Davey's First Vacation

We got the chance to bum a ride with my family to Tennessee over Memorial Day weekend. My nephew, Kaleb, competed in the Global finals of Destination Imagination (it was Odessey of the Mind when I was in school). So we all headed to the Smokey Mountains! (Sorry I didn't call, Courtney...there was no opportunity to meet with you!)

Davey did wonderfully in the car seat on the way down. I don't know how, but he slept the whole way only waking up once to eat. All 11 of us were in one big cabin in the woods and he slept really well. I don't think we woke anyone up during the night! He especually liked the porch swing.

We hiked to the top of Clingman's Dome (third higest peak east of the Mississippi). I had Davey in the carrier and Josh pushed my 2 year old neice Rachael in the stroller. Josh had a much harder time that I did! There is a picture of us at the top. We also set foot on the Appalactian Trail...we would love to hike it one day. But there is now way to do that with kids!

The thing Davey misses the most now that we are home is the constant entertainment of his four cousins, Kaleb, Isaak, Eliza, and Rachael. Too bad they can be around more often! Now that school is out we will have to go and visit.

An Unexpected Doctor's Visit

We had our first experience with being truely worried about Davey on Friday. Thursday night and again on Friday morning, he had projectile vomiting. He had no fever and didn't act sick at all, but the pediatrician wanted him to come in just in case. After she checked him out (up to 11 lbs now!), she explained this disorder called pyloric stenosis. This is where the bottom wall of the stomach it too thick and won't let food through. Oddly enough it shows up around 4-6 weeks old and 80% of kids with it are the first born and male. So she scheduled an ultrasound at the Columbis Hospital. She warned me that if Davey did have that condition that he would have surgery to correct it that night!

I pulled Josh from work and we rushed to Columbus. Once we got to the ultrasound room they wanted to give him some water to reduce the gas in his belly so they could see the stomach better. However, since Davey is breast-fed he only likes one type of bottle...and we didn't have one. So they went to plan B...an upper GI. Josh went to buy the bottle he takes and Davey sucked down the barium. Luckily he drank it down with no problem. Once in radiology we saw that his stomach and bowels were working fine!

It was a long and stressful day, but I am glad it did not end in surgery. Davey did wonderfully through all the pokes and prods. Here is a picture at the end of the day...totally worn out. Since Friday he has not gotten sick, so I guess we won't worry about it unless it comes up again...literally! And I won't go into what that barium stuff looked like coming out the other end!

First Mother's Day

I had a great day yesterday joining the great ranks of mother's nationwide! Don't we look cute? We travelled down to Louisville with my parents and my sister's family to surprise my grandmother at church. We also brought lunch to share with everyone including my aunt's family. It was a great time. I put together little brag books for the grandmas and great-grandmas with pictures of Davey. Of course, they loved it.

That evening we went to the Shaw side like we do every week. And so we had a full day of family. But also a full day of Davey being in his car seat...which he hates! I am getting used to sitting in the back next to him so that he calms down a little quicker. I actually am not sure if it helps him ,but it makes me feel like I am doing something! Josh's parents opened up their pool on Friday and now we just have to wait for the water to warm up. Well, Josh's nephews didn't wait...but there is no way I am getting in there! We will have to see how quicly the heat they bought can warm up the water.

To answer the obvious question...I LOVE BEING A MOM! And now I love my own mother more, because I understand how much she must love me. Josh and I will slip away from Davey for an hour or so here and there, but I always get so happy to come back to him. I love that I have the power to calm him down no matter what. I love that I can provide everything that he needs. Though my life has changed since he was born just 6 weeks ago, I love it. And I can't wait to continue on.

Graduation for Mom!

Though I won't offically finish my classes until August, I walked with the rest of the class of 2007 this week. I wasn't going to walk since I already have gone through it with my undergrad, but how many times do you get your Master's degree? It was hot and long, but we got to go out with my parents to eat afterwards at Rocky's...so that made it worth it.

I went to my first class yesterday...Marine Biology...yeah, I know in southern Indiana? I guess we were under the ocen back in Pangea time! But whatever, it shouldn't be too tough. It is actually at 300 level undergrad course, so I should be set. Hail to Old IU!

Baby Smiles

I just can't get enough of these! Sometimes when I tickle his sides, he almost laughs. He doesn't quite know what to do.

I am hoping that Davey will get into a good schedule soon. He is sleeping well at night, but his "night" starts around 11 pm and goes until 9 am! We just need to shift it back a few hours. It
would help us all out at home. I start going to class at IUS tomorrow afternoon and my Mom will be watching him. Luckily, he has no proble taking a bottle of breastmilk. That is critical. Wish her luck!

One Month Old!

We have successfully survivied one full month of being parents! For that Josh's mom and older sister begged us to go out to eat while they watched him. Thanks! We had a great time trying out a recently updated restaurant downtown North Vernon.

This is a picture of Josh spending his lunch hour the best way he knows how! You may be wondering where Davey's super cute pictures are taken at the hospital...well I haven't received them yet! I called the company and apparently them entered the wrong zip code and someone in North Carolina is probably really confused. So I should be getting the newly printed ones sometime next week. Then even though you may think he is still small, you will be able to tell the difference in his size. I am trying my best of catching one of Davey's sweet smiles on camera, but he gets confused when I put the camera in his face.

We went to have his one month check-up yesterday to find out that he is on the brink of passing 10 pounds! He is gaining an average of 10 ounces a week! What can I say? The boy loves to eat! He already fits in well with our extended family. Next month is the rough one when he gets a bunch of shots. Maybe Josh will take him for that one.

Yesterday we also checked out a potential day care for him in August. What an exhausting task! Maybe I will just convince Josh to let me stay home with him! :)