Doctors, Doctors and Solids

Robinson had his appointment with the Developmental Pediatrician on Thursday afternoon and on Friday morning he had his 6 month check up with his Primary Pediatrician. It was a hectic couple of days and Robinson was VERY cranky this weekend because of all of the immunizations he had to get on Friday. Overall, though, they were wonderful appointments.

The developmental appointment is where they test Robinson on "milestones" and see where he is developmentally on his actual age versus adjusted age. Preemies, in general, are tested on their milestones based on their adjusted age (their due date) and not on the actual. It is a rule of the thumb that it takes premature babies 2 years to be caught up in height, weight, and development to their actual age. So, technically, Robinson should be functioning at a 3 month old level, instead of 6 month old. However, the doctor said he is at a 4 1/2 month level and socially/emotionally at his actual age- 6 months! This was such great news, because he is already ahead of the curve in catching up to his peers. In other good news, his weight was 13 pounds 12 ounces and he was 24 inches long, with a head circumference of 16 1/2 inches! He is in the 50th percentiles for his adjusted age and is almost on the growth chart for his actual age in height and weight. However he IS on the growth chart for his actual age in head circumference. This is huge, because obviously, your head circumference is showing that your brain is growing. We are so thrilled for Robinson. Both of his doctors had LOTS of praise for him and said that they could not believe how well he was doing and how fast he was catching up. Obviously, we are so thankful and grateful and still pray every night that he continues this trend, because with preemies, it could change in an instant. If all goes well, both doctors feel he should be completely caught up by 1 year of age!!! Yes, our son is a genius! hahaha...just kidding

And now for videos and photos:

Robinson is learning the word "NO"...uh oh

"Super Baby"

Love that crooked grin


Robinson Loved Nikky Too

This weekend we said goodbye to "Nikky" the most wonderful dalmation ever! I thought I would add some pictures of Robinson playing with his version of the Nikster. Nikky was 13+ years old and we will miss him so... our hearts are broken.

I so wish Robinson could have gotten to know Nikky more; I think that they would have been wonderful buddies.

Moving on to Solids

Robinson got the go ahead at his last appointment to start solids. We are skipping rice cereal and moving straight to Oatmeal. He can have 1 tbsp of oatmeal with 3 tbsp of formula 2x per day. Here are some videos and pictures of his first try on Sunday night. His Nana is feeding him while I was capturing the moment.

Obviously, Robinson loved solids and gave us this look like "this is what I've been missing!" I'm really glad he is a good eater right now, and I just pray that he continues to be in the future. It is SO important for his development and weight gain.

What should Robinson call my Dad??

We are having some issues trying to decide what Robinson should call my father... My mom was easy, she was Nana from the beginning- it fits her and she's just lovable like a 'nana'. Rian's mom was easy, because Ashley's children were already calling her Grandma Peggy. My dad, though, is hard. He's not a "grandfather", he's not a "Paw Paw" or "PaPa" (those names are for my grandfathers only).

So what do you think? I've posted a survey to the right that you can take and I'm leaving an option for "other"...if you can think of anything else, add it in the comments section.

This is important, because my dad is very special to me and to Rian, so we want a special name for him- plus it's got to show the utter coolness that is "Big Jim" :)

And of course, the post wouldn't be complete without pictures of the little guy...

Having fun with Daddy

Rian is so good with him!

Don't you just love this ones? I am going to have some trouble when he gets older, huh? The girls will be beating down the doors... ;-)

Growth Pictures
Robinson is now TOO BIG for growth pictures in the crib, so what do you think about our new space?

If you look closely, you can see his apnea monitor strap underneath his onesie. A lot of people ask what it looks like, and it's just a strap around his chest.

Here is one last picture in the crib...poor guy had to turn his head. What a big boy?!

Back to Work...

I am sorry for the delay in blogs, but I went back to work full time and it has been exhausting to say the least. Robinson is a trooper, though, and has been handling it like the big boy he is. My mom is staying with him for a month until we can find a full time nanny to stay at our home with Robinson. With being a micro preemie, per doctor's orders, he is not allowed in daycare until 2 years of age. His immune system is still too immature.

Going back to work was difficult, but positive. It was nice to have the socialization and the adult interaction that I crave, and I also enjoy my job. However, it is very hard not to spend all of my time with my favorite little man. In the end, though, having 2 incomes is the best decision for our family and will benefit Robinson the most. We weighed the pros and cons heavily and crunched numbers backwards and forwards, and this is the best decision for our family. And I also want Robinson to get used to be around other people. I've researched far too many preemie sites that discuss the social anxiety and phobias that preemies have as toddlers and children because they are kept so far away from people in the beginning. I really want to try to avoid that for Robinson. I don't want him to be afraid of everyone except his family. I want him to be independent, social and active as a toddler and I think having a nanny will help with this as well.

This picture was taken on New Year's Day...his personality is really shining now! He loved his Uncle James

Mommy and Robinson
In his big boy chair that Santa brought him for Christmas

His first pair of blue jeans!

As a final thought. This RSV season has been extremely active and we know several families that are suffering from this horrible illness- 1 family in particular that has twin micro preemies. Please keep all of these children in your thoughts and prayers. We hope that these are all mild cases and that they recover quickly!

Christmas!

Okay, so I'm new at this whole blog thing and can not figure out

1. How to load pictures quickly- it takes forever, and I have a pretty fast internet connection at home

2. How to rearrange the pictures once they are loaded- I always forget that they load opposite of the way that I think they should, so they are in reverse chronological order...why can't I just click and drag them?!

So, to any of my friends out there who could give this struggling blogger some pointers, I would great appreciate them!

Now, on to the Christmas photos...

Daddy and Robinson chilling out

Robinson SITTING in his bebe pod chair that Nana and Poppa Jim bought him

Uncle Josh and Robinson

Josh with his South Park Christmas tie

The tired, but happy parents

Aunt Rachelle with the sleepy little man

Poppa Jim bought Robinson a real bear rug- SERIOUSLY! Robinson loved it and just kept looking at it....I don't know what we are going to do with it now, though! haha

He loved watching me open gifts. He kept up with my every move and giggled and smiled at the presents.

Nana and Poppa Jim

The presents, with "Ralphie" on TV

Robinson in his Christmas outfit

His Christmas Eve sleeper...he was very tired and not in the mood for pictures

The Stockings...

The Tree

A cute little onesie....this kid is just adorable!

Merry Christmas Everyone and Happy New Year!

Growth Picture

Merry Christmas! I have a TON of pictures from Christmas to share, but since it is Friday, I thought I would go ahead and post the growth picture from this week. The home health nurse came on Christmas Eve to weigh Robinson and drum roll please....we are up to 10 pounds 10 ounces! WOW...and here is the proof!

VIDEOS!

For all of your Christmas presents, I thought I would share some videos of Robinson from this week. The first one is Tummy Time- which he still hates with a passion, however, if you notice towards the end of the video that the little guy has found a solution to this- he can roll to his back! Now, it's a work in progress and he doesn't do it every time, but I got so excited that I caught it on video.

This next video is an up and close and personal one of Robinson. Please excuse my singing voice, but his favorite Christmas song is "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"...he will start bobbing his head and "Robinson Dancing" as we call it. He loves music, but he has unique tastes for a baby...you put Baby Einstein on, and he's having nothing to do with it. However, if you put Jazz or Blues on, his head is just a bobbing- guess that's my fault from when he was in my belly- that's all I listened to while pregnant.

I can't believe that Christmas is next week. Here are some pictures of Robinson from this past week. Everything is going well, and we hope to continue this week to week trend!

The Growth Picture- he is leaving Mr. Teddy in the dust!

Rian's Company Christmas party was this weekend. My parents came to stay with Robinson (who threw a fit on them from 7pm-until we got home at 8:30pm). We took this picture beforehand...we were only gone 4 hours and it felt like days to me.

Robinson's Stocking from Pottery Barn Kids Rian and Robinson watching the Southern Miss Bowl Game- I remember when we got this onesie in them mail. It's a 3-6 month and I thought to myself that Robinson would not be wearing this for a very long time and here we are at only 5 months, 2 months adjusted and he is wearing it like a champ!

Growth Picture

Just a quick post with some new pictures. Nothing really new to report. Robinson is growing like a weed and doing new things every day. His latest discovery is shaking his head from left to right when he's frustrated at me, and he's also started bouncing to music- LOVES music. Pretty much won't go to sleep unless I start singing to him. Maybe we have a future rock start in the making, huh?

The now infamous "Zoolander" pose
The growtjh picture from this week...he is officially bigger than Mr. Teddy!

Mad at me for dressing him up again...


I swear if he could talk, he would be telling me off in this picture!

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures

There is no point to this post except to share some wonderful pictures that I've taken of Robinson this week....he's growing up so fast.

Check out those baby blues...

He loves sticking out his tongue

I call this one "Robster the Gangster" he he

He loves to laugh- especially at his silly Mommy

This is my favorite little crooked grin

"Okay, enough with the camera!"

This outfit was sent by his Uncle Lee and Aunt Carol