Stomping Dinosaur Feet

School Pictures!

 Fall means picture time at school.  Both boys got some great shots and getting a professional one of them together is great since my photography skills are limited at best. 

What we've been up to...

It's been awhile - summer and early fall have been fun and hectic in the Inman household.  Here's some of the things we've been doing:

Austin has grown and grown and grown.  He's actually almost 9 months old at this point so I need to take two more sticker photos.  He's doing really well at moving around - he was crawling by 6 months, standing at 7 months and cruising by 8 months old.  He's already trying to stand on his own and we expect him to be an early walker.  He recently started babbling some sounds - mostly "blah, blah, gah, gah" and he still only has his two bottom teeth.  He's eating well, given that there are only a small number of foods that don't seem to give him an allergic reaction, and is about 16.5 lbs.  Still a small guy, but we think that's mostly because he never wants to sit still.  He's sleeping well in his crib and can sometimes give us a 6-6 stretch though he still will wake up most nights between 3 and 4 because he's hungry.  His smiles are infectious and he is already so loved at his new day care.  Cash is still pretty cool with Baby Austin, who he now likes to call "Baby Monster" and play the game of running away from him but it seems to make Austin laugh so we go with it.  Anything to hear this guy laugh!

Cash has been doing pretty well and is being a typical three year old for the most part.  This summer was birthday party season so we spent many a weekend going to parks, play spaces, and gym centers for parties for his friends.  We also had a lot of play dates with our friends Koen and Henry which was fun and lots of beach trips.  Cash is a true beach boy and loves to play in the sand and the waves.  In July, Cash had his adenoids and tonsils out after a year of constant nasal infections.  He then stayed home for a week to recuperate and ate through about two boxes of popsicles but is doing well and has had limited colds since the surgery.  I would also classify this summer as the start of his obsession with dinosaurs - basically we eat, sleep, breathe dinosaurs right now.  All Cash ever wants to do is watch dinosaur movies, play with his dinosaur figures, and read dinosaur books and put together dinosaur puzzles before bed. He wears dinosaur shirts, "eats like a dinosaur" and, fittingly, will be a T Rex for Halloween this year.  He really seems to love learning about them and already has a pretty deep knowledge of their names and characteristics.  He's hilarious when he talks about them and sings songs.  He's doing well at school though is still adjusting to the room change that separated him from a bunch of his friends - he was the lucky one where the cut-off was - and he hasn't been as excited to go every day like he used to.  We think its just an adjustment period and he should be back to loving it again soon.

The last big weekend of the summer for us was September 8th when Austin was baptised at our church in Wilmington.  Grammy and Papa made the trip from Winston-Salem and it was a lovely day.  Austin did really well and promptly fell asleep after the ceremony.  We also finally took our first full family portrait.  Better late than never...

Cash feeds Austin

Cash turns 3!

Our sweet man Cash turned three years old on June 12th.

Cash at 2 weeks

Cash at 3 years

 It's hard to believe that the tiny, sleepy little baby on the left is the same boy as our spunky, funny, full of life Cash.  He has grown and matured so much in the past few months - his speech has exploded and he is completely conversing with us like a normal person every day.  He is making great progress on potty training and I feel like we are starting to finally see the end of the long, dark tunnel that is potty training a little boy.  Finally, he is really doing a great job being a big brother to Austin - he is caring and helpful and wants to play with him and keep him entertained and even likes to help feed him.  I can already see what a great friend and confidante he will be to him as they grow up together.

This was the first year we had a real big birthday party for him.  We invited his entire class from day care (16 kids total) and then about 10 other friends from church and otherwise.  We ended up with about 15 friends and their parents along with Old Grandad, Beep Beep Baba and Cousin Mary Kate, all at Old McFaye's Farm in Castle Hayne.  They got to chase around chickens, rabbits and a peacock, go on a hay ride and a pony ride, and feed an enormous pig.  They also got to climb up and slide down an enormous pile of goat manure but that wasn't advertised in the brochure.

Cash had the time of his life, especially chasing the chickens.  We ended with a giant chocolate chip cookie cake with M&Ms and Cash gobbled it up and then went back to running his heart out around the farm.

Cash, you are the best little boy a mommy and daddy could ask for.  We could not be more proud of you and love watching you grow up.  We love you!

Buddies

Cash is at the age where he is starting to form friendships and actually play with other kids.  He's been in day care with other kids for almost his entire life, but he really didn't start talking about those other kids or proclaiming them his "friends" until about 6 months ago.

It's been fun asking Cash what he played with his friends each day and there definitely seems to be a few friends that are constants from day to day.  We call them his "buddy crew" and love hearing about their exploits each day, usually involving dinosaurs, monsters, trucks and mud.  Here's Cash with his main buddy Koen at a birthday party for another buddy last week.  They are very serious about their friendship (and juice boxes).

Spring Concert

Here's a video of the AAI Pharma Learning Center spring concert.  I was traveling for work this year so I didn't get to watch in person but Ross did a great job with the video.  We've already heard from multiple people that Cash was a great little dancer.  It does this mama proud.

Coastal NC Kid

It's a good thing we moved to Wilmington.  Cash seems to be a natural at cleaning seafood and all other things involving the coast and nature.  Now if only we could actually get him to eat some shrimp...

Rolling over

Birthday party season

Birthday party season is upon us.  After a couple parties in March we had a lull and now we are back up and running with multiple parties planned for the next few months, including Cash's third birthday on June 12th.  It's been fun getting together with the other day care parents and their kids on the weekends and gives us something fun to do with Cash but I imagine I'll be getting birthday party fatigue soon enough.

This last one we went to was at the Carolina Gymnastics Academy which is a very fun place to hold a party.  Here's our little daredevil, loving the giant swing:

4 (and a 1/2) month update

Here is our little bundle of pure joy.  Austin has been doing great this past month as you can see in this picture.  We've finally got a handle on his allergy issues and after a month of egg, dairy, peanut and some soy elimination in my diet, his skin is much clearer and the rashes seem to be gone.  He still has some lingering eczema and cradle cap that makes him itchy but it's nothing like we were dealing with a month ago.

Somewhere right around four months old Austin started to roll over and he has been a wiggle worm ever since.  If you put him on his back, he almost immediately rolls over to his side and then eventually to his tummy.  He hasn't gotten a handle on rolling back the other way and it seems to frustrate him, but I wouldn't be surprised if he gets there soon enough.

Austin is thriving at his day care and all of his caregivers love him to pieces.  I mean, how could you not?  He is eating and sleeping well there and when I walk in to pick him up it's not uncommon for him to be in a fit of belly laughs that keeps everyone entertained.  His eyes are turning a deep brown color and are always sparkling and his hair is growing in quite thick on the top of his head and he soon should have the mohawk look that Cash rocked at this age as well.

We've finally got Austin on a decent sleep schedule and after his bath, he is given a bottle or nurses and is asleep by 7pm in his crib in the room he shares with his brother.  He will sleep until about 1-2am when he gets up and nurses and then he sleeps the rest of the night in his pack and play in our room until he wakes up between 5-6am.  He's growing well too - at his 4 month check up he weighed in at 13lbs even (14th percentile), was 24 3/4 inches long (40th percentile) and was in the 50th percentile range for head growth.

Everyone who meets this little guy falls for him immediately and we are completely smitten here in the Inman household (including Cash!).  Can't wait to see what's in store for month five...

Thanks Grammy

Grammy took some time away from Papa and Ginger Dog to come and help us out while I went back to work.  Thanks for all of your help Grammy and we love you!

First time in the Bumbo

Someone is enjoying the Bumbo seat.

Brother Tubbies

In the interest of thoroughly embarrassing both of my boys later in life, I am posting this photo.  But outside of future embarrassment, it is adorable - Austin is clearly enamored with Cash and Cash is just a bundle of sunshine.  They don't interact much during brother tubby time right now (except when Austin starts peeing and Cash screams "Baby Austin's peepeeing!") but I think in a few months they will have lots of fun.

Three Month Update

It's been a busy month in the Inman household.  I went back to work full time on April 1st and after one week juggling work and baby by myself and two weeks with my mom's help, Austin is now in full time daycare during the week.  He has adjusted well (probably better than me) and is full of smiles for his new friends and caregivers every morning.  I miss him so much during the day and generally speed to go and pick him up at 4pm but we are lucky we found a good place for him to go until he can get off the wait list at Cash's daycare, probably around September 1st.

Austin is now close to 13lbs and is wearing size 3-6 clothes, 6 month onesies and sleepers and size 2 diapers.  He's our big man with big cheeks and big smiles.  He also started laughing this month and will give us a big giggle when we tickle his belly or when he sees is big brother.  He still thinks Cash is the coolest thing around and lights up when he gives him some attention.  He's trying really hard to roll over and kicks his legs like a little cyclist when you put him down.  We also started having him bunk with big brother at night this month and he usually lasts for a few hours before needing to be fed.  At that point we just keep him with us for the rest of the night.

We've had some challenges also this month, namely with allergy issues.  It seems that Austin has some sort of food allergy from my milk, most likely caused by dairy.  He has some pretty bad eczema patches on his scalp, face and arms and was breaking out into a red, bumpy rash when he nursed.  The pediatrician told me to eliminate dairy and see if it helps.  We're closing out week two dairy-free and while it hasn't been fun, I think there is some improvement even if it is not as much as I was hoping for.  He's less fussy when eating and the rash is lessening but the eczema is still an issue.  Also, I'm guessing that he has his first ear infection though we'll confirm tomorrow when we go to the doctor.  My happy little good sleeper has turned into an fusspot who is impossible to lay down this past week and neither him nor me are getting much sleep since the minute I start to lay him horizontal he tenses up, starts to scratch at his head and face and wiggles himself into a frenzy.  It's probably a combo between the eczema and ear infection and it is not fun at all.

Hopefully month four will bring some relief from the allergies and also some rolling over!

My boys

Two month update

Well this is a little late...Austin is now 10 weeks old and we're closing in on his 3 month update so I'm getting this in while I can.  Austin is still doing great - he's eating and sleeping well and is happy most of the time.  At his well check, he weighed in just under 11 lbs (35th percentile), was 23.25 inches (65th percentile) and handled his shots like a champ.  He's still wearing mostly 0-3 month clothes but can fit into some 3-6 month stuff and is already in size 2 diapers.  His hair is growing back pretty quickly so he almost completely skipped the bald baby stage and has cute dark fuzz on the top of his head.  He loves to smile and coo, especially at his big brother, and is a champion snuggler.  He's definitely strong and holds his head up a lot when we hold him but isn't really into showing off his skills during tummy time yet.  He mostly just lays on the ground and sucks on his hand.

His sleeping at night is great - he usually starts out the night between 7:30 and 8pm with a 6-7 hour stretch, nurses and goes right back down for 3 more hours, all swaddled in the pack and play beside our bed.  Napping is still a bit erratic.  He sleeps a lot during the day but I haven't really been able to figure out any sort of set nap times and he won't nap in his crib/pack and play yet.  My goal for the next month is to work on the pack and play/crib naps since when he goes to day care he will need to nap in a crib.

I go back to work in a week but my mom is coming to stay for a month and take care of Austin since our day care situation is a little less than ideal for the first few months.  I'm so grateful that I get to have another month of him near me every day and I know for my last week of maternity leave I plan to spend a lot of time just snuggling with my little man and just breathing him in before everything gets even more crazy again.

Friday Morning Smiles

Entertaining his brother

It's the last day of February...

so here are our pictures from Valentine's Day.  I have the cutest sweethearts around.

Somebody's starting to smile...

One Month and 32 Months

Time flies and it's already been a month with Austin in our lives.  I figure that this would be a good chance to do some updates on both of my special boys because they grow so fast.  We'll see if I can keep this up monthly...

I'll start with Austin.  He is my little chunky, snuggly sweet man.  We don't have another well check for another month but he seems to be growing fast and fattening up, as he should be with the amount he likes to eat.  It couldn't be more night and day between him and newborn Cash in the eating department.  Where I would have to set a timer to remind myself to feed Cash every 2.5 hours, Austin will basically demand more food every hour or two throughout the day and then every three to four hours at night.  We've had a few challenges with breastfeeding - namely that he was so hungry that he would drink too fast and choke himself which makes him mad - but we've come up with some solutions for it and things are going better.  He's sleeping relatively well in the Rock N' Play sleeper and most nights I'll feed him two times and easily put him back down to sleep without any coaxing needed.  He's starting to wake up a bit more during the day and I think we've seen his first smiles.  He's a special little guy and I can't wait to see what the next few months bring.

Big brother Cash is only a few months away from three and he really is such a big boy.  He's using his words well and is starting to learn and remember his manners.  He can pretty much dress himself (and usually wants to) and has a strong opinion about what to wear.  He has his own style which usually involves some form of sweatpants, his cowboy boots, a t-shirt and, most importantly, one Elmo and one Cookie Monster sock.  He likes to run around on the playground, watch shows and movies (namely Toy Story and Cars), and talk about his school friends.  He also loves his little brother and is being very kind and caring towards him though we do have to remind him to be gentle every once in a awhile.  We've had the typical two year old challenges lately - he's a little guy who knows what he wants and when he wants it and is also very adept at saying "No!" and the artful concept of stalling, especially at meals and bedtimes - but we've found that by giving him choices and standing firm when there is no choice involved that we can usually get past the tantrums without too much incident.  Emphasis on usually...

Cash in the Man Cave

Ross's man cave - where the apple juice is always flowing and Nick Jr. is on the tv.

Tummy Time with Austin

Big Brother Cash

It's been an adjustment having two kids in the house.  One of our biggest worries was how Cash would handle being a big brother.  Cash is a sweet boy but enjoys his attention so we wondered how he would handle having Austin around and if he would care much.  I'm happy to say that Cash is an amazing big brother.  He loves Austin so much and wants to hold him, kiss him and say hi and goodbye to him every day.  I think it will get even better when Austin is a little more active and able to be entertained but it just makes my heart swell to see Cash so happy to have the new little guy around.

Austin's birth story

Austin Devon Inman joined our family at 2:14am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013.  He was 6lbs 5oz, 18.25 inches long and absolutely perfect.  Below are the details of his arrival:

I woke up on Tuesday, January 8th (my due date) with not a whole lot going on in the contraction book.  I'd had several days of some minor contractions but when I went to my midwife appointment the previous Friday, I was told that I was only one centimeter dilated and not effaced at all.  I had started to get it into my head that Austin would definitely be late, and possibly close to a week or so. But my due date had arrived so I decided this would be a good day to try some old wives' tales to get things going.  So around noon I headed out for a quick walk to Carolina Farmin' to pick up some lunch.  I'd been avoiding walks like the plague for the past few days just because Austin had already dropped so walking was slightly painful and made me have to pee constantly.  But this day I headed off and it wasn't too bad.  I picked up a sandwich with eggplant in it and came back home to settle into a little Netflix Parenthood marathon.  That's when I started feeling the first minor contractions of the day and they stayed about 7 minutes apart for the rest of the afternoon.

At 4:30 I went to pick up Cash from day care, contractions still happening at about the same rate but the intensity picking up a bit.  We got home and things started to ramp up quickly.  Around 5pm I saw that I had some more indications that labor had actually started and my contractions were clocking in around 4 minutes apart.  I called my midwife and explained that the contractions were still far-ish apart but the intensity was picking up big time.  She gave me the go ahead to move forward with our regular night - dinner, tubbies, and bed for Cash by 8pm - and then give her a call.  I felt a lot better that we would be able to get Cash settled and asleep before leaving.  So we had our taco dinner and the sundae bar that I had already planned for the night.  Cash and I ended up doing our sundaes by ourselves as Ross was trying to get some stuff in order for us to go into the hospital, and it was a really nice way to have some special time with him before bringing Austin home.  We all went up to read him books and Cash was being especially sweet towards me (usually he just wants Daddy for book time and will say "No, mommy....Daddy reads books", but tonight he wanted me there and gave me multiple hugs and kisses.)  Before we said goodnight, I explained to him that I had gotten a call from Baby Austin and that he said he was ready to come and be Cash's little brother so Daddy and I were going to go and pick him up and I wouldn't be there when he woke up.  He seemed ok with it and we said goodnight and I promptly called the midwife and said we would be there within an hour.

At that point I tried to labor at home for about a half hour but decided that we should probably just get going because things seemed to be moving pretty quickly, or at least in comparison to my labor with Cash.  Our neighbor Aaron came over to spend the night with Cash and we headed off on the quick drive to the hospital around 9pm.

When we got there we went to triage and found out I was at 4 centimeters and in active labor.  The contractions were starting to come really quickly at this point but I needed to stay in triage to be monitored and they were also cleaning one of the rooms with the tubs that I had requested when we walked in.   And this is were I start folding like a deck of cards.  Within 45 minutes, I dilated from a 4 to a 6 and wasn't getting much break in between the contractions.  Plus I was forced to be on my back for the monitoring which gave me no relief or good way to manage the pain.  So by the time my midwife checked me to confirm I was a 6 and the tub room still wasn't ready, I told them to just get me the epidural.  And I was fine with it.  This was going so fast that I feared I would get in the tub and immediately go into transition which would negate any epidural possibility and I had never really envisioned going fully through to the pushing stage without one.

So we got into the room and within 20 minutes I had the epidural and Ross and I decided to get a couple of hours rest while I continued to dilate.  I was still feeling the contractions though (just the pressure, not the pain) and I was pretty awake so I just ended up laying there and then playing on my phone for a bit.  Around 1am the midwife checked me and said I was at a 7 and asked if I wanted her to break my water to move things along.  I decided that was better then getting Pitocin so we went ahead and it was probably a good thing we did because we discovered that there was meconium in the fluid.  However, my midwife assured me this wasn't a huge concern but that we would need to have the NICU on hand when I delivered just to make sure that everything was out of Austin's lungs.  So back to "sleep" I went but this time on my side to help move things along.

About a half hour later, the nurse came in and asked if I was feeling any pressure.  I basically said, not really, but I was feeling some minor "heaviness" down there.  When she came in 15 minutes later to check me around 2am, she discovered that Austin was basically almost out!  She looked at me and said "so you weren't feeling any pressure"?!  I just laughed and said that I didn't know, it didn't feel like anything major and wasn't the classic "having to go to the bathroom" feeling so I didn't think it was a big deal.  The midwife came in but we still had to wait for the NICU to arrive which took a few minutes.  When they finally came in, I said something to the effect of "Hi, I'm Hope and apparently my baby is falling out of me".  And basically he was because I pushed for two contractions and Austin arrived in the world.

The NICU checked him but he cried right away which indicated that everything was perfectly fine. Ross cut the cord and we did some skin to skin time and he latched on to nurse right away even with his tongue tie.  We were settled into our regular room by 4:30am and got a few hours of sleep.

We are so blessed to have Austin in our lives.  He is a great baby and an amazing addition to our family.  We can't wait to see him grow up.