Constant Changes

It seems that every day, Brayden grows up a little more. He is starting to coo and smile more which is fun. He likes to sit propped up on things so he can look around, and he can lift his head for longer periods of time. During tummy time, he pretty easily moves his head side to side now. He has started to discover his hands and grabs on to things around him (mostly my hair!). It's amazing what 7 weeks has brought. As much as I want him to stay a baby, each week is bringing more and more joy to us!

Brayden propped up on the chair

Officially Summertime!

My summer vacation for the year started early when our baby boy arrived. But now daddy is home from work for the summer too! We have really enjoyed having him home the past few days! We have taken family outings to the mall and Target, taken walks, sat in the garage more, taken naps with the baby, gone out to eat, and just enjoyed each other. It's so nice having him home to help with the baby load of things to do. Diaper changes, feedings, clothing changes, loading up the car, washing clothes, cleaning...etc.

Now that it is offically summer for us both, we have been trying to find things to do with Brayden. If any mommies have any ideas, please let us know! We know we want to get zoo passes, but not sure what else we can do. Whatever we end up doing with our little one...we know it's going to be a GREAT summer!

Peek a Boo Mommy!

Back to the doctor

This week we went back to the pediatrician to evaluate Brayden's formula issues. The doctor concluded that he DOES have a milk protein allergy and must stay on nutramigen. Like I said before, I would pay anything for my baby, but I can't help but complain about how expensive this formula is! However, Brayden's tummy is much better and he is consuming more during feedings now. He also started to sleep a little longer which is GREAT!!!!!!! We go back at his 2 month mark for shots (mommy can't stand that!) and check on him again. At 6 months he will be evaluated to see if he can go back on a soy formula, but no promises were made. So in the meantime...if anyone gets any Enfamil coupons...send them this way!!

Going to school...

I enjoyed taking Bradyen up to work (after the kids left for the day) to meet all of my teacher friends. He loved being passed around and held and smiled at all the pretty girls holding him. We had a good time and they loved playing with Brayden!

7 Weeks!

Today Brayden turns 7 weeks old!!! I can't believe it! Almost 2 months. He is weighing 10 pounds 10 ounces (a big healthy boy!) and he is about 24 inches (by Chad's measurements!). I want my baby boy to stay like this forever, but each week brings new exciting things. This week he is cooing a lot more and smiling a lot more. He is also more aware of things around him and likes to look around. He still likes bath time and his play mat, and when he is on his tummy he turns his head pretty easily now. When we hold him over our shoulder he likes to push up and hold his head up. He doesn't stay up long, but its fun to see him do it!

First pair of shoes!

Check out Brayden's first pair of shoes!

Next generation!

These pictures were made special for the Bridges' family. The outfit that Brayden is wearing is Chad's! We have pictures of him wearing this outfit when he was 6 weeks old, so we took pictures of Brayden wearing it at 6 weeks too! They look so much alike. We can't wait to get them framed together.

Kisses!!!

One of our favorite things to do with Brayden is give him lots of kisses! While Chad was holding Brayden the other day, he kept kissing Chad on the cheek. I tried my best to get him in action. He is so precious!

Prayers for the week...

This week the Bridges' family would like to ask for your prayers. We are specifically praying for:

1. Brayden's pediatrician appointment-we hope we can get him feeling better and stable on a formula. Listening to him cry and not know what to do is killing mommy!

2. Chad's last week of school-the last week of school is always crazy and there are a million things to do. We can't wait for him to be home though :)

3. Cali-I'm are afraid our sweet girl is having a hard time adjusting! She seems so sad, its awful! I think when Brayden can react to her with smiles and coos she will feel better about his arrival!

4. My next follow up at the doctor-I went for my 6 week check after having Brayden and they found a cyst. I've got to go back in July to be re-checked. He is pretty confident it will be gone (as most pop or shrink), but if its not then I'll be in an ultrasound just for a check to make sure all is well. No big deal...but a pain to have to keep going back to the doctor!

My Sweet Boys!

Daddy and Brayden having fun together!

Mommy's Instinct

I have been having some trouble with feeding Brayden the last 2 weeks. It has been so bad that I can say it has been a nightmare. Listening to my precious boy scream because he is hungry but not able to eat, and not know what to do is AWFUL! I kept calling the nurse advice line at the doctor and they would say "baby's cry honey" or "try ___ formula". After the 3rd formula change and still trouble with bowels and eating I decided to take him in-even though the nurses said it wasn't necessary. I knew in my heart something wasn't right. He has not been a fussy baby or even cry other than when hungry, since I brought him home! Then all of a sudden he couldn't stop!

I felt such relief when our pediatrician complemented me on "following my instincts as a mom." Brayden definitely has something bothering him and we are in the process of trying to figure it out. It could be a milk allergy, it could be reflux. We just don't know yet. He has had his 4th formula change but seems to be taking to it great! The only down side is that it cost 100.00 a week! I can honestly say though...there is no price I wouldn't pay for Brayden to be well.

In the meantime I've had to listen to Brayden scream though bottles and cry when he is put down because it burns him inside to be on his back. It is a mother's nightmare! I want so badly to feel the pain for him, but I can't so I just cry right along with him. Then I call my mom and she is about to cry because she's at work and can't be with me! We have all been a mess. It seems that the last 24 hours have gone great on the new formula though, so I feel an answer to prayers is near. Now if we can just get God to lower the price of Nutramigen!

Thank you to those of you who have called to check on Brayden! He is doing better and we go back to the doctor next week!

6 weeks!

I can hardly believe Brayden is 6 weeks already! What an amazing 6 weeks it has been. He is starting to eat more, sleep more (Thank you Lord!), be alert more during the day, and smile (YEAH!). Tomorrow we are going to have his pictures taken professionally. I'm hoping I can keep my spending to a minimum. However, if I like it, I'm buying it! I don't want to look back and regret not having bought pictures of him as a baby. Brayden is weighing in at 10 pounds, 4 ounces and slowly getting longer!

Say cheese...

It is FINALLY starting to happen! For two days now we have been able to get Brayden to smile!!! I cannot tell you how excited this makes mommy. He isn't doing it too much yet, but it shouldn't be too long now! He doesn't hold it long enough to let me take a picture because he hates my flash. However, the minute I get one I'll put it up!

Carry me!

Brayden is starting to like the Baby Bjorn! (Or maybe mommy is!) We have started taking walks with it instead of using the stroller at night. He likes to be able to look around. I can't wait until he can hold his head up and sit where he can see out!

Family Time

They look just alike don't they!

Brayden and I are counting down the days until daddy can be home with us for good. But for the time being, when Chad gets home we do two major things as a family.

First...Bath time

Every night Chad and I get together to give Brayden a bath. He helps support his head while I wash him, and then he bundles him up in his hooded towels until I clean up. Then we both dress him (yes it takes us both) and lotion him and get him ready for the night! And I have to brag, this routine seems to work because after his bath, Brayden has his longest sleeping time.

Second...Garage time

Since it has been so hot for walks, we all get together in chairs in the garage. We take drinks and cut on the fan and enjoy the shade. Brayden sits in his bouncer or in Chad's lap and looks out in the yard. And the great thing about it is that Cali can join us too! She's been such a sweet dog through this. I even think it has helped calm her down a bit!

Where did Brayden go???

Now that Brayden is getting bigger (10 pounds 4 ounces...ahhhh!), we are having to put bibs on him during feeding. When he spits up now, there is a lot more to it! We have some precious bibs, but at the current time they are swallowing him whole! It's too precious!

Holding on to my baby

One of the main things I read about in parenting books and magazines has been about holding your baby. I can't tell you how many time it has said NOT to do it unless you are feeding because you can "damage" your baby. I have spent many hours the first weeks of Brayden's life crying over this battle. Let me tell you...I am OVER it! I'm going to hold my sweet baby boy as much as I want to. I think about those who have lost children and what they would give back to hold them. I don't want to regret not enjoying the days I CAN hold Brayden. Does he do fine when I don't hold him??...YES! I don't want to have the kind of child attached to his mother's hip, but at the same time I also want the kind of child who knows his mother will always be there for him when he needs her. So forget the books and magazines...I am going to hold my beautiful baby boy!!!

Mommy Tears

Brayden has had lots of trouble at night. During the day, he will go 4 hours (sometime more) without eating and sleep really well. Then at night he is up every 2-2 and a half hours. It is exhausting! We are trying to get him up after feedings and then put him down in his crib. We are having to let him cry so he can learn to self soothe and know we won't pick him up every time he cries. I have to admit...it is killing me to put him down and listen to him cry until he falls asleep! I can hardly stand it! I put him down and crack the door to hopefully drown out some sound...then I go sit on the couch and cry right along with him! Chad has to hold me so I'll stop crying and not run to Brayden's side. My head knows in the long run it will be best for me not to pick him up every time he cries, but my mommy heart is just killing me!

The Formula Battle

After Brayden turned 4 weeks old, I started noticing problems when he was eating. He would cry while taking his bottle, but act like he was starving. He strained for hours before anything would happen, and my precious angel who never cried...started bawling! It was awful. He would only go an hour or hour and a half at night before waking up with gas and straining. So after calling the pediatrician we switched his formula from Enfamil to Gentlease.

On the Gentlease formula he started having major bathroom issues and projectile spitting up almost every time we burped him. He was having such severe gas we had to start using gas drops after every feeding. So after calling the pediatrician AGAIN, he was switched to soy formula. They are thinking he has some sort of milk allergy or problem with lactose. So now we will see how that works. He has only been on it for two days, so hopefully he will take to it and be okay!