A Big Boy Seat for our Big Boy!!!

Keegan's last Christmas present from me and Drew was a new carseat. He was just getting to long for his current seat so we used the excuse of Christmas to get one. While Drew was assembling the straps and hooks, Keegan of course had to take full advantage of the box that the seat came in-right of passage for children of all ages.

The cutest peek-a-boo eyes ever!!!

Dad did a good job at putting everything together and Keegan fits perfectly. Getting him in and out of the new seat will take some practice, and I look forward to turning him to face forward soon, but I know he's gonna love seeing the world around him.

A Very Merry First Christmas

We had without a doubt, no questions asked, hands down, the BEST first family Christmas EVERRRRR!!!!! From the food to the company to the mass to the presents to more food, it was all wonderful! We truly were all spoiled by our family and friends and Keegan made off like a bandit. He wasn't fully aware of what was going on, but he was certainly having one with all the toys as they were unwrapped and opened and assembled. He got everything from clothes, to new spoons, to toys, to riding and walking mobiles, to books, books and more books (we like books). He even got a rattle from Costa Rica!!! I look forward to the Christmases we have in our future where he (and future children) will run down the stairs/hallway to see the gifts under the tree and the breakfast on the table and the stockings hung with trinkets and goodies overflowing from the rim. I anticipate the excitement on their faces and the memories we'll prove through pictures and videos. My ghosts of Christmases past have served me well, as the spirits of Christmas present make my heart smile and swell as the hopes for adventures of Christmases yet to come make me excited just thinking of them.

I hope you enjoy this small showing of what a wonderful first Christmas our little man had!

"Let me at those presents Ma, I'm ready!!!"

I got new bath toys- I'm soooooooooo excited!!!

Getting some help from Dad...

They finally let me play with something. Thanks Gma & Gpa Case for my first computer station!!

Thanks Santa, and Mom and Dad and grandparents, and aunts and uncles and friends and family for such a wonderful first Christmas. I've got enough toys to last me a year, or at least until my birthday in March, and will be terrorizing my folks for sure as I run around the house on my new bug-mobile! Can't wait to get going....so I'm off.....see ya!!!

Santa & Keegan

Keegan met Santa Claus today!!!

One of the banks downtown has been open the past several Saturdays and had a Santa on hand for people shopping downtown to come visit. For a small donation to the American Cancer Society, you could have your picture taken with Santa, and we were allowed to use OUR camera, something the 'Mall Santa' doesn't approve of.

I was worried that there would be a long line and since we were already pushing into Keegan's naptime, I was only dreading how today might go. But we walked right in, no line, and right up to Santa's Throne. A quick visit and a dozen pictures later, we were on our way home. It was clear that it had been a very long day for Santa, as evident on his face, and that he was ready for some hot, buttered something or other. But even if Santa wasn't his jolly ol' self, we sure enjoyed dresing our little man up- in a hand-knitted sweater by his Great-Nana Pat no less!

One more bearded man down, no sweat!!

My Favorite Time of Day

There are a lot of times throughout the day that I really enjoy. I love when Keegan wakes up in the morning and I go in to see him standing up in his crib with his hair going in a thousand different directions with nothing but a smile on his face. I love picking him up from daycare and seeing the excitement on his face when he hears me call his name. I love after dinner when he just wants to crawl all over us and wrestle around the living room. I love putting him in the bath and watching him have so much fun with all of his toys. But by far, above all else, my favorite time with Keegan is when I rock him to sleep.

I love holding that little boy against my body as I watch him slowly let go of his day and slip peacely into dreamland. I love that he finds me comfortable and safe enough to just relax and let it all drift away. I love the feeling of when he is finally asleep and I can hear his little breaths and see his little chest rising so effortlessly. This is my favorite time of day, and no matter how many times I go in to check on him, to give him more bottle, or to give him his pacifier, I love that in that moment, I'm the only thing he needs.

Sweet dreams, my perfect little boy. Mama loves you!!

9 Months and a Few Rough Days

We had Keegan's nine month appointment yesterday and it went pretty well. Drew and I were making bets with each other as to how big our little boy would be. With as big as my arm muscles have gotten over the past few months, I was guessing he would be close to 21 pounds...Both Drew and I were over!

Weight: 19 pounds 6 ounces (40%)

Height: 28 1/4 (50% a big increase from last time)

Head Circumfrance: 46 cm ( 75 % not a surprise, have you met his dad?)

Everything was going fairly well. Doctor was very impressed with his growth, his continuous babbling, and of course his cuteness. Problems arose when they went to check his hemoglobin levels. Not only could they not get his needle stick points to stop bleeding, but his iron levels were really low. They had to stick him a second time, getting another low reading, and then stuck him a third time to give him his next hepatitus B shot. Needless to say he was not a happy camper.

Because of his iron count being so low, our doctor sent us to the hospital today to have another blood sample taken. I was the most nervous and anxious that I can remember being in the last 9 months. Drew went with us and Grandma Ardele met us in the lab. She basically hand-selected the best nurse there to do Keegan's tests, and it all went smoothly. Keegan certainly didn't like the needle stick in his arm, but the nurse and her aid (who helped me hold Keegan still) were both wonderful- we got it the first time and didn't have to do mulitple sticks. Keegan recovered quickly and was excited about the heart-shaped, plastic slinky he got at the end of it all. Ardele put Keegan's test to the top of the pile in the lab (it helps when Gma runs the place) and she called me with better numbers within hours. A bit later, I got a call from the pediatrician saying that Keegan's results came back normal!!!! She told me that the routine screens they do in their office don't always come out the best, but she was confident that the hospital did their job well, and that, most importantly, we wouldn't have to put Keegan on any kind of supplement!! YEA :)

What a relief. I had so many emotions all at once in regards to all of this and hardly any time to process it before it seemed over. We still have to have Keegan retested and make sure he's eating his leafy green (pureed) veggies and that he always stays hydrated. It's been a scary last 24 hours, but I am so grateful to have such a strong, wonderful family to stand by me and help me to be the best parent I can be. I know we'll have more hiccups along the way, but I know we will all make it through ok :)