6 Months!

Where has the time gone?!?

I can’t believe it has been 6 months since that very scary moment when we found out that we would be meeting our baby within an hour, 7 weeks early! I was in a whirlwind. I thought the doctor was going to tell me that I had to be on bed rest, possibly even hospital bed rest. But when he told me that I would be delivering my baby within an hour, it was simply unbelievable.

Yes, I remember the shock, the fear (of major surgery as well as the health of my preemie), and the pain (the worst pain i've eer experienced in my life)…but it was all worth it to have this amazing little baby.

Born at 3lbs 10oz, he was such a fighter! He came out screaming (music to my ears), and despite spending 20 days in the NICU, Carter only needed breathing assistance for a short while then spent his time sunbathing (for jaundice), and learning to regulate his temperature and eat. I spent the first 31 hours (before I could meet Carter) trying to make myself believe that I really was a mommy! Mike took our family to visit Carter and brought back pictures for me to see. Yes, I had been pregnant for 33 weeks. Yes, I just had major surgery. Yes, I just heard my baby screaming. It was still almost impossible to believe.

6 months later it is STILL hard to believe!

Carter weighed in today at 12lbs 12oz, 24.5inches (we will get official measurements at his 6 month check up next week). He is rolling around like crazy and loves to sit up and stand (with assistance). Carter constantly chews on his hands and anything else he can get in his mouth. This past week he has been paying more attention to his feet and grabbing them during diaper changes and while sitting up. He is such a happy baby most of the time, smiling and giggling. I love waking up in the morning to his coo’s and giggles, and the huge smile he gives me when I take him out of the swaddle so he can stretch! He sleeps through the night (about 10 hours straight) MOST nights. Yesterday Carter had his first bite of cereal and seems to be getting used to it. In the past couple of days he went from eating 20-24oz of formula per day up to 30-33oz PLUS cereal! I can’t wait to feed him different things like the carrots and apples that I froze.

In just 2 ½ weeks I will be returning to work and missing my baby like crazy, especially during my hour and a half commute each way. I know he will be in good hands with Mike, my dad, and many other family members. I'll admit the past 6 months were not how I expected them to be. I thought I would be taking Carter to mommy and me groups, playdates, story time at the library, and visiting lots of friends. Instead we spent most of our time at home, playing, reading, snuggling in the recliner, staying away from germs that could put Carter back in the hospital. I am thankful everyday for his health and the care, support, and love of all our family and friends.

I guess that about sums it up for now…here are the pictures you’ve all been waiting for.

First Taste of Cereal!

One day shy of 6 months, Carter got his first taste of rice cereal! He had started eating more frequently (often every 2 hours instead of 3), inhaling the 4oz like it was nothing, and several times waking up hungry in the middle of the night when he usually sleeps until between 7-8:30am.

He seemed to like it okay, but his excessive drool made it keep running out of his mouth (which was expected).

Also, Carter keeps trying to sit up more on his own (in his highchair and bouncy seat). We have to keep him strapped in or he would just topple right over forward. I bet it won't be long before Carter's sitting unassisted.

Thank You & Rolling

Thanks everyone for your responses! I'm glad to see people still check this blog (I wasn't sure since I post many pictures on FaceBook also). I will try to stay more ontop of things, which may not be hard since Carter seems to be doing more and more every single day!

Although Carter has been able to roll for awhile now...he was doing so very inconsistently. That is...until yesterday! For the past few weeks he has been "scooting" himself in circles to turn himself on the blanket to face whichever direction he wants (often the TV!). Well yesterday he started rolling from back to belly over and over again. He would roll...then scream because he didn't like being on his belly. I would turn him over (he knows how to roll belly to back...he just wasn't doing it)....and right back to his belly he would go!

Then today, I laid him down in the middle of his blanket and walked into the kitchen for a minute. I came back in, and he was about a foot OFF the blanket. He had "log-rolled" several times to get there. I guess this is the end of leaving him on the floor or bed while I run to the bathroom, etc.

We also now have to strap him into his highchair, bouncy seat, etc. as he is getting good at scooting and throwing himself out of these items (hasn't succeeded yet, but too close for comfort!). More pictures to come very soon!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

I think all of these pictures make up for me not posting in awhile! In fact, I don't even know if anyone still follows this blog. Leave me a comment to let me know if it's worth my time to keep updating!

Carter had a wonderful first Christmas! We were so happy that everyone was healthy so we could attend all of the family celebrations. Carter enjoyed opening his presents, or rather, trying to get the wrapping paper in his mouth.

Look at all the presents Santa brought!

"Kipp" Family Christmas

All the cousins on Daddy's side

"Panek" family Christmas

We also got to visit 3 day old baby Barrett! Hard to believe Carter was smaller than that at 20 days old when he came home from the NICU!

Carter has so many new toys...

But he'd rather watch TV!!

For New Year's Eve we went to Jon & Tammy's house (with a few of their friends). Carter, who normally is sleeping for the night by about 9pm, stayed up until midnight to ring in the New Year! He was WIDE awake. At about 12:02am he rolled over and fell asleep. Of course that didn't last long when we had to put him in his carrier to go home. It was about 2am when he was finally down for the night.

He now wears a bib pretty much 24/7 due to all the drool!