday his speech therapist starts coming for weekly visits to work with him.  We have been continuing to work on sign language with him to help him communicate with us his wants and needs.  He knows about 4 signs and is excited to use them.

Aubrey is now 5 weeks old and starting to be more awake during the day.  She gives us an occasional smile that truly melts our hearts.  She is extremely lucky to have a big brother who repeatedly replaces her pacifier when she spits it out.  I normally only replace a few times before I give up, but Austin will do this all day.  Tuesday she went to the doctor for a check up and weighs 8lbs 5oz and is 21.5 inches long.  We also found out her newborn PKU screening results were positive for an amino acid disorder.  Wednesday she had a repeat PKU screening.  We will find out the results in another week or so.  After much research we have found that it is not uncommon for this screening test to come back with a false positive.  We are prayerful this is the case for Aubrey.

Today Adam took a day off work to stay home with us.  We are headed out this afternoon to get some much needed shopping done.  Adam and Austin are taking on the grocery store while Aubrey and I are tackling target.  We are having family photos taken this evening - - any suggestions on how to keep Austin in good spirits are appreciated.

1 Month Old

Miss Aubrey is 1 month old (and 2 days, Mom is a little behind on blogging)

Stats:  Weight - She was 8lbs 1oz last Monday, tomorrow she has another doctor appointment, so my guess is about 8lbs 7oz (2lbs larger than birth)
Length - Will update tomorrow after her appt.  Guess is 22 inches (1 inch longer than birth)
Sleep - She wakes 2-3 times each night
Austin enjoys giving her a pacifier (to make her stop crying).  He has given her the occasional kiss on the head.  Every day he is getting more brave with her.
Sizes - As of this past week, she does not fit into newborn size sleepers.  0-3 month sleepers are a little big still.  She is still wearing newborn size diapers. 
Medical milestones - Aubrey had an umbilical granuloma that we discovered once her umbilical cord fell off.  Last Monday she had a treatment of silver nitrate to take care of the granuloma.  Her belly button still looks funny, but who cares...I do not foresee a bikini in her near future.
Developmental milestones - She can hold her head up - a much needed skill for life.  (Austin had rolled over by 1 month old, so maybe, just maybe she will be less busy and on the go than him)

She was less than impressed with my desire to take her picture capturing her size at 1 month old.

Attempt at a close up, again she was not happy with me.

And some 1 month photos of Austin for comparison.  If she wasn't crying in the above pictures they actually do look pretty similar.

Mama Loves

I am joining in my fellow momma blogging friend Julia in her Saturday "Mama Loves".  I have a few I want to share with readers today.


1.  Austin's favorite book is a family photo album.  I have filled the pages full of pictures of Austin with us.  One of his favorite activities is to flip through his book and point at us in the pictures.  I made this album for him shortly after we became aware of his speech delay.  My hope was he would begin saying "mom" or some form of my name by seeing my picture.  So far no luck...but he does love pointing at me.

2.  My second item I want to share is the Chicco hook on high chair.

 

Last summer I discovered this nifty chair.  I absolutely hated going into restaurants and using their germ infested high chairs.  I always took along a high chair cover, but unfortunately a simple piece of material cannot protect you from everything.  I quickly learned that while the staff "might" wipe down the high chairs in between uses, the straps probably go neglected for the entire life of the high chair.  Another great reason for this chair is that every place you go with your baby might not have high chairs available for your use.  This happened to us at a wedding reception.   I found our Chicco hook on chair at a local children's retail shop for $16 - one of the best purchases I have made in the baby item department.  Adam was not convinced that this item was a "need" simply a want.  He quickly changed his mind after the 1st use.  I love that I can wash the seat after each use and not use the community high chairs when we are out.  I am sad that Austin has outgrown this chair, but I am looking into portable booster seats.  I will keep you updated on what we get.

3.  My 3rd "Mama Love" I do not have yet.  But I am positive it will make my life easier.  Currently I carry a Vera Bradley diaper bag.  This bag simply hangs over my shoulder.  I love this bag!  It is huge and fits everything I need.  When I was pregnant with Aubrey I thought that it might be easier to have a diaper bag that I could wear on my back with backpack straps.  Being hands free was a feature that I thought would be helpful with two children to keep hands on.  I have looked at backpack diaper bags and just haven't been able to commit.  It seems silly to buy a new diaper bag when I currently have one that will do the same job.

WRONG

Twice this week I took both children out - alone.  This "want" of a backpack diaper bag is definitely a "need".  Poor Austin got knocked out by my massive shoulder bag numerous times.  I barely fit through doors with Austin holding my one hand, diaper bag on shoulder, Aubrey in car seat on other arm - but wait how did I even open the door in the first place.

So I am in the market for a new diaper bag to wear on my back.  I am looking for recommendations, please let me know if you have one.

Also head on over to Julia's blog to check out other contributions to her Mama Loves.

The silence is coming to an end

Austin is almost 20 months old.  At his 18 month check up, we discussed our concern with Austin's lack of communication skills.  His pediatrician felt that he was showing signs of a speech delay and referred him for further evaluation.

Today a speech therapist, developmental therapist, and a parent service coordinator came to our house to perform his evaluation.  I was nervous for Austin.  He had no idea that strange people were coming over to meet him and check out his "skills".  Thankfully the therapists have tons of neat "new" toys to play with.  Austin immediately made two new best friends.  The evaluation consisted of plenty of questions for Adam and I to answer regarding Austin's behaviors and daily life.  The therapists pulled "tests" out of their Mary Poppins bags and observed Austin. 

After an hour of evaluating, the therapists gave us their findings.  According to the developmental therapist Austin is way ahead of where he should be.  He averaged between 24 and 36 months on all of his gross and fine motor skills tests.  According the the speech therapist, Austin is exhibiting an expressive speech delay of 32%.  Which means he is speaking and communicating as a 13 month old would, rather than a 20 month old. 

In a couple weeks, Austin will start meeting with his speech therapist to work on his communication delay.  She is certain he will grasp the concepts and skills of communicating quickly.  I can't wait to hear him express himself using words rather than screams and grunts.  We have noticed over the past few months Austin has grown extremely frustrated.  I am sure once he figures out how to communicate his needs and wants, he will not be so frustrated with us anymore. 

I am sure once he discovers the words no, mine, and why, I will wonder why I wanted him to talk.

Not My Proudest Mommy Moment

This mommy is tired.  I forgot to defrost the meatloaf (that I prepared before Aubrey was born and froze to make meals easier on myself now that I have two kiddo's to fill my day).  So...

McDonalds it is!

Austin somewhat enjoyed his 1st happy meal.  He didn't eat too much but did like the fries.  At least he ate something - today his menu has consisted of cheerios, pears, a blueberry muffin, and an animal cracker or two.  Not the most nutritional day for my boy.  In my defense, I did offer several healthy choices and even unhealthy alternatives.  He just chooses not to eat some days.  And, I am too exhausted to struggle with him to eat.  I am sure he will eat when he is hungry....just not sure when that time will be.