Summertime Adventures

Thanks for checking in! We are all doing well. Shepard is growing like a weed, weighing in last week at 16 lbs, 10 oz. He is beginning to eat solid foods and LOVES it. So far he's added squash, green beans, peas, peaches, sweet potatoes. and applesauce to his menu. Big boy! Now that he's discovered food, evvverything goes straight to his mouth! He is beginning to sit up unsupported for about 5 seconds, then slowly topples over. (I think he'll get the hang soon.)
Taylor is another recent discovery of Shepard's... he'll occasionally fuss until we take him in the same room as Taylor. Boy- did it take us a while to figure out that one! He is fascinated by her and it's such fun to see his face light up when he sees his buddy.

We enjoyed Aunties Carrie & Katie coming out for a quick visit.. and will post pix soon. Jacob and I are looking forward to heading to wine country next week for a friend's wedding! This momma is a bit anxious about leaving her sweet bb for 4 full days, but knows he's in great hands with his Grams. All in all, the Rowe Family is well and treasuring every day with our little guy. :)

We are alive and well.... just not blogging

WOW! This may jeopardize my title as Official Worst Blogger, but I thought I'd update our family blog. (In case anyone out there still actually checks it.) Jacob is busy at work, I've (Lindsey) gone back to work part-time and am working roughly 27 or 28 hrs a week, which is a great balance for me, and Shepard is enjoying his summer at home with his nanny, Megan. Our "little" boy is growing fast. Last week he was closing in on 16 lbs and is 26" long. This puts him at 90th% for height! Dad is excited about that.
This momma has been working and working on rolling over with Shep. He did it once a few weeks ago. I ran out of the room (leaving him on his tum) for a quick second and he was on his back when I came back. He's a humble guy, not wanting to show off for mom. WELL-- last weekend at Mimi & Papa's, I was upstairs getting ready when I heard cheers coming from downstairs. He did it again-twice- and I missed it! So, anyway, I "hear" my son is rolling over.
We enjoyed a rainy fourth of July inside with our friends--- old & new! All our friends from Indy have had babies since the last time we saw each other, so it was a fun weekend and the kiddos got to play. Nevermind that it was rainy and we moms were inside all day with 7 kids. We managed to maintain our sanity and had a lot of fun.
Thanks for checking in! I really will try to be better....

2 months already!?

Shepard went in for his 2 month check-up yesterday and got all his vaccinations. He was certainly a tired guy afterward, but has recuped and back to being my little monkey today. We just came back in from gardening (well, mom gardened and Shep sat in his bouncy seat looking cute).
Mr. Shepard is exactly in the 50th percentile for height, weight, and head size. He now weighs 12 pounds and is outgrowing much of his 0-3 month clothes already! He continues to be a very good baby--he even slept 9 consecutive hours one night this week. (Dr. Holly said that is unheard of for an 8 wk breastfed baby... count us as lucky?! Maybe we have an exhausted baby.)
He is starting to interact with mom and dad. We get LOTS of smiles and coo's. It's so fun. I'm really enjoying these last weeks before I re-enter the workforce!

Shepard's Room (finished!)

Time Flies

Shepard will be 1 month old tomorrow. I can hardly believe it! Time has really flown. We are slowly getting into a routine, and even ventured out a couple times this week on "mother-son ecomony stimulation outings"... very fun! :)
He is doing really well. We went back to the doctor 1 wk ago for his weight check and this little one had gained 1/2 a pound in 4 days, surpassing his birth weight! We had our eye on the ball. haha.
Jacob and I had planned on putting him in his crib last night, but were so wiped out at bedtime, we didn't have the energy to move his diapers, wipe-warmer, etc. so he had one last night in our room, and slept like a champ! I woke up at 4 am and asked Jacob if we'd been up with him yet! We hadn't, so I woke him to eat. He went right back to sleep and woke me up at 6. What a guy! Now, if only every night were that easy. I hear him starting to stir... better run.
I'm going to try to post a video of him and his room. (We'll see!) Also, we got family photos taken. I think J & I look tired, but Shep can't help but look beautiful and sweet. :)

Two Week Check-Up

Shepard had his 2 week check up with Dr. Holly today. The good news is, the awful eye junk is only because of clogged tear ducts, as we suspected. It is getting much better already. We were disappointed that Shepard is not gaining weight as we had hoped... despite seemingly constant feedings, he is only 7 lbs, 12 oz. We are upping our feedings to 40 min. every 2 hrs and we'll go back Saturday a.m. to be certain he is gaining more. (This does = no life for mom for 4 days. haha) He is sleeping very well--we made it one night only having to get up once in almost eight hours! He looks healthy, but just needs to gain a little more weight.
He is starting to smile now which, of course, melts our hearts! I'm hoping to catch a picture of that smile soon. He is hating bathtime a little less now that we've graduated from sponge baths, and is just generally a very good baby. He loved a visit from his Mimi and Aunt Jen over the weekend! He and his Aunt are pretty tight! :)
I am doing so much better. The swelling underneath my incision has almost completely resolved and I was even able to go the gym today (!) for a whopping 20 minutes, but hey- I'm a big believer in doing things very gradually.

New Mom Thoughts

Well, one week ago at this time, we were prepping for surgery and excited to meet our baby boy. Seven much sleep-deprived and overjoyed days later, we are becoming accustomed to middle of the night feedings, changings (diapers & onsies), and LOTS of swaddling. We see new changes every day. Shepard loves to look at lights, is starting to focus on faces, sucks his thumb (not a good habit), and even rolls from right side to left side (we think he is very strong!). He HATES being naked, so bathtime and changing are met with lots of tears. He loves eating his fingers, being sung to, read to, and held.
Big sis Taylor is not too interested, but lies between baby and the door when Shep is resting. We have truly appreciated all the visits and well wishes from family & friends! We especially appreciate the encouragement that sleeping and nursing will get better! :O