Dylan is One Month Old!

 One month old!

Aren't these stickers adorable?!?

Sleep:  Dylan is sleeping very soundly at night.  He has grasped the whole night and day concept and when he wakes up for feedings in the middle of the night he will go right back to sleep afterwards.  He eats his last night time meal between 9 and 10, then wakes around 2 for a feeding, and then again around 5 or 6.  He definitely has longer stretches of sleep at night than during the day.

Size:  At his two week check up he weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces.  He gained his birth weight back, and then some!  He is wearing size 1 diapers and they fit him well right now.  He has already outgrown some of his newborn clothes, but some of his 3 month clothes are still too big.  So, we are right in the middle of sizes!

It is so interesting to look back at Owen's first month blog and read what I wrote about him at that time.  I copied and pasted the layout so that I would remember to write about the same things... so as I'm writing Dylan's, I'm reading Owen's from when he was one month old!  Dylan is definitely bigger than Owen was at that age.

Special Visits:  We have had a lot of visitors stopping by the first two weeks or so.  I'm most touched by my close friends who have taken the time to stop by and make us delicious dinners!  Thank you SO much Sarah and Laura!  Their thoughtfulness has been so touching!

My grandma also stopped by nad brought us some delicious bread and presents for the boys!

Special Trips:  We had two special trips this month.  We took the boys to Cox Farm last weekend.  Owen loved it and was all over the place!  I kept Dylan in the stroller the whole time except for when he needed to be fed and changed.  He did fabulous!

We also went apple picking yesterday!  It was SO much fun.  Owen of course, was all over the place again.  I put Dylan in the sling and carried him around that way.  He snuggled up against me the whole time and again, was fabulous!

Snuggin' on Mama!

Firsts:  Dylan had his first real bath a week or so ago (his cord finally fell off).  The first time he cried the whole time.  But, the second time he liked it much better.  He didn't cry at all.  I think he like the warm water washing over him.  

Here are some cute pictures!

 Hey ladies!

 The boys in their 'big brother' and 'little brother' t-shirts!

 Side profile.

 BIIIIG Yawn!

 How you doin'?

The classic wrinkled forehead.  He does this all the time!

Love,

Judi

Owen is 15 Months!

I can't get enough of those baby blues!

Size:  He is wearing 12-18 and 18 month clothes.  I just packed away all of his 12 month clothes.  His pants were starting to look like capris!  We also just moved him up to size 5 diapers.  

Special Trips/Visits:  We have had a lot of action the last month with Dylan's arrival.  Owen had one very very special trip, and that was to the hospital on August 28th to meet his new brother!  My mom took care of him while I was in the hospital for a few days so that Jimmy could spend most of the day with me and Dylan.  She brought Owen to the hospital each day for a visit.  It was the highlight of my day!  

Another very special trip we took was to Cox Farm!  Owen absolutely loved playing there.  There are tons of animals and all kinds of activities for young kids.  He pet some goats, played on hay bails, and got to run around outside.  He also got to snack on some delicious fresh apples, cookies, and a warm soft pretzel.  He was giggling the whole time he could run around.  It was the coolest thing to see him having so much fun!  Jimmy and I both loved taking him and are thinking about taking him again before the fall is over.  (I put a ton of pictures from that day on Facebook, so I'll only add a few here.)

Jimmy took Owen out to do something special each day the first week Dylan was home.  They went to the pool on labor day - the last day it was open!

So long summer...

Yesterday we went apple picking at Stribling Orchard.  Owen had SO much fun!  We got a two seater wagon and pulled him around the orchard in the wagon.  He would sit back in the wagon and enjoy the view!  He munched on an apple the whole time and eventually ate the entire thing, just like an adult would eat it, by biting into it!  We were all shocked he was eating it like that and that he actually finished the entire thing!  Here are some pictures from our day...

Firsts:  Owen is saying more and more words.  We think he says at least 20 words now, and he picks up new words all the time.  He has started to talk to us in his own little language.  

I think he is just about to transition to one nap a day.  He has been sleeping in until 8:30-9:00 the past couple mornings and then going down for one nap after lunch.  We'll see if this continues!  I'm loving him sleeping in later.  It gives me more time in the mornings for Dylan (and a shower!).

He is also getting some molars!  Poor guy started getting them the week we brought Dylan home.  Luckily he has always been a really good teether.  He had a fever one day/night and shortly after that we noticed they were coming in.  He was in pretty good spirits considering!  My little trooper!

Owen and I pulling the wishbone apart!

Likes:  Owen loves walking around the house.  We just turned our formal living room into a small play room for him because I got so tired of tripping over all his toys that he would scatter all over the house.  I wasn't sure how he would do with a separate room for him to play in, but he has been fantastic.  Our house has a very open concept, so he can still see us from his play room, and now all his toys aren't under my feet!

 Dude still loves eating!

Last night he ate an entire 8 count of chicken nuggets from Chik-Fil-A, an apple sauce pouch, AND a bowl of grapes!

Loves to look at his books.  When I need him to sit quietly for a bit I tell him to go read his books and he will go over to his corner and sit and read for awhile.

My very dear friend got Owen this shirt, so cute!

Dislikes:  Owen doesn't like when you take something from him... he can get attached to certain items and want them with him all the time.  He will give a loud shriek if you take something away.  In my last post, I wrote that he had learned to throw a temper tantrum... his temper tantrums have gotten far less frequent (not that they were very frequent to begin with).

Stop laughing at me Mom!!!

Brotherly Love:  It has been purely magical to watch the connection between the two boys.  Owen is totally in love with Dylan.  The first thing he says when we get him up in the morning or from a nap is "D!  D!"  Whenever Dylan cries Owen will come tap me and say "D! D!"  and sometimes he will try and give him his passy when he is crying.  It is so sweet to see the kindness Owen has for his little brother.  He gives him kisses and hugs all the time, especially in the morning, like he missed him over night!  He also likes to help me burp him and will pat his back for me!  There has been no jealousy or tantrums in connection with Dylan.  I can't thank God enough for preparing Owen's heart to welcome Dylan into his life.  

Checking out my new brother!

 Don't worry bro, I got your passy!

 Kisses for baby brother!

 Hugging on D!

Best friends!

I hope everyone is enjoying their fall.  :)

Love,

Judi

Welcome to the world Dylan!

Dylan's Birth Story

Dylan Robert Blankenship

August 28, 2013

7 pounds 13 ounces

19.75 inches long

Most of you know I had a scheduled c-section... My doctors told me that Dylan was breech for the longest time.  Even at my last appointment he was breech!  A few days before the 28th I noticed that he was sitting much lower, I could breath easier, and I didn't have little arms poking my ribs and making me go numb!  I also felt a lot more pressure in my lower abdomen, something I never felt with Owen (because he was breech).  Well, turns out that Dylan was not breech on his birth day!  He must have turned in the few days before and I never felt him do it, must have been in my sleep.  :)  When my doctor was performing the c-section she said I had A LOT of fluid, so this is most likely the reason I never felt him turn!

We arrived at the hospital two hours before delivery time and they took me right in and began prepping me immediately.  They were on a roll and actually took me back to start the surgery 30 minutes early.  Everything went pretty smooth as far as the surgery went.  I did have some pain from the spinal, she didn't give me enough numbing shots before sticking me in the spine, so I pretty much felt the spinal.  It was painful!  Thankfully the nurse I was leaning into could tell I could feel it and the anesthesiologist stopped immediately and fixed the problem.  Other than that hiccup, everything went smooth.  The surgery was quick and my incision is smaller than before.  My doctor gave me a mini tummy tuck and removed my incision from having Owen.  It already looks better.

Dylan came out screaming right away!  He also peed all over the place.  My doctor said she has never delivered a baby and had them pee all over her, the nurses, and me right away!  Everyone was cracking up in the delivery room!  He looks blonde right when he came out, but his hair is much darker now.

Blonde at first...

We gave him the middle name Robert after my grandfather.  I have always looked up to him and admired him, so this was the perfect way to honor him.  He is such a great man and has done so many great things in his life.  We thought it would be fitting for Dylan to have a little piece of his great grandfather with him always.

He weighed the same as I did when I was born and is the same length as Owen when he was born.    I had felt he was bigger than Owen most of my pregnancy, and sure enough he was half a pound bigger!

He looks a lot like Owen in some pictures, but he definitely has his own look to him.  He has darker hair than Owen had and it's stick straight (like mine!).

Owen (left) and Dylan (right) on their birth days.

Skin to skin right after they took me to recovery after surgery.  

Please excuse my swollen face!

My heart!  <3

My world!

The nurse giving him his first sponge bath the night he was born.  He wasn't a fan!

Mommy giving him his first bath at home the night before his professional pictures.  

He did better, but still wasn't a fan!

Snugging on Daddy!

Sneak peek at his newborn pictures!  I can't wait to see the rest!

Owen loving on Dylan during his photo shoot!

Owen has been amazing with Dylan.  He has given him a nick name that we have adopted as well, he calls him "D"!  He pats him gently on the head or the feet.  Today Dylan was crying and Owen picked up his passy and tried to put it in Dylan's mouth for him!  I mean, this kid just melts me!  It is so amazing to see the love he has for his brother already.  He is already caring for him and loving on him.  How did I get so lucky?!?

Jimmy and I are incredible blessed to have such a wonderful blessing from God.  My heart has doubled in size and I'm so completely in love with this little gift.  When I had Owen, I never knew my heart could feel such joy, now I feel double that joy.  Words just won't convey how much we love him.

My heart is SO full!

Love to all!

Judi