The HEALTHY Lion at 11 Months!!!

First and foremost, thank you everyone for your prayers!  We spent most of today at CHOP in the neurology department, and we have wonderful news.  The EEG came back clear, and they have no reason to suspect that he would have another seizure in the future.  Of course, I will still always worry, but this is the best news we could hope for.  But quick comment.  The Lion was AWESOME, even though we were at the hospital for almost 6 hours.  And, can I tell you something about EEGs?  The person must remain STILL for 20 minutes.  If you have ever met my child, you know that 20 seconds is asking for a lot.  You put the baby into an industrial-strength canvas and velcro swaddler, and then mom tries to entertain/pin him down, and GO.  We made it through the test with not all that much crying.  It was pretty incredible.

So now on to the monthly update.  11 months!  I can't believe my baby's almost 1!!!  3 whole days ago (I'm sorry, I was preoccupied) Robby hit 11 months.  And my heart stopped.

Obviously, Robby was a tornado, and Harper tried to be in all the shots.  Typical photo shoot.  It was also delayed because, on top of everything else, Robby had a fever over the weekend, and then broke out into a full-body rash.  If you look closely, his face looks pretty nasty.

Size

The upside of the 5 million doctors appointments is that I know EXACTLY how big he is.  I also know that he's dropped a fair amount of weight in the past week.  Guess he was as nervous as the rest of us.  ;)  As of today, he was 28 3/4" long and 21 lbs, 15 oz.  That is either 3 pounds, or a little over 1/2 a pound down from last week, depending which scale you care to believe.  This actually means we're only a little over the 25th percentile for both.  Gone are his giant days.  He's still in 12 month clothing, and size 4 diapers.

Physical Feats

He has taken up to 3 steps on his own without falling, but is still not actually "walking".  Who would have thought?  He's been cruising FOREVER.  At this point it really seems like a confidence thing.  Oh well, we don't mind him staying out of a few things for a bit longer.  He is into climbing everything, wants to do dangerous activities on his own (like getting in a bath tub), and is confident maneuvering around everything (his walker, trip hazards on the floor, etc...).  He easily rockets UP stairs, and wants to practice going down all the time.  He has NOT found a particularly safe way to do this, though, and more often than not wants to "walk" down them.

Mental Feats

He is figuring out more "puzzles" every day.  He now likes peeking around things to look at you (such as either side of the spindles between the family room and kitchen) and will go back and forth a million times.  He puts the blanket over his face and pulls it down to play peak-a-boo.  He can make most of the toys play the music he wants them to.  It's really fun to watch him sit down and figure something out.

Talking

He's back to being a chatterbox.  Even daycare has told me they've heard "all done" and "duck".  So it's certainly not just me making it up!  His newer words that I don't think I've discussed, and he says all the time are "door" and "that".  "Get her" has got to be my favorite, though, it's just too funny.  Oh, and unfortunately, he has learned "No".

Food

Sadly, food is getting more restrictive.  On top of no squash or rice, we've discovered that corn just kills the little man.  Or, rather, means he is up screaming for hours at night and that kills US.  So no corn.  But other than that he's a fantastic eater.  He's currently cutting his upper canines which will be teeth 9 and 10.

Sleep

Well...hopefully we're getting back on track.  Every time he gets sick, we let him get away with murder, and then it's horrible trying to get him sleeping through the night again.  (Of course, that is OUR sleeping through the night meaning he goes to sleep between 7:30/8, and wakes up to eat at 4:30 or 5, going back down until 6:30.)  Last night he was back on track, but one day does not a habit make.  

I'm so relieved that everything has worked out, and that I can go back to just enjoying my smart, crazy, little man.  

Could Use Some Prayers

I don't really want to go into it right now, but if you could keep Robby in your prayers, I'd appreciate it.  His tube consult went perfectly yesterday, surgery is scheduled for June 12.  He was an angel, his hearing is unaffected, everything was ideal.  However, last night Robby had an unexplained seizure (not sick, no fever) and was in the ER. No diagnosis, no answers, we're to take him to a neurologist for a full diagnostic work-up.  I'm a little numb and unsure how to feel at the moment.  Other than scared. 

Videos for Grandma

I guess the rest of you are allowed to watch these, too, but my mom requested some new videos.  So here is Robby eating a whole pear, and then a video where you  can hear some of his talking.  You can hear "dog" (about 5 million times), "get her", and "all done".  Mom, there's a longer version, but no one else wants to see that. ;)

Nine months to put it on...

To be perfectly honest, my post with the down and dirty on what had changed (or not changed) after having a baby has been one of the most frequent posts that people land on after googling.  I thought it was only fair to comment on the often-heard saying, "It takes nine months to put it on, give it nine months to take it off."  If you're interested in my original post on body 4 months post-baby it is here.

At the time, I had lost all the weight, but there were still distinct differences in appearance.  Today, I would say that my body is LARGELY what it was when I started.  Only a couple things have changed.  Let's begin.

Above are at my wedding (May 2010), 5 weeks pregnant (September 2010), 4 months after giving birth (September 2011), and now (April 2012).  I missed doing this at 9 months post-partum, so this is, in reality 10 months.  Though I'd say I'm at pretty much the same place.  I am not running nearly as much as I did pre-pregnancy, so there is certainly a difference in muscle tone.

Weight

At my wedding, I weighed 130.  At 5 weeks pregnant, I weighed 135.  In the 4-month shot, I weighed 136.5.  Currently, I weigh 130.  Ideally, I plan to get back into the 120's before I stop nursing.  Obviously, this is doable, very close, and I actually was there before Easter brunch.  ;)

Joint Size

I lamented having to cut my rings off my newly gigantic hands when I went from a size 3.75 ring to needing a 5.25.  I don't know for sure where I'm at today, but I do know my rings are so loose that I never wear them, and they're practically falling off.  So, I would recommend not wearing them for AWHILE before you bother resizing them.  And, obviously don't force them on at 6 weeks and get them cut off in the emergency room.

The Girls

Still nursing.  I went from a 36C pre-pregnancy, up to a 38F during, down to 36DD at 4 months, and I'm at 36D today.  I don't know if I'll continue to drop, but I REALLY don't mind that I have!  My husband was saying that he missed the crazy stripper boobs from pregnancy, but I cannot say that I agree!

My Hips

In the 4 month update, I talked about how my hips were INCREDIBLY painful.  I had a lot of trouble moving, and I'd get shooting pains in my legs.  I went to a chiropractor, and he worked WONDERS.  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE anyone who is experiencing the same thing, do not put it off, and go get readjusted.  I am completely pain free now, and was after only a couple of sessions.  I cannot say it enough.  Just because you gave birth does NOT mean that hip pain is normal, or that it needs to be part of your life.  Go get it taken care of.

My Stomach

April 2010 (pre-preg) vs. today

I AM LUCKY.  I know this.  Largely, my stomach looks almost as good as it did pre-pregnancy.  I did not get any stretch marks, and while there is some loose skin that you can see when I sit down, it's not so visible standing up.  The only thing that looks a little funny is where I had an old belly button piercing.  That just is never going to look right again.  Oh well.  Please ignore that I was wearing pajamas.      

Today (those aren't stretch marks, those are elastic waist-band marks) vs. 4 months post.

Obviously, the skin has tightened up a fair amount.  I hope this will continue.

Any other permanent changes? 

- My feet went up a 1/2 size and never went down.
- I still don't like the same foods as pre-pregnancy, though it's a little different than during pregnancy.
- Lots of spider veins on my legs.
- That's about it.

So, I would say, by and large, LISTEN to the people that say "give it 9 months to take it off".  While my weight was gone almost immediately, I did not feel like the same person.  Now, I do.  So, there's the good news!  Hoping everyone else can feel the same!

Easter, a week late

No babies were eating candy.  It's a ploy to get junk for Chris and myself.

I knew I had to give you the Easter preview since it would take me forever to get the photos uploaded.  And, I was right.  Easter was both great and not-so-great.  My parents, brother, and sister-in-law all came to our house.  However, my brother and sister-in-law did not make it til Easter.  Why you ask?  A stomach virus.  Which I now have today.  It isn't as bad as the flu I had a couple months ago, but...I'm still hoping the rest of my house will avoid it.

The only other comment I have is that brunch was fantastic and Robby was a PIG.  He had his own omelet with tomato, ham, and asparagus.  1/2 a piece of French toast.  Roasted broccoli and peppers.  Pasta salad.  Fruit salad.  He would NOT stop eating.  A woman was cracking up because I was in line with him (after the omelet and french toast, mind you) and he kept screaming for food.  I handed him a piece of broccoli.  She laughed and said, "It's great to see a broccoli eater."  He was generally good.  Just hungry.  ;)

Ready or not, here comes Easter!

Robby met the Easter Bunny for the first time at daycare...and it didn't necessarily go well.  He was a little intimidated by the creepy, giant bunny suit.

As for us?  We're having a bunch of company this weekend.  My parents, brother, and his wife are all in town. It'll be fun, but a full house!  Robby was up screaming last night and tugging at his ear, too, so we are going back to the doctor to see if the ear infection is back on.  Sigh.  I was hoping we could make it to the tube appointment, but that's not for another 2 weeks.

Short on time, and we've been CRAZY busy, so I'll just say...Happy day before Easter!

Can't Wait for Cousins!

Ok, ok...SECOND cousins.  Whatever.  Chris's cousin Happy is due in May with a little boy, and we celebrated her shower this past weekend.  I think that her mom, in particular, has gotten a real kick out of watching Robby this year, because she knows her first grandchild will be experiencing the same stages at the same time of year.

I must say that I am SOOOOOOOO very proud of Robby for how well behaved he was at the shower.  Was he busy?  Absolutely.  Was there some screaming during the car ride?  Well, yes.  Did he have the most unhealthy food day ever?  Um, yeah.  But he did not really fuss at all the entire time we were at the party.  To the point that we were getting compliments left and right about how "my child never cries".  Bah ha ha ha ha!

He loved watching the dogs out the window, and tormenting them since they couldn't come in.

He also made friends with a cute little 8-month-old girl, who was equally well behaved.

And, the one time that wasn't perfect, is that he insisted on playing with all the wrapping paper as Happy unwrapped her gifts (which was fine), but then threw a little bit of a fit that we wouldn't let him unwrap presents before she got to them.  We're so mean.

Another second cousin, Nicole, took over a lot of the Robby-watching duty.  She REALLY wishes that she lived close enough to babysit...and her mother might feel the same way since she's been begging for a younger sibling, which isn't happening.  She did a good job, other than...  Ok, I had pretty much just let Robby languish in his carb-filled dream world of bread and crackers, but she let him go one step further and was apparently packing him full of sugar cookies.  Until Grandma noticed and stopped it.  Doh.  Oh well, he had a good time.  

Overall, it was a lovely day, and it was wonderful to see all of Chris's family...even if he wasn't there.

Random Recent Videos

In lieu of actually saying anything, here are a couple recent-ish videos.

From our last play-date with Dean.  We attempted many videos, but the second the film started rolling, the children would quit playing together.  This is the best of the bunch.

This, admittedly, isn't the most thrilling video.  Skip it if you're short on time.  But it was an important recent event.  We re-seeded half of our back yard.  "Half?" you say?  Yes.  We put up chicken wire in between the two halves so that Harper still had an area we could release her into.  It is now the size of dining room table, but at least she can still go outside.

Next up, is Robby's strange sleeping habits.  He must have one hand on each of his stuffed creatures (a blue elephant blanket and a Tigger).

Finally, we exposed Robby to corn on the cob last night.  He LOVED it, and he did fine eating it.  The issue was that he would continue to gnaw on the cob after the corn was gone.  When we finally took the cob away (shortly after this video ended), he through a hysterical tantrum for a good 10 minutes.  We better not ever give him anything delicious again.