Michigan Tech Takes Second At GLI

Michigan Tech may not have won the GLI (Great Lakes Invitational) tournament since 1980, but they sure gave the other longstanding attendees a run for their rankings. MTU beat #5 MSU 4-1. Was this a fluke? It only took to the second night to determine that in the championship game against #1 ranked Michigan. It was a hard fought game which was sent into overtime and then double overtime with 0-0 ties. It wasn't until about 3-1/2 minutes into the second overtime that Michigan stepped up and made the winning shot. You gotta love rooting for the underdog which is definitely an understatement in this instant. Being a long time Michigan fan myself, but on hiatus for the day, I made comments about feeling better about MTU's loss than Michigan's win. How can it take two overtime periods to score on a little school in da U.P. when you are ranked #1 in the nation? I look for a fall for the maize and blue as well as the the green and white of MSU...

Let's Go Tech!!

Jacob is going to root for his daddy's alma mater today!! We were a little preoccupied last night with Christmas at grandma's to watch that Tech Huskies beat the #5 ranked MSU Spartans 4-1 at the GLI (Great Lakes Invitational) Tournament. The Huskies of Michigan Tech wil go up against the #1 ranked Michigan Wolverines in hockey tonight. I don't think Jacob's mommy realizes who Tech plays tonight as she didn't say anything about him wearing his Michigan Tech shirt and also didn't say anything about changing him before heading out to Aunt Abby's today. Let's hope that Jacob will continue to root against Michigan for just this one day out of the year while we root for the underdog.

LET'S GO TECH!!!

Jacob's Three Month Dr. Appointment

Not sure why, we I guess we figured we would be up anyway... Jacob's three month well baby appointment was this morning at 8:00 am. We didn't think we would need to wake a sleeping baby, but we did. Still not back to his routine, he had a feeding at 5 am and then was put back to sleep. So, we woke him up and changed him while the truck was warming up! He didn't fight us a bit which was good for all of us...

Jacob is doing great as he is getting bigger and gaining weight. His weight and height on right on the average line. He is now 13 pounds, 5-1/2 ounces and 24-1/4 inches long. The only issue that keeps occurring is gunk in his eyes and more so in his right. We thought that maybe the increase was due to him being a little sick since his mom and dad are. The doctor said that he has probably developed an infection and a resistance to the type of drops were using. So, a new prescription was written and filled. We may be fighting this for up to 9 months while the tear duct is clogged. It is possible that we may need to go to an opthamalogist to have the tear ducts cleaned out, but the doctor said that it is rare.

One thing that we have noticed in the last week or so, maybe two is that Jacob is definitely drooling often. Although babies start getting teeth around 6 months on average, it also common to have teeth come in as early as 4 months. So, I guess we just wait and see what happens. It is really hard to believe that our son may have his first tooth in a month!!! Things are definitely going by quickly and he seems to grow right before our eyes. Many have said they don't stay small for long and we have always agreed, but until you see a baby on a daily basis, you don't really realize the full meaning of the comment.

Oh, yes, Jacob did get a shot, but only one this time. At his 4-month appointment, he will have a replay of last month and get 4 shots again. He has been a little out of sorts today, but not near as bad as when he had the 4 shots. It could be because of the shot, but we think there is still some recovering going on from Christmas.

SO!!! Whew!!! Now I think I am all caught up with goings on of the Holidays so far. Nope, they aren't over yet though... We are heading to my mom's tomorrow to celebrate Christmas with her and my brother's family. Signing off for now...

AAAAaaaahhhhh!!!!! A Day Of Relaxation!!!

The day after Christmas was a day of laziness and relaxation for the most part. It was so laid back that we didn't even step onto the porch to get the paper or the mail. A little picking up around the house was done and some simple meals were made, well except for maybe dinner by dad, but still relaxing.

Jacob was still not himself for the day as he was just exhausted and slept the day away. There was some concern that he wouldn't sleep at night, but he did fine. The routine that we found him get into was definitely skewed a bit, but wasn't too bad. It was definitely a needed day to get some energy back and for Amy to continue fighting off her cold.

Christmas Night

After being on the go all weekend and now week, why stop now? Some laundering of Jacob's clothes that were "soiled" in the morning was done so that we could head out once again. We ventured down to Monroe to see Doug's dad's family for the evening.

Upon our arrival, we were greeted at the door with many Holiday greetings and congratulations as this was the first time that many of our relatives met Jacob. We quickly moved to a room that was off the beaten path so there would be less commotion. We didn't mean to intentionally hide out, but it seemed to have just worked out that way. It made it a little easier to keep an eye on Jacob too!!

Jacob was definitely a hot commodity to be held and talked to. Yep, he was literally hot. Okay, so part of it was because of the wood burner, but we thought some of it might be Jacob getting sick too. We stripped him down to his diaper which immediately put a smile once again on Jacob's face. He enjoys getting naked for some reason... This held Jacob's fussiness off for a little longer, but you could tell he was done with being overstimulated. Jacob was definitely not feeling like himself as he was wimpering a bit and needed some time alone. We would have loved to had stayed much longer, but with mom definitely being sick and needing rest (dad not too far behind her), we made the tough decision to call it an earlier night than anticipated and headed home. Many understood and were surprised we even made the trek down there. It is something that we look forward to and wouldn't have missed even for bad weather...

So on the road home once again... Just as the night before, Jacob was ready to just be home and fought falling asleep for about 20 minutes before he succumbed. Fortunately, it wasn't the 40 minutes it took from the night before on the way back from Ohio. We were able to get home in a timely manner, but still had some difficulty calming him down and getting him to sleep. After a couple of hours, he was able to sleep the night away.

We wish to apologize to those in Monroe that we didn't get to say hi, much less good bye to as we snuck out the front door for an unplanned get away. (We intended to go through the group to say good bye, but Kookie offered the front door as an easier way out. Thanks Kookie!)

Jacob's First Christmas Morning/Afternon

Christmas day started off by getting up and feeding Jacob just like any other day. Unfortunately, Amy's cold had gotten much worse and dad was feeling some added ill effects of his as well. It was time to take some stuff so that our travels would hopefully not make us get worse...

Time to head for Grandma's house and their traditional Southern breakfast on Christmas, so Jacob didn't get to open the gifts Santa had left for him. Jacob was none the wiser this year as he was just hanging out and caring about where his next bottle was coming from. I'm sure he will understand a little more about what is going on next year.

The breakfast was great as usual just as everyone has become to know and love. After the feast, we shared our gifts and enjoyed each others company. To everyone's shagrin, the visiting didn't last near long enough as we needed to get home and the sister-in-law's family also had other engagements to attend as well.

So, we made the trip back home once again. Have you been sensing a trend for us this year? Yes, there has been a lot of traveling. On the way home, neither of the older kids were very much into sharing our gifts with each other, but we needed to for Jacob's sake. Granted, we could have done it some other day and were already pushing it to the afternoon, but his mother would know and she wanted this one to be special for him, even if he doesn't realize it, so we sucked it up and gave Jacob Christmas.

Surprise, Jacob didn't really know why all of these colored papers were flying all over the place, in his lap and his "Frankie dog" was beebopping presents around him. Frankie definitely understands what Christmas means though, after all, she is 13-1/2 years old (no, not dog years... ;)!). It means if she can get through a little bit of paper, she gets the goodies. This year was much better as Santa brought her chocolate chip and vanilla creme filled cookies (don't worry, they are dog friendly!).

Jacob did enjoyed opening gifts as there were a few smiles from him. It wasn't long and he was out like a light for only about 10 minutes though... There was just too much to see in the living room of "babydom". Dad worked on putting some stuff together eventhough Jacob is a little too small for much of it, but it won't be long and he will be too old for it.

On The Road Again!!

Christmas Eve followed suit with the prior two days. It was time to be "On The Road Again". This time, mom and dad were definitely fighting off colds that they both had started. Mom was first... :-P!

The trip to Ohio was made so that Jacob could spend Christmas Eve with his cousins and grandpa. Fortuantely, we didn't have to deal with any "weather" like we did for the last trip at Thanksgiving... It was nice late afternoon/evening. Gifts and pleasantries were exchanged.

After dinner, who would have thought that a part of "Twas The Night Before Christmas" could really become a reality with Sydney and Colton. Their dad, Jerry was the first to make a comment that there must be something wrong because we didn't here them. Colton received a Lego swamp boat. Colton's potentially future engineering sister was taking her time putting it together while Colton closely watched and took note on what his older sister was doing. Sydney was doing a great job and paying attention to detail. She wasn't able to get it done before we all had to leave and make the trek back home, but it definitely gave new meaning to "...not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse..." Yes, Santa did come the next morning to reward their great behavior :D!!

Second Day Of Holiday Travel

Sunday was no to be out done. The family truckster was loaded up and we were off to Jacob's great aunt Laura's for a gathering of his mother's, dad's side of the family. It was a little chilly out, but Jacob was all snuggled up in his car seat and cover and was none the wiser to very cold day.

Jacob was immediately one of the centers of attention as there was another and even newer baby than he at the gathering. Finally, a younger woman to hit on... Unfortunately, to his dismay, this one isn't available to him as it is his cousin. Samantha is half his age (6 weeks) and basically snoozed the day away.

There was much conversation by the adults upstairs while the kids were in the basement terrorizing each other... ;)! Okay, so maybe they were and were just having tons of fun with their cousins. Next year, they will have two more following them around... ;)!

The main event and the much anticipated "gift game" ensued. Numbers were drawn from 1 to 25 and Amy picked 24, while Doug was happy with his 2. In case you haven't played the "gift game". It is like a white elephant game with presents around $10ish. Each Santa then picks a number out of the "hat" (bowl in this case :-P!). Starting with the highest number, the first contestant chooses from any of the 25 gifts under the tree to open keep... Well, not so fast because here comes contestant number two, which can then either pick a gift from the 24 under the tree or steal yours because they want it. If contestant number two steals your gift, then you have the option of picking another gift from under the tree or stealing a gift, but you can't steal back the gift you just lost. Amy is "known" for her competitive and ruthless nature when playing this game. It is all in good fun of course, but she does get her share of harrassment... With a high number and choosing first, Amy picked a gift of pedicure stuff. The game became rather uneventful because there wasn't the much anticipate wrath of Amy and losing your gift. One poor soul did get his "pocket picked" many times, but he was thankful almost every time. He kept getting tea and coffee type stuff of which he didn't drink. Other than that, not a ton of gifts were exchanged. I offered to steal Amy's gift so that she would owe me HUGE, but there wasn't any interest. This is just not like her as she is usually coming to me bargaining and telling me which present to steal. With #2, I pretty much had the pick of any with the possibility of just losing it again. She was too busy with watching Jacob watch everyone else. He just can't miss a thing. Finally, it was Doug's turn. Rather than steal the gift that he wanted most from his brother-in-law (a bbq temperature fork) and risk the chance of eating steak tar tar (sp?) or sushi from the grille, I left that alone as well as the other gifts out there to go for the tree. A shriek from Amy, "What are you doing? Get ...such and such gift..." Well, after not bargaining and I myself eyeing up a small wrapped package, I continued on my way to the tree. Upon opening the gift, I found it to be a nice set of photo coasters, but where would I ever find any pictures. Many were agreement as I received much harrassing especially everyone knowing that I didn't have any younger subjects to shoot. After losing the gift in a few exchanges, I was able to get it back. So, if you come over, you will be able to see the coasters and see if I was able to find any pictures.

After the gathering of family and fun, were off to Frank and Michele's house for another little gathering for a friend that was in town from Tennessee. It was great to see Paul, Liz and the boys as we haven't seen Liz and the kids since they moved to TN. I was able to see Paul a couple of times as he was part of the Bourbon Tour in May and was also at our 50th Reunion for the fraternity. 4 of the 5 Bourbon Tour participants were at the gathering, so of course, what did we drink? A little bourbon that was purchased while on tour. Discussion of the next "boozapalooza" as it was dubbed by Greg, a non-participant at the first event, has begun. So, to all those fraternity brothers out there, we are planning on heading to Bardstown, KY the week after Labor Day, 2008 for the Bourbon Festival.

The party at Frank and Michele's was kinda funny. The girls were gossipping in one room, while the boys were tossing around stories in another and the kids (less Jacob) were in the basement. It kinda reminds you of stereoptypical Jr. high dances (well, at least of years ago as they may have changed now) with the boys on one side and the girls on the other.

It was great to see everyone at both parties as we don't get to see any of them enough. We were home late evening and were able to get Jacob to sleep relatively quickly. The day definitely pooped him out...

The First Of Many...

The first trip of the second wave of Holiday visiting started on Saturday. It began with a stop at Grandma's for lunch and then off to a former neighbor's home. Jill and her family were in from North Carolina and hadn't met Jacob yet.

The kids were very anxious to meet Jacob as Jill's sister lives next door and was at her mom's as well. We pulled into the driveway and we could here the girls screaming "The baby's here! The baby's her!". It wasn't long and they saw the baby and proceeded back outside to continue enjoying the snow before it melted.

It was very nice to see Jill, Spencer, Alan, Madison, Emma, Allison, Jeff, Joy, Joel, Phil, Vicki, Ralph and Sandy. Emma was the youngest and the most into Jacob. I think it was because she was between Jacob's age and all of the older kids were having bigger kid type fun. Emma was cute as she loved to kiss on Jacob and was very gentle. Emma is three years old, while the rest of the kids are at least twice her age.

Thanks for the hospitality and we wish you safe and happy travels home!!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

Cruisin' The Metro Area

Amy asked if Icould please take Jacob for the afternoon on Friday since I was getting off early for the rest of the year. Doug obliged so that she could have a break and pamper herself a bit.

I got home a little after 1:30, loaded up Jacob and all of his peripherals and we were off ourselves. Amy was right behind us out of the driveway and was off to the mall for some expected pampering.

Amy was able to get a manicure, but not to her liking. Not sure if it was the language barrier ;)! or if the woman was just plain stupid, but Amy's nails do look nice, just way too short even if you have a new child... So, Amy's trip wasn't as relaxing and pampering as she would have liked, but she was able to stroll through the mall free as a bird, people watching while eating her hot pretzel.

Meanwhile, Jacob and I were cruisin' the area. Sorry, can't tell you where yet because Christmas is just around the corner. I can tell you that strollers are smaller than carts to get around, but still not as small as not having anything... We had to eat once while we were out, but Jacob was his laid back self and enjoyed being out with dad. I'm sure it was a switch for him considering that his mom had him out shopping just about every day for the past few weeks.

Will blog when we can, but we won't be home much the next week or so...

Jacob's First Christmas Pictures

So this is Jacob's first Christmas as if that what was difficult to deduce... ;)! Of course, we wanted to document his first Christmas with a photo or two. Fortunately for us, we didn't need to make any appointments with any photography studios and then wait for two hours past our appointment time to get pictures taken (yes, this happened to a cousin. I'm assuming this could be a common occurrence).

Why didn't we cross our fingers and hope that Jacob wouldn't be fussy and would be a very happy boy at the right time so we could get great pictures? Simply because we are able to take pictures in our own bedroom. Yes, our bedroom may be a mess for a few days because of the equipment all over, but it allows us to have a few mini shoots while Jacob is "cooperating". This potentially avoids all of the turmoil of bundling up and heading out to a local business and can also potentially save money too! Not making any sense yet?!?! We are taking advantage of putting together our own studio. Only drawback that we found is not having some one behind the camera instead of everyone in front of it can cause the need for more pictures to be taken. It still beats waiting beyond our scheduled time and hoping Jacob cooperates. We also then have all the rights to the pictures so that we can do whatever we wish with them.
Here are some more of the photos that we took during several photo shoots this year. Some of which was trial and error and others just trying to get what we wanted...

Jacob Sees Snow!

Okay, so those not in our area may not know, but we experienced getting about 8 or 9 inches of snow on Sunday. Although we trekked out in it for a birthday party, Jacob wasn't able to experience it much. He didn't get to experience the full effect yet, but at least he was bundled up and went for a brief walk outside to go to the neighbors and back. As you can see, the snow plows were still checking out the area to be sure there wasn't any more of a need to push away a few more snow flakes and/or snow banks.

Jacob Attends His First B-day Party

The family weathered the storm and made the snowy trek to the big metropolis of Ann Arbor for an afternoon of zapping fun. Why? Sydney turns nine and had her party at the Zap Zone with her friends (almost all boys...).

Jacob was a real trooper all the way there and didn't make a peep. There were many little crashes along the way, but he kept his stride and didn't fear daddy's driving... It took us longer than the norm, but we made it safely.

All had a good time!! The kids really enjoyed running around zapping each other in the maze of glowing darkness. Oh wait!! What's this taller kid doing? Is it... maybe, um... Is it really...?!?! Yep, it is Amy getting challenged by Sydbear to a game of Dance Revolution. I won't say who won, but the dancin' fool Amy was scored 'F' on each of her rounds (oaky, so I have been corrected... She scored a 'C-' on her final attempt). In all fairness, she wasn't usually paying attention to the game and didn't know how it worked until the 3rd round. She was too busy watching Jacob smilin' and winkin' at her on the sidelines. Just wait Jacob, mom has been known to have a LOUD cheer... ;)!

After the party, we went out to a Chinese dinner and then headed home. By this time, the roads were pretty good and not filled with too many slow pokes... It was a nice adventurous day out in the snow....

Oh What A Night!

Yesterday was a great day, even with it beginning to snow later at night. Grandma came down and a couple of long time friends came up from Monroe to meet Jacob. We were able to hang out, visit, play some cards and eat dinner without any problems. Jacob was very happy and easy going. After dinner though, he started getting fussy, but it didn't seem like a big deal. It started snowing and everyone decided to get a jump on getting home before it got too bad.

Right after the company left, Jacob decided he no longer needed to be polite as he began to scream bloody murder!! He wasn't really acting hungry, but was working on chewing his fists some. It was about time for him to eat, so we tried even though we knew the scream was something different and that he was not feeling well. We did give him some gas drops thinking that that might be it. They didn't really seem to help, but if this was gas, it was the worst he has had it since he was about four or five days old. He did seem to settle down a bit, but we think it was just because he was TOTALLY exhausted. So, we decided to finally sit down and watch "Hairspray" that we borrowed from Amy's mom...

We started watching "Hairspray" and were about 10 minutes into it when another episode of uncontrollable crying began. This time it was just as bad or worse. We again tried bouncing Jacob and even used the inverted arm hold (not sure what it is called, but I am doing it in the picture). This went on for quite some time and we started pulling books out and going online. We also notice that he has been drooling a little more. Also, when we tried feeding him, he would gag and not want the bottle at all... And don't even think about a pacifier... That flew across the room before we could even get it near him. After about 45 minutes of bouncing him around and me singing Christmas Carols to him (no comment... and yes, the neighborhood dogs were just a howling pleading with me to stop ;)!) Jacob finally settled down again. He started settling down just after Amy said let's take him to urgent care. Although Jacob has never been there, it was what he needed to hear.

After taking over 4 hours to watch a 2 hour movie, it was a little after midnight and the questions arose about what to do for the night. Amy, of course, was holding him and didn't want to put him down because she was afraid that he would wake up. We have been working to get him to sleep in his crib for longer periods and although he was sick, I thought we should at least try to put him in it because he was so tired and so was Amy. After some discussion, I forced Amy to put Jacob in the pac 'n play in the living room. We decided that we would keep him on his stomach because that had been the only way we could appease him. Mom didn't really like the idea, but she has recently told me to be a little more firm on things, so I did... I think she knew I was right, but still wanted to be an overly cautious mother.

Amy was paranoid about Jacob sleeping on his belly overnight. So, she was on the couch watching him all night to make sure that he was still breathing. Her fear has been instilled in us by doctors, nurses, books, etc. that this is one of the reasons SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) occurs. Jacob was layed down a little after midnight and then woke up at 6:50 am because he was hungry. So, Jacob slept the night through for the first time while Amy didn't get a wink (well, okay she dozed off twice for about a half hour and woke up freaked out wondering what she would see...).

I'm sure we will be discussing what to do for tonight, but I am thinking Jacob will be sleeping somewhere on his stomach while mom is anxiously watching over him to make sure he is breathing. With giving Jacob many gas drops and finally getting relieved, we think it was just a really bad bout of gas. We are going to give him gas drops as a precaution and will go from there...

Smiles And Giggles...

How Big Is Jacob?

Busy Time Of The Year!

I'm sure everyone is very busy this time of year with putting up decorations around the house, holiday shopping and visiting family and friends. We are no different even with an almost 11-week old... Yep, can you believe it?!?! It is hard for us to believe!! We have been very busy with the holidays and getting Christmas cards, etc. ready. Amy is working on the Christmas cards as I am typing this and Jacob is getting ready to again. He ate two hours ago and jumped up to 5 ounces then and sucked it down like a champ (4 and wanted more, so 5 he got...). Let's see what he wants/eats this time!!

Jacob has really changed in the last week and a half or so. He has definitely found his hands and very much likes sticking them in his mouth. He has also started to grab onto things like rattles, fingers, etc. and working on putting them in his mouth. His alertness and following/hearing mom and dad's voices has become greatly more noticeable. He has also been moving his head back and forth rather rapidly at times to check out places that he hasn't seen before. He seems to be very inquisitive of things.

Jacob is remembering what is coming next. The good things like hearing the bottle getting shaken when he is hungry and crying. He really calms down when he hears and sees what is going on and patiently waits because he knows what is coming next. He also remembers the bad like getting drops in his eyes. He has been starting to put his hands/fists in his eyes when the drops are a comin'...

Amy and I were joking about not blogging in a while and that of some of you may be going through withdrawals... You know who you are... ;)! Amy wanted me to wait, but I felt the need to make some time and get something new added. Stay tuned for some Christmas photos that we have spending time on this week. Amy and I are torn about putting any of them up because we would like the Christmas cards to be the first time you see, one, two or many of what we have taken... So stay tuned for pictures to be revealed some time in the future... Maybe even before Christmas... :-P!!

Elf Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Elf yourself a Merry Christmas season. If you are looking for a giggle then you have came to the right place. I received an e-mail from Amy's niece, Sydney that really got our interest. I won't go into details of what she sent, but the link is on the left. Amy and I had such big smiles on our faces that we needed to steal her idea and do one of our own. So, Elf Yourself A Merry Christmas.

Jacob Gets Bit!

Jacob has been officially bitten by the cold bug. Mom thought he was really congested because of his noisy breathing. He was also coughing more and appeared uncomfortable. Of course, he was and has been "clingy" and making noises. Not sure if it is because he is feeling icky or he is figuring out he is making noises...

So, off to the doctor Jacob and mom went. He was pretty fussy until the doctor came in and wasn't fussy until she left. Mom thinks he has a crush on her ;)!

Jacob was checked out and his lungs and assured mom that Jacob is fine and the weasing is just noises coming from deep down. Sometimes these noises can sound like weasing, but is nothing to worry about. The doctor was surprised that his rash in different areas is still there. What she didn't know is that it did go away, but has come back. Once again, she noted that Jacob has sensitive skin and is something that we will be struggling with. This wasn't anything we were worried about, but she did suggest another over-the-counter ointment that we can use and also told us that we can grease him up more often, especially in the drier months. Jacob's eyes are also pretty goopy still and has a mild infection in his eyes causing the goop. Once again, partly due to his tear ducts still not being fully developed. So, we are back to putty drops in his eyes four times a day, for seven days. Also, Jacob was weighed and is now 12 lbs, 7 oz.

Jacob has been awake most of the day today even with being sick. He did take a nap of daddy's chest for close to an hour this evening, but has been hanging out on the floor for about the last hour. Hopefully, he will be getting tired soon, so that everyone can head to bed for at least three hours...

Hanging Out Under The Tree

It has become that time of year when Frankie's chair heads for the basement and she becomes lost. Not to be outdone this year and since there aren't any presents under the tree yet, Frankie has made herself very comfortable under the tree. Frankie, at 13-1/2 years old, has been handling the new little wonder pretty well. I think she has adjusted well and has adapted to mom being home all of the time and having a noisy little one around too. She still doesn't go around Jacob too much, but is still very curious of him, but also cautious. At least now, she has figured out how to sleep and/or relax when Jacob is having one or more of his "moments". Frankie is now getting her play time in too when she is feeling up to it.

What's Jacob Doing?

Jacob is progressing right along and is now smiling on his own in addition to when he is stimulated. They are definitely precious and can be bigger than life. Mom thought she has caught Jacob with a couple of short giggles too. There are some definite changes happening again this week. He is definitely more alert and regularly turns his eyes and head to follow mom, dad or any other person that may be walking by and follows voices. Mom has also thought that Jacob may be finding his hands although she didn't think he realizes that they are attached to him. He is doing a great job holding his head up and we/I have been using a bumbo seat to help start building up his back muscles for sitting and continuing to work on his neck muscles as well. He doesn't stay in it long though.

Jacob is currently fighting to not get a cold. His eyes have been red and puffy a bit and definitely goopy! It may be a losing battle as it appears he may have already been bitten by the cold bug.

A couple of days ago, Jacob had his first boogie. Mom was proud as it was a good one...

Only other news is that mom is working with Jacob on the floor and working with him to push off of her so that he scoots along the floor on his back. It is the distance that you are thinking, but it does turn him on occasion. He has also turned a little in his crib as well.

Quite The Ladies Man...

After saying good bye to Danmar, a big hello was said to the twins (Amy's longtime friends Doug & Anita's children). Jacob was fed just before getting there. We showed up just in time for the twins to be fed... Guess we could have waited a few moments longer on feeding Jacob and it could have been one big feast for everyone!!! Well, no, not really, Jacob likes to eat on his own terms and we quickly choose to oblige.

After the twins were done eating, Jacob calculated his angle and quickly pursued. He knew it was only a matter of time that Hanna's brother Zach would be finished and be ready for bed. And so it happened... Upon Zach's departure for the crib, Jacob slid in and snuggled up to the "older woman" (okay, so 3-1/2 months, but almost twice his age at this point...). There wasn't much action as Hanna didn't seem to be interested in Jacob. She was taking the time to check out how her fingers and feet were doing... Better luck next time Jacob!

A Good Luck To New Beginnings!!

The end of an era has officially come to a close. Amy has now officially became a full time mom and soon to be full time student while she finishes her degree in Human Services. The plaques, pictures, notes and other personal belongings have been cleared out of what was once her desk at Danmar.

Amy's heart was heavy and strong through the days events as she knew this wasn't good bye, but only a "see you later". Amy is still planning to visit while she can as she does want to keep in touch. As a way sending her off to her new beginnings (or continuation depending on your perspective) Danmar closed and went to a local establishment for appetizers and drinks to wish Amy good luck in her new pursuits. It was well attended and Amy is very grateful for the offering. She did not quite get through the day without any tears, but those were quickly wiped away with smiles knowing that she still has some time to return.

Jacob Goes To Work!

Well, okay, so Jacob may have went to work, but didn't actually do any work... Mom and Jacob came to dad's work for the first time so that we could all go out to lunch together and off course meet some of dad's co-workers. Jacob doesn't mess around at all and went right to the top! Our CEO was in the building when we were walking around (he actually uses the door I sit next to), he hollered over "Brought your boss into work?". It was a nice brief visit. Fortunately, Jacob was quiet for the most part. He did have a fussy moment when he realized he was going to be leaving dad again.

Two Month Pediatrician Check-up

Wouldn’t you know it? Jacob is finally making a long run of sleeping in his crib and we have to wake him up to take him to the pediatrician. He has been known to sleep 4 or 5 hours in his bouncer on occasion, but not more that 2-1/2 hours in his crib. Yep, we are working on it now and are getting him to sleep more in his crib during the day, but he certainly likes to be right in the center of all the action.

So, we got Jacob changed and started feeding him before we left. Then continued in the waiting room and everywhere else we could try and get the rest of the feeding in. He was a very happy baby making a lot smiles at daddy (so much so that mommy was getting a little jealous). There was even a glint in Jacob’s eye of look at what I can do daddy as he was flailing his arms and legs all over the place very rapidly.

The nurse came in and took some measurements. Jacob is now a whole 23-1/2 inches long and weighed in at 12 pounds, 1 ounce. Not that this is something to keep track of, but his head is 16 inches in circumference and his chest measures 15 inches. This means that Jacob is a little above normal in his height and weight for his age. The height stayed in line over the past 1-1/2 months and his weight has caught up to normal as he was only in the 25th percentile at the previous check-up (now basically a little over 50%).

From what the doctor says, it sounds like we are just going to have a child with sensitive skin and are continuing to work on keeping him scaleless. Mom does a great job of lubing Jacob up with his different ointments suggested by the various doctors and we just need to continue. Babies normally grow out of this by six months. The doctor did say since the cradle crap is basically all over his body that he may be more sensitive for longer and something that we will just need to be aware of/control. It looks like he may be like his dad a bit. We were told not to use anything scented on him to help with his skin. Dad doesn’t get any rashes, but he is affected by scents.

So far, so good!! Jacob was still happy with the nurse’s and the doctor’s exam… Da, da, da, dummmmmm…. Now it was time for the nurse to come back in… DOOMSDAY!! Yep, time for those much awaited pokers of pain… The shots!! Jacob received 2 shots in each thigh. The first two weren’t too bad, but the final two REALLY got Jacob mad. The first couple forced mom into tears and the nurse even asked if she was alright. Mom said she was. She did better than I thought she would though. Good job mom!! I was going to get Jacob all dressed back up and hold him, etc., but I could tell mom would feel a lot better if she was able to hold him first. He did settle down a bit, but it really wasn’t until I got him into his carrier and started swinging it that he really calmed down.

Jacob’s check-up went well as everything is normal with just some sensitive skin. We will be headed back to the doctor for a 3-month checkup the week of Christmas.

Thanksgiving II

The family ventured up to my brother's house for another Thanksgiving celebration. Jacob was a good rider and sleeper... We were able to get there, visit and then eat and he was still out like a light! So, of course, he needed to be woke up so that we could play with him and keep him up at least a little bit in the day.

This is the first trip that we brought any toys with us because there really hasn't been a need. Jacob still doesn't play with them, but at least he hears the rattle and sometimes follows it/them. He is really following voices and people passing by now, especially when it is mom or dad. Uncle Rob joined Jacob on the floor and played with him and his toys.

After some time went by and Jacob was asleep on my chest, Uncle Rob asked if he could hold him. Of course, I said he could right away. I think he might have been a little timid with such a little one because I know I was before Jacob came along, but he was a real trooper. Jacob continued to sleep on Uncle Rob's chest as he was on mine. This is the first time Uncle Rob has held him, so a job well done! Aunt Lynn and Grandma also took turns of course!

I was getting pretty tired and we figured we could make a mad dash home between feedings and Jacob would be home and we could wake him up so that he would sleep tonight. So we loaded up and headed out... to be continued...

Jacob Meets Santa

...continued...

A few days ago there was some discussion about heading to Frankenmuth for a few items and more specifically, Bronners. We decided that we didn't have time this past weekend and weren't sure if we would be able to get there, so the thought was set aside

After backing out of my brothers' driveway and starting to head home, the topic of Frankenmuth came up again. There wasn't much time because they close at 5:30, but we knew what we wanted to get so it shouldn't take long. This definitely wasn't something planned as we just wanted to be home, but we were closer to Bronner's than we were home, so we bit the bullet and went. Once we got there, we found out that they were actually open until 7:00, so we had much more time to check things out...

We did most, if not all of our shopping, but needed to wait for a few things to be completed and Jacob decided it was time for him to eat. So, of course there was no delay in getting him fed so that he could be happy again. While we were feeding Jacob, I noticed through a window that Santa was there seeing little boys and girls. I strolled over to see what was up with Santa and found that they didn't have any picture packages, etc. You just needed to have your own camera. So, Amy signed him up after he was done feeding. Fortunately, I had brought the camera for Thanksgiving II. Unfortunately, I didn't bring some stuff I would have liked to have had, but oh well... I can't take everyting all of the time, but maybe I should... ;)!

Jacob was a little fussy waiting, but not too bad. He was able to be consoled. Jacob was a real trooper with the man dressed in red. I'm not sure he knew what to make of the bearded man, but he sat there like a pro with a look of concern. Jacob was the last to see Santa for the day, so an elf offered to take a family picture with Santa. Of course, we said yes!!!

In hind sight, Amy wishes Jacob would have had a different outfit on, but we weren't planning on going to Frankenmuth or seeing Santa. We might need to go see Santa again, but I don't think Jacob will mind if we just stick with what we have already...

Black Friday

No plans to shop turned into almost a whole day of shopping with Jacob. It went from dad going out for a couple of things to getting a lot of our Christmas shopping done. I won't go into all of the details because we wouldn't want to give any clues, hints or let anything out of the bag(s), now would we? We left after feeding Jacob around 10:30 am and didn't get home until almost 4:30 pm. It was difficult to believe that Jacob slept almost the whole time. He decided that he wanted to eat around 3:00pm which was still a long time for him to go. He almost ate the bottle once he realized how hungry he was.

I will let you in on one stop though. It was only for lunch so there is nothing to giveaway here, except for a low budget dinner or lunch. We went to Ci-ci's which is an all-you-can-eat pizza restaurant. They have salad, pizza, pasta and dessert for the low price of $4.99 per adult (over 10) and then about $1.65 or so for a drink other than water. Amy and I weren't expecting much, but the salad bar was great and there was a wide variety of pizzas. Anthing from pepperoni, to ham and pineapple, to even mac n' cheese. This was probably the most "different", but was surprisingly not that bad. If you haven't of heard of this place before, we went to the one by Oakland Mall that just opened on Monday. Not a priority on the pizza list, but it was hot, fast and pleasantly surprising.

The big reason that there was much success in shopping we feel was due to the lack of people shopping. We didn't have to wait in line much if at all anywhere and we were able to find/know whether or not what we were looking for was still available. Many lots were not full or as full as we would have expected for them to be either. Eleven stores, plus lunch and one attempt at a store that is now close, not bad for 6 hours, eh? I think we cruised along pretty well for not having a plan when we left the house... It was a lot of getting in and out of the truck, but we had it down. I would get the stroller out and Amy would get Jacob. On the way out, I would put Jacob in while Amy put the goods in and sometimes folded the stroller and I would put the stroller in the truck while she was getting in. We can't tell you how much we got done, but let's just say it was a lot...

Jacob And Thanksgiving...

The plan was to get Jacob all cleaned up for the Grandma's and wait until the last minute to put him in his "Thanksgiving Outfit". Pictures could be taken in his outfit and maybe the outfit would last until we made the trip. The plan worked like a charm, except for the fact that Jacob was fussy... :(! So, only a couple of pictures were taken that were basically of him just screaming. So the plan changed to just taking some at Grandma's. No success there either as he just wanted to be played with and entertained.

Do you think Jacob is psychic? Maybe he had a preomonition that the Lions would just stink up the field... He was very soothed after it was pretty evident that the Lions didn't have the game under control. He is still a fair weather fan, but of course, he is only eight weeks old and doesn't have the long attention span to keep rooting for the Lions.

After some time and Abby playing with him for the afternoon (grandma and grandma snuck in a little time too...), Coltman decided he would like to hold Jacob. It was with this that Jacob was okay with getting his picture taken. Of course, we could have tried earlier with others, but we wanted to show off his "dapper dude" outfit... ;)! He hasn't been this dressed up since he was born, almost 8 weeks ago... Success at last!

Jacob loved all of the attention of everyone at Grandma P's house. When it came time to go home, he was ready and we felt there was a window of opportunity to get him home and then feed him. Not so!! says Jacob. We were only a few miles down the road and not even to the expressway yet, when he decided it was time for him to eat. Jacob doesn't really like a pacifier, especially when he is hungry. He will bat it out of his mouth quicker that you attempt to put it in, so this wasn't an option. Not thinking that we would need anything for the trip home and knowing his schedule and cries, etc., a party store was found to get some water as we were under an ambush. Of course, we didn't have anything to warm the water quickly either, so we needed to buy it warm... Yes, the only quantity that you could purchase it was by the case. So, it had to be done. We will be sure to carry a bottle/extra bottle of water with us for those "just in case" events.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! From our family to yours, we wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving. May your travels be safe, fun and exciting!

7 Weeks Old

Jacob is now seven weeks old and very much a growing boy. It was only two weeks ago when we went to a MSU vs. M party and Jacob's Michigan outfit was pretty big on him and there was a little concern that it was too big. Not so today though!! The onesie part of it is getting short, but the jacket and pants are things we can use for a little longer. Good thing today was the last game of the season for more than one reason...

The cradle crap on Jacob's face and the rest of him has subsided for the most part. The cortisone ointment really helped/helps. Hopefully, we won't really need to use it anymore. At least we still have the stuff to treat it if need be.

Well, I missed blogging about my first trip out with Jacob by myself, so I might just have a to type a little about the first and second... ;)! The first trip out was last Sunday because we needed some groceries. So, I decided that the timing was good and I didn't think Jacob would be too fussy. Well, the trip was a good one as Jacob was awake most of the time. He doesn't like being in his car seat if it isn't moving, so waiting in line was a little noisy, but nothing horrific at all. The second trip (today) was back to the same Kroger. This time, mom wasn't feeling well at all so I asked if she wanted me to take him and she said if I didn't mind. So, I took him again, but this time he fell right asleep after we got out the door and slept most of the time we were gone. I think I must have pooped him out playing with him earlier because we have been home an hour and he is still sleeping away...

Let's hope my "buddy" gets better because we are supposed to be going to the Lion's game tomorrow together for my birthday... I thought about renting a movie and hanging out, but I figured she would just sleep through it like I normally do, so why bother... We BOTH could be sleeping through it... So today, I have been pretty much a solo parent as I started the day at 4:00 am and have been playing keep away from mommy so Jacob hopefully doesn't get sick...

Big Changes For Amy...

After many discussions and calculations it was decided that Amy will not be going back to work at Danmar Products after her leave ends (already ended). The decision for Amy to leave did not come easy as she had been working for them for about 11-1/2 years. We feel it is much more beneficial for Jacob and our family that Amy spends more time with him in the early months of his life. The long drive (over an hour on a good day one way) would take too much time from us and is no longer in our family’s best interest. This is not the end of Amy’s career life, but it will be on hold for a few months.

Many of you may know that Amy has been working toward her associate’s degree in human services on and off for a few years. She is currently taking an online class at Washtenaw Community College as a part of our plan. Taking a class this semester was a tough decision, but has worked out for the most part. It has been challenging at times for her, but overall I think she is handling it all pretty well. I can’t speak from experience on how a woman feels during pregnancy or just after having a baby, but Amy was able to get through it without missing much. I think at times she was a little too optimistic about how much she could get done at the last second, but she has learned to budget her time a little more wisely.

Taking a class here and there hasn’t been an issue in the past for Amy and me. Through our discussions we have also decided that now would be a great time for Amy to go to school full time. It was determined that by going full time for one semester and then taking her internship along with one or two classes, she could be done with her schooling in two semesters. So as long as scheduling classes works out, Amy will be graduating in the summer and will then be looking for a job close to home.

Amy and I will be making one last official trek back to Danmar so that she can clean out her desk, etc. and also attend a gathering after hours so that those who wish can wish her good luck on her future. This will be a bittersweet day of saying “see you later”, and not goodbye…

Mission Impossible... Accomplished!!

Oh what a tangled web of getting something completed on the down low. As you may or may not have seen, I purchased a mother/child pendant and a strong chain (don't remember the style, but I got it because it was stronger) along with the service plan. This was due to knowing that a baby was on the way. This was given to mom for Mother's Day.

The plan was to take the mother/child pendant once the baby, who we now know as Jacob, was born and we/I knew the official month of birth to get his birthstone added to the pendant. I wasn't sure how this would work, but was told that the mother has to take all of her jewelry off during the delivery and I could take in to the store then and could have it back in a couple of days...

I'm not sure how this was still really a secret at this point, but fortunately mom was still in the dark or just forgot because of her baby brain ;)! We needed to get our jewelry cleaned and checked. The store manager recognized me and the pendant and came over along with many others that night and said that Amy needed to get a stone in it... I wanted to get out of there faster than a fraidy cat with a ghost following it on Halloween!!! I thought for sure my cover would be totally blown and now it would be Amy's idea. The saving grace was that Jacob's due date was right between months. So, we were able to get out of there unharmed.

Now for the birth... Amy did not have to take off any of her jewelry including the necklace and some earrings. What to do? What to do...???? I know, I will ask Amy's sister to help!! Well, either right before or right after the birth, Amy made a comment that she was very glad to have the mother/child pendant that she could wear since she couldn't/wasn't allowed to wear her wedding ring and that there was NO way that she was taking it off. The day after the birth came a prime opportunity for Abby to ask Amy to take it off and without any hesitation, a firm "NO!!" came from Amy. So, I backed off and figured I would work something out after everyone went home from the hospital.

A few days passed and I gave in and told Amy what I wanted to do. After a few more days went by, we went in and got the estimate, etc. I was a little frustrated because the couple of days turned into a couple of weeks, etc. However, we now have the updated piece of jewelry in hand.

Amy had no idea all of the stuff/stories that I had about the whole ordeal. She was very touched with all of the effort that I put into her pendant/necklace after I told her and just couldn't believe all of what went on... Here is the final (although a little dirty) product...

Pediatrician Follow-Up Appointment

Jacob’s follow-up appointment from last week went well. His weight was checked and he is now 10 pounds, 12 ounces which the doctor was delighted with his weight gain. Our boy is definitely filling out and isn’t too chubby yet. You would think as much and as often as he eats, he would REALLY be porking out…

The new formula seems to be okay with the little dude, but the relief of #2 seems to be a little difficult, but the doctor wasn’t concerned. Soy milk does causes “things” to be a little more solid. Amy and I had already talked about this after doing some more research (Amy did…) and started feeling that the gun may have been jumped last week when the formula was changed. So, we are going to finish up the soy stuff we have and go back to the Nestle Good Start. If there is another situation, then we will just get back to the soy on our own. Amy would rather not have him pop out an eye ball because he is pushin’ so hard for #2.

Not sure if anyone has noticed because the pictures can be a little bit difficult to decipher, but Jacob has had some redness and funky skin on his cheeks which has spread to behind his ears, etc. We also noticed that he had/has cradle cap or “crap” as Amy would say. What we didn’t know was that cradle crap doesn’t just show up on a baby’s head. It can be on his face, etc. So, Jacob has cradle crap on his cheeks, ears, chin, head, etc. Never fear, mom was on the on the trail already and purchased exactly what the doctor was going to suggest. It is a Eucerin product for babies.

Jacob also has some baby acne slightly above his private area, so we are to put Desitin on that. Basically what I am trying to say is that Jacob is just one big slime ball when he gets all lathered up in all of his goo!!!

So, everything seems to be going right along with the flow without any big issues. Let’s hope that we can stay out of the doctor’s office until his 2 month appointment in a couple of weeks.

3 Weeks Revisited

Yep, I/we have been holding out on some pictures... We/I weren't/wasn't sure what pictures or styles we would be using to come up with our announcements. Many of you may have them, but there are still a few that haven't gotten theirs because they aren't in the mail yet. However, they will be shortly after we get a few more addresses. We apologize for the delay in getting them out. It took a little time to find the right place to print them. It is pretty amazing how different the pictures can be when you send the same exact layout to different vendors. There were pluses and minuses with all. Here is the link to the 3 week pictures revisited.

Jacob got his second bath tonight where he wasn't screaming bloody murder through the whole ordeal. He seems to be getting used to being back in liquid again. Actually, he hasn't relieved himself in the water the last two times either. No, I definitely not saying he is getting potty trained by any means or even knows not to pee in the water. I am just saying that it was nice not to have to pull him out of the water almost immediately or rinse him off EXTREMELY well!!! :)!

Tomorrow is the follow-up doctor visit for Jacob with the new formula. Things seem to be going better and we are now pretty much always giving him four ounces and one occasion even five. He is definitely filling out, but doesn't seem to look like a "porker"... or at least not yet!! Mom has some questions for the doctor that we might as well ask while we are there. So stop back late tomorrow to see how the visit went...

Smile At Daddy?

You tell me! Is this a smile at daddy or just wishful thinking and it is only gas? Mom has had Jacob smile at her at least three times, one of which when I was leaving so maybe he was just happy to get rid of me...

Well, it is only a little smile kinda sorta, but it is a start to something bigger...

6 Weeks Already...

Our little boy has sure changed in the past six weeks as I am sure all of you with kids or have been close to babies know. To go from a little baby that is so fragile and not knowing a thing to being a little less fragile ;)! with eyes open and starting to follow things is quite an accomplishment. Jacob definitely knows mommy and daddy's voices and tends to follow the voice and/or looks for the voice when he hears them. He is also watching us as we move around. Of course, he still can't really see us when we are walking around, but he can at least tell it is us by our voice and that our figures are moving. He is already intrigued with the flashing/flickering lights of the tv. Let's hope we don't have a couch potato on our hands, although I am sure a couch potato once in a while will be good...

Jacob is beginning to get a little interested in toys, but isn't quite there in understanding the concept yet. He is definitely beginning to show his personality and looks like he will be following in his mom's footsteps at a young age. He really enjoys being entertained and active, which is why we are looking forward to him playing with toys and hopefully being able to entertain himself on occasion. This will all come with time.

The formula situation at this point seems to have worked itself out, but we still have a few days to really know for sure. He is definitely becoming a bigger eater as we are on the doorstep of giving him 4 ounces when he eats. 3 ounces every hour and 45 minutes just isn't cutting it anymore... So, we have been alternating between 3 and 4 ounces depending on how long we would like him to sleep. Yes, he is a pretty good sleeper and is difficult to wake up. It won't be long and mom and I, well mostly mom, will be able to sleep most of the night, if not all (well, okay 5-6 hours...).

We are definitely enjoying our little/getting no so little dude. You always hear "enjoy them as much as you can because they grow up so quickly..." It is really true as I/we can now relate. It is already somewhat difficult to remember how small he really was only six weeks ago. Good thing we took a lot of pictures, eh? LOL!!!

New Formula Status

The new formula has now been used for about two days and Jacob seems to be a little better. He is still being fussy as it took a week to get to the point of pain and will probably take a little time to alleviate it. The latest report is that his "tooter" is working much better which will hopefully give him some quicker relief. You can also tell that he is feeling a little better because his cheeks aren't near as rosy as they were. So let's hope this new formula is allowing Jacob to be on the way to being a good baby once again!!!

Not sure if it has come up or not, but Jacob does has some baby acne or bumps like acne due to receiving blankets, etc. rubbing up against his cheeks. The pediatrician wasn't concerned with this as we were either... As long as you are there, you might as well ask.

You Don't Want To Be That Parent...

No, you don't want to be the parent that calls the doctor every two seconds, but at the same time you want to be sure that something isn't really wrong...

Jacob had a rough night last night and some of the late afternoon yesterday. This morning was no different and he became extremely worse about 8:15 am. Jacob was unconsoleably screaming and went on and on until about 10:15 am when mom decided that something must be wrong because his crying was different and a mess hadn't been found in the rear of his diaper for at least 12 hours which has not been the norm. Mom called the pediatrician to see if there was something that she could do or what it might be. Some checking was done and there wasn't an opening. The person who answered the phone went away and came back and by that time, Jacob had started his episode again. The office person said "Oh my, he shouldn't be screaming like that!". With that she said to bring him in and they would be sure to have a doctor see him.

Mom loaded them up and were off to the doctor in 15 minutes. Upon arrival, mom was asked who was there to seem them and she said Jacob. She responded with "Oh, he quieted right down to come to the doctor's office..." That's all Jacob needed to hear as he quickly became loud once again.

It didn't take long for the doctor to see Jacob. He asked some questions about the introduction of the formula from the last visit and whether or not he was/has still been getting breast milk (which he has been). The doctor checked Jacob's stomach and found it to be distended. So, basically, the formula Jacob was put on the last time he was at the doctor wasn't the right kind, so we have now been introduced to Enfamil Prosobee which is more of a soy formula. The prior formula just wasn't being digested well.

Jacob is doing much better this evening, but is still having a little bit of a trying night. He is definitely alleviating some gas troubles with tooting and belching. He is making his mommy proud.... ;)!! Mom is to completetly cut out any dairy products until she is finished with breastmilk production. The doctor didn't say that Jacob is necessarily lactose intolerant, but we are just going a different route because his digestive system just might not be as tolerant of some formulas yet. Jacob is scheduled for a follow-up visit next Tuesday. It takes about a week for a baby's body to let you know whether or not it agrees...

Oh, by the way, Jacob is 9 lbs, 15 ounces.

M vs MSU Football Party!!

Here is Jacob getting into his pregame warm so that he is focused for the game...

Jacob can be fussy when Michigan is not doing well... The day started off with a trip to grandma's house followed by a quick stop at home and off to the party. All the while we were on the road Jacob basically slept the day away and was very content. Even after getting to the party, he was sound asleep while the women were anxiously awaiting him to wake up so that they could see his eyes and hold him.

The game is now nearing the end of the 3rd quarter and going into the 4th when Jacob became "unsettled". Jill and Michele took turns along with mom and dad trying to console the newest Wolverine fan in the group. Fortunately, the Wolverines started rallying and we were able to console Jacob. Thanks Michele for taking a loooonger turn in using your motherly ways to calm him down. I'll bet you didn't think a little guy like that could/would spit up so much/so many times... Thanks Jill for letting Michele snag a shirt to use!!!!

After the game was over, a round of Happy Birthday was sung to the old man who was requested to sit in the family birthday chair. I was honored to sit in such a chair. There were many smiling kids who just couldn't wait to dive into the cake. There were many claiming dibs on the football!!

A great time was had by all by all and the best thing was that Michigan claimed victory once again. Maybe next year some poor lonely State fans will be brave enough to show their face(s)... Right Dorf?!?!?!

Lordy, Lordy Look Who's Forty!

Yep, that's right!! Doug has reached the ripe age of 40. Turning 40 was just like any other day with a 5-week old. I took the day off and the two days before to enjoy some family time.

Birthday morning started off with getting up with Jacob first thing (5:30 am) for his feeding and changing. Mom had been up a good amount of the night and needed a break. After a little while Jacob settled down, so we were off to the basement with Jacob in his bouncer to play a game of PS2. It was a morning with Jacob. After mom got some shut eye, she was off to do some errands. She could only stand being away from Jacob for an hour and was back, besides, her errands had been completed. This was only the second time that she had been away from Jacob since he was born.

Not wanting for anyone to make an "adult" lunch, dad decided he wanted to go out to eat. A burger was sounding good, so we loaded everyone up and were off to Fuddruckers. We waited until the lunch rush was over and were able to have most of the restaurant to our oruselves.

Back to home we went, where Amy gave me my presents. To my surprise, I received Lion's tickets for the game with the Giants on November 18th. She said that I could take a buddy and go. Without hesitation, I asked her to go with me. After all, she is my buddy so why would I think of anyone else???... So, if it works out, we will be going to the game together.

Not to settle for being 40 and everyone thinking it is old because I don't... Grandma came over to watch Jacob and Amy and I headed off to Great Lakes Crossing to hang out at Gameworks. We had fun just bee bopping around the different games and Amy was able to play one of her old time favorites, Frogger. We ate dinner at Benningans after changing our minds a few times because we didn't really want to wait anywhere. When dinner was over, we were asked if we wanted dessert and we both said no. Of course, Amy then persisted and said, "Are you sure that you don't want any dessert for your birthday?" Our waitress quickly asked, "It's your birthday? You have to get dessert!" So, after some discussion we decided to stay and share a dessert (it had ice cream and wouldn't have made the short distance home...) Oh boy!! I heard one clap and knew I was in for it. Amy asked, "What is that?"... Oh, I knew... Time to embarrass Doug!! Yep, before you knew it there were about 15 people around our table clapping and announcing it was my 40th. The harrassment wasn't too bad and it was cheap entertainment for the large table next to us with a lot of kids. Glad I could bring them some entertainment at my expense... ;)! It was pretty fun watching them clap along. A boy about 6 years old hollered over "Happy Birthday!!" after the singing was complete.

It was a great evening and mom did well knowing that mom and dad were both away from Jacob. She said the first half hour or so and then the last hour were the worst, but she was a real trooper and only called once... We had a great evening out for the first time by ourselves in 5 weeks.

My First Halloween!

The day of many events started off with my bath so that I would be clean when mommy showed me off at her work. Hopefully, everyone appreciated that... ;)! Yep, our first stop was a visit to Danmar Products. We didn't even really make it in the door before there were many people crowding around me peeking over the side of my car seat. Mommy's boss told dad that he could scoot in past the foyer. I think he just wanted daddy to get me in closer to him so that he could see me better... right Dan? Hidie was the first to hold me. Actually, she might have been the only one to hold me because she wouldn't let anyone else touch me. Of course, I then got hungry and mom and dad got me back. Everyone was a very nice to me and my mommy and daddy. They had doughnuts, cookies and cider for everyone there and for us. Thank you to the people of Danmar for making my first visit a welcomed one. Sorry if I don't remember everyone's names yet. Maybe on my next visit, my daddy can take pictures of everyone with me!!

After our visit with everyone at Danmar, we ventured down the road to grandma's house. I decided that I would be good at grandma's house at least today because it is her birthday. Grandma decided that she wanted to hog me a bit (I don't mind...) and she sent mommy and daddy upstairs to take a little nap. Grandma and I just hung out and chatted. Then we ate dinner and had some Boston Creme Pie that Grandpa Randy had made from scratch and were "On The Road Again..."
Another little jaunt down the backroads and we arrived at my cousin's house so that we could go trick or treating. I basically just hung out in my stroller as we all walked around while Sydney and Colton filled their bags with goodies. They did pretty well. I can't wait 'til I can get some teeth and bite into some of that stuff... Mom did take me to my first house to trick or treat. Of course, mommy had to say "trick or treat" for me, but I got my first candy. Mom ate the sucker and gave the licorice away to Coltman. The guy took his mask off so I wasn't scared, but mom said it was okay to put it on because I am getting bigger! and am going to be a real "tough guy".

While we were walking around, I got to meet my Great Uncle Larry! I think he was surprised we stopped by to see him. We didn't get to chat too long because Syd and Coltman were starting to get a little tired out from all of the walking. It was still nice to at least stop by and meet him.

Back to Aunt Ab and Uncle Jer's house to help grandpa and grandma finish passing out candy to the trick or treaters. Grandma was passing so much out that she even had to raid Aunt Abby's stash so that she could make a few more kids happy. After we ran out of candy, it was time for birthday cake for Uncle Jerry, Grandma and Daddy's birthdays. After a round of "Happy Birthday", cake and ice cream, we loaded up and headed back home. I slept quite a bit so that everyone was able to have a good night. Now it is time for me to make up for it and keep mommy and daddy up all night... hee hee hee!!!! My "devil's night" a night late....

Halloween Party At Grandma's House

Jacob got a bath and dressed and was all spiffied up and ready for the trek to grandma's house. Heck, he was even in his car seat ready to be stowed away... When all of a sudden he spit up! Fortunately, mom had actually put a bib on him because it saved the outfit until we at least made it to grandma's.

Jacob was able to see his cousins, aunt, uncle, etc. and meet more cousins and a great aunt. Along with family, he met his newest and closest friends, the twins (Zack and Hannah). They are the newest as they are only 4-1/2 months old and closest because they are closest in age and there mom's have known each other for many years... They are still amazed that they are both "wiser" and were still pregnant at the same time. With at least one of the babies feeding all of the time, we weren't able to get any pictures of the 3 musketeers like we thought we would... Plenty of years to get those!!

With all of the commotion, Jacob didn't get a chance to carve a pumpkin or decorate any cookies, but he did sneak a peak at the jack o' lanterns with grandma. Maybe next year he will be able to jump right in a little more.

Good Morning Everyone!

4 Week Celebration

Yep, that's right!! Jacob is 4 weeks old today. Dad got home and mom basically hadn't eaten all day again. So it seemed to dad like the timing was good for a venture out to Red Robin for dinner. Jacob had just gotten fed and seemed like he was going to take a good nap, so we loaded up the truck and we were off. Jacob was content the whole time (sleeping) with only a peek now and then. Dinner was very nice and mom was just a talkin' dad's ears off, but it was good to converse and not necessarily about Jacob. We all went home and we actually had to wake Jacob up to feed him. Nope, no birthday candles or anything silly like that, at least not yet. We may think about the milestones as we cross them, but aren't going overboard. Dinner and being 4 weeks old are just a coincidence... ;)! This isn't the first restaurant that we have been to with him, but the first that food doesn't come in a box... LOL!!!

Jacob was 8 pounds, 9 ounces yesterday at the doctor and the doctors were happy with that.

Today was also a big day because he not only went out for dinner, mom and Jacob went shopping at the mall. Mom picked up her rings after they were sent out a for a grand cleaning. So, between the mall and dinner, we think there may be some good rest in the good 'ol crib and bed...

Jacob Goes To The Pediatrician

Jacob's eyes have continued to be gunky pretty regularly even with putting dropping in them three times a day since his two week appointment. Some days, they have been a lot worse than others. So, mom called the pediatrician today to see if she should take him in. The person that answered the phone basically said that based on the symptoms that the nurse/doctor would tell us to bring him in, so the appointment was made. Mom also had some breastfeeding questions and said when she came in they could discuss what has been going on...

So, off to the pediatrician mom and Jacob went. Basically, Jacob has clogged tear ducts and now instead of using the drops three times a day, he needs to get them four. It was also noted that we should only clean his eyes with a wet warm wash cloth and not to use any wipes or anything else to clean his eyes. This is somewhat common, but not as common as just putting the drops in three times a day. So, as long as it doesn't get worse, we won't need to take him back until his 2 month appoinment later next month. There was some discussion between mom and the doctor and how she has been coddling Jacoob and not taking care of herself. Dad can now say I told you so to mom as mom learned that dad's thoughts were right. Mom was doing what she thought was right for everyone, but dad started with some tough love and was getting prepared for even tougher love. I will let her type about that part of the appointment. Let's just say that there will be some changes in the next few days and mom will be taking better care of herself and dad will be even more persistent about it...

Here's a video of what has been happening for basically the last almost four weeks with the exception of a couple of nights...

Update On The Tadpoles

I wrote a post recently about my fraternity brother, Tadd in California and his wife being pregnant with twins. The outlook was "cautiously optimistic" about being able to keep the pregnancy going for basically 39 days so that the babies could reach 28 weeks. Hava has been having contractions on and off, but was able to receive medication which caused the contractions to subside. I don't know if they started again or not, but the twins were born earlier today and were still away from 28 weeks by about 27 days:

Derby Jackson (the boy) - 8:46 a.m. - 1 lb, 6.5 oz
Loen Rose (the girl) - 8:44 a.m. - 1 lb, 7 oz

Please keep the four of them in your thoughts and prayers, or as Tadd put it, anything you do to support them through this obviously difficult time.

There is hope as one of our older alumni from the fraternity responded back to Tadd's message with "If it will make you feel any better, and make you more hopeful, I was born about 16 weeks premature as well. This was back in 1944 when medical techniques weren't as sophisticated as they are today."

Hungry Or Tired?

We're going with tired since he wouldn't stay feeding. He is now VERY fussy and we are trying to calm him down. The video makes him look like an angel compared to now... ;)! Oh well, I guess it is just that time of the night.

Technology And Stuff...

Sometimes technology can be a little frustrating, but won't stop getting the job done. It just might mean taking a detour... I have been trying to upload a video of Jacob's mommy trying to wake up Jacob. He was making all sorts of faces and stretches. Unfortuantely, it seemed to have gotten too long for adding it directly to the blog. After 3-1/4 to 4 hours or more the last two nights, the system errored out. I am assuming it was due to the length. So, I guess it is time to shoot some shorter excerpts of Jacob making faces. He can be quite animated at times.

Mom, dad, Jacob and Frankie have been attempting to go on a walk at least once a day while we can. On Sunday evening, we went a little over a mile and mom was fine. I think she might have gotten a little tired, but held up very well. Frankie, for being 13-1/2, didn't slow us down as much as the first few... She has regained her scents of the area and is not stopping to ponder as often. Hopefully, we can get a few more in before winter really kicks in, but that could be asking for a little too much.

Newest Michigan Fan Roots Them Onto Victory!!!

Jacob D., Michigan football's newest fan, rooted them onto victory (27 - 17). He was sporting his new Michigan outfit for the game. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to hold off getting it dirty (spit up) until the game started, but what can you do... At least he didn't need to be changed out of it until after the 1st quarter was over.

Jacob was a little fussy before the game started, but a quick hummation (okay, so I might of made up that word...) of the Victors (Michigan's fight song) and he was quickly quieted and content. Good thing mom didn't have the video camera out because I'm sure it was way out of tune... ;)! During the game he did get a little restless when Michigan wasn't scoring, but was quickly relieved and relaxed once Michigan started scoring. A big Michigan football thank you goes out to Rob and Julie for coming over with pizza to enjoy Jacob's first mini football taligate.

After doing some laundry to get ready for Michigan's next game against Minnestoa, we will be sure to get a picture of Michigan's newest fan for all to see!!

Jacob Hangin' Out In His Bouncer

Jacob just hanging out in his bouncer on a Saturday morning (3 weeks, 1 day old).

Counting Our Blessings!!

You just never know what and when something can happen. I remember eating breakfast at the Kaleva with a number of fraternity brothers during our reunion this past Labor Day Weekend. One conversation I remember is the excitement that one spoke of about his wife's pregnancy and just finding out that he was going to be a proud father of twin's (a boy and a girl). With Amy only a month away from her due date and his wife at around 16 weeks (assumption on my part since I don't remember exactly), we shared our thoughts and experiences of becoming parents. After sharing Jacob's arrival with the fraternity e-mail list, Tadd responded noting his congrats and that he had also developed a blog for his growing family. I have been checking his blog from time to time to see how things have been going and things have been going fine...

At lunch a couple of days ago, I took the opportunity to view The Tad Poles (pretty cute, eh? given dad's name, Tadd) to check in and see how the pregnancy and their lives were changing. I was baffled at what I was reading. It started off just not making sense to me and I quickly knew there was something big that I had missed... What happened in the week since I viewed last? What is this hospital talk all about? Did I really miss 19 weeks? After going back a few of their entries, I found that Hava (Tadd's wife) has been in the hospital since Friday (the 12th) and that the water broke for one of the twins, Loen at only 22 weeks pregnant. Needless to say, this is pretty serious and has Hava has been put on strict bedrest. The doctors are hoping Hava is able to keep the twins in the womb for at least another 31 days which will get them to 28 weeks, still 12 weeks early!! The outlook from the medical staff is "cautiously optimistic".

Amy, Jacob and I are counting our blessings that we did not need to endure any event(s) such as this. We also want convey our sincerest wishes of health and safety for Tadd, Hava and the twins for their success in being a cozy, happy and healthy family in the near future.

Please join us in keeping Tadd, Hava and the twins (Loen and Derby) in your thoughts and prayers through this delicate time so that we can keep them and the pregnancy healthy!!