Christmas Time

Sean had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends.  He enjoyed good food and opening his Christmas gifts. Sean is looking forward to 2013!  Wishing everyone a joyous New Year!  

Happy 17th month b/day Sean!

Sean turned 17 months on November 29th.  He's about 24 lbs. now.

He is walking with support all over the house.  He crawls really fast to one room and then walks to another holding on to the wall for support.  He stands for a few seconds unsupported (sometimes).  He loves his push toys and confidently walks around holding them for support.  It's great to see his confidence increase each day.  Will he be walking before the year ends?  We'll have to wait and see.

I (Mommy) am in no rush for Sean to begin walking, but I enjoy watching his daily progress.  He's doing great!  We are so blessed to see Sean doing so well.

We took him to the Nursery at church last Sunday.  There were only a couple of other babies in the nursery.  Sean enjoyed playing and sharing the toys with his new friends Micah and Abby.

We took Sean for a walk on Sunday afternoon.   It was a beautiful day.  We stopped by the park.  Sean loves going to the park and watching other children laugh and play.  He is friendly.  He smiles and wants to touch other children.  We enjoy seeing how he interacts with other little ones.

Sean says "Bye Bye".  When Daddy leaves for work, Sean waves and says, "Ba...bye"

Walking Shoes

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family.  Sean had a blast and enjoyed all the attention.

Today we purchased Sean his first pair of walking shoes.  Size 5 1/2 wide.

Sean enjoys his push toy and is getting more and more confident to walk.  He will soon be walking without support.  On November 18th, Sean took his first steps forward with his push toy.  And now, he is taking several steps forward with his push toy.  Our guess is that he may be walking before the end of the year.  We will wait and see.  We are not in any hurry.

We are enjoying Sean's growth and development.  He's changing quite a bit.  Still a baby....but soon a toddler.

We love our son!
Thank you Lord for such a precious gift!  We are truly blessed.

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Music and Dancing

We've been introducing Sean to music.  He really likes it.  He also enjoys dancing.  It is extremely cute to watch him dance.

Sean continues to grow and change.  It has been fun to watch and experience his changes.

There is so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.  We are very grateful for our baby boy and his continued good health.

Happy 16th month B/day Sean!

Boy Oh Boy!.... is time flying!   Sean is now 16 months.  He's about 23 lbs.  He's a good size!  It seems like he is getting heavier by the day.

Sean is doing great!  He enjoyed getting dedicated at church last Sunday and he enjoyed dressing up as a Spider for Halloween tonight.

Sean's Godparents are his Uncle Stan (Daddy's brother) and Tia Valeria (Mommy's sister).

Waving Goodbye & Eating Portuguese Food

Sean is still our Baby boy, but soon he will be a Toddler.  He is changing and beginning to look more and more like a Toddler and less and less like a baby.

This week Sean started waving Goodbye!

Sean eats everything we eat (with a few exceptions).   He loves food especially when Avo makes him something to eat.  Sean is 1/2 Portuguese and it really shows when he eats Avo's home cooked meals.

Sean is becoming more active.  He is still crawling all over the house.  He doesn't stand on his own yet, but last night Daddy let go of Sean and he stood on his own for about 3 seconds.

He loves playing with toys and flipping through his books.  Sean interacts when read to, he points at the pictures in the book and babbles.

When we take away something he really enjoys playing with like our cell phones or the TV remote control, Sean cries.  This is typical of babies his age.  It's his way of communicating.

Sean enjoys going for walks in the stroller and going to the nearby park.
He loves going for car rides.

We've been attending church fairly regularly on Sundays.  Sean is very friendly and reaches out his arms for people to hold him.

This weekend, we plan to take Sean to a local pumpkin patch to pick up a few pumpkins.  On Sunday, Sean will be dedicated at church.

What is Baby Dedication? (for those who do not know)
Christian parents who dedicate a child are making a promise to the Lord to do everything within their power to raise the child in a godly way, prayerfully until he or she can make a decision on his or her own to follow God. Parents who make this vow of commitment are instructed to raise the child in the ways of God, and not according to their own ways. Some of the responsibilities include teaching and training the child in God's Word, demonstrating an example of godliness, disciplining according to God's ways, and praying earnestly for the child.

Pointing, Sharing and Babbling

Wow!   What changes in Sean since turning 1 year corrected on October 3rd.   He is now a TRUE 1 year old!   It's very exciting for all of us.  :)

He is right on track developmentally.  He began pointing this week.  We give him a choice between which two books he would like read to him and he points at the one he wants.  

He is sharing!  When he picks up his food with his fingers, he not only feeds himself, but Mommy and Daddy too.

Sean has been babbling so much in the past week.  When someone speaks to him, sometimes he will reply in his "baby language."

Sean continues to crawl everywhere!  

We are enjoying Sean's growth and development.

We love you Sean!

Happy 15th month Birthday Sean!

Sean turned 15 months on September 29th.  He is growing so fast.  We can't believe how big he is!
What's most exciting lately is that Sean is beginning to understand.  We ask him, "Where's your book?"  He goes to his books.  "Where's your blankie?"  He goes to his blankie.  When he's hungry, he tells us by placing his hand near his mouth.  It's very exciting that Sean is understanding and he is trying to communicate by using gestures (non-verbal communication).

Sean self-feeds and says "MaMa"

A couple of great developments this weekend with Sean.
The first is that he has mastered the pincher grasp!   Not only can he pick up Cherrios himself (with his thumb and forefinger), but he is feeding himself!   He is having a blast!   He loves placing Cherrios in his mouth.

This weekend, he also said "MaMa" repeatedly.  Mostly when he is eating his Cherrios.  Not sure if when he says "MaMa" that he is referring to Mommy or his Cherrios. 

Sean is doing great!  We are grateful for his continued development! 

Grandma comes over for a visit

Grandma Harriet came over to visit Sean tonight.  Sean loved being fed by Grandma.
He really enjoyed her visit! 

We heard Sean say "DaDa" for the first time tonight.  Grandma, Daddy and Mommy all heard him say it. 
It was very exciting!  Now...we are waiting patiently to hear "MaMa". 

Sean is doing great developmentally.  We are so blessed with our precious baby boy. 

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Happy 14th month birthday Sean!

Sean will be 14 months old on August 29th.  He is about 21.5 lbs and doing great!   He continues to crawl all over and loves pulling himself up to stand. 

Sean is a very good eater.  He especially likes homemade foods! 

Nothing too new to report...just that Sean keeps growing and growing! 

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sean the "Master Crawler"

Nothing new to report on Sean...just that he continues to crawl everywhere!  Oh...there is something new to report, Sean can now get down from standing position on his own! 

Sean is 21+ lbs.  He's getting bigger and bigger each day.

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sean goes to the Beach

Sean is the "Master Crawler" these days.  He crawls everywhere!  He loves crawling and standing up.  He's able to stand by holding himself up on the table, but doesn't quite yet know how to get down.  He's working on it.  In the meantime, Daddy & Mommy watch Sean closely to try to prevent falls.  If Sean does fall, he simply gets himself right back up again.  

Sean loves playing and loves his toys.  His favorite so far are his Legos. 

We took Sean to the beach for the first time last week.  He loved it!  He enjoyed playing with his new bucket and shovel. 

The next day, we took Sean for a short hike in the Santa Cruz Mountains at Henry Cowell State Park.  After our hike, we decided to drive to Big Basin.  The Redwoods were beautiful.  Sean appeared to enjoy his new experiences. 

Sean continues to eat well and grow.  He's about 21 lbs. now, which is the average weight for a baby boy who is 10 months (Sean's corrected age). 

Life is good.  We are enjoying Sean...a lot! 

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Happy 13 month birthday Sean!

Sean turned 13 months today.  He is becoming more and more active.  He wants to crawl everywhere.  Sean is not too interested in just sitting.  He loves to stand himself up! 

Sean is becoming interested in holding his own spoon, but does not yet feed himself.  He has a great appetite and continues to grow. 

We had a great weekend with our baby boy.

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Clapping, Eating and Playing

Avo taught Sean how to clap.  He puts his hands together and claps.  It's very cute to watch. 
And he loves it!

Sean is over 20 lbs.  His appetite has increased quite a bit this past week.  Just when we think he is done eating, he opens his mouth wide for more. 

Sean had a great weekend with cousin Roger's visit and a visit from his little friend Clinton & Family.

Sean continues to crawl and play a lot.  He loves being mobile. 

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Crawling, Standing and more...

Oh my Gosh!   Sean is soooooooo active!  He's now crawling and can stand when lifting himself up and holding on to the top of his crib or the coffee table.  It's amazing how much he has changed in just 2 weeks! 

He's still a little sick, but feeling much better....he just has a little bit of a cough. 

Sean continues to eat well.  Three meals a day and still has his milk...about 4 to 5 bottles a day.  Sean drinks water, but prefers that we add a little Apple juice.

It's fun to hear him wake up from his morning nap and when we walk over to his crib and he's already up on his knees or feet waiting for us to pick him up. 

We love our baby boy!   He's doing great!  God is so good!  

Happy First Birthday Party Sean!

We celebrated Sean's 1st birthday today with family (at our home). 
It was a wonderful little party.  We enjoyed ourselves.  Sean did too even though he was feeling a little "under the weather".  When Sean was awake he enjoyed the attention from his Grandmas, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles and cousins.  And from his Mommy & Daddy. 

Happy 1st Birthday Sean!    We love you so much!   Feel better soon. 

Happy 1st Birthday Sean! WE LOVE YOU!

Sean turns 1 year tomorrow morning.  On this night, 1 year ago, I wasn't yet a Mommy.  I laid in a hospital bed trying to stop contractions and to keep our sweet baby boy inside the safety of the womb as long as possible.  As long as possible meant the next morning (June 29th, 2011 @ 9:19AM). 

Our baby Sean Riley was born 14 weeks early weighing only 2 lbs. 4oz.  13.5 inches long.  When Sean was born both Mommy & Daddy were filled with joy!  We were now parents of a baby boy! 

2.5 months later we would be able to take our baby boy home from the NICU weighing 7 lbs.  Having a newborn was most definitely hard work, but worth every moment.  Our lives changed instantly.  We were no longer single individuals free to come and go as we please.  Our needs would become secondary to Sean's needs.  Life was now about providing for Sean and meeting his needs. 

And that's what we've been doing for the past year.  Taking care of and meeting the needs of our precious baby boy.  A couple of our friends who are parents have said, "It's amazing how much one can love someone so littte."  It is amazing!  We love Sean so much!  And we are so glad we didn't miss out on being parents. 

Sean has brought so much joy into our lives.  We have enjoyed watching Sean grow day after day.  At 1 year old, he now weighs 20 lbs!  He is healthy and doing well.  We are hopeful for Sean's future and pray that he continues to do well. 

It has been fun to watch Sean develop.  Sean is so much fun to watch.  He loves to play!  He's starting to crawl.  It's amazing how far he has come developmentally.  We are enjoying each moment.  We have been warned by some well meaning friends that when a baby starts to crawl "it's all over".  I guess we are in for a pleasant surprise. 

On Sean's 1st birthday, we wanted to share a little about Sean:

• Sean loves the outdoors and being taken on walks. 
• He loves playing with Daddy. 
• Sean is a good eater.  Favorite foods so far are sweet potatoes and pears.
• Sean loves being held and sang to. 
• Sean loves taking baths and playing with bath toys.
• He lets people hold him without a fuss
• He loves going to new places and seeing new faces
• Sean also enjoys being read too. 
• He loves music especially Classical.
• Sean loves watching ELMO.
• Sean loves all his family
• He loves to play on his tummy and loves to roll and roll and roll.
• Sean likes sleeping on his side and sometimes his tummy.
• And one of the things he loves most of all is his blankie! 

Happy 1st Birthday Sean!  WE LOVE YOU!

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sean is crawling!

Sean is now officially crawling on his own.  Last night, he was on tummy time and up on his hands and knees a lot....then suddenly he began to move one hand in front of the other and each knee followed.  Daddy & Mommy were both with Sean to celebrate and witness this HUGE milestone together. 

Sean is also starting to sit up without any support or help, but not for very long.  At this point it's about 15 seconds before he begins to tip to his side.

Today, we went to the NICU Reunion near the hospital where Sean was born.  It was good to see some of the NICU staff.  We also ran into Sean's little preemie friend named "June".  June was born on the same day as Sean, on June 29, 2011.  June was born even earlier and smaller than Sean.  Sean was a "26 weeker" and June was a "24 weeker".  Thankfully, today after their long journey beginning in the NICU almost one ago....both June & Sean are healthy and happy babies. 

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

First Father's Day

We had a nice First Father's Day weekend.  On Saturday, we had a nice visit from our friends Sherri, Danny and baby girl Summer.  Sean enjoyed their visit.  He especially enjoyed playing with sweet Summer. 

On Sunday, we all headed to Merced to visit Daddy's Dad (Sean's Grandpa Sam). 
We had a BBQ lunch with Grandpa Sam, Grandma Paula, Uncle Stan, Aunt Linda and Cousin Stephanie.  Sean enjoyed his time with the family especially with his Grandpa.  He also enjoyed playing and being held by his Cousin Stephanie. 

We weighed Sean that evening.  He's now at 20 lbs!  Getting bigger every day! 

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

" I love my Da-da"

If Sean could speak, he would say, "I love my Da-da".  When Da-da walks through the door after a hard day at work, Sean smiles from ear to ear.  If he could speak...he would say, "Hi Da-da, please play with me!"  Da-da is so good at playing with his baby boy.  Sean loves it!   He laughs so much!  

Sean loves being held up in the air by Da-da.  He loves it when Da-da tickles his stomach. 

This is going to be Da-da's first Father's Day.  We are looking forward to it!

Happy Da-da's Day Steve! 
We love you!
Sean & Mommy

He did it!

Tonight Sean held his bottle of water all by himself for several minutes.  What a big boy!

Sean is all about playing...playing...playing.... He loves being on tummy time.  He can easily spend over an hour playing on his tummy every day. 

We weighed Sean last week.  He weighed 19.5 lbs.  This is average weight for an 8 month old (Sean's corrected age).  He's doing great!

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

"Mommy! Look what I can do!"

Sean loves playing with his toes, especially his BIG toe!   Not only did he discover that he could play with his toes, but he can suck on his BIG toe!   :)

Sean is now able to place his pacifier in his own mouth.  And he can hold his bottle without any assistance from Mommy & Daddy, but prefers that we still help him most of the time.  Sean is not yet sitting up by himself or crawling, but will soon. 

We had a great Sunday afternoon in the park with Mommy's Highschool girlfriends.  Sean let all the girls hold him without a fuss or cry.  He loves being loved and held.

Sean enjoyed playing with Ciana (Alisa's 5 year old daughter).  Ciana was so super sweet playing with Sean.  Ciana said, "He likes me."  When our stay at the park ended, Ciana gave Sean a kiss on his forehead.  Sean is looking foward to seeing and playing with Ciana again soon. 

We love our baby boy!
Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Happy 11th month birthday Sean!

Sean is exactly 1 month away from his 1st birthday!  He has outgrown his scale, so we don't know exactly how much he weighs, but he is somewhere between 19 - 20 lbs.! 

Sean has become a lot more alert and playful.  Each week he is changing.  He is now eating 3 meals a day of solids.  He sleeps almost through the entire night.

He is not quite sitting up on his own yet, but will be soon.  And he is getting ready to crawl.  He loves playing with his toys on his tummy.  And we let him watch a little T.V. on some days.  He's becoming an Elmo fan. 

We are busy enjoying time with Sean.

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

The most beautiful baby in the world

When I look at Sean...I see the most beautiful baby in the world.  To me...he is. 
I don't ever getting tired of looking at him and appreciating his beauty both inside and out. 
"Thank you God for such a sweet, beautful baby boy." 

We are so blessed to be Sean's parents.  We love our baby boy so much!
He is growing and changing.  He is becoming more and more alert and playful. 
He is our baby boy and he needs his Mommy & Daddy to take good care of him and meet his needs.  We are doing our best and growing each day as parents. 

We are appreciating each moment with Sean and know that time passes much too quickly.  We want to remember our boy as a baby...  We are taking a lot of photos to help us remember Sean as a baby boy.  He is growing quickly...18 1/2 lbs.  Average weight for a 7 month old.  He has a good appetite and almost sleeps through the entire night.

Thanks for your continued support,
Sean's Mommy & Daddy

My First Mother's Day

I couldn't end the evening without writing a few words about my First Mother's Day.  This was a very special day.  In some ways it is hard to believe that this day was in celebration of me being a Mother too!  A few years ago I certainly wondered if this day would ever be a reality for me... And here I am a Mother of a beautiful 10 month old baby boy!   Life doesn't get any better than this!   What a blessing Sean is in my life.  I am so proud of him and so happy to be his Mommy. 

I realize this is only the beginning of this journey called "Motherhood", but I am ready for the many lessons that will come my way.  Thankfully, I learned years ago that I'm not perfect.  I will mistakes on this journey and Sean will love me any way.  

Sean is doing really well.  He had a good weekend celebrating Mother's Day.  On Saturday, we (Mommy, Daddy & Sean) took Grandma Harriet for an icecream cone in Downtown Willow Glen.

This morning we relaxed.  In the afternoon, Sean went with Mommy to Starbucks.  Mommy enjoyed an Espresso Frappuccino.  It was a real treat especially when Mommy rarely visits Starbucks. 

Later in the afternoon, we went to dinner with Avó and Avo, Tia Valerie, Uncle Steve and cousins Derek & Bryce.  Sean had a super good time! 

Tonight, we ended our night by Mommy reading a couple of books to Sean, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?"  And " The Very Hungry Caterpillar".  Sean enjoys being read to. 

Daddy fed Sean and Mommy put Sean down to bed. 

What a wonderful First Mother's Day!  How awesome it is to be Sean's Mommy! 

Changes in Sean...

Each week we are noticing more and more changes in Sean.  This week he is trying really hard to hold his bottle by himself.  He is able to hold it, but not able to lift it high enough to actually drink out of it on his own.  We are giving Sean an "A" for effort!

Diaper changing has been interesting this week.  Sean used to lay still and let us change his diaper.  This week he has discovered the buttons on his music mobile, so during diaper changes Sean likes rolling on his side and pushing the buttons.  He's become a lot more active. 

Sean continues to "talk" alot.  He likes it when we repeat his sounds. 

We are all looking forward to our first Mother's Day this Sunday!

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

May, Mangoes and Music

Sean loves mangoes, but it appears that he may have had an allergic reaction to them... nothing serious just a little rash. 

We took Sean to the park near our home this morning.  He laid on the blanket on his tummy checking out all that was going on around him.  He felt the sand with his feet for the first time.  It was a beautiful Sunday. 

Sean and Daddy hung out together playing guitar while Mommy went out to run a few errands.  Sean enjoyed watching Daddy play guitar. 

Sean is doing great!  We weighed him tonight.  He is at 18.5 lbs!  

Sean is becoming more alert each day.  He loves to play and laugh.

Sean's Mommy & Daddy  

Happy 10 month Birthday Sean!

Sean is not quite 10 months old, but will be this Sunday.  It's hard to believe that our sweet baby boy entered this world 10 months ago.  Mommy was remembering the week before Sean was born when she was on bed rest and unable to get out of bed.  Each morning feeling so blessed that our baby had one more day safely in Mommy's womb.  We were told to take one day at a time and the longer our baby stayed in the womb, the better for him. 

We were given a list of all the potential risks of having a preemie so early.  It scared us, but we did our best to trust God with the outcome and hope for the best for our tiny baby.  As difficult as it was to be on best rest, each day was a blessing. 

One week later, Sean was ready to enter the world.  When he was born on June 29th, 2011 @ 9:19AM, 2 lbs. 4 oz.  Daddy and Mommy were so excited to be first time parents.  His birth was very emotional for both Mommy & Daddy.  He was so tiny and fragile, but we were parents and so proud and excited! 

A day later, our fears set in of having a baby so small, but the NICU staff were extremely supportive and educated us as best they could.

Today, we are so blessed to have a healthy baby boy who is doing great!   Sean went for his eye exam this week and had his eyes dialated.  We received good results.  Sean doesn't need glasses!   The Doctor said that 1 in 5 preemies need glasses. 

Once again, we have received good news!  

We are enjoying Sean and his growth. He is doing awesome!  We are so grateful to God for blessing us with such a beautiful and happy baby boy!  

Thank you for your continued support.
Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Boy Oh Boy!

Sean has become much more vocal this past week!   He doesn't have words yet, of course, but he is letting his voice be heard! 

We are enjoying Sean's changes and his continued growth!   He now weighs 18 lbs. 

We had a great weekend.  Sean visited Grandpa Sam and Grandma Paula.  This was his longest trip so far in one day.  2.5 hours to and from Grandpa's house. 

On our way home, we stopped by Casa de Fruta.  Sean is so curious.  He loves looking around and discovering his new surroundings. 

Sean's Mommy and Daddy

Hands, Feet and Teeth

It's only Tuesday and it's already been a fun and interesting week with Sean.  Two baby teeth (bottom front) are beginning to come in.  He is drooling a lot, but doesn't seem to be uncomfortable.

He has been facinated with his hands.  He has been using and chewing on his hands for a few months now, but this week he held his hands up and simply just stared at them.  It is very cute to watch his new visual discovery of his hands. 

Oh yes... and his feet.  Sean is now able to reach and hold his toes on both feet.  He lays on his back and curls his legs up and reaches his toes.  He loves it!  

Sean is getting funner and funnier every day.  His Daddy is great at making Sean laugh.  It is very sweet to see Sean laughing with Daddy.

Sean went to Physical Therapy today.  The therapist said he is doing well and gave us some exercises to do with him. 

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Baseball, Church and Family

Sean, Mommy & Daddy had a great weekend! 

We attended cousin Bryce’s baseball game on Saturday afternoon.  Sean hung out on Tia Valerie’s lap during the game.  Sean is a ball player in the making, he was intently watching the game.  He enjoyed watching cousin Bryce play first base.

On Sunday, we visited our friend’s church and saw a lot of old friends.  Sean enjoyed the music.  He fell asleep during the sermon. 

After church, we went home to meet with Uncle Stan, Aunt Linda and cousin Stephanie.   Sean thoroughly enjoyed their visit.  He loved being held by his cousin. 

Sean especially liked it when Stephanie  would hold him up and slightly bounce him.   He laughed and smiled when she would do this. 

Sean’s Mommy & Daddy

Peas & Applesauce....got to love those Prunes too!

So this week, Sean tried prunes for the first time.  He loved them!  

Daddy had a brilliant idea in order to get Sean to eat peas....mix peas with applesauce.  It worked!   Today was the first day eating peas & applesauce.  Two more days to go.  Sean tries new foods for 3 days in a row, so we can make sure he is not allergic.  So far so good.  No allergies! 

We are looking forward to this week.  On Saturday, we hope to go see cousin Bryce play baseball. 

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sean's First Easter

We had a wonderful Eastter weekend with Sean.  On Saturday, we took Sean to Downtown Campbell for the Easter parade.  Sean appeared to enjoy the parade.  The Marching Band was a little loud for Sean, but besides that he loved it! 

On Easter Sunday, we took Sean to church for the first time.  He did really well.  He listened to the music and part of the sermon, but fell asleep for most of it.  He enjoyed meeting our church friends for the first time. 

In the evening, we went to dinner with Grandma Harriet, Grandpa Richard, Uncle Stan, Aunt Linda and cousin Stephanie to celebrate Easter and Uncle Stan's and Aunt Linda's birthday.  As usual, Sean was well behaved at the restaurant.  He enjoyed spending time with family. 

Sean is doing great with his new experiences a parade and going to church.  Sean loves these new "adventures" and is looking forward to many more.

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sean weighs 17 lbs.!

Normally, we weigh Sean only once a week, but since he wasn't quite at 17 lbs. last Sunday, we weighed him again tonight.  Sean weighs 17 lbs. 2.5oz.! 

He continues to do well with eating solids.  We introduced him to peaches and it seemed like he may have had an allergic reaction (not sure), so we decided to stop the peaches for now.  We will try again at a later date. 

Sean is having a good week.  He is looking forward to Easter.  We are planning on taking him to an Easter parade in Campbell on Saturday and possibly for his first time to church on Sunday for Easter service. 

RSV season is not officially over until the end of April, so we may wait to take him to church.  If not this Sunday...then soon Sean will begin attending church with Mommy & Daddy.   We were told to keep Sean away from crowds, so that is why we have been away from church.  We miss attending church and miss our friends. 

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Rolling over and bananas

Sean continues to roll over...a lot.  Almost every time, we place him on his back, he rolls over to his stomach.  He reached this milestone right "on time".  Most babies begin to roll over by 6 months.  Sean will be 6 months corrected on April 3rd.

We continue to introduce new foods to Sean.  He likes pears and bananas.  He continues to eat well with no allergies. 

We visited "Auntie" Claudia this weekend.  She met Sean for the first time.  We also made a quick stop at "Auntie" Alisa's house who saw Sean for the first time. 

Tonight was bath night and we weighed Sean.  He's almost 17 lbs.... getting there, but not quite yet. 

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Happy 9 month birthday Sean!

Sean is 9 months old today (almost 6 months corrected - on April 3rd).
Now that he is almost "6 months", he is rolling a lot more.  As a matter of fact today he rolled a lot.  A lot more than he has up until now.  We place him on his back and he rolls on his stomach.  He loves it! 

Sean has been on solids for almost 4 weeks now.  What a difference from day 1.  On day 1, he knew to open his mouth, but was not sure about the new experience with the spoon.  Now after almost 4 weeks, he opens his mouth wide and is eating more.  He has been finishing all his cereal, fruit and veggies.  He is now eating 2 meals a day, breakfast and dinner.  Milk is still his primary source of nutrition.  He has six 4 ounce bottles per day.  He's a really good eater.  We will try again soon to see if he will eat the peas and green beans.  He "said" no on our first attempt. 

We are looking forward to the weekend and more time with Sean.  Weekday mornings and evenings with Sean go way too fast!   His bedtime is still about 7:30.  

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sean rolls from back to front

I forgot to mention in previous post that Sean rolled from back to front for the first time on Saturday.  He likes rolling on his side, but this was the first time he actually rolled from back to front. 

He is doing great!   We love our baby boy.

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sun hat and applesauce

We had a great weekend with Sean.  It was raining on Saturday, but we still got out to purchase a sun hat for Sean.  What a "perfect" day to purchase a sun hat...on a rainy day. 

Sean tried his first fruit over the weekend...apples.  He loves apple sauce.  He is eating really well.  So well that he now weighs 16 lbs. 12 oz! 

Today (Sunday) we took Sean to Petroglyph to to make a print of his tiny feet on a plate.  Later Daddy returned to Petroglyph to finish the art work.  We will pick up the final product in a few days.  Sean and Mommy are looking forward to seeing Daddy's "masterpiece". 

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sweet Potatoes, Springtime and Sunglasses

Sean continues to try new solid foods.  He rejected peas, but LOVES sweet potatoes.  This weekend Sean will try fruits for the first time. 

Now that the Winter season is over and Sean has received his last Synagis injection, Mommy & Daddy can "relax" a little and not be as concerned with Sean becoming ill.  But RSV Season is not over until the end of April, so we will still be cautious with Sean. 

Last September, when Sean was discharged from the hospital, we were asked to keep Sean away from large crowds and small children.  We've complied by "the rules" and it has paid off, Sean has had only one cold all Winter. 

Although we can begin to "relax" a little, we still need to be cautious Sean's first (corrected) year of life.  Which means until October of this year, we still have to be cautious of germs.  The doctors say the first year is the most critical for babies born premature.

Avô took Sean for a walk this week.  It was sunny out, so Avô put on Sean's new sunglasses to protect his beautiful blue eyes.  Sean wanted nothing to do with this new "contraption" on his face.  Sean shook his head back and forth and up and down.  This was his way of communicating that he's not yet ready for sunglasses.  We will find another way to protect his eyes from the sun.  Daddy & Mommy plan to shop this weekend for a new sun hat for Sean.   A hat will most likely work best. 

Sean went to his eye appointment this morning.  The Doctor said Sean can see objects close up, but is not yet interested in focusing on objects far away.  Babies are more interested when they are 7 to 8 months corrected, Sean is only almost 6 months corrected, so the Doctor asked to see Sean again in a couple of months.  At that time, the Doctor will place drops in his eyes and check his sight. 

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sean "says No" to green beans

Sean has been on solids for two weeks now.  So far so good.  He hasn't had any allergic reactions.  Sean has tried both rice and oatmeal baby cereal, he prefers the oatmeal (it has more flavor)  He has also tried a few veggies (carrots, squash and green beans).  He likes the carrots and squash, but he spit out the green beans and had a very "funny" look on his face.  So for now, no more green beans for Sean.  We are going to try a couple more different veggies before we serve him fruit.  His Pediatrician said save the good stuff (fruit) for last. 

Sean weighs close to 16.5 lbs! 

"Auntie" Diana came to visit Sean on Sunday.  Last time she saw Sean was shortly after he arrived home from the hospital.  He was itty bitty.... now he's getting to be such a "big boy!"

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sean learns how to scooch

Sean has learned how to move himself slightly from one location to another.  When on tummy time, Sean scooches backwards on his mat.  He is now able to move all by himself.  What a "big boy"!  

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sean makes it on all 3 growth charts!

On Wednesday, Sean and Mommy went to visit the Pediatrician for his 8 month (5 months corrected) well check appointment.  The Doctor was pleased with Sean's growth.  He weighs 16 lbs. 3.5 oz and he made it on all 3 growth charts for the first time (based on his corrected age).  Length, weight and head circumference!  Sean is now 26 inches long! 

At previous appointments he was not big enough and had not made it on the charts yet.  Now he's on all 3!  The doctor said he is in the 50th percentile!

From http://www.kidshealth.com/
Why Do Doctors Use Growth Charts?
Growth charts are a standard part of any checkup.  They show health care providers how kids are growing compared with other kids of the same age and gender.  They also allow doctors and nurses to see the pattern of kids' height and weight gain over time, and whether they are developinig proportionately. 

For example:  a child was growing along the same pattern until he was 2 years old, then suddenly started growing at a much slower rate than other kids. That might indicate a health problem. Doctors could see that by looking at a growth chart.

Information regarding 50th percentile from http://www.kidsgrowth.com/

Pediatricians and family physicians use a growth chart to keep track of a child’s progress. As all of us realize, there is a wide variation in the height and weight of "normal" children. Growth charts were developed from information obtained by measuring and weighing thousands of children. From these numbers the national average for weight and height for each age and sex were established and plotted forming a curved line. This became the 50^th percentile curve, meaning in a sample of 1,000 boys or girls, 500 would be above the curve and 500 would be below. 

Example of a growth chart from http://www.supermagnus.com/mac/Growth_Charts/

Night Night Sean

One of Mommy's favorite things to do is put Sean down for the night.  Mommy takes him into the bedroom and uses two pillows to slightly prop her up.  Sean lays on top of Mommy with his back against Mommy and the back of his head nestled into her chest.  Mommy sings his favorite Brazilian lullaby and rocks Sean to sleep.  Sean loves it and shortly thereafter falls asleep.  Mommy lays Sean down and kisses him goodnight.  It is the sweetest thing to see Sean fall asleep. 

We love having a baby!

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sean weighs 16 lbs!

We weighed Sean tonight...he's just over 16 lbs!  We were so excited we went out to purchase #3 diapers.  He's almost too big for the #2s. 

We took Sean on an adventure this weekend to the Gilroy Outlets.  He loves the outdoors.  We also went to Grandma Harriet's and Grandpa Richard's for a barbeque.  Sean enjoyed his visit with Grandma and Grandpa. 

Sean is doing well with eating solids.  So far he has tried cereal and carrots...next squash. 

Sean continues to laugh and play!  He's a happy baby boy. 

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Fun and Playful

It's amazing how quickly and how much babies change in such a short period of time.  Sean is beginning to enjoy playing a lot more.  He loves swinging in his swing, he loves playing and holding his toys, he loves being lifted into the air, he loves going on walks, he loves the outdoors, he smiles and he laughs. 

We are enjoying our sweet baby boy.  He is doing so well that sometimes we forget he was born so tiny and fragile.  Daddy and Mommy were watching a video of when Sean was first born and it's amazing to see (now) how tiny he was.  We are so grateful for everyone's support and prayers.  We are so grateful to God for blessing us with such a beautiful and sweet baby boy. 

Sean is beginning to roll over more now from front to back.  All the "tummy time" he gets is helping him.  He is still going to Physical Therapy.  Sean is doing well developmentally for his corrected age of 5 months. 

We love you Sean!

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sean receives his 5th and final Synagis injection

Today Sean received his final Synagis injection.  Sean has had a good Winter Season so far...with only 1 cold. 

He was weighed today at the Synagis clinic.  Sean now weighs 15 lbs. 11oz!

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sean had a super Saturday!

Sean began his morning with his very first meal of solid food.  He liked his rice cereal! 

What a beautiful day today.  Daddy, Mommy and Sean took a drive up to Hwy 9.  The view was beautiful.  It was so clear we could see the ocean from the Summit. 

On our way back, we stopped to visit with Grandma Harriet and Grandpa Richard.  Sean was awake and alert.  He loved his visit with his Grandma.

Daddy, Mommy & Sean went to lunch.  Sean had a great day.  By the evening, he was tired and went to sleep earlier than normal.

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Happy 8 month birthday Sean!

Happy 8^th month birthday Sean!

Mommy stayed home from work yesterday with Sean.  When Daddy walked in from a hard day of work, Sean couldn’t take his eyes off him.   Sean loves being held and played with by his Daddy.

Sean is doing well.  It’s hard to believe he is already 8 months old!   Only 4 months away from his 1^st birthday! 

We are enjoying Sean’s baby stages.   He’s been so much more active and responsive. 

Developmentally Sean is almost 5 months old.  According to wedmd.com, this is what we can expect:

Baby Development: Four to Six Months

During these months, babies are really learning to reach out and manipulate the world around them. They’re mastering the use of those amazing tools, their hands. And they’re discovering their voices. From 4 to 6 months old, your baby will probably:

·         Roll over from front to back or back to front. Front-to-back usually comes first.

·         Babble, making sounds that can sound like real language.

·         Laugh.

·         Reach out for and grab objects (watch out for your hair), and manipulate toys and other objects with her hands.

·         Sit up with support and have great head control.

Sean babbles a lot, we babble back.  He laughs and loves it when we laugh with him! 
Sean begins eating solids this coming weekend!  We are starting with baby rice cereal.  We are hoping he likes it and doesn’t have any allegic reactions.

We love our baby boy!

Sweet Sean

It's hard to believe that Sean is almost 8 months old.  Time is flying by.  Daddy & Mommy are enjoying each moment with Sean.  We are looking forward to the Spring and Summer to take Sean on some day trips. 

We had a good weekend, but like all weekends it went by much too fast.  We took Sean on a walk both Saturday and Sunday.  He loves going for walks in the neighborhood.

Cousin Roger came by for a visit today.  It was great to see him and great for him to spend some time with Sean.

We give Sean some tummy time each day.  His neck muscles are becoming stronger and stronger. 

Daddy gave Sean a bath tonight and we weighed him.  Sean now weighs 15.5 lbs! 

Sean goes to Chili's

Sean had a great weekend!  We all did.  On Sunday, we spent the afternoon with cousins Derek and Bryce.  We went to Chili’s for lunch. 

On our way to and from Chili’s, Bryce and Mommy sat in the back seat with Sean.  Sean loves having company in the back seat.  He smiles, coos and laughs.  Bryce took several pictures of Sean. 

Sean likes restaurants.  Sean is not yet eating solids, so he waited patiently.  He got a little tired of waiting for us to finish our lunch, so he fell asleep. 

We are all enjoying Sean.   He is doing well.   We enjoy watching him roll over, laugh, smile, coo, and “play” with his toys. 

Sean loves attention and interaction.  We do our best to have active interactions with him.  We play and read to him. 

Sean loves taking walks.  He looks up at the sky and listens to the birds chirping.  

Mommy is not a big fan of T.V., so Sean spends very little time (if any) watching T.V. 

We love weekends!

We love weekends!  The best part is that we get to spend so much time with Sean.  Weeknights go way too fast.  As much as we love weekends and our time with our baby boy...it makes Mondays especially difficult to leave Sean, but each day gets a little easier. 

We had a good weekend!  On Saturday, Mommy, Daddy & Sean visited our friends in the NICU.  Yes, the very special RNs who took extremely good care of Sean.  What a wonderful staff!   Sean enjoyed his visit.  He laughed and smiled a lot at his "Primary RN" Gloria.  We would love to stay in touch with the NICU staff as the years go by.  We will never forget what they did for Sean during his 2.5 months in the hospital. 

On Saturday afternoon, Daddy & Mommy celebrated Valentine's Day by going to lunch together.  Grandma Harriet and Grandpa Richard stayed with Sean for a couple of hours.  It was nice to have a date.   And it was especially nice for Grandma &  Grandpa to have some time with Sean.

The highlight of our day today (Sunday) is that Sean is now over 15 lbs!   Yep... we weighed him tonight and he now weighs 15 lbs. 3 oz.!    What a big boy!  

We love you Sean.
Mommy & Daddy
xoxoxoxo

"You think I'm cute, you should see my Daddy"

There is no question that Sean looks like his Daddy. 

• When people meet Sean and they haven't met Daddy yet, they say, "He looks like you (Mommy)".  Mommy answers, "you should see his Daddy". 
• When people say, "Sean is cute".  Mommy says, "You should see his Daddy."
• When people see Sean and Daddy together, they say to Daddy... "He looks just like you."

When Mommy & Daddy took Sean to Babies R Us to purchase a few items... Mommy is at the register and asks Daddy to please go and pick out a new bib.  Daddy comes back with a blue and white bib that says "You think I'm cute, you should see my Daddy."

When Daddy is holding Sean...Mommy often chuckles and says...."Sean sure does look just like his Daddy". 

Sean is handsome...like his Daddy.  

Sean's Mommy loves Sean's Daddy

Sean receives his 4th of 5 Synagis injections

Today Sean received 4 of 5 Synagis injections.  Sean has been in good health this Winter.  Other than the one cold he had, he has remained healthy.  Thank God. :)

He was weighed at the Synagis clinic today... 14 lbs. 12 oz! 

Today Sean met a new baby friend named "Maria" (10 months old).  She too was born premature at 30 weeks.  She is doing well now, but has already had two heart surgeries.  You wouldn't know by looking at her that she has been through so much. 

The RN at the clinic was also surprised at how "big" Sean is.  She said he looks really good for a "26 weeker". 

We are proud of Sean.  He is doing well and growing. 

We are looking forward to good Spring weather to get him out more. 

Instead of watching the beginning of the Super Bowl on Sunday, Mommy took Sean for a walk.  It was a beautiful day. 

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Corrected Age Four Months (Post-Term)

Sean is now 4 months corrected.  He is doing great!
We met with the Physical Therapist this week and she said he is doing well. 
Sean does have a preference for turning his head to the right more than the left, so we are working with him on that. 
P.T. encouraged us to continue tummy time with Sean.  We are doing our best. 
Sean is laughing outloud especially in his sleep.  He smiles and "talks" to us a lot more now.  He's not yet holding his bottle, but pats bottle with both hands. 

We weighed Sean this week.  He's over 14.5 lbs! 

Daddy, Mommy & Sean got out of the house early this morning.  We headed to downtown Campbell.  It was a beautful morning. 

Tonight, we went to dinner to a local Japanese restaurant.  Sean was well behaved and fell asleep during dinner. 

We love our baby boy!

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Happy 7 month B/day Sean!

January 29th... Sean is 7 months old!  Time has sure gone by super fast. 

Sean continues to do well.  Mommy & Daddy are enjoying him.  It was a beautiful day, so we took Sean for a walk.  He enjoyed getting some fresh air. 

Sean is awake most of the day now.  He takes naps now and then, but mostly he is awake.  We are enjoying our time with him. 

"Auntie" Debbie visited Sean today.  Last time she saw Sean was when he was in the hospital.  He's much bigger from when she last saw him.

We are hoping for another beautiful day to celebrate Sean's 7 month birthday.

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

He's growing...

Daddy gave Sean a bath tonight.  We weighed him after his bath.  Sean weighs exactly 14 lbs!   He's almost double his weight from when he was released from the hospital mid-September.  He came home at 7 lbs. 1oz. 

We are enjoying Sean.  We are also missing him when we are at work.  Mommy is off of work at 5pm and home by 5:40 with Sean.  It's good to work close to home. 

The evenings go by way too fast.  As soon as we get home, we make a quick dinner, eat, clean up and somewhere in between, Sean is getting tired and preparing for his bedtime on most nights at 7:30.

In the morning, we wake up at about 6AM.  Mommy begins work at 9AM.  We get to spend some time with Sean in the mornings before dropping him off at Avó and Avô's for the day. 

Sean is interacting a lot more now.  We are enjoying his growth and development. 

We love our sweet baby boy!

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sean's Journey 1.22.12

Sean is doing great!   He's been going to Physical Therapy.  The P.T. is checking his motor skills.  He is right on track for 3.5 months corrected. 

Sean weighs about 13.5 lbs.  We will weigh him again this week to get a more accurate weight.  He continues to eat well.  He begins eating solid foods in about 1.5 months when he is 5 months corrected. 

His bedtime continues to be about 7:30.  Sean now prefers to be sang to and rocked to sleep.  A week ago, he fell asleep easily.  Now he is wanting a little more attention before bedtime. 

All is going well at Avó and Avô's.  Sean enjoys being there with his grandparents and cousins.  They are also enjoying Sean.  Derek (13) asked Avó, "When do I get to play with him?"   She said he'd have to wait until Sean gets bigger.  He is still too small to play with.

Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sean visits his Pediatrician

Sean had a visit with his Pediatrician on Friday.  This was for his 6 month check-up.
Doctor was pleased with Sean's progress and growth. 
He now weighs 13 lbs. 7 oz and is 24.5 inches long!

For a baby who is 3 months corrected, he is average size.  Not too small and not too big. 

We have been enjoying Sean.  He is so much more alert, laughing, smiling, "talking"...

Daddy & Mommy are learning that Sean does great at restaurants.  He is so well behaved.  He looks around at what's going on and falls asleep when he gets tired. 

Every weekend we try to get out with Sean for a little while.  Now that he's not requiring to eat every 2 hours, it's easier to leave the house with him.  He's eating every 2.5 to 3 hours now. 

Thank you for your continued prayers & support.
Sean's Mommy & Daddy

Sean receives his 3rd of 5 Synagis injections

This afternoon Daddy & Mommy took Sean for his 3rd injection of Synagis.  As usual Sean cried when getting the injection, but Mommy held him and Daddy gave him a little sugar water to calm him down.  A few minutes later Sean was just fine. 

Sean continues to be a good baby.  He rarely cries...only when he gets hungry and has a dirty diaper.  We are blessed by such a sweet, mellow baby boy! 

He was weighed today at the Synagis clinic.  He now weighs 13 lbs. 3 oz!  It's amazing how much bigger he is.  And how much he is changing.  We love to see him smile and laugh. 

Sean also sleeps through the night now!  Yep...after turning 3 months corrected he sleeps all night.  His bed time is anywhere from 7 - 8 PM.  And then he doesn't wake up until about 5 AM.  Mommy usually wakes at 4 AM wondering when Sean is going to wake up to eat.  It's nice to be able to sleep though the night, but Mommy is not used to it yet. 

Sean is doing well.  We are looking forward to good weather and more trips out of the house with Sean.  Looking forward to experiencing the world through Sean's eyes.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
Sean's Mommy & Daddy

First Week of 2012

Mommy was back at work on Tuesday.  It was wonderful having time off between Christmas and New Years to spend with Sean & Daddy. 

Sean had a good week at Avó and Avô's.  He made them laugh a lot.  And he is growing.... Sean now weighs 13 lbs!   It's amazing how much bigger he is than when he first came home at 7 lbs. 1 oz. 

He is smiling and laughing more!  Daddy, Mommy & Sean took a short trip today to Downtown Campbell.  It was a beautiful day. 

We love our baby boy! 

Sean Mommy & Daddy

Corrected Age Three Months (Post-Term)

If Sean were born on his EDD (estimated due date) of October 3rd, he would be 3 months old today. 

This is what we can expect at Three Months Corrected:

General Behavior:  At this age, infants are alert more often.  They respond more to people during this time.  They may smile in response to people.

Hearing:  Infants now coo and chuckle when talked to.

Vision:  Infants visually attend promptly to toys as well as to people.  Infants are better able to follow objects from side to side than they were before.  They begin to glance at a rattle held in their hands.  They also begin to watch the movement of their own hands.  They now visually tell the difference between whites, yellows, and greens.  Their ability to look downward while sitting is beginning to develop.

Taste:  Infants will chew on their fingers and toys.  They learn much about toys by exploring them with their mouths. 

Feeding:  Infants may me mature enough to sleep through the night without needing to be fed.

Movement and Positioning:  Head control continues to improve.  When infants are placed in supported sitting positions, their heads are steadier.  Infants begin to hold their heads in the middle of their bodies instead of to the side.  When lying on their stomachs, infants start to use their arms for support.  When held while standing, infants may put weight on their feet.

Source:  Parents' Guide - Developmental Support of Low-Birth Weight Infants