Sambo's Two Month Stats

We went in for Sam's two month well-check today. Here is how he "weighs" in:

Weight: 12.4lbs (75%)
Height: 23.5 in (50%-75%)
Head: 15.5 in (25%-50%)

They (Dr. Abbott, and the nurses...who are ALL fantastic by the way) were extremely impressed at how much Sambo has grown. Shocked even. Apparently when he was born, his weight was barely in the 5%, and NOW look at him! He has pretty much doubled his birth weight, in two months! He's a chunk!

He passed all of his two month "tests" (lifting his head, following light, smiling a little, etc...) without too much trouble. Though he was kind of stubborn when he was supposed to lift his head. I blame that on him being tired and just wanting to go to sleep.

They gave him four shots and an oral vaccination. He was NOT happy about the shots (who wouldn't be?), but calmed down and promptly shut down into a deep sleep (thanks Tylenol). I have prepared myself for a fairly rough afternoon and night.

Speaking of nights, I asked Dr. Abbott about Sam's sleeping habits (or lack there of). He seems to me (us) to have a little breathing problem at around 3am every night. It seems he wakes up at that time and just has a hard time breathing. By that I mean he seems to get really congested, and stuffed up and has a hard time with drainage...which causes him to stir the rest of the night just TRYING to get back to sleep. We discussed this with her and she seemed baffled by that...in further discussion we all decided that Little Samuel is getting too much sleep during the day, and can't go back to sleep at night. Or he thinks that 3am is wake-up time and his brain says go back to sleep, but his body isn't tired anymore.

This all makes sense, and I actually mentioned to Jonathon last night that it was time that Samuel was put on a strict schedule. We just have not been able to get any sort of schedule going...with the ice storm (no electricity), then going out of town, all the company we have had...we just haven't been able to get it together. Well *I* haven't. So, hopefully things will calm down and I can get the kids on a schedule, and we can ALL start sleeping through the night. Anyone out there have any advice on a "doable" schedule for an infant and a toddler?

Also, currently, Samuel's crib is in our room. I think it is time that we move his crib out of our room. We have decided to just make the boys share Nathan's little room. With the way our house is laid out, it is best. We have two bedrooms on the main floor, and two bedrooms up stairs (the master, and Nathan's). I do not feel comfortable with moving Nathan downstairs alone. Plus we really wouldn't have any place for the office. SO, they will just share a room upstairs (its pretty tiny, large enough for a bed and a crib, that is it). I am not sure how that is going to work with Nathan. Anyone out there have any advice on kids sharing a room? I fear Nathan will wake up whenever Samuel wakes up...

So, that's the update! If you are wanting to compare Nathan and Sam at the same age, go here. Remember that Nathan's two month well check was actually when he was 10 weeks. Sam is 9.

The Giant and his Little Bean

Before I had kids, I never thought I would be one to dress my kids exactly the same. However, when I found out I was having another boy, something clicked inside my brain and the need and desire to dress my boys exactly the same became so overwhelmingly apparent. I have made a deal with myself that I would only dress them the same on holidays and special occasions...and bedtime (sometimes). So, without further adeau...here is the first photos of the boys wearing the same "jimmy jams". I am TOTALLY sure that when they are 25 they will look back at these photos with complete appreciation for their mother and they will NOT try to burn them in embarrassment! ;)

And for real...was Nathan EVER as little as Sammy? Goodness, he looks like a giant in comparison! When the heck did he get so...BIG?

(And for the record, he does look like he is about ready to elbow Sambo in the face, I assure you he was not and is actually very gentle and loving towards his little bro)

Sam I Am

Picture Of The Day

How Samuel Spends the Day

Deja Vu

I seem to have completely forgotten what Nathan was like as an infant...it is a good thing I blogged about it! Check it:

http://nathanielcharles.blogspot.com/2006/09/so4-weeks-old.html

The funny thing is, is that in the last week (Samuel's 4th week of life), I said the same exact things about Sammy as apparently I did about Nathan. He is filling out, it makes me sad, he eats every 3 hours (sometimes less, sometimes more, but not often), he is starting to have definite awake times, our "schedule" is panning out to be the same as Nathans, etc...

Very odd to be reading about your first born, yet it all seems to apply to your second born as well. Also, Samuel is really starting to "change looks". When he was born, *I* think he favored me more so than Nathan did, aside from his coloring (Nathan's coloring is all Frentheway), however in the last week his little cheeks have plumped up (SO CUTE!), and is beginning to resemble Nathan. He still has the dark coloring, but both Jonathon and I think his hair is getting lighter. He and Nathan will have the same color eyes (yeah!!! Nathan's eyes are beautiful, and they get that from Jonathon), but I do think Samuel will have my little head.

Anyways...that update is totally random and without pictures...

Brotherly Love

As I am sure I expressed on many occasions, one of my biggest fears in having another child was how Nathan would react and behave towards the new little one (and to me). Well, now that Samuel has been here a few weeks (already???), I have something to report!

Nathan has done extremely well. My apprehension and fear of the unknown is, so far, proving to be just that...fear of the unknown. Nathan LOVES his little brother, and takes the opportunity to tell everyone that, many times a day. He doesn't seem too bothered by a new addition...though he has grown completely attached to me (which I hear is normal). After all, his world has been completely turned upside down with a new baby, not to mention the Ice Storm that kicked us out of our house for a few days. Along with all that, I have found it a little difficult to be super strict on Nathan's schedule (not that I was the Nazi-scheduler before Samuel arrived, but he did have a definite nap time and bedtime...for the most part. Both of which have gotten later and later since Sam has arrived.). As a result I think Nathan does feel a little displaced and insecure about all the changes. Time is the only remedy as we all try to figure out our new normal.

Brotherly love at its finest...here is Nathan "petting" Samuel, as he does many times a day. VERY gently though.

And of course, the photo you all have been waiting for:

Brotherly Kisses.

Picture of the Day

A day in the life...

This is how Samuel sees the world...

Pictures of the Day

Samuel, going home...

Nan, Nathan and Samuel

Nan and Samuel sharing a moment

He is Here!

And...then there were two! On January 15, 2009 at 10:31pm, Little Tyke turned into Samuel Nicholas Ice. Here is his first story:

As most of you know, I am probably the most impatient person when it comes to being 9 months pregnant. I think I just get tired of the "countdown" and just want the birthing process over with already. This time wasn't any different...especially when you go in for your 36 week doctor appointment and the "process" has already started, and your lovely (she really is lovely) doctor says (and I quote) "wow! you are already 3cm dilated...make an appointment for next week, but I doubt you are pregnant by then." . And so...the countdown became THE longest countdown in the history of countdowns. Every day I was like "will it be today?" Every contraction I was like "is this it?". It got to the point where I really thought I would be pregnant until December!!!! Regardless...I woke up on the 15th, so utterly frustrated and irritated with still be pregnant that the contractions that began at 10am didn't even phase me. Nan and Paps had taken Nathan the day before and kept him all night, so they brought him home around 11, and we had our usual of McDonald's "dippy" lunch. The contractions had continued about every 5 minutes, and were getting a little uncomfortable...however I had convinced myself that "this wasn't it. this was just a fluke..again!" At around 1:30 or so, Jonathon became a little worried and demanded that we head to the hospital. I reluctantly agreed, knowing full well that they were only going to turn me away and tell me to go home and wait it out.

We showed up at the hospital, the monitored me for an hour only to tell me that I still was 1cm short of being the "admittable" dilation. So they told me to go walk for an hour. I have to tell you...Jonathon and I had a fabulous time walking around that hour. I was having contractions, and they were getting pretty painful, but it was so fun just walking hand in hand with my husband...and laughing, making jokes, just enjoying the moments together. It is an hour that I will truly cherish!

After that hour, they checked me again, and I had progressed to 5cm dilated...so they admitted me. I got a sweet labor and delivery suite (thanks to the nice nurses that hooked me up, and the fact that it was a slow birthing day). Within an hour I had an epidural, and was dilated to an 8. I will say that this doctor that gave me the epi did a fine job! Tooooooo good, I must say. I couldn't feel a thing, not even my toes! With Nathan, the epidural just took the edge off, but I was always able to feel my legs and could have probably still walked if needed. This one, no way. I couldn't even lift my legs! After a couple of hours (and a Purdue basketball game) later, a kind nurse "accidentally" broke my water...and with in an hour I was ready to start pushing.

10 minutes later, Samuel Nicholas was here. I will say that he gave us quite the scare upon his arrival. He was completely non responsive when he was first born, and for about a good 10 minutes afterwards. It was one of the most disturbing things to see nurses rushing in the room, not answering your questions (other than "he is just stunned", whatever that was supposed to mean) and looking worried themselves. They began tubing his nose, and hitting his tiny little back to get him to cry or respond. I kept asking the doctor if he was okay, and she kept reassuring me that he was...yet he wouldn't cry. Once again, the reason was because he was just stunned because he was born so fast (?)...yet at one point I did over hear the nurses ask how much drugs I had. I am not a doctor nor a nurse, so I may be talking crazy here...but I think the Little Tyke was drugged up with an epidural! I really think the amount that I was given affected Samuel.

After they did get him to respond, the nurses said that we could hold him for a couple of minutes but that they were going to take him to monitor him for a while...which they never did. After about 10 minutes, they came back and said that he was doing fine and they didn't need to take him at all. A relief!

Meeting Samuel

Samuel

Proud Poppa.

Happy family (minus Nathan).

So there you have it.
Samuel Nicholas Ice
6lbs 10oz
19inches
January 15, 2009
10:31pm