Talmage and His Smiles (4&5 Months)

Something has happened to Talmage in the last two months. He went from a fussy infant to a smiley, delightful, on the verge of becoming chunky, baby. This transformation has been so fun to watch. There was one doctor's appointment specifically where his doctor was shocked to realize that Talmage was in the room with us when she saw the carseat. She usually heard him before she saw him!

 

This is our last picture of Talmage swaddled up (and in the swing.) Talmage hit 3 1/2 to four months and decided his arms weren't the enemy and they could be free. He has even decided that if a paci isn't around, his thumb isn't a bad option.

Hanging with his big sis. Lili is a great big sister. She brings Talmage his paci when he is crying and "sings" him songs.

The dimple

Talmage likes to play with toys now. He will reach out to touch toys and grab onto them.

Daddy making Talmage laugh.

4 Month pictures

Talmage noticed his doggy blanket for the first time.

Eating:
By the time Talmage turned 3 1/2 months, we were done with the 27 calorie formula. Both Zane and I felt like it was giving him stomach aches. We would watch at night him scream after a bottle until he had a bowel movement. We went back to 22 calories, and he liked it much better and drank a lot more.

We went to a GI check up four weeks later (Talmage has technically been labeled failure to thrive because he hasn't gained enough weight although he hasn't lost any) and this specialist asked us to try 24 calories. About a week earlier, Talmage had started taking 4 ounce bottles finally so we were worried he would start drinking less with the up in calories, but he has handled it just fine. Now he drinks between 4 and 6 ounces. He weighed in at 10 pounds 6 ounces.

The boys love hanging with Talmage even more that he is happy and plays with toys. Gavin is especially good at doing tummy time with Talmage and shaking toys for him.

Talmage enjoying his new to him play mat.

Physical Development:

Because of the stroke Talmage had inuteral, all his doctor's have been concerned about his physical development. First he was tested by Early Childhood to see if he qualified for services (special education for infants focusing on physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech.) This happened when he was 3 1/2 months. He was tested as a 2 month old because of his adjusted age but scored as a 3 month old so he didn't qualify for services. He had a neurology appointment a few days later. Talmage's doctor felt like his muscles were too tight and he would benefit from therapy after all (although he doesn't qualify for the free ones provided by Early Childhood.) My friend was kind enough to let me come over when her daughter's physical therapist was working with her in their home to have Talmage looked at. This physical therapist agreed with my doctor bet felt like Talmage wasn't serious enough for weekly visits. She gave me some exercises to do with him to stretch his muscles and then we talked about checking in together monthly. One concern was that Talmage hadn't rolled over yet. The next day though, he rolled over from his front to his back. This kid is amazing!

5 Month Pictures

Now he notices his doggy blanket and plays with it. He likes to feel it when he is in the car seat especially.

Doctor's Appointments:

Besides a GI appointment, a Neurology appointment, and well check ups, Talmage also had an ultrasound on his spine to check up a dimple on his bum (at the end of his spine) to make sure the skin was closed up around it. If it wasn't closed then Talmage would have a minor form of Spina Bifida. Luckily the ultrasound showed that it was closed up and all was good.

I have now come to the conclusion that doctors are overly concerned with Talmage, but he likes to show everyone that he is perfect and to just leave him alone!

We think Talmage is pretty perfect!

Swim Team 2014

 I remember last year being so excited when Dallin swam 25 meters under 1:00. By the end of this season, his goal was to break 30 seconds. I can't believe how much Dallin has improved! I think his fastest time was 32 seconds in free style. Dallin still hasn't mastered diving yet. The one time he tried it in a meet was during the freestyle relay. His goggles fell off on his nose and he looked at us in panic. Then he remembered what his coaches told him and he swam his lap with his goggles on his nose. After that he was too scared to try diving again.

Watching Dallin in swim practice was very interesting. He had taken small group lessons once a week since January so I knew exactly what level he was at in swimming. During practice though, I watched him do swan dives down the pool or hang out in the middle and goof around while his team was out of the water on the side of the pool listening to the coach's instruction. I'm guessing he figured out really quick that with so many kids in the pool (his team is huge!) that he could get away with goofing around and swimming under his level. He had a great first meet where his coach proclaimed in surprise that he was fast. Every meet after that, his times got progressively slower. He stopped breathing to the side and forgetting everything he learned in his swim lessons. His main coach was great and tried to help him, but there was no way she could stay on top of Dallin and help him focus while running the practice. I talked to the other coaches and asked them to push Dallin harder but still unless Dallin had someone right next to him, he was goofing off. We had a month of our small group lessons paid for from when we had to cut out early to rush off to Miami. I signed him back up and the next meet Dallin did awesome and kept getting better. He just does better with small group instruction.

We went from talking to Dallin about breathing to the side to talking about how you finish strong within a week. In the below video Dallin comes off the block like a rocket, is winning the heat and then slows way up the last little bit. He completely shocked Zane and I with how fast he was in the beginning.

Freestyle from the last meet and backstroke from Divisionals

Excuse my screaming and horrible camera work.

Dallin's best meet was Divisonals where all the teams his team competed against come together at a high school and compete again. Dallin did amazing in both free style and backstroke. He did so amazing that he qualified for a special meet with teams throughout our area. By this point in the season, I was done with swim meets taking up our Saturdays. Dallin was going out with a bang. Zane though was so excited that Dallin qualified (and the meet was hosted by our old swim team meaning a lot of our friends would be there), that he wanted Dallin to compete.

This special qualifying meet took place in a huge Natatorium with two swimming pools and jam packed with people on the stands watching. I showed up with the babies just in time to see Dallin get on the blocks in lane 4 (meaning he had the fastest time in his heat) and start dancing to the music playing. During his dance he decided to start slapping his bum. Then when the buzzer went off to go, he cannon balled into the water. Here we were at a special swim meet for those who had fast enough times and our son was goofing off. He would take a couple strokes, look around the pool, doggy paddled and so on. He came in last. We definitely should have ended on the high note the week before. I asked Dallin what he was thinking about while he was swimming and he said, "Ruby." His friend from our old house was there at the swim meet and I guess seeing her meant he could no longer swim. Oh help us.

Despite the last meet, Dallin had a lot of fun and we enjoyed getting to know the people in our neighborhood better. We love swim team!

 How Zane and I did swim meets without losing kids. 

Sometimes Gavin was on Zane's shoulders.

Best Friends

 We moved to our new home a year ago. A few days after we moved in, Dallin was begging to play with friends. We didn't know anyone yet and he threw a huge temper tantrum swinging his toy sword around and hitting Lili's new fan. Those first few weeks were so tough. Dallin is such a social kid. He would pick playing with a friend as a reward over anything else. Dallin rarely plays with toys on his own, plays the Wii, or anythings else by himself.

Home school and Gavin getting a little older has changed all of that. When school started, Dallin didn't have a choice but to learn to play with Gavin. We are part of a home school group, but we don't get together with this group every day. The previous few years, I taught preschool in my home twice a week bringing 7 friends to our house. Then I would plan at least one play date the other days of the week. Since we started home schooling, the amount of kids coming into our home decreased dramatically. Dallin had to learn to play by himself or play with his siblings. It has been really interesting to watch the kids' relationships evolve. Before Dallin's friends were more important to him. Now, his best friend is Gavin. They are inseparable. Dallin is also super sweet with Lili helping her join in their games. I'm so grateful for this last year that helped my kids become closer together.

I've had people make comments to me that after they have their own children, they want to adopt a child. I feel like people make too big of deal about genes. Our kids are just our kids. We get asked all the time if Lili and Gavin are siblings meaning are they biological siblings. I'm not sure why this matters. They are siblings. If you see my kids together, you can't doubt that there is a special bond. That bond was so immediate that I'm convinced they all knew each other in heaven. I can't wait to see how these relationships evolve further as they open their circle to add Talmage.

Our Sweet Lili

 I love having a little girl. Lili is surrounded by crazy brothers and lots of boy cousins. She brings beauty, calmness, and sweetness to our home. She is the little princess and the boys treat her as such  most of the time.

 Lili is also starting to show her drama side too and when the screams start we all come running only to find out she is mad she can't get the snaps to work on her high chair or something silly. She is also into everything rearranging cupboards and climbing on furniture. I think the below picture happened because she was climbing on the little table this flower arrangement was on and it toppled over.

Lili is 19 months old now and weighs about 19 pounds. She is so tiny that people are shocked at how well she moves and climbs because they think she is younger. I'm glad she is tiny because I can carry her and Talmage at the same time! There are plenty of times during the day when they are both on my lap or being carried. She is so good with Talmage and likes to try to put his paci in his mouth when he is crying.

Lili's nursery teacher commented today on how much Lili climbs. Lili has kept this secret until now. She is quite the climber and is really strong. She hung from these rings for a minute. She probably could have gone longer but I pulled her down. We have a rock wall on our playset that she will probably be able to climb with a little practice by the end of the month. Her goal right now is to get up Dallin's ladder to his loft bed. Thank goodness Zane built those rungs further apart because I don't want her accomplishing that goal just yet!

Lili is very popular with some of the older girls in our church. They carry her around like a doll and she is happy to let them. At a 4th of July party we went too, her friend kept turning Lili's head to which fireworks she should see next.

Lili and I went to a mother and daughter dance party. I think she was a little overwhelmed with all that was going on but she enjoyed the food. Lili really likes to eat. She says a few words clearly and eat is one of them! She also says yes clearly and to anything you ask her. I had fun hanging out with just Lili and socializing with other moms.

This little girl brings so much joy to all of our lives!

Gavin's 4th Birthday

 My sweet and extremely silly Gavin is four! He has been looking forward to his birthday for ever because he loves blowing candles out of birthday cakes.

Gavin is into all things Super Hero so for his birthday he got a Spiderman costume that he can turn inside out so that he can be Venom too. He loves it and wears it every day.

 He also got a balance bike. We bought him a bike for Christmas and in hindsight we wished we had gotten the balance bike instead. Now we hope that while Gavin is learning to pedal his other bike, he will learn balance with this one and be a good bike rider soon. Once he can ride a bike well, then I can start taking walks again with the babies in the double stroller. This balance bike is also for Lili. We lower the seat all the way and she likes to get on and try it out.

Gavin told me every day a different kind of cake that he wanted. I chose Captain America because it was the easiest for me. Unfortunately, my red food coloring didn't work so well. Gavin didn't mind his pink Captain America cake. 

We kept things simple this year and had a family party Saturday night.  Zane has been working crazy hours, we have had swim meets every Saturday, Zane and I both had to talk in church the next day, and I was doing singing time in church for the full Primary time (both singing and sharing time), so simple was best. Gavin's birthday was extra special though because his cousins have just moved back to the U.S. from the Netherlands and Gavin's party was the first he got to see them.

Gavin is probably the silliest boy I know and the way he dresses is always making me laugh. How cool is this Spiderman sporting Lili's pink sunglasses? Gavin loves his rain boots too and so they go with any outfit apparently.

Gavin is our most stubborn and independent child. In the past he has also gotten away with a lot because he would bat his eyelashes at me and I would melt. I'm paying for it now. He has become very mischievious and sneaky. He usually stays by my side all day, so if he is missing, I know he is up to no good. His latest antic, taking pen across four cushions on my couch. If he is bored and I can't find him, then I know he has sneaked up to Lili's room to wake her up from her nap. When I confront him, he just smiles and says she was awake. Ya right. His favorite books are the David series by David Shannon about a very mischievous boy. Gavin is David. (I said the same thing about Dallin at this age too. He is just following in his footsteps.)

Gavin found my stash of "emergency supplies" in my purse and found a new way to use a panty liner. He was walking around the house being the Hulk with a big gun and a panty liner over his mouth. See, he cracks me up.

Gavin loves wrestling with Dallin and follows Dallin everywhere. When Dallin plays at the friend's across the street, Gavin has learned he can go out the back door and out the side fence to get over there too. I'm onto his trick now so it is awesome when I'm standing in the front yard in front of the fence and catch him! He likes to do art and crafts and has an art class once a week. He isn't fearless like Dallin in the water, but he likes swimming a lot. He hates cold water though or anything really cold. Gavin is still my pickiest eater but he has started branching out. It is because of Gavin that I make a green smoothie every day. Gavin is a momma's boy and loves to cuddle up with me for stories. He loves playing with his daddy too, but Zane has to do some convincing at times to get him to realize how much he loves playing with his daddy (convincing meaning a wrestling match or being bounced around on a bed or the couch.) Gavin has one volume especially at church which is loud. His speech teacher is trying to teach him to be a voice box super hero protector. It works sometimes but only after you have talked loud enough for him to hear you. He also has an amazing ability to tune out Zane and me when we are giving instructions or corrections. We actually wondered if he had an auditory processing problem and had that tested when he was tested for his speech. He is just fine though and just has selective hearing. Gavin goes to speech twice a week right now to work on a slight stutter and word formation.

I love how close Dallin and Gavin are and I love watching his relationship with Talmage. Gavin is a great big brother. We are working on his relationship with Lili. He just doesn't see her as a baby and wants to wrestle her too. Lili follows him all around though and he knows just how to cheer her up with Ring Around the Rosie's. Gavin is amazing and we are so lucky to be his parents.

Talmage at 3 Months

 

 At 3 month, Talmage weighs 8 lbs 6 oz. Since we switched formulas, he has done better with eating. Talmage still looks like he is in pain a lot of the times and is fussy, but there are also those moments when he flashes his dimple at me. Love it. He smiles the most when you click your tongue and make faces at him. Talmage gets up one to two times a night. He is averaging 2 oz in his feeds and is still on the Nutramigen. We concentrate his bottle to 27 calories in order to help him gain weight.

Dallin is such a wonderful helper. He loves holding Talmage and doing tummy time with him. Dallin is especially helpful in the evening when I'm trying to get dinner on the table and of course Talmage decides then to be fussy. There is six years apart between the two but I think they will have a special bond because Dallin helps out so much.

 Gavin loves to hold Talmage and helps me remember to do tummy time. He is very aware of where Talmage is and likes to observe all the diaper changes (both boys do honestly.) Once they were fighting over who got to be the closest during the diaper change and then Dallin got hit with some poop that squirted out. This has stopped the fighting and allowed me a little more space during a diaper change. Both boys find the story super funny and like to retell it.

When we are putting the kids to bed, Talmage hangs out in Lili's bed. This time when I put Lili into bed, she moved over right next to Talmage and put her arm around him. It was super cute. By the time I got the camera, she was done holding him. Lili likes to know where Talmage is and if she can get into my room where Talmage sleeps, she runs over and tries to pull herself up to see him. She calls Talmage baby and gives him kisses now (although I doubt Talmage likes her slobber on him.) Lili also likes to give Talmage his paci back. She used to steal it but now understands to give it to him instead.

 

Talmage's cousin Capri came to meet him. She was born a month after him and right now can take him down. Talmage will catch up.

There will be four grand babies born this year, so Grandma and Grandpa will get plenty of baby time!

Talmage snuggled and ready for bed. He loves to be swaddled.

Talmage is starting to notice mobiles and toys.

 

 Daddy bonding time.

 We are so glad that each month Talmage seems to get a little better. He has brought so much joy to our family especially when we catch his smiles!