The Heat of Summer

I was kindly reminded yesterday that it had been 17 days since the last post here. I figured I better get on top of things and give all those interested an update. Jack is still doing very well. Almost to the 8 month old mark and just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Last week he made his first visit to the High Risk Infant Clinic. It is just a precautionary visit, to make sure he is meeting his milestones on time and making sure he doesn't fall behind in his early development. They weighed him (17 pounds 10 ounces) and measured him (25") and gave him a check up. Everything is looking very good. He is alert and doing all the normal things for a baby at his adjusted age (which would be about 4 months old). The only thing the doctor told us was that we need to do some exercises to help with Jack's flexibility. He is a little stiff in his shoulders/arms and hips/legs. They also want us to increase his tummy time to help strengthen his upper body more.

Yesterday we took Jack (along with his Aunt DeAnna and Uncle John) to the State Fair. We had a very good time walking around and checking things out, despite to 100+ temperature. Jack got to see the newborn piglets and some jungle reptiles that were on display. He didn't seem to have much of an opinion about them.

Sorry folks, I've been slacking on the updates for a while now. Jack is still doing very well. He is just a few days away from the 7 month old mark. He has been getting a lot better about his tummy time and hold his head up to look around. He also loves to sit up in his baby big boy chair. Last week he had his hearing checked, just a follow up since he was in the incubator with the ventilator going. Things checked out all good. The nurse was surprised to learn that Jack was such an early preemie. She said you wouldn't know it to look at him now. As of yesterday Jack was about 17 pounds, but that was with a onesie and a diaper. So, he's probably around 16 pounds 13 ounces.

Last weekend he made another trip up to Covelo. He got to chill outside on the deck and took a nice walk. On his way back he got to meet a new friend, Silas Brown. He was born 1 day after Jack (but not preemie). They seemed to hit off. This weekend we're going to get a tiny inflatable pool so he can go in it and splash around. Nothing else planned for a bit, no doctors appointments so we'll just hang out at home for the immediate future.

A Week Without Mommy and Still OK

We made it! Jack and I survived an entire week without Mary (well, there was a lot of help from Grandparents). Mary was back in Oklahoma for her Sister's wedding, unfortunately I couldn't get time off from work so we stayed home. We had a good time, except for his visit to the doctor and the vaccinations he got. He sure doesn't like those needles! Jack is now over 2 feet long (24 3/4") and ,as per last night, weighs 16 pounds 5 ounces. He is getting to be little sack of potatoes.

Jack really enjoyed hanging out with the Grandparents, and I liked getting the extra rest. Yesterday his Auntie DeAnna came by a hung out with him. It's always good to get family to visit. This weekend Mary is taking the little guy to get some photos done. So all you family members can look forward to some professional style pics of Jack arriving soon.

6 Months Old

So it's now officially June and Jack is 6 months old. Height ,weight and mile stone wise he is about where a 3 moth old would be. All that is pretty much what we have expected. Mary has been gone all week long, and he's been having fun hanging out with me, Grandma and Grandpa. But, I'm sure he misses his Mommy and she miss her Jack.

Yesterday Jack went in for his 6 month check up. All systems are go! He was 15 pounds 10 ounces and 24 and a half inches long. All his measurements are is the low percentiles for 6 month olds (around 20th percentile), but in the high 90's for 3 month olds (which is his adjusted age). He has started holding his head up even higher when on tummy time, and is on the verge of a solid roll over.

So it's all ahead until his next check up in December.

End of May

Well as the title suggests we are now at the end of May. Hard to believe that Jack is almost 6 months old! Everything is going fairly smooth. He is sleeping anywhere from 7-10 hours through the night (Mary is getting some solid hours in) and he is becoming more and more aware of the things around him. He is especially fond of his hands. Baby hand must taste delicious because if he's not sleeping or eating he is usually gumming his tiny fists to death. Jack is still slowly but surely getting bigger. I weighed him a few days ago and he was up to 15 pounds.

This weekend he enjoyed his 3 day weekend up in Chico. He and Mary went up to visit Aunt DeAnna, Uncle John and Aunt Ekota. They were going to try to get him in the pool with Mary, but the water was to cold. Next week Mary is leaving for Aunt Katie's wedding and she will be without Jack for the entire week. Grandma and Grandpa Passalaqua are going to come over to help take care of the little guy while I'm at work. Should be fun, but I wish we could all take the trip out, I just couldn't get the time off work.

Kicking like a Chicken

Greeting to everyone in internet land. Jack continues to do very well and seems to be growing before our eyes everyday. As of today (on our unofficial scale) Jack was at 14 lbs 12 oz, hard to believe he started out 12 lbs 11 oz lighter than that almost 6 months ago. He is really starting to smile, and we swear that any second he is going to start laughing. Jack discovered that his hands taste delicious, almost as good as milk/formula. His new favorite thing to do is lay on his back in his play gym type thing, and kick at the rattles that hang down. He can just sit there and do it for hours and smile away. Boy does he like to kick his little legs and feet. Anytime he gets on his back he is kicking away. He has also started to use his hands a little more. No longer does he spend all waking hours with tiny fists clenched. Jack now opens up those tiny digits...if only to stick them in his mouth. Jack's tummy time is getting better now too. His neck muscles are building up slowly but surely, and he can get his head off the ground and hold it there for a while, even switching from side to side.

So, everything with the family is great. We are keeping our sanity and getting our sleep (Jack slept 11 hours straight the other night for Mary!). I think we are going to visit the Great Grandparents and possible Great Aunt and Great Uncle this weekend in Vallejo.

He Just Keeps Growing

Happy belated mother's day to all the moms out there. It has been a little while since the last update. Not much is new. Jack is now up to 14 pounds and is about 25 inches long. He is getting bigger and bigger. He loves to lay on his back and kick away, and he's getting stronger everyday for his tummy time. He needs to get his neck and back muscles strong so he can look around and work on rolling over.

Last weekend Grandma Patti and Grandpa Dennis came over and baby sat Jack while Mary and I took a night away in Monterey. We had a nice time but missed little Jack while we were away.