Evan's 2-Month Development

At 2 months old, Evan is:

• eating 4-6 ounces of formula every four hours
• sleeping 5-7 hours at night
• holding his head up
• smiling
• cooing
• wearing 0-3 month size clothing

Evan's First Vaccinations

Evan had his first set of vaccinations today at his 2-month well-baby appointment.  He cried, of course, when shots were given, but recovered quickly.  He slept in the car seat all afternoon while Chris and I ran errands.  He was fussy and wanted to be held all evening, but he never ran a fever.

Evan's growth was measured today as well.  He weighed 12 pounds 14 ounces, which puts him at the top of the 75th percentile on weight.  He was 22-3/4 inches long - 50th percentile on height, and his head circumference was 15 iches, which is in the 25th percentile.

Christmas

It has been a tough few weeks of not knowing when Chris's visa would be renewed, and he would get his passport back from the Angolan government.  The government there is not very efficient or organized so it has just been a waiting game.

Chris finally got his passport back earlier this week, and managed to make it home on Christmas Day!  Here are a few pictures from our family gathering in Sealy.

Christmas Eve

Here's Evan sporting his "Baby's First Christmas" outfit.

Evan's First Smile!

Evan has just started to smile, and I caught a big one today with my camera!  Of course, Granddad is the one who keeps getting all these cute smiles out of him!

Early Christmas

We opened presents with Brynna and Michelle today, before we leave to spend the holidays with our families.

I took this picture of Evan before we left:

And here are some photos I took when we exchanged gifts:

Christmas Tree

Evan's First Thanksgiving

Chris is at work in Angola this Thanksgiving, so Evan and I spent the holiday in Sealy.  As you can see, Evan didn't miss the Big Game!

Evan's 1-Month Pictures

I took Evan's 2-month pictures with his teddy bear today.  They didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped, but they'll do.  I'm still learning about our new camera, so hopefully future pictures will be better!   Here are a couple of photos. 

Evan's monthly pictures with his teddy bear can be found at http://waitsfamilyadventures.smugmug.com/Photo/EVANS-GROWTH

Evan's First Picnic

Today was a beautiful day, so Mother, Dad and I wanted to get out.  I'm still not taking Evan into public places yet, so we decided to go to Brenham and have a picnic.  We stopped at Must Be Heaven and picked up some sandwiches first, and then found our way to a nearby park.

Evan's First "Tummy Time"

Evan had his first "tummy time" today.  If you're not familiar with the concept, tummy time provides a break for the back of babies' heads, and gives them a chance to strengthen their neck muscles to prepare them for crawling. It also helps them to get ready to push up, roll over, sit up, and eventually stand.

We weren't sure what to expect Evan to do, but after a few minutes, he acted like he wanted to roll over and pushed up on his side.  I'm sure it will be many more weeks before he can actually roll over, but it was exciting to see him try.

Here are couple of photos we snapped.  There are a few more on the photo site.

Pictures Outside

We took some new pictures of Evan today.  Even though they're posted on our picture site (http://waitsfamilyadventures.smugmug.com), I couldn't resist posting them here as well.

Evan's Second Pediatric Appointment

Evan had his second appointment for a checkup with the pediatrician today.  He was weighed again, and has regained exactly his birth weight.

He received an all-around good report from the doctor, and doesn't have to return for another visit until he's two months old.  At that visit, he will be given his first set of immunizations.  After that, we'll be able to take Evan out in public and not have to worry so much about him getting sick.

Family Photos

Today we took some photos of our new family.  : )
Click here to see the pictures!

Evan's First Pediatric Appointment

Today we took Evan to his first appointment with his pediatrician, Dr. Singh.  The first thing we had to do after they called us back was to take off all his clothes and his diaper so they could weigh him. He did not like it one bit!  His weight was 6 pounds 1 ounce, which is up one ounce from yesterday when we left the hospital.  Dr. Singh said he looks great and is a very healthy boy!

We have an appointment to go back next Monday so Evan can be weighed again.  If his weight is up, and everything is okay, that appointment will be counted as his two-week checkup.

Evan's Birth (Photos)

http://waitsfamilyadventures.smugmug.com/Photo/BIRTH-OF-EVAN-MITCHELL-WAITS/10200333_hCNWF/1/702708577_44b67

Evan Mitchell Waits is here!

Evan Mitchell Waits was born today at 2:13 p.m.  He weighed 6 pounds 7 ounces, and was 19-1/2 inches long.

Baby's Non-Stress Test

We went to the doctor today and had the non-stress test done on the baby.  His heartbeat sounded fine, so the baby is doing well.

The inducton has been officially scheduled for this weekend.  I will be checking in to the hospital Friday evening at 5:00, and I will be given a drug to prepare my body for labor.  The actual induction will begin about 12 hours later on Saturday morning.  Exciting!

On Bed Rest

I found out today that I have preeclampsia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preeclampsia).  My doctor has ordered bed rest for me until our baby is delivered.  The only "cure" for preeclampsia is delivery of the baby, so the doctor is planning to schedule an induction of labor for the weekend of October 24.  I have been feeling physically ready to have the baby for a few weeks now, but that's only a week and a half away, so now I need to get mentally prepared!

I am scheduled to see the doctor again on Tuesday and Thursday of next week. On Tuesday, the doctor will do a non-stress test on the baby (which is just the medical term for listening to the baby's heartbeat for an extended period of time, like 20-30 minutes).  This test will indicate if the preeclampsia is causing any stress for the baby.  I'll post more details after next week's appointments.

Nursery Ready!

After a full week of painting and unpacking furniture, Evan's room is ready! All we need now is a sweet baby boy!

Chris worked so hard to get all the painting done, and he did a fantastic job! Yesterday, I finally got to move all the shower gifts out of our dining room and into the baby's room. It was so much fun!

The only thing left to do is wash everything from the layette to the stuffed animals. What a job that will be! It's all for a great cause, though, right? : )

Baby Waits Sure is Cute!

I was rear-ended Friday in Austin. I was hit pretty hard, but wasn't hurt at all. The lady who hit me wasn't injured, either, but she hit me so hard that I believe her car was totaled. I called my doctor on Friday and made an appointment to go in for a check-up today to make sure everything was okay. They did an ultrasound just to make sure everything looks good, and the baby and I are both fine.

In the first picture, you can see BW's face, and the second picture is the bottom of his little foot!

I thought I was going to be a reasonable mother, and stay objective about whether or not my baby is cute. Well, I'm either already as disallusioned as most new mothers, or he really is cute. As you can see from the ultrasound picture below, I got a pretty good look at the baby's face, and I already think he's adorable!

Magnolia Baby Shower

Babies R Us Registry

Babies"R"Us - Baby Registry

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Baby Waits is a BOY!

15 Weeks

NOTE: Today I added posts for 12 Weeks through 15 Weeks. Sorry for getting so behind, but our internet was out for 2 weeks!

Good news! I received a call from the doctor's office today, and the results of my finger-prick blood test all came back normal! I really didn't expect any bad news, but hearing the good results provided an unexpected feeling of great relief. I guess you don't always realize how much you worry about things!

I'm still feeling well (no nausea), but now my lower back is giving me trouble. I've got a lot more energy, and the "nesting" instinct is starting to kick in, so I stay busy all day long. But if I overdo it in a day, my back lets me know it! Unfortunately, I normally sleep on my back, and since I'm not supposed to be sleeping on my back anymore (not recommended after 14 weeks), I'm also not sleeping well. But I've read that you get used to sleeping on your side after awhile, so I'm looking forward to that.

At 15 weeks, the baby measures about 4-1/2 inches and weighs around 2 to 3 ounces. BW is about the size of a navel orange. The ears are now positioned properly on the sizes of the head (they used to be in the neck), and the eyes are moving from the side of the head to the front of the face. By now BW has the coordination, strength, and smarts to wiggle his or her fingers and toes and even suck a thumb. He or she can also breathe (or at least make breathing movements), suck, and swallow - all in preparation for life outside the womb. It's unlikely that I'll be able to feel any movement this week, but the baby is getting a workout - kicking, flexing, and moving those arms and legs.

14 Weeks

Picking up where I left off on my 13-week post, I am really eating like a pregnant lady now!!! Having said that, I am still within the healthy range of weight gain for this point in my pregnancy. I am starting to show now, though! I've been looking for that baby belly for awhile now, and it seems to have just "popped out" overnight!

At 14 weeks, BW is about the size of a (lady's) clenched fist. The neck is getting longer and the head more erect. The baby might actually be sprouting some hair on top of his/her head, and eyebrow hair is filling in as well.

Hormone Level Results

I called the doctor's office today to find out the results of my blood test to check my progesterone level. It was normal. HOORAY! No more hormone supplements! : )

13 Weeks

Chris arrived home yesterday, and today we went to the doctor for combined screening tests. This involves both an ultrasound and a blood test.

First, the ultrasound measures a thin layer of fluid that accumulates in the back of the baby's neck, called nuchal translucency (NT). Increased fluid may indicate an increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, congenital heart defects, and other genetic disorders. More specifically, if it measures more than 3, the doctors will order further testing. Our baby's NT measured around 1.5, which was good news.

Second, they do a finger-prick to take blood samples to test for high levels of PAPP-A (pregnancy-associated plasma protein A) and hCG, two hormones produced by the fetus and passed into the mother's bloodstream. These levels, combined with the the NT measurement and the mother's age, can provide a risk assessment for Down syndrome and trisomy 18. Unfortunately, we won't receive the results of the blood tests for 1-2 weeks.

This combined screening doesn't diagnose specific conditions, but provides you with a statistical likelihood of your baby having a problem. However, the screening can detect approximately 80 percent of Down syndrome and and 80 percent of trisomy 18 problems.

The ultrasound today was so neat, because the baby REALLY looks like a baby now!!! Also, we took a blank DVD with us and the ultrasound technician recorded the ultrasound for us. Unfortunately, it's not in a format supported by this blog, so I can't post it here. If I'm able to save it in a different format, I'll post it later.

At 13 weeks, BW is the size ofa peach, about 3 inches long. The baby's head is now about half the size of his or her crown to rump length, but the body is picking up steam and will contine growing overtime. Meanwhile, the intestines, which have been growing inside the umbilical cord, are now starting their trek to their permanent position in the baby's abdomen. BW's vocal cords are also developing this week (uh-oh!). The heartbeat was 167 today.

Oh, and now that the morning sickness is gone, my appetite has REALLY picked up!

12 Weeks

I actually did have an appointment at 12 weeks after all - my last appointment with the Reproductive Endocrinologist . . . YAY!!! They did an ultrasound, as always, just to make sure everything still looked good one last time before they released me to the regular OB/GYN. The baby's heartbeat was 160 BPM today.

At 12 weeks, the baby has more than doubled in size in the past 3 weeks, as you can see from the ultrasound - BW is starting to look more like a baby than a peanut! BW is now the size of a large fresh plum. The digestive system is beginning to practice contraction movements (so the baby will be able to eat), the bone marrow is making white blood cells, and the pituitary gland at the base of the brain has started producing hormones.

I have started feeling better in the last week - the nausea has been steadily decreasing. Now the RE is weening me off the progesterone supplements, and I expect that to help me feel even better. The OB/GYN will check my hormone level next week, and if everything is okay I won't have to take the progesterone supplement anymore. If the level looks low, I'll have to contact the RE again, and I assume they'll resume the dosage of progsterone supplements.

11 Weeks Today

My next doctor's appointment is May 7, at which time I will be 13 weeks along. I will have an ultrasound and blood tests to determine any risk of chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, congenital heart defects, and other genetic disorders. Chris will be home so he can see the ultrasound and hear the heartbeat. This should be the last ultrasound until July (20 weeks or so) when they will be able to determine the baby's sex.

At 11 weeks, BW is just over 2 inches long and weighs about a third of an ounce. Hair follicles are forming, and fingernail and toenail beds are beginning to develop. Those nails are forming on individual fingers and toes, having separated recently from webbed hands and feet. BW has distinct human characteristics now, with hands and feet in front of the body, ears nearly in their final shape and location, open nasal passages, and a tongue and palate in the mouth.

I am feeling MUCH better these days, as the last few weeks were tough. There were quite a few days that I stayed in bed all day feeling nauseated and fatigued. But that seems to be over now, and I can even tell my appetite is beginning to grow a little.

Blue Angels Weekend

Had a wonderful weekend in Corpus Christi/Port Aransas with family!

My cousin Michael got VIP tickets for the whole family at the Corpus Christi Air Show. He went to high school with the now-Commanding Officer of the Blue Angels. We all enjoyed the air show immensely as well as time visiting with each other. Even Commander McWhorter was able to join our family for breakfast Sunday morning. He's a great guy and withstood our peppering him with questions about his day-to-day experiences.

Also on Sunday, Sandfest was going on at the beach in Port A. We took the dogs and strolled down the beach to see the sand sculptures.

Here are a few pics!