Happy 11 months Will

Happy 11 months to the most sweetest, funniest, giggliest, and craziest little boy that I know. Yes that's right our sweet little 1lb 1oz baby boy turns 11 months old today. I can't believe that next month we will be celebrating his 1st birthday. Yes this momma is already in party planning mode.

Some fun things about Will:
-He weighs close to 17lbs and is 27 inches long
-He wears size 2 diapers and is in 6-9 months clothes
-He is rolling over from back to front and front to back
-He is literally rolling all over the place. This morning he found a new hiding spot under our coffee table
-He is beginning to sit up like a big boy for just a few seconds then he topples over
-He so wants to crawl but just hasn't yet figured how it all goes together
-He thinks it is funny when he toots or passes gas
-He gags himself often with his hand which drives me crazy. Hopefully this will stop soon
-He thinks it is funny when he takes his socks off. I have a feeling he will hate socks like his daddy.
-Our dog, Maddie, is his best friend. They play together and then fight like brother and sister. So sweet!!!
-He sleeps about 1-2 hours in the morning and 1-2 hours in the afternoon.
-He goes down for bed around 9ish and will sleep to about 8:30 or 9. This boy loves his sleep like his momma
-He loves to ride the pony on his daddy's knee but hates when the pony goes slow
-He has discovered he can stick his tongue out and it is hilarious!!
-He has found his feet and it is the sweetest thing
-He loves rolling all over on his mat and exploring new things to get into
-He eats about 3-4 times a day. Loves his new formula and his new level 2 baby foods
-He is beginning to understand what to do with his sippy cup

As you can tell we have an active little 11 month old. Who knows what we will be like once he is really mobile.

A few updates on his development:
-He still is on the development side of a 7 month old but we are ok with that
-He has no more ROP with his eyes but we are still following up with regular eye exams every 6 months to a year to keep a close watch in case it returns.
-He has been evaluated for PT, OT, and speech therapy but will only require PT and OT therapy which we are on a waiting list for

We are so thankful for our 11 month old sweet baby Will. Happy 11 months old Will and mommy and daddy love you to the moon and back.

My First Christmas In Heaven

This poem is so fitting for what I wrote yesterday about missing Drew on his first Christmas but we know that he is spending his First Christmas in Heaven. God has a strange way of telling us that Drew is ok because Doug got this as a morning devotional and I thought I would share it. Its the little things that are so reassuring at this time of the year. Please feel free to pass this on if you know of someone who has lost a loved one this year as their loved one spends their first Christmas in heaven.



My First Christmas In Heaven

I see countless Christmas trees
Around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars
Reflecting in the snow.

The sight is so spectacular,
Please wipe away the tear.
For I am spending Christmas
With Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs
That people hold so dear,
But the sounds of music can't compare
With the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you,
The joy their voices bring.
For it is beyond description
To hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me,
I see the pain inside your heart;
But I am not so far away,
We really aren't apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones,
You know I hold you dear
And be glad I'm spending Christmas
With Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift,
From my heavenly home above,
I sent you each a memory
Of my undying love.

After all, love is a precious gift
More precious than pure gold;
It was always most important
In the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other,
As my Father said to do.
For I can't count the blessings
Or love he has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas
And wipe away the tear
Remember I'm spending Christmas
With Jesus Christ this year.

Visiting Drew's grave

We went to visit Drew's grave this past Sunday while the weather was good. We took Will with us and we put fresh flowers out for Christmas and we sang a few Christmas carols while we were there. Will had fun playing with his flowers. It was a great moment we had because we were enjoying our time as a family. While we were there I had this picture in my mind of Drew looking down at us from Heaven and sitting right there with us singing Christmas songs with us. Such a sweet memory I will always have as we approach Christmas Day and Will's first Christmas too. We miss Drew everyday but we know he is having a great time in Heaven and we will soon meet again to hear all about his journey.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our family and friends. This year we have so many things to be thankful for. God has truly blessed our family this year!

As I sit here and write this post, our son Will is rolling back and forth all over the floor. I'm so thankful that he can do that all by himself because back in January we never thought that would have happened. I'm so thankful for our precious 1lb 1oz baby Will who was born on January 19, 2012 to the 16lb baby boy he is currently today. He is full of laughter, smiles, hugs, kisses, and all the other things babies are. He is a special blessing from God. We are also thankful for his twin brother, Drew, who was born at 1lb 8oz but shortly died on January 20, 2012. We are thankful for him and the few short hours we got to spend with him. We are thankful for the salvation and assurance we have in knowing that ONE DAY we will meet him in Heaven.

We are so thankful for the NICU doctors and nurses who took such good care of Will during his 133 day stay. We never could have imagined how many new friends we would make over this journey. God put us through this journey for a reason and we will never know why. We are so thankful for each and every doctor and nurse in the NICU who took the time to love on, care for, sing to, talk to, and simply be there for not only Will but for us too. We will always be thankful for them! They will always hold a special place in our hearts.

We are thankful for our family who was there for us when the boys were born in January. We could have not done this without the love and support you gave us. We are also thankful for you as well for babysitting and taking care of Will when we needed someone to stay with him.

So as we pause and count our blessings on this Thanksgiving day, we thank God for all the things he has done for us this year. So from our family to yours, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Will's First Halloween

Will had a great first Halloween! We went trick or treating at both the grandparents houses. He had fun showing off his precious dragon outfit. Trust me, this was a big decision for momma to make on what he should go as for Halloween. I originally ordered a lion outfit but it was too big so a week before Halloween I was on the hunt for another costume. Luckily I found this precious dragon outfit at our local Belk store and I got it! He was so cute! We enjoyed our first Halloween with Will and we look forward to many, many more Halloweens!

Family photo

Sweet little dragon

The dragon got kisses from mommy and daddy

Sweet kisses from daddy

Daddy and Will

Mommy and Will

Too much trick or treating. Sleepy Dragon!

Happy Fall Y'all!

 

Maybe next year we can get one with him smiling! Oh well! Happy Fall Y'all! We are enjoying the beautiful and hot fall weather! 

 

Happy 9 months old Will

Today Will is 9 months old. Happy 9 months to the happiest and funniest little boy I know. Will has been a wonderful joy to have and we are so thankful to God for the most precious gift he gave us 9 months ago. We cherish every minute with him and wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world. We love you Will with all of our hearts!!!!!!

Nicu Follow up clinic

Will had another Nicu follow up appointment at the clinic last week. He goes every 3 months and they monitor what all he is doing as far as hitting milestones and his eating habits. His eating and growth is good and falls around the middle of the chart that they want to see.

He has started rolling over from belly to back but is doing it in a not so normal way. He sticks his legs up and rolls over instead of tucks them in and rolls over. Also when we are picking him up his legs go straight out instead of curling them in. With all that said they recommended that we go for a therapy consult to see if he would need therapy or if we could just do some in home exercises. So we are waiting on a phone call regarding our appointment for therapy. A lot of places are booked now so we will just use the techniques they gave us and wait.

Will weighed around 14lbs 3oz and was 25 inches long. He wears size 2 diapers and is in anything between 3-9 months clothes but it all depends on how they fit him. He still is loving life and enjoying his daily activities such as sleeping, eating, bouncing in his jumper for hours and playing on his play mat. All in all life is good.

We go back at the end of October for hopefully his last eye appointment with Dr Brawner. His eyes are 95% mature and Dr Brawner hopes that he will be 100% when we see him at the end of the month.

Thankfully Will has not been sick. He did get a flu shot and will go back for another dose in November. We are still waiting on a phone call for the RSV shot. Hopefully we can be sick free this winter. So it's October and he is home bound for a while so we can get through the sick and cold season.

Random Pictures

Sip n See

Mom hosted a sip n see for her friends and mine that had not seen Will. He met so many sweet friends that have prayed for him since the beginning. We are thankful for the sweet people who came to meet Will. He had a blast and entertained everyone who came.

Delicious Cake

Owls was the theme

Owls in the arrangement

The dessert table

Aunt Mary and Will

Mommy and Will

 

My little entertainer

Meeting Mrs. Martha Harrison

 

Meeting Mrs. Myra, Mrs. Sandra, and Mrs. Kathy

Nana and Will

 

Will entertaining from the floor

 

Mrs. Norma finally got her hands on Will. She has been on her knees every night praying for Will. She is such a sweet lady.

Bath Time

Will loves bath time. If he is in a bad mood, we put him in the tub and he is all happy. A few weeks ago we took a few pre-bath pics with my precious naked baby.

Mommy and Will

Who loves bathy time??

 

After bath massage

Loving his massage

Love a baby butt crack! :)

Strolling

Strolling with mama today and enjoying the pretty weather. Nothing like riding with your feet propped up and having a good time.

Happy Birthday Doug and Happy 8 months old Will

First of all I have to give a HUGE shout out to my sweet husband, Doug who turns 32 years old today. Last year he received the best birthday present I could ever give him. On Doug's birthday last year we found out we were having TWINS. We were so thrilled and excited to see what God had in store for us! God has never let us down and we will always be greatful to him for the surprise we got on September 19, 2011. So Happy Birthday, Doug! Will and I wish you many many happy birthdays to come and we love you very much!

So, WOW, what a difference a year makes. Will is 8 months old today! We had a pediatrician appointment today and he weighs 13lbs 12oz and is 24 inches long which puts him in the 50th percentile in height and weight. He was having a good time entertaining Dr Stone today. We have been given the go ahead to start juice in a sippy cup. So I guess we will venture into that fun. He did get some shots today. He will get a RSV shot and flu shot in October. Poor thing!! Overall he is doing very good from being born so early. We thank God for him everyday.

Love my boys today on there special day!!