Friday, February 24, 2012

Four Months

Daniel turned four months old yesterday. It was a GORGEOUS day and I made sure we spent a few minutes out in the warm sunshine.
He's getting really big! He's been wearing size six months for about three weeks now and started rolling over (from front to back) at 15 weeks. The first time he did it was on a Wednesday when I was getting Etta ready for her nap. I put him on his tummy on Etta's little toddler bed. He kinda popped up on his arms and I just KNEW he was going to roll. So, I grabbed him and put him on the floor instead. I went out of the room to get Etta and as I walked back in I saw him roll for the first time. Nervous Nelly IMMEDIATELY burst into tears. He was so unsure about the fact that he was suddenly on his back. Poor chap!
Daniel is a really sweet baby and, as long as you are holding him, he's very much at peace. The minute you put him down and walk away from him, he's a screaming mess. I try to wear him when I can, but sometimes I just have to move laundry or make a pb&j for his sister and he just has to scream. He also sometimes has crying fits in the car, but as soon as the car is stopped and you're holding him, he's golden!
Couldn't get the camera to stop focusing on the damn tree, but it's still a cute picture. :)

His sleeping habits are getting better. On a good day, I get him in bed at about 5:00pm, he wakes around 9:00 for a bottle, and he's asleep again until around 6:00 (give or take 30 minutes). He's also napping well and would probably do well to be put on a more scheduled schedule. lol. He doesn't really like to be held at nap times anymore (unless you're snuggled in bed together or if he's tucked into the Ergo while out shopping). He would MUCH rather be zipped into his woombie and placed in his co-sleeper with a suckie in his mouth. He happily suck, suck, sucks and then KONK! He's out. He still stirs sometimes and has a hard time self-soothing so I have to run in there and stick the paci back in his mouth (or, if it's night, I reach over and pop that sucker back in his mouth in my sleep. I'm a pro!).
 
He really is a sweet little sweetie and Etta just loves him. Every day when Daniel and I  pick her up from school, she waves hello to him as I'm buckling her in. She brings me his binkie when he's crying and she'll pat his back while I'm burping him. Such a great big sister!

Breakfast Club- February 2012

Keith saw this picture when I posted it to Facebook yesterday and his comment when he got home was "just looking at that picture, you can't tell what brought all of you together". And I loved that he said that. Not that Down syndrome was omitted from the photo, but that Down syndrome brought us together and that we all like each other enough to want to get together without our kids who have Ds and catch-up and talk about things that have nothing to do with Down syndrome (though, I'm sure there was *some* Ds talk in there). I love this group SO much it hurts!
Hank helped himself to a pat of butter. lol.

We plan to try and make breakfast a more regular occurrence.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Valentine's Day 2012

We worked on Etta's valentines for a few days, putting them together in stages so it wasn't SO overwhelming.

We got them all made and ready to go, but poor Etta had to miss her Valentine exchange/party at school because she was still sick. boo! (I sent them in with her today)
We just hung around the house on Tuesday. Spreading the germs amongst ourselves (now Daniel is sick). 
(as usual, the shirt is made by Layne James Embroidery and Designs. Cute, huh?)

I made valentines while the littles were napping.
By the time Keith got home, Daniel was in bed and Etta was headed that way. She gave her Daddy his card and she gave him the one from Daniel's and we gave her the one I made and she was off to bed.

Once E was settled in bed, we tore into the sushi Keith picked up on his way home. It was tasty and just reliving it makes me want more right now! Yum!
Keith and I exchanged valentines that night and I got a couple of cards from the kids the next morning (they needed to "sign" their cards to me, but they went to bed before Daddy could help them the night before. Poor planning, Daddy! lol.).

Happy Valentine's Day (week), Friends!