Doctor Visit

Yesterday I took Walker to the doctor to discuss his eating issues. I was concerned because he didn't seem to be eating much at his feedings, and each time we gave him his bottle he would arch his back, kick his legs, and scream like he was in pain. He was only consuming about 2 to 3 ounces of formula every three hours. This didn't seem like much to me considering his sister was a pro at finishing her bottles and always consumed the normal amount for her age and size. When we put Walker on the scale yesterday at the doctor's office, he weighed 10 pounds! This is good because it means that he has been gaining weight, but it also means that he should be eating about 4 to 4-1/2 ounces of formula every 3 to 4 hours. Well, as you can imagine, he was given the diagnosis of reflux and we were given samples of the medication Prevacid to start immediately. Lainey was also diagnosed with reflux as an infant, but Walker's symptoms seem to be worse than hers ever were. Thankfully, Lainey never spit up very much and Walker doesn't seem to spit up much, either.

That all being said, Walker's already had two doses of his medicine and although I know it's probably not possible, I think we've already started to notice a difference in our baby boy! He seems much more comfortable eating and has been draining his 4-ounce bottles. I hope this continues. Maybe it'll mean that he will start to sleep for longer stretches at night!

Walker also appears to have blocked tear ducts in both eyes, so the doctor gave us drops to put in his eyes to help with that problem. Poor little guy - those drops are awful and I can never actually get the drops into his eyes. We're supposed to put two drops in each eye about four times a day; I'm lucky if I get one drop in one eye a couple of times a day. Hopefully this process will get easier!

That's about it for now. We are doing well in the Harris household...still adjusting to life with two kids and taking each day as it comes! :)

Babies in the Bouncy Seat

Watch out, Walker. If you aren't careful, these babies may take over your favorite piece of real estate.

Typical Texas Weather

I took these pictures this morning. What a way to welcome the spring season to North Texas! One day it's in the 70s, the next...it snows. A cold front came through yesterday reminding us all how unpredictable Texas weather can be. Thankfully, it's supposed to warm up again this week. I'm ready for pretty spring weather!

Playdate with Knox and Tate

Yesterday, my friend Tracy and her sons Tate and Knox came over to our house to play. Knox was born just two weeks before Walker, and Tate will be four in July. Lainey and Tate ran and played everywhere while the babies hung out with their mamas in the playroom. Thanks for coming over to play with us, Tate and Knox! It was a fun morning!

"Cheese!"

Lainey LOVES playing with Tate.

a cute little Knox and a sleepy Walker

Walker, 1 Month Old

Baby Walker is one month old!

• Sleeping/Eating: Walker still eats every 3 to 3-1/2 hours during the day...generally he eats in the morning around 6:00/6:30 a.m. and then his last feeding is at about 10:00 p.m. He wakes up between 2:00-3:00 a.m. to eat again, then he sleeps until his first morning feeding. I try to feed him, shower, get dressed, and eat before Lainey wakes up. Sometimes this happens, other times it does not!
• Walker likes being on his tummy (most of the time), so tummy time is a relatively painless experience for everyone. He has even been known to fall asleep during tummy time. :)
• He loves being in the bouncy seat and in the swing. Lainey loved the bouncy seat but never cared for the swing. Even now, she never swings for very long on the swings at the park.
• Walker is going bald. The hair on the top of his head is falling out in clumps! His hairline is receding rapidly to the point where we notice changes on a daily basis. He still has hair on the back of his head and around the sides, but I bet he'll start to lose that, too.
• Our baby boy was born with lots of birthmarks (that we've been told will start to fade with time). He has a red one under his left nostril, a big red splotchy one on the back of his head, a few red spots near his hairline on the back of his neck, and another red birthmark along the outer rim of his right ear. He also has three small, red, circular spots on his nose - I think those are little birthmarks, too. Also, the little space between his eyebrows, his left eyebrow and eyelid, and the middle part of his forehead have little red spots that really flare up when he's upset. I had some red spots very similar to Walker's on my nose and forehead when I was a baby.
• Walker sleeps in several locations: his car seat, the swing, his crib, the Baby Bjorn, and the bouncy seat (most often). He'll also sleep on his dad or mom or anyone who happens to be holding him. He is getting pretty good at sleeping in his crib at night.

• Walker sleeps best when he's swaddled in his Miracle Blanket, and he does like his binky! Right before he falls asleep, he gives one final protest to being confined in his swaddle. His face turns red and he'll struggle, wiggle, grunt, and let out a little cry or two and then he falls asleep. Lainey did the exact same thing. :) Despite his protests, I know that Walker likes his Miracle Blanket (as did Lainey). It immediately calms him down if he's fussy and it really helps him fall asleep. He definitely sleeps for longer periods of time when he's swaddled! When he's not swaddled, he doesn't sleep as deeply and he awakens frequently. So...swaddling it is!
• He is becoming more accustomed to diaper and outfit changes. He doesn't scream the entire time anymore. :)
• He doesn't love his bath, but I think he's starting to enjoy it a bit more than he used to.
• Walker can burp very, very loudly. He's such a BOY!
• Walker has the tiniest little bottom. There is no chub back there; it is sooooo flat and bony!
• He's snuggly and cuddly, and I love it. I also love the way he smells...that's such a "mom" thing to say!

I think Walker looks like his Uncle Matt in this picture!

"Where did all of my hair go?"

It's amazing that one month has passed since Walker's birth. We love this little boy SO much and feel so blessed to have him in our lives!

Princess Castle Tent

Lainey loves this tent that Emmy and Pops gave her! Here she is playing in it with Yiyia. Lainey loves it when Ben, Reagan, Walker, and I all climb in there with her. It's a little squishy, though, so we don't do that too often!

Just Another Day at the Office

They grow up so fast...

Thanks for Walker's first tie, Miss Sherry. He looks so handsome and grown up! :)

cuteness

Tag

Amy, who is Samuel and Jane Ann's mom, tagged me in this fun little game. Here are the rules!

1. Open your first photo folder on your computer.

2. Scroll to the 10th picture.

3. Post that picture and the story behind it.

4. Tag 5 or more people.

Here's mine:

To be honest, this is not the 10th picture in my first photo folder. My first photo folder is Acapulco 2006, and the 10th picture was a dark and fuzzy one that really didn't tell a story. SO, I bent the rules a bit and posted this picture instead! This is a picture from our trip to Acapulco in July of 2006. We went with our good friends Laura, Bruce, Tracey, Ryan, Sherry, and Ryan. We rented a house for an entire week and had the most amazing time. This picture was taken the evening before one of the couples left. I will always remember this trip and hope that someday we'll be able to take a trip like this again. :)

**I tag...hmmm...(no pressure)...Maddie, Kelley, Tracy, Kate, Carmelita, and Marisa.

Find the Real Baby

I'll give you one guess as to who did this.

It's a good thing that Walker is such a good sport (for now)!

Big Sister and Little Brother

Lainey and Walker received these cute matching shirts from Maddie, our friend and neighbor. I have been so eager for the kids to wear their shirts so I could take their picture! You can see that once again, I didn't have the most willing subjects. I think the pictures still turned out pretty cute, though...but I do look forward to the day that both of my babies will sit still and smile for the camera. Maybe this will happen when they're in their 2os. :)

a close-up picture of the shirts

Do you think Walker is comfortable?

This picture makes me laugh out loud. Walker's expression is priceless. I think he's just grateful that Lainey is not on top of him at that moment!

Our picture session is over. :)

Little Longhorn

Our neighbor and friend, Kelley, gave Walker this adorable blanket. We love it! It's so cute and very soft, too!

Walker's First Meal

"Here, Walk. Have some food. It's okay that you are completely asleep. I can still feed you."

"And don't forget to wash it down with something to drink."

Walker's First Bath

getting ready

our little helper

All done!

Tummy Time

I love it when Walker is awake (most of the time). He seems to be a pretty content little guy and really only cries during diaper and outfit changes, when he's sleepy or hungry, or when he needs to burp. Thankfully, we pretty much know this about him and can help him out if he's upset! Whenever Walker cries, Lainey says, "Okay, baby" or "No cry" (which sounds like "No cwy"). She continues to be a very loving big sister. We definitely have to monitor her actions around her baby brother, but for the most part, she's loving and caring and seems quite happy to have a baby brother.

We took Walker to the doctor this morning for his 2-week checkup and found out that the little guy already weighs 8 pounds! Good eating, baby boy! :)

Awake and Alert

Sweet Sleeping Boy

A Growing Vocabulary

Lainey's recent phrases:

"Where cat is?" - Yesterday Lainey and Ben spotted a cat outside our house. Lainey became quite fixated on the cat and last night she kept asking us, "Where cat is?" over and over. We've noticed her starting to do this - she's switching around words to try to make a sentence.

"Bless ooose" - Lainey says "Bless you" after someone sneezes. This started after we brought home little Walker. Whenever he sneezes, we say "Bless you" and Lainey has picked up on that. Last night, when my parents were eating dinner with us, Lainey would say "Bless you" after Pops sneezed. Cute!