Visiting Great Popou

Saturday, Sheniah's basketball coach called to invite her to go to a UNCC women's basketball game. Sheniah was so excited...she had a wonderful time. She really is loving basketball, and seems to be much more skilled this year than last. She also loves her coach who is a wonderful woman and great coach. The coach is very focused on sportsmanship and team spirit, which I think is great for the kids she coaches. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures from b-ball yet...but I will post some soon.

Yesterday we went to Charlotte to pick out our new couch (thanks so much, MIL!) and to visit David's Popou (that is Greek for grandfather). Popou and Lafata (his wife) were not able to come for Thanksgiving as they were vacationing in Myrtle Beach. We realized they hadn't seen Michael in several weeks, so we went to Popou's business in Charlotte to visit them.

Michael slept like a log in Lafata's arms...he was so comfy and cozy sitting there with her, laying against her fuzzy fleece jacket!

Shortly after that, Michael decided to wake up and have a snack. When we came back to the office he was ready to visit with his great Popou.

It was very cute to see the two of them together. Great Popou really enjoys seeing Michael and holding him.

Michael was feeling a little bit crabby

though, so daddy had to step in and try to comfort him...

All the while, great Popou couldn't stop smiling...he is very proud of all of his great-grandchildren.

It was a fun visit, and we can't wait to see them again.

Thanksgiving '07

Michael's first Thanksgiving was a lot of fun! We went to Yaya's house early and spent the day hanging out, pigging out, decorating and just being together. Of course the Daddy's snuck off a couple of times to play playstation, too!
When we first arrived, Wesley was very interested (as he always is) in little Michael. Every time they see each other you can tell Wesley is looking at him wondering when he is going to get up and come play with him!
Here they are saying "hi"!




And here is Wesley, Maria and Alison by one of Jackie's trees!








Here is Michael with his Daddy by the beautiful tree - Yaya is in the Christmas mood!


Then, Michael got into his very special and oh so cute "My 1st Thanksgiving" outfit. We didn't put it on earlier for fear of a baby accident!



Michael had a wonderful day - he played on the bouncy chair with his cousins and his sister, he played on the floor and looked at the beautiful lights on the tree, and he hung out with lot's of new people.

Here he is with a good friend of ours, Kenny Johnsen. I think Kenny enjoyed playing with Michael and telling him how much he looks like his daddy...but when Michael started to fuss, Kenny decided he was ready to give him back!

Then our cousin Josh wanted his turn to play with Michael. Michael enjoyed playing with him and holding his hand...he was very fascinated with Josh, and I think Josh was a little fascinated with Michael, too!

And of course, Michael spent lot's of time with his big sister. The two of them are enjoying each other more and more each day.

Here's the four of us by Jackie's very cool upside down Christmas tree! I like the way the ornaments can all hang straight without getting stuck on the branches below. I may have David tack our tree to the ceiling this year! haha

In the true spirit of Thanksgiving, Alison made a delicious cheese ball in the shape of a turkey!

And the boys deep fried the turkey! It was soooo delicious (and also very healthy and good for us!)

Here is David and our cousin, Heath, supervising as Brandon does the dangerous work of removing the turkey from the huge vat of oil!

Later, to work off the new pounds, we all worked on finishing the decorations on Jackie's house. It turned out so beautiful - I will have to get a picture of it to post!

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving! We enjoyed the day and night with family and friends...we ate so much we practically needed to be rolled home...and Michael had a great time seeing new people and things.

The only thing that could have made it any better would have been having my family here...but my mom and brother are set to come out for Christmas, and I am so excited to see them. Michael can't wait to meet "Uncle". Sheniah is already looking forward to swimming in the ocean with Uncle, and Michael and I have been practicing his "kick, kick, kick" in order to prepare him for his first swim (though we will swim in the warm pool - we are not crazy like Sheniah and Uncle!)

After the busy holiday, the little man was ready to tell us all about his adventerous day at Yaya's - here he is telling daddy all about it before David went off to work.

And of course he was quite exhausted from all the festivities...here he is napping on daddy! He is getting so chubby! And he loves sleeping on someone, wrapping his arms around them...

Busy Week!

After the last post, I began to notice that Michael was spitting up more than usual. I thought it was from his vaccinations at his 2 month check up, but as the days progressed I got more concerned about it. After doing some internet research (yes, I am not a Dr but I play one at home!!) I started to feel that he may have a bit of reflux. He had many of the symptoms. So I called the (real) Dr and scheduled an appointment for the following day - November 13.

Unfortunately the little man does have a mild form of reflux. Fortunately we were able to get a prescription for an antacid that should prevent any long term damage to his esophagus, and the Dr suggested holding Michael upright for 30 minutes after each feeding to help it all settle. We have been doing those things and he seems to be doing better now. Michael also got his weight checked again at that appointment and I am proud to say he weighed 8#15oz! He is a little piglet! The Dr was very pleased with that - he had gained 10oz in 7 days!

Later that day Sheniah came home from school with her 1st quarter progress report - she is a genius! She is in advanced math and english, as well as regular science, social studies, PE and band - she had 5 A's and 1B! She really is so smart and I am so proud of her for transitioning so smoothly to the added pressure and responsibility of Middle School.











In order to celebrate her wonderful grades we went to our favorite Thai restaurant (Sheniah's choice) and had some sushi (I hadn't had my favorite Tuna roll since becoming prego! It was wonderful!). Here we are at Wasabi.









The next day Michael was hanging out on the couch on his Boppy pillow. He's so cute!














Every year, the Concord Christmas parade lines up outside our house. It is nice because we are able to see the parade without having to go anywhere - that was especially nice this year with Michael, who is still trying to establish his nap routine during the day. I was able to take him outside a couple of times to see the parade and then bring him back in when he had gotten enough stimulation.

















Here are Michael and Sheniah enjoying the parade...well, Sheniah is enjoying the parade anyway! Michael had decided he had had enough!

Smiling

It seems like Michael is changing every day. He is spending more time awake now, and loves to hang out with us more and more. I did learn my lesson, though, about jinxing myself with saying what a "great sleeper" he is! Immediately following that post Michael (my little sweet, good sleeping boy!!) decided he had other plans - since then he has yet to sleep longer than 4 hours at night! He will generally sleep from around 8 until about 11:30-12:00...from then on it is a free-for-all! He has come to think that "mom's diner" is an all nighter, and likes to wake up every 1 1/2-2 1/2 hours to "graze". I know this is a habit I will have to break, but until I am sure he is growing really well it is hard for me to refuse to let him eat whenever he feels like it. Oh well! I will sleep someday! Fortunately (and a big thanks to my husband...the most wonderful man I know) I am not working so the lack of sleep is not that bad.

Speaking of my husband...he loves to take self-portraits of us anytime we go anywhere! We have them from each trip to Mazatlan, beach vacations, Nashville at Joey's wedding...everywhere. It has kind of become a routine..."We need to get our self portrait here..."! So, in his honor, Michael and I decided to get some self-portrait time the other day while we were playing.

I think they are so cute! I love the one where we are looking at each other - it reminds me of a picture I have of me and my mom!

Later I was getting ready to change his diaper in the wonderful changer that was a gift from my mom (and should be marketed that way!) when he decided to make the cutest face. Fortunately I was able to get the camera in time to catch it! I think it may be his "poopy" face, but it is cute regardless of what prompted it!

Then Michael got some tummy time on the floor...

I thought he was going to roll over...

But he decided to save that for later that day after David got home from work! It was so exciting - David had layed Michael in his crib and then wha-la! He rolled from his stomach to his back! David started yelling at me to come into the nursery and then Michael did it again! It was very cool...but very tiring...the little man took a good nap shortly after that.

When he woke up, him and David were playing and David got him to hold on to his rattle! It was very cute!

David and Michael have a very special game, the "smiling" game. David will get Michael's attention and then slowly let a smile spread across his face. Michael responds by letting a smile slowly spread across his face, too! It is really cute, and a sure way to get Michael to smile. He won't do it for me...only daddy! Here he is playing the smiling game with daddy.


And here is Michael and daddy hanging out...aren't they the cutest!

2 Month Checkup

Well, our little man is still a little man! To make a long story short, Michael was born at 6#2oz. Due to the jaundice he had trouble feeding and dropped down to 5#7oz. We and the Dr's were concerned and started supplementing his feedings with a high calorie formula. He finally started gaining weight and at last check on October 3 he weighed 6#13oz. We were thrilled and the Dr's said we could discontinue the supplementations. I was really hoping he would have gained another 2lbs in the last month - he came up just under that yesterday, weighing in at 8#5oz. However, he had a HUGE blowout just before the weigh-in and I think that accounted for at least a pound! The Dr was pleased with his weight gain, though, and we are going to recheck it again in a month just to make sure he is staying on the right track. He also now is 21.5" in length and his head circumference is 40cm.

Michael is becoming a wonderful sleeper. Although he has yet to sleep through the night, he sleeps very well in his crib...on average 4 hours, though he has had a couple of 5 hour nights which were great! Here are some pictures of him napping earlier today. He loves the mobiles in his crib, especially the green one with leaves that was a gift from Aunt Cathy.

After the Dr's appointment we came home and napped. I think I was more traumatized from the events than Michael! I wanted to ring that nurse's neck for sticking the needle so far into his little leg. David said it looked like it would go right through to the other side! It was horrible! Michael handled it well, though. He was a bit cranky the few hours following the appointment and has seemed a bit more fussy than usual today, but he was a tough boy overall.

Then we went to Golden Corral for a banquet for Sheniah's soccer team. The season is over this Saturday so the kids were given their trophies at the banquet. She has enjoyed soccer again this year and I am sure she will be looking forward to playing again next year. Here is a picture of her with her trophy...she was trying really hard to give her real smile instead of the "cheesy" one she often does in pictures!

Here is a shot of Sheniah and Michael just before we headed off tonight for karate. Sheniah has really enjoyed karate, also. I am so happy she has been able to be involved in it. She seems to be learning a lot. Tonight she even learned her first routine (I don't know what it is called...I was a dancer, so it seemed like a "routine") that will help her advance from a yellow belt to a green (? I am not sure what color comes next!!!) belt.

They also worked on freeing themselves from attackers. Here is Sheniah breaking out of a choke hold given by her instructor.

So, it has been a busy week here. I am sure it will only get busier - as I said, soccer ends Saturday but Sheniah's basketball coach has already called and that will be starting soon. She is excited for that to start. She has also been doing a great job in school and helping me out around the house. The other night when Michael was past his bedtime and having a rough time she even brought me a plate of food into his room, where I was "held hostage" by his meltdown! She is so sweet and thoughtful, I don't know what I would do without her!

At Yaya's

We went over to Yaya's house on Monday to have some family time. Michael is so good in the car, but I think the trip is tiring - every time we go over there he sleeps the entire time! We did get some great shots of him with Yaya, Daddy and Sheniah when we first arrived.














And then it was time to go "night night". Michael is starting to get more attuned to nighttime, and gets pretty livid if we try to keep him up later than usual. This night at Yaya's was no exception...I ended up spending more than an hour in Yaya's room with Michael trying to soothe him and get him to sleep. He gets so upset he won't eat or take the passie...he just screams! It is so hard to listen to him when he is crying like that and feeling like there is nothing I can do about it! He is really a good and patient baby...but when he is tired, you better believe he lets everyone know it!



After he went to bed we all hung out and ate dinner.

The girls were busy making their Christmas lists...














While the daddy's played Playstation games!








Meanwhile, Wesley decided to use an unusual object for teething...






We missed the "money shot", but you may be able to detect a bit of moisture on Sheniah's big toe. Wesley was chewing on it, but I was too slow with the camera!









The little man is waking up from his nap now, so I will have to try later to post info about yesterday's Dr's appointment.

Halloween 2007!

In preparation for Halloween, David and Sheniah carved the pumpkin as Michael and I snapped pictures! It was a lot of fun.

Then, we had the genius idea...

let's put the baby IN the pumpkin!Yep...we put the baby in the pumpkin!
He didn't seem to mind, though...

Sheniah, David and Michael with the finished product and Michael's 1st pumpkin.

Later...

There was talk of ghosts and goblins, and our little man seemed a bit worried...

I was finally able to catch the famous wrinkles on camera....

Finally it was time to dress up and head out.

Here is Sheniah dressed up as a scary vampire princess.

Isn't she soooo cute...haha!

And Michael was a pumpkin! We went to the mall to trick-or-treat...fortunately Michael slept through the ghosts and goblins!

Then we went to Yaya's to see Yaya, Aunt Alison, Uncle Brandon, Maria and Wesley. The kids had a great time getting their pictures taken...then the big kids (Brandon, David and Sheniah) went to a haunted house. I hear it was VERY SCARY!!!!

David, Alison, Wesley (the dragon) and Michael (the pumpkin)!





Me and Alison with the little guys!

All the kiddos. Maria was a princess and Sheniah decided not to wear her costume to Yaya's so she wouldn't scare Maria.

Then...

The night was over and it was time to go home...

But all this trick-or-treating and ghosts and goblins can sure be exhausting....it was time to catch a few zzzz's on daddy!

The next day Michael received a wonderful gift from his cousin's Christopher, Christine and Alexa. Daddy put it together, and even though he's still a bit young...






It was PLAYTIME!!!!









Then he wanted to strip down and "do a little dance" with daddy...

Let's all sing along now...

"Go Michael, Go Michael, Go..."

Michael's first purposeful (not gas related!) grin came on October 18, 2007. However, they are few and far between still, and when I am home alone with him it is nearly impossible to make him smile and grab the camera. So finally daddy was here making him laugh and coo and we were able to catch it...

I hope you think it is as adorable as we do!