October

First of all, sorry for not blogging for forever. Life hasn't slowed down enough to think back and update on what's new. Second, we are all doing great. Finally, it's 8:30 p.m. and Sawyer and Taylor are  out like lightbulbs and I feel like if I wanted to, I could write and post pictures for hours on end.

I don't mean to divulge information on Sawyer's baby blog, but a majority of what's keeping us occupied is trying to figure out Taylor's job situation. At the beginning of it all, there were mere rumors of budget cuts and laying off a few people at the facility. Just to be safe, Taylor applied to energy sites in Utah, Washington, and Tennessee. Well, they ended up laying off close to 300 people, and Taylor was one of those people. We didn't see that coming, at all. We also didn't hear back from any of the sites he applied for. So, since we can't sell our home for another 1.5 years, we had to be creative and think of ways we could make ends meet and things work out. So, we are now turning to possibly joining the Navy, since Taylor has always dreamt of being a part of the Navy. So as he's been taking tests and filling out job applications, talking to recruiters and applying for every job in Pocatello, Sawyer and I have been thrilled to have Taylor home more. I definitely think of his job loss as a blessing in some ways. Taylor is a wonderful dad and Sawyer absolutely LOVES his daddy. Even though I know Taylor is anxious to get out and start working again, and I know I'm fine doing the parenting thing on my own for the most part, I am thankful for every day we have together as a family. We still don't know if will get any of the jobs he applied for a few weeks ago (fingers crossed), but in the meantime he will probably enlist in the Navy Reserves for now, and when we can sell our home (assuming it sells in this market), then Taylor will enlist to be full-time.

Does someone want to buy Botox for me? I have never looked so haggard in my life. I think there's something to be said about life in the NICU. Not only was it a safe and nurturing place for my baby, but I've come to realize today that NICU moms are treated so amazingly well, so well that when they jump back into their normal life, things don't seem as safe and cushy. I'm speaking for myself, of course. And true, the first two weeks post partum sucked, but the following five months were better in some ways than being home has been sometimes.

I'm sure Nurse Sarah Clark has mentioned it already, but I was grocery shopping at WINCO and decided to get some more gummy worms for Sawyer, and while I was turning down the bulk foods aisle, I saw her! I wasn't sure if it was really her (this is Pocatello...what would she be doing here?!?!) so I stopped, waited until she turned her head so I could see her profile better. I just knew it was her. So I just said, "Sarah?" She turned and looked at me and I was like "Oh My Gosh WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN POCATELLO!!?!?!?!" Unfortunately, I didn't tow Sawyer along for the trip, so I couldn't show him to her. But it was sooo cool to see Sarah and be able to catch up since I wasn't able to say my adieu's to her when we were discharged. I also ran into my sister, niece, and friend that night. That is the charm of living in Pocatello.

Ok, time for pictures.

This was my favorite book from childhood. Glad he likes it too.

Whoops. bonked heads.

I was playing with the settings on the camera and it woke him up. He just stared at me like "what are you doing, mom?"

I put Sawyer in the bathtub for the first time and it was a hoot. I think he liked it.

Not much to report on developmentally. He says "momomomommomomom" and "dadadadada" and "nanananananana" a lot and in the correct context. Nananana means "I'm sad. Pay attention to me." We tried some good ol' Yo Gabba Gabba this week and it has taken on a life of its own. Snacky Snacky Snack Snack. Snacky Snacky SNACK SNACK SNACK. Sawyer loves it, so we let it play for a few episodes. Now getting Sawyer to sleep, that is the challenge. It now requires listening to Andy Williams on YouTube, on my phone. Moon river, silent night, and White Christmas. He calms down and holds my face close to his until he's asleep enough for me to lay him down. I love it, but we are creating a monster, I believe.

Halloween is next week. Can't wait to show you his costume!!

goo goo ga ga

Not much to write about lately. Oh, except the fact that Sawyer grew some teeth finally!!! His two bottom teeth finally surfaced and are the cutest things in the world. I gave him a Ritz cracker and he went all Mr. Peepers on it.

He is doing better at taking food from a spoon. It's less of a struggle for me, but his patience wears thin after ten minutes. Our goal this week is to try sit-down spoon feeds at 9:00, 12:00, 3:00, and 6:00 (we kept this schedule from the NICU and follow it religiously) instead of the normal 12 and 3 spoon feeds.

I just had a random memory pop into my head and I started laughing out loud. One day in the NICU at Sawyer's bedside, while he was asleep, I was doing my usual internet browsing on my laptop. I was killing time on Google Images and finding pictures for my other blog. I do not remember what I was searching for specifically, but on my screen were a bunch of pictures of contortionists (look it up if you dare). It was pretty awkward slash amusing, and I kept scrolling to find a picture that wasn't totally offensive. Out of nowhere, Sue Stern walks from behind me to assess Sawyer, but since he was sleeping she didn't bother him. Normally, I close the laptop when they did rounds, but this was more of a oh-crap-Sue-Stern-totally-saw-what-I-was-looking-at-slam-the-laptop-shut-NOW- type of situations, because after all, she is Sue Stern and I was pretty much looking at bums as though no one would notice. My face went numb and I think I mumbled a two-syllable response of some sort when she said she'd come back when he was awake. I felt so stupid. But at the end of the day, I know Becky would appreciate this story, so I feel like exposing myself and sharing this experience on my baby blog is completely acceptable.

Now back to my innocent and pure baby Sawyer.

No crawling around yet...But tummy time is improving significantly. He definitely prefers to be upright whenever possible, but we find ways to distract him to his belly so that it's not a scary thing.

He is up to 132 mL every 3 hrs. His pediatrician pushes for 24 cal, but he usually gets 22-23 cal because he wretches when the formula is thick. He is gaining weight beautifully..not too chunky and not underweight...not that I wouldn't love a chunky baby, but his weight is distributed in his long limbs and I can tell he's satisfied with 22-23 cal.

We watched Annie on Netflix the other day. He was mesmerized.