4 Months and Growing Fast

Another month came and went...the boys have discovered many new things this past month and are much more interactive. They laugh at just about anything we say or do, which is too cute! Pete and I now think we are SOO funny. They also talk back in their own baby language. They have really started to notice that they do in fact have a brother that is always there. I will find them laying by each other just staring and reaching for each other. As a mother this is one of the sweetest things I've ever seen. They also have really discovered Cooper this past month. They look at him like he is a wild animal running around crazy in our house (not far from the truth). They like to pet him and laugh when he goes crazy when someone comes to the door. 

The boys have tried some new food, they now eat cereal (oatmeal and rice) and have also tried some fruit (pears, apples & bananas).  At first they didn't love the cereal, actually they both screamed and cried, but soon learned to like it. Things got better when we mixed some fruit in and now they scoop it up... most of the time. 

  After Henry recovered from his first nasty cold and Colton from his surgery it was time to enforce more of a schedule for the boys. They still sleep great at night, 8-8 typically, but now take a more scheduled morning, afternoon and sometimes evening nap. They're also down to 4 feedings, 3 with cereal. This has really opened up our world and allowed us to be out and about more. Before it was a little bit of a free for all and I couldn't really plan a set time where I didn't have to worry about feedings.  But now we can venture out much more in our day as they're much more in sync with naps and feedings. 

Another big milestone reached this month...Colton learned to roll over from back to belly and belly to back. Henry shortly followed but will only go belly to back. Soon they will be on the move... then I will really be in trouble! 

Time continues to fly by and each day gets to be more and more fun with the boys. 

 So Sweet

 Big Smiles

The Little Piggies

 Mamma's Birthday

We can't wait to try cake... but not till our 1st Birthday!

 First time having cereal, not sure if we like it

 Henry loves the Jumperoo

Colton

 Brotherly Love

Grandma and Henry

Henry trying a new sleeping position

Henry 

Hanging Out

V-Day 

"I love being out of my carseat when we go out now!"

 Shopping at MOA

 Big Laughs

 Eating in our new chairs

 "Can you see me?"

Colton in his skinny jeans :)

 Henry loving the fishes at the Zoo

 Colton at the shark tank

Henry face to face with the wolf

4 Month Photos

Photos Taken In Minneapolis By Lindsay Nicole Photography

Colton's Surgery

On January 30th Colton had Craniosynostosis surgery, a condition that he was born with. The type of Craniosynostosis that Colton had was Single Suture Synostosis Sagittal. (The sagittal suture is located on the midline of the head and extends from the soft spot towards that back of the head. Because a portion of his skull was fussed his head did not properly grow from side to side. He had the appearance that was long and narrow with some forehead protrusion. To correct the problem surgery was necessary.) The operation was done at Children's Hospital in St. Paul. Two surgeons preformed the surgery. They made an incision from ear-to-ear and removed parts of the skull to correctly open it, reshape, and allow growth.  It took two hours to prep his little body and two hours to preform the surgery. He was then in recovery for another hour after before we were finally able to see him. It was one of the longest and hardest days that we've gone through but everything went well. We spent four nights at the hospital, one night in the ICU. Colton recovered very well and quickly. The first couple of days were hard as he was in pain and on several strong pain killers. He also experienced sever swelling, which was expected and very common for this surgery. He couldn't open his eyes for a day or so when the swelling was at it's peak.  It's so hard to see your baby in such pain and discomfort. Not being able to communicate to him or and have him able to communicate to you was the most difficult part. It was hard to know if he was in great pain or just not happy.  But we made it through, everything went as expected and we are now home. Colton continues to recover well and is no longer on any pain medication a week after surgery which is amazing to me. Here are some photos of our journey...

Just before surgery

Right after surgery

ICU

Some of the worst swelling

Colton's Battle Wounds

Feeling Better

YEAH! I get to go home!

3 months

Time is quickly flying by... between the feedings, diaper changes and playtime our day starts and finishes with not much time for anything else. The boys are doing great and growing so fast! I can't believe how big they are already. Their personalities continue to show more and more each day. It's so fun to see them smile and laugh at funny facial expressions and voices.

Henry can be a very sweet boy that can't get enough hugs and love and can make you laugh all day long. He can also demand a little more attention and loves being in the spot light. He can go from laughing and playing to screaming and crying in a matter of seconds. When he decides he wants to eat, be held, or moved to a different play spot, it needs to be now and someone better be recognizing that. :)

Colton is also very sweet and seems happy and content most of the time. He is slower to get upset and gives you sometime to react to his needs. He smiles a lot but can be on the shy side. He tends to put his hands in front of his face when he smiles at things. I recently started to read to them, Colton loves to follow along and seems to pay attention throughout the book. He likes to look at the pictures and seems to be entertained by my reading (Henry not so much).

They both sleep through the night, Henry from 8-9ish till 7-8 am. Yes, I know this is great and we are very lucky! Colton tends to sleep the same but can wake occasionally at 4 for a feeding. As of recently he has been eating 30oz a day which allows him to sleep through the night as well. Henry has been maxing out on milk for awhile now (32oz daily) which is why he has had no problem sleeping through the night.  The doctor gave us the green light to introduce cereal, so soon we will be starting that.

They become more and more independent little infants each day. They bring us so much joy and we can't imagine life without either one.

Getting so BIG!

So sweet

They both enjoy sitting up (with props for now) and enjoying a different view of things. 

Daddy reading to Colton

My friend Mindy was visiting from Seattle, she is pregnant with twins due this April

We love sitting on the couch

Tummy Time

The newest toy, the JUMPEROO

Henry with his favorite stuffed animal Zebra, he had a cold and Zebra made him happy