August 17, 2011
Bryce's First Vacation..The Good and The Bad!
Its official! What I assume will be Bryce's first vacation is all booked minus a few details! My family will be taking our 2nd Mediterranean Cruise, but this time we are bringing 3 more boys with us! My Dad is very happy about this as he will have wing-men! Last time we went, it was just the 4 Kolodnys. This time around we will be cruising as a gang of 6.5! My parents, Katie, her boyfriend Frank, Jason, Bryce, and I will be taking on Italy, Croatia, Spain, and Greece. I think I have the countries right, but don't hold me to it as Geography is not my thing! We will be traveling to Barcelona for 3 days or so, then boarding a Celebrity Cruise Ship (Celebrity Solstice) for a 12 night cruise which will stop at 9 different ports in the various countries. I know a lot of you reading this might be thinking we are crazy for taking Bryce on this type of trip but so be it..we are doing it! I do know it is a bit to take on as a first trip with Bryce, but I would not have it any other way! I have cruised many times before, but never with a baby, so I did a lot of research on the different Cruise Lines to see what I felt most comfortable with. Seeing as though I was probably one of the youngest on our last Mediterranean Cruise, I don't imagine there will be many kids, but it will be adventure and one we will never forget! I always said the last cruise was almost the perfect vacation..the only thing that would have made it better was if Jason was able to go with me! We visited a local Cruise Store and got the best of accommodations and know that this trip will be once in a lifetime! This is already the topic of most conversations and the planning is in full swing. I welcome any advice on traveling with a baby, so send it my way! I am hoping that flying overnight helps Bryce sleep! My Dad has been waiting for the day we can have our first trip with Bryce, and he is already planning the next trip in his head. It is amazing the dynamic Bryce brings to my family. I love my Dad to pieces, but have never considered him a man made of patience. He knows that..its not a secret, however he has more patience with Bryce then anyone! The family joke is we all want to be Bryce! Jason and Katie's boyfriend, Frank, get along great and we are destined to have a great time! SO, you might be wondering, what could be the "Bad" side of the post...well the Cruise isn't until April 2012. It seems so far away, but we know Bryce needed to be a little older and it was pushing it for all of us to be gone from the business in little notice. I do not ever want time to fly, but in this case I do! Come on April 2012..the Kosherdez's (all of our last names combined-Kolodny, Sherard, Hernandez) are ready to say Bon Voyage!!
August 2, 2011
Going on 8 and Mommy's Late!
I say it every post, but I cannot believe how quick time is flying. I feel awful that I haven't posted since Bryce turned 6 months, but I guess it is better late then never! Every day is a new day so needless to say a lot has happened since I last posted. I guess I will just bullet point some fun experiences we have had!
- Bryce was just under 16 lbs at his 6 month appointment but now he is probably pushing 18 lbs! He also seems to be growing length wise, which I am happy about! He still wears 3-6 month clothes, but I have put in him a few 6 month outfits here lately, which are only appropriate for work (they are pretty big). My Dad politely tells me that his shorts look like Capri's, or that they fit him like Capri's fit my Mom and I. What can I say..his hasn't been too blessed in length yet! He is only almost 8 months so give him time! He is still tucking along in his size 3 diapers. He sleeps in Pampers Baby Dry at night, but can pretty much wear any brand during the day.
- Eating/Sleeping/Schedule-We start our day around 7 am. Wait, let me back up...Bryce starts his day about 6:30, but Mommy doesn't go get him till closer to 7. He just plays in his crib, and I lie in bed pretending I can sleep more! If Jason is going to work with me I give Bryce his morning bottle on our way to work, around 7:30. If Jason isn't going with me, I feed Bryce at home about 7:15 before I head to work. He typically goes back to bed shortly after going to work and sleeps about 4 hours. When he wakes up he gets 6 oz and then its play time. We have set up a whole area at work for him with all kinds of toys, DVDs, contraptions, etc. so he has the run of the place. After the 11 am bottle he typically eats every 3 hours and will only take short cat naps the rest of the afternoon, especially while in the car! His bedtime bottle is given around 8 and then we play a little before bed. Getting him to fall asleep is still tough at times, but overall it is not bad. Bryce also gets a fruit or veggie once a day and has not turned anything down! We also give him 4 oz of juice or water each day. He loves his white grape juice! One thing that I do struggle with, and advice is welcome, is that during bottle feedings he is so not interested in eating. He looks around, plays, and just seems like he is bored with the bottle. He still won't hold his own bottle, but I know he is hungry, so I don't understand?! Is this normal?? Any little thing that catches his eye, makes for a sloppy, long, and stressful feeding!
- Activities-Bryce typically spends his day breaking, smashing, moving, and scooting! He is all BOY! He basically sits up on his own, but occasionally he gets excited and tumbles over, so I don't leave him completely alone while he is sitting up! He also scoots around non-stop and is FAST! He crawls at times, but mainly pulls himself around with his arms. I know crawling is coming soon! We put cushions down at work, because the floor is so hard, that between him crawling around, and being so active, he has hit his head once or twice and its not fun! He is busy-always looking, growling, playing, "talking", etc. It is so much fun and each day is better and better!
- Tonight I went to Luby's (be jealous!) with my parents, and put B in a real high chair for the first time. He loved it!! He looked around, got some water from Pops, and maybe even a tiny bite of mashed potatoes! He did so well, and we are definitely doing to start using the highchair. GOODBYE 30 LB (NOT INCLUDING BRYCE) CAR SEAT!! That thing is such a pain to lug around, although its nice to be so strong! Thanks for my guns, Bryce!
- Bryce has 2 teeth on the bottom coming in at the exact same time. They are so stinking cute! I love when I get big smiles and can see them. It totally changes the way he looks! He is also getting more hair, finally! We still have a lot of progress to make, but at least we can spike it when we want :)
June 8, 2011
Half a Year!
It absolutely amazes me that Bryce was born 6 months ago TODAY! On one hand it seems like there is no way this is possible, on the other hand it seems like those newborn days were ages ago! We laugh how we used to bring 4 bottles upstairs for our overnight feedings and now we don't bring any! Each day I count my blessings and am so thankful that God has blessed us with our precious Bryce.
A lot has changed since my last update. We have battled 2 colds and a minor rash on this legs that needed to be treated with antibiotic cream. We are on a somewhat regular routine (more on that later) and have progressed in our development tremendously!
6 Months Stats:
Weight: 15 lbs 15 oz. (25%)
Length: 26 inches (25%-50%)
Head: 17 inches (25%-50%)
Eating:
I am sorry to share that we gave up on rice cereal (ok...slap my hand now!). Bryce just did not want to have any part of it and it was so stressful for all parties involved! I am going out of town for work, but once I return we will start introducing the good stuff, fruit! He will also be allowed 4 oz. of either juice or water each day in a sippy cup. WOW! Up until now, Bryce was eating 6 oz every 3 hours but splurging on his last bottle of the day, typically eating 8 oz. I am so excited for the baby food journey. I know its a transition, and sometimes rough, but it means my baby is getting bigger!!
Sleeping/Schedule:
"Good morning Handsome." That is how I typically start my day. That is right, I have to wake my baby up in the mornings so Momma can get to work! I always wake him up by rubbing his tush (which is normally in the air) and saying "good morning handsome." He then gives me a big stretch following by a HUGE smile! What a way to start my day! We lay him down around 8 or 8:30 at night and I typically wake him up around 7 or 7:30 in the morning. If Jason is going to work with me, I feed Bryce on the way to work, otherwise, I wait until I am at work to give Bryce his first bottle. He wakes up so happy and does not have to eat first thing, which is GREAT for me! After his first bottle, he typically goes back to bed until 10:30 or so, which is ideal for me to get things done at work. Once he wakes up I feed him again, and then he is up for a couple of hours. We rotate activities at work between the pack 'n play, swing, bumbo, cuddling, etc. I am in search for some other things to put him in/on so he doesn't get bored and stays busy! I am thinking about getting that foamy mat that we could put on the ground with a fence around it to let him move around freely. Although he isn't crawling, the Dr. said time on the floor is almost better then all the different exersaucers, chairs, swings, etc. If anyone has ideas, shoot them my way!
Clothes:
We have moved into level 3 diapers and still living in our 3-6 month clothing. We have switched to Pampers Baby Dry and I like them so much more then the Pamper Swaddlers. We rarely have diaper rash and I feel like they keep him much drier, especially overnight. I typically leave Bryce in comfy clothes when I go to work, so I really enjoy our outings where I can dress him up! The kid has more clothes then I do and looks way better in them too ;)
Misc. Stuff:
We are definitely still challenged in the hair department but its coming! I can officially "mess it up" and can't wait to spike it. His eyes are still bright blue, so looks like we have ourselves a blue eyed boy! He loves to make noises and I swear he discovers a new one every day. My favorite is a rather high pitched squeal because it just seems like he is so happy! On the flip side, he growls. Now when I saw he growls, its not like a cute grunt, its a full on growl, red face included! I hope he forgets about that noise soon..very soon! Jason and I also had our first getaway without B. We went to Vegas with some friends and did surprisingly well. I know people think we are crazy, but knowing the care Bryce was in while we were gone made it much easier. Once he cries when we leave (which he better!) it might be harder, but this time I think we did okay. In October we are going on an 8 night cruise (a redo of the one we were taking for Jason's 30th that was cancelled due the pregnancy!) so we shall see how that goes! Bryce also had his first getaway. My mom and I went to Palestine, TX for a funeral and brought Bryce along. Everything was perfect! He slept in the car and was such an angel for everyone. It was A LOT of work but we survived! I was just so paranoid he would burst out in some funky noise during the funeral but the worst he did was gag himself, like he typically does, by trying to eat his entire fist. I managed to pack everything and had a successful first road trip!
I know all parents say this, but I just want to brag on our little guy for a few sentences. He seriously is the happiest baby and is so low maintenance. He only cries when he is ready to eat and can be put in his crib for bedtime when he is almost wide awake. He just kicks and talks and then sucks his thumb till he passes out. He never makes a peep! I appreciate the compliments we get about how well behaved he is, but we did nothing. We were just blessed with the most chill baby there is! Although I would like time to slow down, or even freeze, I am so excited for all that is to come. Each day is better and better and I can't wait for what is to come.
Now, an update on Jason and I...as if anyone cares?! We have found a house in Northwest Plano and will be closing by June 23rd. We are going to redo a few things before we move in but we are so excited!! We will be looking for a new pediatrician in the Plano/Frisco area if anyone has any suggestions! Once we move, we will always have our door open so I hope our friends and family will come hang out! We will bribe you with beer and food!
And finally, pics! Here are some pictures over the last few months. We had his professional 6 month pictures taken on Sunday, so I will post those once we have them back. In the meantime, here is how our little guy looks now!
My new swim hat
Ready for Easter pics...minus 1 shoe
Chillin'
First trip to the Easter Bunny
Does my hat look ok?!
What parents let their kid have licorice?! He was just holding it I swear!
With Gran on my first out of town trip!
6 months today!
T.R.O.U.B.L.E.
Picture taken by my sister, Allison!
This one too!
A lot has changed since my last update. We have battled 2 colds and a minor rash on this legs that needed to be treated with antibiotic cream. We are on a somewhat regular routine (more on that later) and have progressed in our development tremendously!
6 Months Stats:
Weight: 15 lbs 15 oz. (25%)
Length: 26 inches (25%-50%)
Head: 17 inches (25%-50%)
Eating:
I am sorry to share that we gave up on rice cereal (ok...slap my hand now!). Bryce just did not want to have any part of it and it was so stressful for all parties involved! I am going out of town for work, but once I return we will start introducing the good stuff, fruit! He will also be allowed 4 oz. of either juice or water each day in a sippy cup. WOW! Up until now, Bryce was eating 6 oz every 3 hours but splurging on his last bottle of the day, typically eating 8 oz. I am so excited for the baby food journey. I know its a transition, and sometimes rough, but it means my baby is getting bigger!!
Sleeping/Schedule:
"Good morning Handsome." That is how I typically start my day. That is right, I have to wake my baby up in the mornings so Momma can get to work! I always wake him up by rubbing his tush (which is normally in the air) and saying "good morning handsome." He then gives me a big stretch following by a HUGE smile! What a way to start my day! We lay him down around 8 or 8:30 at night and I typically wake him up around 7 or 7:30 in the morning. If Jason is going to work with me, I feed Bryce on the way to work, otherwise, I wait until I am at work to give Bryce his first bottle. He wakes up so happy and does not have to eat first thing, which is GREAT for me! After his first bottle, he typically goes back to bed until 10:30 or so, which is ideal for me to get things done at work. Once he wakes up I feed him again, and then he is up for a couple of hours. We rotate activities at work between the pack 'n play, swing, bumbo, cuddling, etc. I am in search for some other things to put him in/on so he doesn't get bored and stays busy! I am thinking about getting that foamy mat that we could put on the ground with a fence around it to let him move around freely. Although he isn't crawling, the Dr. said time on the floor is almost better then all the different exersaucers, chairs, swings, etc. If anyone has ideas, shoot them my way!
Clothes:
We have moved into level 3 diapers and still living in our 3-6 month clothing. We have switched to Pampers Baby Dry and I like them so much more then the Pamper Swaddlers. We rarely have diaper rash and I feel like they keep him much drier, especially overnight. I typically leave Bryce in comfy clothes when I go to work, so I really enjoy our outings where I can dress him up! The kid has more clothes then I do and looks way better in them too ;)
Misc. Stuff:
We are definitely still challenged in the hair department but its coming! I can officially "mess it up" and can't wait to spike it. His eyes are still bright blue, so looks like we have ourselves a blue eyed boy! He loves to make noises and I swear he discovers a new one every day. My favorite is a rather high pitched squeal because it just seems like he is so happy! On the flip side, he growls. Now when I saw he growls, its not like a cute grunt, its a full on growl, red face included! I hope he forgets about that noise soon..very soon! Jason and I also had our first getaway without B. We went to Vegas with some friends and did surprisingly well. I know people think we are crazy, but knowing the care Bryce was in while we were gone made it much easier. Once he cries when we leave (which he better!) it might be harder, but this time I think we did okay. In October we are going on an 8 night cruise (a redo of the one we were taking for Jason's 30th that was cancelled due the pregnancy!) so we shall see how that goes! Bryce also had his first getaway. My mom and I went to Palestine, TX for a funeral and brought Bryce along. Everything was perfect! He slept in the car and was such an angel for everyone. It was A LOT of work but we survived! I was just so paranoid he would burst out in some funky noise during the funeral but the worst he did was gag himself, like he typically does, by trying to eat his entire fist. I managed to pack everything and had a successful first road trip!
I know all parents say this, but I just want to brag on our little guy for a few sentences. He seriously is the happiest baby and is so low maintenance. He only cries when he is ready to eat and can be put in his crib for bedtime when he is almost wide awake. He just kicks and talks and then sucks his thumb till he passes out. He never makes a peep! I appreciate the compliments we get about how well behaved he is, but we did nothing. We were just blessed with the most chill baby there is! Although I would like time to slow down, or even freeze, I am so excited for all that is to come. Each day is better and better and I can't wait for what is to come.
Now, an update on Jason and I...as if anyone cares?! We have found a house in Northwest Plano and will be closing by June 23rd. We are going to redo a few things before we move in but we are so excited!! We will be looking for a new pediatrician in the Plano/Frisco area if anyone has any suggestions! Once we move, we will always have our door open so I hope our friends and family will come hang out! We will bribe you with beer and food!
And finally, pics! Here are some pictures over the last few months. We had his professional 6 month pictures taken on Sunday, so I will post those once we have them back. In the meantime, here is how our little guy looks now!
My new swim hat
Ready for Easter pics...minus 1 shoe
Chillin'
First trip to the Easter Bunny
Does my hat look ok?!
What parents let their kid have licorice?! He was just holding it I swear!
With Gran on my first out of town trip!
6 months today!
T.R.O.U.B.L.E.
Picture taken by my sister, Allison!
This one too!April 19, 2011
4 Months, Already?!
So this post is a little late, mainly because I cannot believe Bryce is already 4 months old! I see a big difference in Bryce within the last month, and each day is more and more exciting! I wanted to do something different for this blog so I am going to break it down into a few categories. I feel like my posts are boring-so here I go trying to spice it up :)
New Activities:
Bryce definitely sleeps better when he is at home with his Mom and Dad. We put him down for bed anywhere between 9 and 10 (usually!) and he sleeps until at least 6:00 every morning. However, I wish I could report the same for when he has sleepovers and Nonnie & Pops or Nana & PawPaw's. Rumor has it Bryce still wakes up for a feeding in the middle of the night, but I think he is trying to milk the extra attention!But for their sake, I hope he gets over this soon! Or wait..maybe the grandparent's are trying to milk the extra time?! Hmmm...ha!
Clothes:
Ladies and Gentleman, we have a weed on our hands! He is growing so fast! We have boxed up all the preemie and newborn clothes and now fit just right into our 3 month clothes. We have a few 0-3 month outfits we can still wear but we are mainly in our 3 month clothes looking forward to those 3-6 month outfits! In addition, we had to box up some of his shoes (sigh!) but we definitely got more use out of the preemie and NB clothes and shoes then anyone thought we would!
Eating:
Bryce eats a solid 5 ounces every 3 hours during the day. However, there is something about the 7:00 hour, and he loves to eat during this time. For example, it is 7:03 and I JUST fed him 45 minutes ago and he is making noises for some more. Be right back....
Man, what a chunker! Okay where was I!?
Stats (As of 4/11 at his 4 month well checkup):
Weight: 13.5 lbs (10-25%)
Length: 24 1/4" (25%)
Head: 16 1/4" (25%)
In other exciting news, we made progress on Bryce's flat spot and as of now we do not have to have him in therapy or a helmet. I know this was just a minor issue, but as a Mom I am very happy that I don't have to see my little guy go through it.
So let's see, this is life as we know it today. Stay tuned as it changes pretty quick! Again, many thanks to our families as they so generously offer to babysit and help us out. A lot of people are amazed at the support we have and I am so thankful for it! Jason and I are capable of spending ample time together, just us 2, and we could not do it with our families!
Next adventure is finding a new home that is perfect for our little family. Wish us luck as we begin our journey!
Pictures to come soon! Bryce needs attention and its all me tonight :) Toodles!!
New Activities:
- Bryce LOVES to suck on his fingers, his wrist, his arm, your fingers, your wrist..well you get the picture! I find this funny as this baby NEVER liked a pacifier. He will suck on anything that comes in front of him so watch out! I laugh really hard when he uses his other hand to push the hand he is sucking on even further into his mouth! We definitely have a thumb sucker on our hands!
- Standing-He is happiest when he is "standing" and loves to stand with his leg tall and stiff! Its fun to test to see just how much he can do on his own! Everyone thinks he will be an early crawler, but I think that is what all proud parents say ;)
- Rice Cereal-Those on FB know our first attempt at this, but there has been progress and we are getting it down! The funny part is, when you aren't feeding him fast enough he tries to put his face in the bowl...like a dog. Great!
Bryce definitely sleeps better when he is at home with his Mom and Dad. We put him down for bed anywhere between 9 and 10 (usually!) and he sleeps until at least 6:00 every morning. However, I wish I could report the same for when he has sleepovers and Nonnie & Pops or Nana & PawPaw's. Rumor has it Bryce still wakes up for a feeding in the middle of the night, but I think he is trying to milk the extra attention!But for their sake, I hope he gets over this soon! Or wait..maybe the grandparent's are trying to milk the extra time?! Hmmm...ha!
Clothes:
Ladies and Gentleman, we have a weed on our hands! He is growing so fast! We have boxed up all the preemie and newborn clothes and now fit just right into our 3 month clothes. We have a few 0-3 month outfits we can still wear but we are mainly in our 3 month clothes looking forward to those 3-6 month outfits! In addition, we had to box up some of his shoes (sigh!) but we definitely got more use out of the preemie and NB clothes and shoes then anyone thought we would!
Eating:
Bryce eats a solid 5 ounces every 3 hours during the day. However, there is something about the 7:00 hour, and he loves to eat during this time. For example, it is 7:03 and I JUST fed him 45 minutes ago and he is making noises for some more. Be right back....
Man, what a chunker! Okay where was I!?
Stats (As of 4/11 at his 4 month well checkup):
Weight: 13.5 lbs (10-25%)
Length: 24 1/4" (25%)
Head: 16 1/4" (25%)
In other exciting news, we made progress on Bryce's flat spot and as of now we do not have to have him in therapy or a helmet. I know this was just a minor issue, but as a Mom I am very happy that I don't have to see my little guy go through it.
So let's see, this is life as we know it today. Stay tuned as it changes pretty quick! Again, many thanks to our families as they so generously offer to babysit and help us out. A lot of people are amazed at the support we have and I am so thankful for it! Jason and I are capable of spending ample time together, just us 2, and we could not do it with our families!
Next adventure is finding a new home that is perfect for our little family. Wish us luck as we begin our journey!
Pictures to come soon! Bryce needs attention and its all me tonight :) Toodles!!
March 28, 2011
Our First Anniversary
Its hard to believe it has just been 1 short year since Jason and I got married. We have had quite an eventful first year of marriage to say the least! Over the weekend we celebrated our first anniversary and had a wonderful time. The Four Season's sent us a voucher several months ago for a free Saturday night in a suite, as well as a complimentary Sunday brunch for 2. As soon as we received it, we knew we wanted to use it to celebrate our anniversary since that is where we got married! It worked out perfect because our actual anniversary was on Sunday, so we used it for the Saturday night before.
Bryce had his first overnight with Nonnie and Pops and Jason and I had a wonderful night celebrating. We started off Saturday with a wonderful couples massage. This is the 2nd time we have done this together in a month, and have decided we are going to make it a regular thing! We are both addicted and it helps me recover from my tough workouts that Jason is putting me through :) After our massage we checked in at the Four Season's. We were given a villa overlooking the golf course, which was perfect! What I love about the Four Season's is it feels like you are "away" and out of the hussle and bussle of Dallas. It was so neat to be on the same property and relive our wedding weekend. We hung out in the room for the afternoon and enjoyed some peace and quiet. For dinner we went to Pappas Brother's Steakhouse for the first time. We typically visit Ruth's Chris or Steve Fields, but being that we were at the Four Season's these were not convenient. We also got a gift card from my parent's to Pappas so it worked out perfectly! We got there early to enjoy a nice cocktail in the bar. It was a great environment! We had a nice, long dinner with great food and even better wine. The food was equal to Ruth's Chris, BUT the service was by far above and beyond. Our server's name was Lewis, and he was amazing. Their wine list is 50 pages (no joke!) and he, along with the stewardess helped us select a nice bottle for our dinner. He suggested a bottle called The Prisoner, and it is by far the best wine I have ever had! Once he learned how much we liked he, he wrote down about 8 or 10 other suggestions for us. We have already started our mission to find them! After dinner, Jason decided that he wanted a cigar so Lewis came through with yet another great suggestion for the "not so cigar savvy." I have never enjoyed a good cigar, but wanted to try something different. Although it was rather strong, and it took me awhile to get the hang of it, I ended up enjoying it with my hubby on our balcony that night! Oh yeah, that was after we were about 10 minutes late to get some wine for our room so we were forced to pay $30 for us each to make a drink from our mini bar in our room. Oh well, it was worth it! On Sunday, we had 11:00 reservations for their amazing Sunday brunch. It was the perfect ending to our stay!
I can't believe that its already been a year since Jason and I got married. A year ago today, we were off to St. Lucia and little did we know what was coming! I could not ask for a more perfect first year of marriage. I am so thankful that despite our long journey, Jason and I ended up as husband and wife :) Who would have thought?!?!
Bryce had his first overnight with Nonnie and Pops and Jason and I had a wonderful night celebrating. We started off Saturday with a wonderful couples massage. This is the 2nd time we have done this together in a month, and have decided we are going to make it a regular thing! We are both addicted and it helps me recover from my tough workouts that Jason is putting me through :) After our massage we checked in at the Four Season's. We were given a villa overlooking the golf course, which was perfect! What I love about the Four Season's is it feels like you are "away" and out of the hussle and bussle of Dallas. It was so neat to be on the same property and relive our wedding weekend. We hung out in the room for the afternoon and enjoyed some peace and quiet. For dinner we went to Pappas Brother's Steakhouse for the first time. We typically visit Ruth's Chris or Steve Fields, but being that we were at the Four Season's these were not convenient. We also got a gift card from my parent's to Pappas so it worked out perfectly! We got there early to enjoy a nice cocktail in the bar. It was a great environment! We had a nice, long dinner with great food and even better wine. The food was equal to Ruth's Chris, BUT the service was by far above and beyond. Our server's name was Lewis, and he was amazing. Their wine list is 50 pages (no joke!) and he, along with the stewardess helped us select a nice bottle for our dinner. He suggested a bottle called The Prisoner, and it is by far the best wine I have ever had! Once he learned how much we liked he, he wrote down about 8 or 10 other suggestions for us. We have already started our mission to find them! After dinner, Jason decided that he wanted a cigar so Lewis came through with yet another great suggestion for the "not so cigar savvy." I have never enjoyed a good cigar, but wanted to try something different. Although it was rather strong, and it took me awhile to get the hang of it, I ended up enjoying it with my hubby on our balcony that night! Oh yeah, that was after we were about 10 minutes late to get some wine for our room so we were forced to pay $30 for us each to make a drink from our mini bar in our room. Oh well, it was worth it! On Sunday, we had 11:00 reservations for their amazing Sunday brunch. It was the perfect ending to our stay!
I can't believe that its already been a year since Jason and I got married. A year ago today, we were off to St. Lucia and little did we know what was coming! I could not ask for a more perfect first year of marriage. I am so thankful that despite our long journey, Jason and I ended up as husband and wife :) Who would have thought?!?!
March 19, 2011
March 13, 2011
3 Months
I cannot believe Bryce is already 3 months old! It seems like yesterday I was pregnant! Since the last update a few things have changed. I have gone back to work and am able bring Bryce with me, which made going back to work not so bad! I feel very lucky to be able to bring him to work with me. It is the best of both worlds! Bryce is definitely a lot more active now then he was at 2 months. At work I typically put him on an activity mat and he loves to "swim" and watch the lights. He is constantly moving his legs and arms and it looks like he is swimming. He notices things a lot more and follows you with his eyes. He is still comfortable in 0-3 month clothes but is going to be moving to level 2 diapers very soon! I would assume he is pushing 13 lbs and has an appetite like crazy! During the day he is eating close to 4 ounces every 3-4 hours. We still haven't put him on a regular schedule so the nights vary. Some nights he eats at 7 and then conks out till about 2 am. Other nights, we feed him at 10 and then put him down for bed and he sleeps till 6. Then we have total curve ball days, where I feel like all he does is eat! We are really trying to work on the flattening of his head and am anxious/nervous for his 4 month check up. I feel like it is improving and I am hoping he does not have to go to therapy and wear a helmet.
Another thing that has changed since his 2 month birthday is that we now have names for his grandparents! This was an easy task for Jason's family, but my parents could not decide for the life of them! Finally, we have names and can start calling them by something other then grandma and grandpa! Jason's parents are Nana and PawPaw and my parents are Pops and Nonnie (Nah-nie).
Bryce is also developing quite the personality. I think he might be a little dramatic, and have no idea where he gets that from ;) He does this fake cry pretty often, and I just know we are in for it. He loves to smile and makes the cutest facial expressions! He has such beautiful lips and I just love to kiss them!
I was always prepared for him to move into his room on his 3 month birthday, however, Jason prefers to wait for a little longer. I am totally okay with it, but we have to move him at some point and I feel like we are just prolonging it. I love having him in the room with us, but I know it has to come to an end at some point. I asked Jason if he thought he would be ready to move him my his first birthday, ha! Maybe by next update we will have made the move!
Bryce had his first overnight stay with Nana and PawPaw and from what they said it went great! Bryce slept for 7 hours! I am so lucky to have such wonderful in-laws. This was the longest I was away from Bryce and let me tell you how happy I was to see him! He is having his first overnight with Pops and Nonnie on March 26th while Jason and I go to the Four Seasons for the night to celebrate our anniversary. My mom is such a worry rat, that I am praying she can get some rest and not worry all night about him! I am so thankful that we live by family and that both of our families are so willing to help. It makes such a difference to be surrounded by so much love and support.
Every day we fall more in love with our little blessing. We are coming up on our 1 year anniversary and I feel so blessed. I could not ask for a better husband to help raise a child with. He is truly one of a kind and I am so thankful that he chose me to spend the rest of his life with. We have so many things ahead for us and I am so excited for all that is to come. So Happy 3 Months Bryce, and Happy almost 1 year anniversary Jason. I love you both to the moon and back!!
Stay tuned for some 3 month pictures!
Another thing that has changed since his 2 month birthday is that we now have names for his grandparents! This was an easy task for Jason's family, but my parents could not decide for the life of them! Finally, we have names and can start calling them by something other then grandma and grandpa! Jason's parents are Nana and PawPaw and my parents are Pops and Nonnie (Nah-nie).
Bryce is also developing quite the personality. I think he might be a little dramatic, and have no idea where he gets that from ;) He does this fake cry pretty often, and I just know we are in for it. He loves to smile and makes the cutest facial expressions! He has such beautiful lips and I just love to kiss them!
I was always prepared for him to move into his room on his 3 month birthday, however, Jason prefers to wait for a little longer. I am totally okay with it, but we have to move him at some point and I feel like we are just prolonging it. I love having him in the room with us, but I know it has to come to an end at some point. I asked Jason if he thought he would be ready to move him my his first birthday, ha! Maybe by next update we will have made the move!
Bryce had his first overnight stay with Nana and PawPaw and from what they said it went great! Bryce slept for 7 hours! I am so lucky to have such wonderful in-laws. This was the longest I was away from Bryce and let me tell you how happy I was to see him! He is having his first overnight with Pops and Nonnie on March 26th while Jason and I go to the Four Seasons for the night to celebrate our anniversary. My mom is such a worry rat, that I am praying she can get some rest and not worry all night about him! I am so thankful that we live by family and that both of our families are so willing to help. It makes such a difference to be surrounded by so much love and support.
Every day we fall more in love with our little blessing. We are coming up on our 1 year anniversary and I feel so blessed. I could not ask for a better husband to help raise a child with. He is truly one of a kind and I am so thankful that he chose me to spend the rest of his life with. We have so many things ahead for us and I am so excited for all that is to come. So Happy 3 Months Bryce, and Happy almost 1 year anniversary Jason. I love you both to the moon and back!!
Stay tuned for some 3 month pictures!
February 8, 2011
Two Months and Growing...
Happy 2 Month Birthday Bryce! Poor guy had to start his day off with a 9:15 am Doctor's appointment for his 2 month well checkup, NOT fun! They say they don't remember things right now, and boy I sure hope this is true! He had his first round of shots today in his precious thighs, and my heart just about broke. We heard a cry that we have never heard before, and I would be okay if I never heard it again. Overall though, I think he is a tough cookie-much tougher than Mom at least!
His stats get confusing because he was 5 weeks early. We get his percentiles based on his real age, and then she adjusts the curve to show his percentiles as a premature baby. So bottom line, we have both a runt and a chunker! Confusing, huh?! That is what I said! He weighed in at 10 lbs 6.5 oz, was 22" long, and his head is 15" around. His weight falls in the 25%, length 10-25%, and his head at 10%. So according to this, Bryce sounds like a runt! BUT, if you adjust them he is in the 75% on all 3, which makes him a chunker! I don't fully understand it, but the Doctor said he is growing as he should, so we will just leave it at that! Each visit Jason and I make a bet on who can guess his weight and this week Jason won. He guessed 10 lbs 6 oz and I guessed 10 lb 8 oz. Whatever, I will win next time :)
The only other thing we took home from this appointment is hand outs on strengthening Bryce's neck. He has some flattening on the right side of his head and we need to correct this before it gets worse. It's nothing serious, we just have some exercises to do and need to be conscious about how we hold him, lay him down, feed him, etc. Almost everything we do makes him lean to his right so it makes sense that this has happened. We will fix it though, and all will be fine! Just more of an excuse to keep him lying on my chest longer, right?!
Now, on to the fun stuff! It seems like he changes or does something new everyday. He is staying awake longer and eating much better, thank gosh! During the day he typically eats 3 ounces every 3 hours but at night he has gone 4-6 hours between feedings, which is nice! We typically feed him around 10 or 10:30 and try to get him to eat at least 4 ounces. We put him down for bed right after this feeding and he is typically asleep pretty quick. He then will wake up between 3 and 5 and has even gone as long as 6 am. This has definitely been a treat for us! We still feel very fortunate as he still rarely cries. We don't have to rock him to sleep or do anything special. He typically falls asleep on his own without much commotion. Cross your fingers this trend sticks! We just bought Baby Wise and will start exploring that very soon in order to get on a schedule and have more consistency. I am very much a planner so this will be nice for me!
So that is where we are now! Here are some pics we took tonight to celebrate!
His stats get confusing because he was 5 weeks early. We get his percentiles based on his real age, and then she adjusts the curve to show his percentiles as a premature baby. So bottom line, we have both a runt and a chunker! Confusing, huh?! That is what I said! He weighed in at 10 lbs 6.5 oz, was 22" long, and his head is 15" around. His weight falls in the 25%, length 10-25%, and his head at 10%. So according to this, Bryce sounds like a runt! BUT, if you adjust them he is in the 75% on all 3, which makes him a chunker! I don't fully understand it, but the Doctor said he is growing as he should, so we will just leave it at that! Each visit Jason and I make a bet on who can guess his weight and this week Jason won. He guessed 10 lbs 6 oz and I guessed 10 lb 8 oz. Whatever, I will win next time :)
The only other thing we took home from this appointment is hand outs on strengthening Bryce's neck. He has some flattening on the right side of his head and we need to correct this before it gets worse. It's nothing serious, we just have some exercises to do and need to be conscious about how we hold him, lay him down, feed him, etc. Almost everything we do makes him lean to his right so it makes sense that this has happened. We will fix it though, and all will be fine! Just more of an excuse to keep him lying on my chest longer, right?!
Now, on to the fun stuff! It seems like he changes or does something new everyday. He is staying awake longer and eating much better, thank gosh! During the day he typically eats 3 ounces every 3 hours but at night he has gone 4-6 hours between feedings, which is nice! We typically feed him around 10 or 10:30 and try to get him to eat at least 4 ounces. We put him down for bed right after this feeding and he is typically asleep pretty quick. He then will wake up between 3 and 5 and has even gone as long as 6 am. This has definitely been a treat for us! We still feel very fortunate as he still rarely cries. We don't have to rock him to sleep or do anything special. He typically falls asleep on his own without much commotion. Cross your fingers this trend sticks! We just bought Baby Wise and will start exploring that very soon in order to get on a schedule and have more consistency. I am very much a planner so this will be nice for me!
So that is where we are now! Here are some pics we took tonight to celebrate!
January 17, 2011
Pics, Pics, Pics
Here are some pictures of Bryce from his first 6 weeks! Enjoy!
Not Mom's Choice...
Poppin' my collar
Love the face he makes when he is burped
Gig 'Em!
All dressed up and nowhere to go!
Not Mom's Choice...
Poppin' my collar
Love the face he makes when he is burped
Gig 'Em!
All dressed up and nowhere to go!January 11, 2011
One Month!
Well now I know it is true, time really does fly by! On January 8th we celebrated Bryce turning 1 month old, and oddly enough that was his expected due date! I cannot believe it has already been a month! It feels like he changes every day and it is so fun to watch. At his last Doctor's appointment he was up to 7 lbs 1 oz, but now we think he is at least 8.5 lbs. Jason weighed himself with and without holding Bryce and that is how much his weight changed, so we know he is growing! This past month has been such an amazing experience. At times I compare it to living 1 LONG day with short naps, but overall I feel very blessed. Bryce has only had 2 rough nights so I cannot complain at all. On a typical day he eats about every 3 hours and is up to eating 4 ounces at a time. Typically he falls asleep right after feedings, but we have definitely noticed him being more alert with each passing day. The only time he cries is for about 2 minutes before feeding time, which is how long it takes us to prepare. Once the bottle hits his mouth he is good to go. I am having to feed him through a bottle as he never latched on. I struggled with this at first, but the nurses said it is very common for babies who come early. We tried over and over but due to his bilirubin situation, I just never felt comfortable not knowing how much he was getting and so a bottle made me feel better. Enough about that though, on to more fun topics. Bryce is still wearing preemie clothes and some newborn outfits. We can't wait for him to grow as we have a whole wardrobe we are dying to put him in! He makes the funniest faces and noises and we love to just sit and watch him. Jason and I were able to ring in 2011 together and really enjoyed ourselves. My parents watched Bryce and Jason and I went out for sushi and to a friend's house for a NYE party. It was such a fun night and I definitely made up for lost time, oops! We stayed the night at my parents house and I stayed there the next day (and night!) because Jason was working. My parents really spoiled Bryce (and me!). This past Saturday Jason's family watched Bryce and Jason and I had another date night. This time we went to dinner at a great Hibachi place then to the movies. His family had a blast with him and told us we came home to early! We feel so lucky to have so many babysitters! We attempted to take pictures of Bryce on his 1 month birthday, however, shortly into the "shoot" he spit up EVERYWHERE and we had to stop.
December 26, 2010
Bryce's 1st Christmas 2010
Christmas time is my favorite time of the year! I cherish the time with family and with Bryce's early arrival this Christmas was extra special! We kicked off Christmas Eve with an afternoon celebration at our house. We had over my family and Grandma (Gran) and part of Jason's family-his immediate family, his mom's Dad, and 2 Uncles. We did the same thing last year and it was great! I love how both of our families can come together, celebrate, and have some fun! Everyone brings an appetizer (or several!) and we all just nibble, visit, and do gifts! Christmas Eve night Jason and I headed over to his Grandparent's (his mom's mom and step dad) house in Carrollton. There we celebrate with another part of his family and always have a wonderful time. His grandparents prepared a WONDERFUL meal and then we did White Elephant. I scored some homemade candles that his Uncle Mark made and can't wait to burn them! Jason has a great aunt, Aunt Helen, who is older and lives in a nursing home full time. Her son went through a lot of trouble to try and bring her over, but it was just to hard on her. Before they left to take her back "home" she was able to get a peak at Bryce and I think it was special for her. Jason's cousin, John, and his wife, Amy, just had a baby on the 22nd so they were not able to come, but they were missed! Next Christmas we will all be together and Bryce and Jake will have so much fun! They are just 2 weeks apart! On Christmas morning we headed over to my parent's house which is a tradition in our house. We all have coffee cake and watch the parade (although we missed it this year) and then open up all of our presents! Santa was very good to ALL of us and we are so thankful for all of our goodies. Bryce definitely made out good!! My Uncle Jeff (my mom's brother) moved to Midland/Odessa in August and he came in town for Christmas. I am not used to being far from him so I was so excited to see him! He is the sales manager of the Harley dealership out there and bought Bryce the cutest Harley Davidson baby outfit! After we open presents and do our lottery tickets we just sit around and visit before having an amazing lunch. My mom didn't cook Thanksgiving because they went to the Cowboy game, so we were all excited for her Christmas cooking, and in true tradition she fished for compliments and we definitely gave them! That night we had our final celebration at Jason's other grandparents-his Dad's parents. There we celebrate with his immediate family, grandparents, and 2 Uncles. I have been joining this family's celebrations for several years and always love it. I was still full from lunch and could barely keep my eyes open at this point so during dinner I sat in the living room and chatted with his Paw Paw while holding Bryce so Jason could eat. I love Paw Paw and always enjoy seeing him! We chatted about him growing up, traveling, his family, and much more! It was a very special time I will always remember. After dinner we do White Elephant gifts and then we usually play our traditional game, Chicken Foot. This year we didn't play the game because White Elephant took quite some time and everyone was tired-me especially! I hate that I was such a zombie at this point but I know his wonderful family understands! So our Christmas festivities ended about 9 pm Christmas night and we came home and hit the sack! I know I have said it a million times, and I can assure you this won't be my last, but I am so thankful for my amazing families and all of the blessings I have. Throughout the days I would look around and try to take up as much as possible. Looking at Jason would bring me to tears as I think of the journey him and I have had and am still in shock we are where we are! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and enjoyed time with their loved ones! Here are some pics:
My Sherard Family
Bryce and his Great Grandma, Gran!
P.S. Bryce had his 2 week checkup and he is doing great! He has gained 8 oz since he was born, bringing him to 6 lbs 10 oz. He is still struggling at times when eating but overall he is doing GREAT!! We have started "tummy time" and so far he loves it! Tomorrow is his first real bath so stay tuned for a video and wish us luck!! UPDATE: Our video camera was not working but here are a few pics!
My Sherard Family
Bryce and his Great Grandma, Gran!
P.S. Bryce had his 2 week checkup and he is doing great! He has gained 8 oz since he was born, bringing him to 6 lbs 10 oz. He is still struggling at times when eating but overall he is doing GREAT!! We have started "tummy time" and so far he loves it! Tomorrow is his first real bath so stay tuned for a video and wish us luck!! UPDATE: Our video camera was not working but here are a few pics!
December 21, 2010
Bryce Austin Sherard
It was Tuesday, December 7th (my Mom's Birthday), and as far as we knew we were celebrating my mom's 59th birthday that night at Cheesecake Factory-and that was it! Jason and I decided to get some Christmas shopping done during the day so we headed out to the Allen/Fairview area. Before we hit the stores we grabbed lunch at Schlotzsky's and the events started! Before we left I decided it would be a good idea to use the restroom. After all, I was 35 weeks pregnant and bathroom stops were pretty frequent! On my way to the restroom I felt a gush of fluid come out of me. Hmm, this is weird, I thought to myself. I always heard that bladder control was tough during pregnancy, but seeing as though I didn't "suffer" from most of the typical pregnancy issues I wasn't sure what was going on. I stayed in the restroom for a few minutes before I found a safe time to leave. I walked up to Jason and quietly said "I think we need to go home." He looked at me like "what is going on" and I calmly said I would explain outside. Once we were outside I told him I wasn't sure if my waters broke or if I was experiencing that bladder control issue I have heard about. He suggested I call the Doctor, but I of course wanted to "see what happened." We then stopped for gas and I experienced another gush. At this point I knew we should go home. On our way home I called my Mom and Jason's Mom to get their input and both seemed to agree it was not just bladder control! Once we were home we called the Dr. and she wanted me to come to her office. Jason had a feeling it was time so we packed a bag for the hospital just in case. We loaded up and headed to the Doctor. Once we were there I felt like no one in the office believed me that my water broke. I sat in the room alone for at least 15 minutes waiting for someone to come see me. Once the floor was covered in fluid I decided I needed to get up and ask a nurse to come in. I tried to clean up but every time I moved fluid gushed out! As soon as the nurse saw my mess the Doctor seemed to be in more of a hurry. After the exam she determined it was in fact my water and I was 4 cm dilated. She advised us to go straight to the hospital!
We arrived at Baylor Frisco around 2:30 and it was time! I will spare you all of the details but I will say that my labor experience was such a breeze and NOTHING like what I envisioned. I was surrounded by family and friends and just tried to relax and take it all in. I even found time to play on Facebook and order Bryce's Christmas stocking! Bryce Austin Sherard was born at 1:12 am on December 8, 2010. He weighed 6 lbs 2 ounces and was 18.75 inches long. The hospital and all of my nurses were fantastic! Jason and I spent 3 nights at the hospital, but Bryce had to stay an extra 2 nights after we left. This was such a difficult thing and my biggest fear all along. Bryce's bilirubin level was elevated and the Doctor wanted to keep him for photo therapy. We were able to visit him as much as we wanted and could take him out from the lights for feedings. We spent both days with him and only went home at night to sleep, or try our best to sleep. On Sunday, December 12th we were able to bring home our new baby boy!
Newborn Pic
Stats
Aunt Kiki (Katie) got him his 1st cake!
PROUD Daddy
It is now Monday, December 20th and we are adjusting to our new life. During these 12 days I have fallen in a deeper love with my husband then I ever knew possible. To see him as a Father is such an amazing thing. He is so loving, nurturing, and supportive and I am so blessed to have him in my life. Today was his first day back at work and I was dreading this day all along. I spent the day with my Mom but felt it was best for me to come back home tonight and do this on my own! I feel so blessed to be a part of 2 amazing families and have such a close network of friends. I appreciate all of the support not only during this chapter, but throughout my whole life. 2010 has been the best year of my life and such an eventful time!
We arrived at Baylor Frisco around 2:30 and it was time! I will spare you all of the details but I will say that my labor experience was such a breeze and NOTHING like what I envisioned. I was surrounded by family and friends and just tried to relax and take it all in. I even found time to play on Facebook and order Bryce's Christmas stocking! Bryce Austin Sherard was born at 1:12 am on December 8, 2010. He weighed 6 lbs 2 ounces and was 18.75 inches long. The hospital and all of my nurses were fantastic! Jason and I spent 3 nights at the hospital, but Bryce had to stay an extra 2 nights after we left. This was such a difficult thing and my biggest fear all along. Bryce's bilirubin level was elevated and the Doctor wanted to keep him for photo therapy. We were able to visit him as much as we wanted and could take him out from the lights for feedings. We spent both days with him and only went home at night to sleep, or try our best to sleep. On Sunday, December 12th we were able to bring home our new baby boy!
Newborn Pic Stats
Aunt Kiki (Katie) got him his 1st cake!
PROUD Daddy
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