5 Months

Caden turned 5 months old this past Monday and is getting cuter by the  day :) This is my favorite time of year.  I love autumn weather, the leaves changing colors, fun fall activities and I get to celebrate my birthday and anniversary.  The last two years I've spent my favorite season doing IVF treatments and since they both failed, it really put a damper on a season I normally love.  This year was SO much more fun!!

Caden didn't have any appointments with Dr Holly this month, so once again these measurements were done by us and are approximate :)

Here are some 5 month stats...

• weight-16lbs, 13oz
• height-just over 25"
• diapers- size 2, we'll switch to size 3 when our current box of diapers is gone
• clothes- he can still wear a  few 3-6 month onesies, but his pants and pajamas are all 6 month since he's so long
• new skills- he's getting to where he prefers to be vertical instead of horizontal.  He's very aware of his surroundings and needs to know what's going on. So, we've started letting him sit in the Bumbo and exersaucer.  He is trying to roll from his belly to his back, but hasn't quite mastered it yet. He has strong legs and wants to stand on your lap. He laughs a lot and it's so fun to find things that he thinks are funny. He continues to be very vocal and is making new sounds all the time. He also loves to squeal, usually in restaurants or during the prayer in church :) He has also tried holding his bottle by himself. He's so helpful these days!
• hobbies- he loves reading books.  You'll see how intently to stares at the pages in the picture below. He likes to help hold the book and sometimes will turn the page. He enjoys tummy time and holds holds his head and chest up really well. He's still chewing on his hands and drooling, playing with his toys and learning his "word of the day" with daddy :)
• feeding- he seems to be eating about the same as last month.  I haven't been pumping as much and he eats quite a bit faster so it's hard to know.
• sleeping- not much change here, he still goes to bed between 8-9pm and gets up once or twice during the night.  He loves his food and is afraid of missing a meal :) 

Adorable

Tummy time

Holding his bottle by himself

Celebrating mommy's birthday at Brio

All ready for church.  He's cute and he knows it!

Showing off

Earning his keep by matching socks

We drove to Des Moines, Iowa to meet up with Aunt Lesley for the weekend.  

Practicing driving at our gas station break in Bethany, MO

Red Barn Farm in Weston, MO with friends and family

Reading one of our favorites, "I Love You So"

Looking like a big boy wearing his Converse.  He does not like socks or shoes.  I had to snap this picture quick, because the shoes get kicked off in no time.

Picking apples at Cider Hill

Family picture at Cider Hill

All dressed up to go see our Judson church family 

Eating at Johnny Carinos on Caden's 5 month birthday

 We made some adjustments to his carseat since he's getting so big!

Looking so long!

Trying out the exersaucer

 Filling up a whole lot more of that swing than he used to

 We love it when he gives us a look out of the corner of his eye!

 Sitting up and looking pretty serious

4 months old

Caden is 4 months old now, and we are having the time of our lives :)  He is so fun!  Everyday he learns to do something new and it's so entertaining to just watch him as he studies things and figures out new skills. He laughs and smiles so much and we love that he is a happy baby. It's bittersweet when you think about how fast he's changing and how there's so many things he doesn't do anymore, but they're replaced by so many new and fun things!  He continues to grow and develop like he was a full term baby.   We continue to have people come up to us and let us know they had been praying for us to have a baby, without ever knowing our struggle.  A friend from church that we went on a mission trip with shared a few weeks ago how she'd been praying for us and when she sees Caden at church she's reminded of God's faithfulness and how He answers our prayers.  I love that!

We follow "Pray for Caleb" on facebook, like many of you, I'm sure.  I tend to check facebook when I'm up feeding Caden in the middle of the night.  One night last week, Caleb's mom was sharing about their struggle and how it's given them a new perspective on everything and wrote a beautiful testimony of God's grace in trials.  I have often considered commenting on her posts, but there are literally thousands liking and commenting on her posts and I figured it would probably never get read.  Well, in the middle of the night the only people up reading her facebook posts are moms up with babies :)  I decided this was the time to comment. I briefly shared our journey  and agreed with her that the struggles we go through can be so painful, but without them you wouldn't get to experience the miracles and the new perspective.   I added that she could read our story on our blog if she got bored in the night.  By the time I got up our blog had over 100 hits!  I was overwhelmed.  By the end of the day it had been viewed about 500 times and by people all over the world.  We are praying that many were encouraged and are in awe of the way God continues to use our story.

Caden had his 4 month appoointment with Dr Holly on September 16th, the Monday before he turned 4 months.  They couldn't believe how much he'd grown since his 6 week appointment.  We loved hearing, "he's just so perfect" and "he has 4-6 month skills!"  He had to have his first round of shots and I'm pretty sure it was harder on mommy and daddy than Caden!  He did great!  I'll post a picture below.  

Here are some 4 month stats...

• weight-14lbs 7oz (33% on the regular charts)
• height- 24 3/4 inches (38% on the regular charts)
• diapers- moved to size 2 diaper on September 8th
• clothes- 3 months
• new skills- where to begin...he does new things daily.  He loves to play on his activity mat and he can now grab on to the toys.  He started rolling over from his belly to his back on September 5th and has done it lots of time since then. He has started teething and I can see the 2 little teeth trying to push through the gums. 
• hobbies- sitting in his highchair watching mommy clean the kitchen, hanging out in the bouncer, reading books, tummy time, chewing on his hands, drooling, playing with his toys and learning his "word of the day" with daddy :)
• feeding- we have stopped using the fortified formula, so he is only on breast milk now.  My best guess is he takes about 5oz at a feeding based on the amount I pump now.  He is much better about staying on a 3 hours schedule of eat, play then sleep. 
• sleeping- he has starting going to bed about 8pm and gets up once or twice during the night.  On his 4 month birthday he slept just over 7 hours.  That was a record!

Here are some of our favorite pictures from the last month.

I love this sweet face!

"Hello, I'm Johnny Cash"

Meeting Great Grandpa Hancock for the first time

Meeting Great Aunt Nancy on her birthday

First time to meet Great Aunt Doris, too

Cute smile!

Still loving bath time!

One of my boys was ready for a nap ;)

First Road Trip!  

Labor Day Weekend at Great Uncle Steve & Great Aunt Debi's lake house. 

Practicing holding that head up

Just looking cute

It was a nice fall morning for the farmer's market and a walk around

 downtown Parkville

and coffee for daddy & mommy

4 month shots are no match for this tough guy!

Mommy's birthday lunch at the Webster House

Caden's favorite new thing, sitting in the highchair watching mommy do dishes

4 months old, getting so long!

Sitting with Uncle Michael at our cousin, Kelly's wedding reception.

Hanging out with cousins, Kayleigh and Kenzi

          

3 months old

Caden turned 3 months old on the 21st.  We are so grateful to God for blessing us with him.  As you can see from these pictures, he's very healthy :)  I took several pictures of him in his 3 month outfit and almost every one is  blurry because this little guy is always moving!   Here are some 3 month stats...

These are unofficial measurements done by us at home :) His next appointment with Dr Holly will be in September, so we'll have official numbers before his 4 month update.  I'm expecting him to not only be off the preemie chart, but above average on the regular chart.

• weight-13 lbs
• height- about 22 1/2 inches long, he's a little to wiggly for exact measurements
• diapers- size 1 for a little bit longer
• clothes- 0-3 months and 3 months
• new skills-  he's started being interested in toys and loves kicking a ball around with his feet, he continues to be very vocal and "talks" and laughs a lot.  
• hobbies- playing on the activity mat, reading books, taking walks and car rides.
• feeding- he is doing about the same feeding schedule as last month.  My best guess is he's taking between 4-5 ounces now.  We're still working on a consistent routine.

Thankfully he loves to go for car rides.  

He gets so excited when you put him in his car seat!

My cousins on my mom's side of the family hosted a shower for Caden last Saturday.  They choose to have the shower after he'd arrived so they could all meet him. We waited until August so that they would be able to hold him.  We have been so blessed by friends and family celebrating with us!

Caden wore his Royals outfit, but it didn't help them win!

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!  We've been practicing already!

Don't you just love this face!  So cute and ornery!

Well, August 1st we were given the all clear by the NICU doctors to take him out and about.  We celebrated by going to Olive Garden for dinner that weekend.  We also went to Sam's Club and Sunday School & Church. 

We are so thankful he has stayed healthy!  

Love hanging out in the bouncer!

Aunt Lesley came in town from Minnesota and this was her first time to hold Caden.  

Snuggles with Uncle Michael :)  I love this picture!!

This is the picture I took of Daddy reading Caden his Proverb for the day.