Cade's 2 Month Well Care

Its hard to believe that Wee is already 9 weeks old! The days tend to go by slowly but the weeks sure fly!!!

Yesterday I took Cadence for her 2 month check up with Dr. Ginsberg, who we love. The pediatrician's office happens to be where I worked for a few years, not to mention is one of the offices in the 7 clinic practice that cared for me when I was a kid. Matt, unfortunately, was working so unable to join us for check up and vaccination fun.

After visiting with old co-workers, it was Cade's turn. Wee is growing like a champ!
Weight: 10lbs 7 oz!! 50th percentile
Height 23.75 inches 90th percentile!
Head Circumference: 14.5inches 10th percentile
*Vaccinations : Pentacel IM (DtaP, IPV, HiB), Rotateq (oral), Prevnar 13 IM

*Cadence handled her shots like a champ, screamed bloody murder and eventually fell asleep for the duration of the afternoon! I was a bit nervous to hear her cry, and it made me sad, but we were both tough.

Matt and I really had no medical concerns about our little girl. We were, however, curious to know when her umbilical hernia would go away (3-4 months of age). We also were interested to see when to increase her ranitidine dose. She's gone from 0.6ml to 1ml twice daily for reflux, which has drastically improver with her medicine.

Assuming we have no concerning illnesses, Cadence will go back to see Dr. G when she's 4 months for another check up and to get the 2nd of 3 sets of the shots she just got.

Cadence has started smiling recently, and although its purposeful, she's selective. Over the next few months, we'll see more, which we're excited about. She coo's and grunts and makes funny faces. She certainly makes her opinions known as well. She hates being strapped into her car seat and hates drastic climate and temperature changes, including but not limited to being unwrapped or unswaddled, diaper changed, naked, or being put in the bath tub. That being said, she LOVES her baths, just not the entrance or exit. She also loves her binks, her giraffe, Michael Buble, bottles, chewing on her fingers, mom and dad's necks, and staring at the Christmas tree lights, and simply being around people, whether she's awake or asleep.

Sneak Peak of Family Pictures!

Yesterday, we were thrilled to have our first family photo shoot with our friend and super talented photographer, Amy Soper. Amy and I used to work at Overlake together and since meeting her, she's shot our engagement and wedding photos and we've become great friends. Aside from the face that we love her for her spunky style and awesome attitude, she is amazingly talented and patient, especially with Wee. Wee slept through 99% of the shoot and even after clothing and diaper changes, which she normally fusses at, AND putting her feet in cool water, the snooze fest continued.

We got some amazing images, some of which will be featured in Christmas cards, so stay tuned.

Thank you to the incomprable Amy! We can't wait for our next shoot!

Check her out at soperphotography.com!

Babes in Christmas Land

Today I watched Chase and Landon while Randi had a meeting at the PD. Having 2 babies under 3 months plus Landon was a bit of a challenge during some parts, but Landon was an awesome helper and this was a great practice run for the days that I'll watch all the kiddos in January. Adding to the challenge was being at our house with Matt sleeping off a night shift, so I'm sure it'll be easier at Russ and Randi's.

Cader snoozed off and on during the visit, but she did demand to eat when Chase did, so I fed them both at the same time, propped up in the Boppy with simultaneous bottles going. It worked remarkably well. The babies hadn't seen each other in a while, so it was fun to see them occasionally look at each other, smack one another in the face (inadvertently), and gum each other.All in all, the babies were great, and I'm sure they're on the road to being BFFs.

This visit worked especially well since we recently brought our Christmas tree home from storage. Matt enjoys the house when its decorated, but doesn't normally participate in the decorating. For the last 2 years, Landon has decorated with me, so I was happy to have my helper with me, hanging ornaments, stockings (he mentioned that Chase needs a stocking at my house, true), telling me his Christmas list and asking if we could decorate cookies. (Nice try, kiddo, we're not baking with babies). When Betsy and I were little, we had a tiny tree that has itty bitty ornaments that go with it that we each still put up. Landon liked fluffing the branches and putting each ornament on it, not quite believing me that I've had the tree since I was his age.

After watching the boys, even though I was exhausted from my night with Cade, I hit the gym while Betsy babysat. Apparently we like torturing Cade via fake dances or random poses in Christmas decor... we couldn't resist putting her in a stocking. At this point, I'm pretty sure thats the only decoration item that we'll put the baby in, but we'll see. We figured she liked it, its very similar to a swaddle, just more festive.

Thanksgiving/Woe are Wee

Part I:

Thanksgiving was fantastic and we were all thankful for Miss Cadence who behaved very well during dinner at Grammy and Grampy's house. Dinner was mellow with Grammy, Grampy, Aunt Betsy, Poppers, and Nanny, plus Matt, Cadie, and myself. We were an hour late to dinner since Matt and Wee fell asleep on the couch but all was well. We all ate too much and had a good time. My favorite part was playing Catchphrase. As long as I'm teamed up with my sister or Matt, I'm golden since we're all on the same wave link. My team did win 3 our of 4 times. (Team 2 has 6 points, AND WINS!!!!)


Part II:

Well, all things must come to an end, including Matt's time off work. After nearly 7 weeks, well 7 weeks this coming Monday, Matt headed back to work this morning, beardless and goateeless. We joked frequently in the last few days about remembering where things were in the patrol car, his locker combo, and if his duty belt would fit (he's been running like crazy). Although neither one of us wanted him to return, someone has to keep Cadie in diapers! I think he was happy that she was having a bottle when he was leaving and she was alert enough to look at him and hold his finger for a few minutes. So here we are, flying solo and surviving thus far. I think as time goes on, ventures out will feel more normal, but for now I'm doing errands that are easy to do with her either in her stroller or carseat.



Thanksgiving Eve





Matt and Cadence are thankful for naps




Hair by Rach





Grammas




We like each other





Black Friday




The End!



Cadence's Youtube Debut

Snow and ice make people do some crazy things.... Betsy and I were discussing the recent AMA's and the performance by New Kids On the Block and Backstreet Boys, 2 infamous "boybands", and we wanted Cadence to get "introduced to them".

Cadence was happy to get her groove on to an old school New Kids On the Block song. For your viewing pleasure, we're happy to present Cadence's Youtube debut. We do take requests for the next "Dances With Cadence" video shoot. :)

Hip Ultrasound

We were thrilled to get scheduled for Wee's hip ultrasound not only next-day, but in the brand new and beautiful Seattle Children's campus in Bellevue. The facility is very state of the art and easy to access. Normally I don't mind waiting for appointments or having people run behind schedule, but with a 5 week old, I like things as streamlined as possible. Clearly, Children's had people like me in mind when they set up the new location. I think we were in and out in 15 minutes and it felt like it took longer to rebuckle Cade into her car seat than the actual scan. (not really, but it was quick).

Clearly, Cadence wasn't too bothered by the ultrasound. She snoozed with her bink from the time we left our house until we were in the drive-thru line at Starbucks on the way home.

The on-call pediatrician was kind enough to call us this evening to let us know that Wee's hips are completely normal, as I anticipated. I watched the scan and looked for abnormal looking femur placement and never saw any, then again, my eye isn't as trained as the radiologists, but in speaking with the sonographer, its normally quite clear when little hips are dysplastic. We wouldn't have minded if her hips needed some work, the treatment for hip dysplasia is some time in a sling that normally corrects things quickly, but we're happy that our girl doesn't need further evaluation.

Wee's Check Up

Its possible that we might have to refrain from calling Cadence "Wee" since she's not so "wee" anymore.

Since the day she was born, since she was such a "wee" little thing, I've been calling her "Wee" or "WeeWee" (as funny as that sounds) and the nickname has just stuck. We're happy to say that we've got a healthy and growing girl on our hands.

Today we visited her pediatrician for her one month (can you believe it!?) check up and she's doing extremely well.

Today's stats:
weight 8lbs 10.5 oz
height 21 inches
head circumfrence 13.75inches
vaccines: Hep B #2

We didn't have any medical concerns about Cadence today. I did ask the doctor about if Cadie had baby acne or a rash on her face and a bit on her chest and the doctor said that it could be either but "treatment" is the same, washing with mild soaps and using soft cloths. Cetaphil has been working well so we'll continue washing her face with that during bath time. This week we'll schedule a hip ultrasound through Children's Hospital to evaluate Wee's hips for hip dysplasia, which all breech babies get checked for. To date, she hasn't shown any evidence of dysplastic hips but this is routine and often times, babies can be asymptomatic and still have some hip issues, which are far easier to correct when they're little. We asked about when Cade can sleep on her stomach, which she loves, and learned that when she places herself on her tummy, going from back to front, is when we can "allow" her to sleep like that with less supervison. She loves tummy time so when she's awake or napping with us, we let her stay like that.

We learned a little about what to expect with developmental and motor skills showing themselves in preemies. She does little smiles, primarily when she sleeps and we should start to see her recognizing us and smiling at mom and dad in a month. Her skills for the first few months will be delayed slightly due to her prematurity. Essentially, if she was a term baby, she'd only be a week old right now. Cadence is, however, very strong in her legs, arms, and she likes to stretch her neck a lot. She pacifies well with hands, fingers, mom and dad's necks, blankets.....Binks, of course. She has begun to track us and focus on our faces and looks for Matt or myself if we're close by and she can hear our voices.

Unless she gets sick, she won't go to the doctor again until she's 2 months old. Overall, we had a great visit and learned lots of great information. Cadence, mom, and dad were all brave when she got her shot and she was a little champion, cried 3 times, and has been asleep and worn out ever since.

Mommy's old co-worker, Emily, vaccinator extraordinaire

Our fabulous pediatrician, Dr. Ginsberg. We adore her!

Shots make Cadie sleepy.

50% for height and weight. That's our girl!

USPS Priority Mail

"If it fits, it ships"

The Social Butterfly

Cadence had another "play date" today, this time making the trek to Renton to spend some time with Auntie Randi, Landon, and Chase.

Randi and Chase visited us when Cadence was 3 days old but due to conflicting schedules and illnesses, we haven't been able to see eachother since.

One of my favorite things prior to having Cadence was taking advantage of Randi being on maternity leave and spending time with her and the boys. Luckily, Cade is super portable right now so she came along and was very good.

She slept most of the visit but did have some tummy time with Chase in between snoozing on mom and borrowing his swing. She loves the swing and we're getting her her own this weekend.

As always, visiting with Randi was awesome and seeing "my" boys was awesome. Both Landon and Chase are getting so big so fast. Landon showed me how he writes his name (perfectly formed letters) and how he knows his numbers up to 30, minus 15 for some reason. He recognizes numbers and his memory is awesome. Chase is starting to smile a ton and I got some good ones from him, he's at such a fun age!!! Aside from great conversation with Randi, snuggles from the babies, wrestling with Landon, I think some of the highlights from the visit were watching Landon hold Cadence and hearing him say, "Nanny Rachel, can I come sleep at your house?" My answer was of course he can, but give me a month so Cade sleeps better.

First Play Date

Today Cadence had her first play date with Owen and Maddie. Owen and Maddie are my mom's coworker's kids. Owen was born August 30th and Maddie on October 10th.

The babies are all at fun ages but not really interactive yet. Cadence snoozed more than anything else but it was fun anyways.




Cadence (10-11-10), Owen (8-30-10), Maddie (10-10-10)



Too much excitement, Cadie chose to snooze instead.

Cadence's 1st Halloween