Keegan monthly update: 12 months

Weight: 17 lbs. 8 oz.

Movement: You're still pulling up on everything and now walking while holding onto something or our hands.

Eating habits: You generally eat every 2-3 hours and we give you whatever solids we're eating (you don't necessarily eat them, but we're still trying). We are about to go cold turkey on transitioning over to cows milk and dropping breast milk/formula.

Sleeping patterns: You're sleeping well! You still go to bed between 7-7:30 and I wake you up for school around 6:40. And you'll sleep until about 7 or so on the weekends.

Sounds/words: You are babbling up a storm and are starting to say mama and dada knowingly.

New discoveries/accomplishments:

• You are showing more and more personality, especially since you've been pretty healthy and only had one minor cold this month.
• You walk while holding our hands or onto something (like a table).
• You learned how to give a high-five and you love it!

Places you went/adventures: 

• You had your first sleepover with Grammy and Pops while mommy and daddy celebrated their anniversary.
• You celebrated your first birthday with family and friends. We are so lucky to have such special people in our lives.
• You "watched" your first college football games (Go Dawgs - and Hokies!)

Keegan turns 1!

Happy first birthday to our baby boy!

It's hard to believe Keegan is one. We celebrated a great day with family and friends!

 

 

Keegan monthly update: 11 months

Movement: You are a master crawler and pull up on everything.

Eating habits: You generally eat every 2-3 hours and we give you whatever solids we're eating (you don't necessarily eat them, but we try). You love fruits and yogurt. You tried lobster on our vacation and didn't hate it.

Sleeping patterns: You're sleeping really great! You still go to bed between 7-7:30 and I wake you up for school around 6:40.And you'll sleep until about 7 or so on the weekends.

Sounds/words: Still babbling and making raspberry sounds.

New discoveries/accomplishments:

• You are getting into everything as you crawl and explore. We really have to pay close attention to you. You're so fast!
• You are a super happy baby and love being brought everywhere we go, hanging out in the stroller or strapped to mommy.

Places you went/adventures: 

• You went on your first plane ride and vacation to Boston. You did awesome on the plane and were so go with the flow on the whole vacation!
• We went whale watching and to the beach. You touched sand and the ocean for the first time. You liked the sand but you weren't so sure about the ocean. It was freezing!
• You got your first haircut.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Keegan monthly update: 10 months

Movement: We officially have a crawler!

Eating habits: You generally eat every 2-3 hours. You're still loving the same solid foods, but hummus has been added as a new favorite.

Sleeping patterns: You still go to bed between 7-7:30 and I wake you up for school around 6:40. We're transitioning you out of the sleep suit, so we've had a few rough nights but you're figuring it out with a sleep blanket.

Sounds/words: You learned to make raspberry sounds.

New discoveries/accomplishments:

• You clap all the time.
• You make raspberry sounds all day long - which means we have lots of drool.
• You love being dunked at the pool now.

Places you went/adventures: 

• You celebrated your first father's day.
• You still love going to the pool and walks in the stroller.
• You love picking up balls and trying to throw them.

    

Keegan monthly update: 9 months

Movement: You scoot backwards trying to crawl; you're so close to actually crawling - it will be any day now.

Eating habits: You generally eat every 2-3 hours. New foods this month: yogurt and chicken. You still love apples and avocado. Your appetite was down since you were so sick.

Sleeping patterns: You have been waking up several times a night because you've been pretty sick this month.

Sounds/words: You "talk" to us all the time. If only we knew what you were saying.

New discoveries/accomplishments:

• You love being outside. If you're ever fussy, you stop and look around as soon as we go outside.
• You got your second tooth (on the bottom).
• You scoot backwards trying to crawl; you're so close!

Places you went/adventures: 

• You went to the pool for the first time. You weren't so sure at first, but you were splashing by the end.
• You got hand foot and mouth and bronchiolitis this month. Yuck! You are so strong and got through it all like a champ.
• You celebrated Pops' 60th birthday! 

           

Keegan monthly update: 8 months

Vision: No updates here; you see seem to be watching everything well so we'll remove this section moving forward. 

Movement: Rolling around but you're not crawling just yet. You're happy just grabbing at things and shaking your toys.

Eating habits: You generally eat every 2-3 hours, except at night. New foods this month included: bananas, apples and pears. You LOVE apples.

Sleeping patterns: You mostly sleep through the night, but you do wake up periodically when you're sick.

Sounds/words: You say mamamama and dadadada on the regular now.

New discoveries/accomplishments:

• You love banging your toys.
• You enjoy playing in the bathtub.
• You got your first tooth!
• You love peekaboo.

Places you went/adventures: 

• You were Baptized the month. It was a special day, and we loved celebrating with family and friends.
• You went to your first wedding and stole the hearts of all the bridal party.
• We celebrated your (our) first mother's day.

     

 

    

Keegan monthly update: 7 months

Vision: You love people watching. 

Movement: You can sit up all by yourself now!

Eating habits: You generally eat every 2-3 hours, except at night. We started introducing new foods again - avocado, sweet potatoes, squash, peas and carrots.

Sleeping patterns: You're still a bit off in the area with your ear infections. You still go to bed by 7:30, but we're getting up to put your paci in a few times per night. You've gotten pretty much back to normal since the tubes were put in.

Sounds/words: Still babbling away!

New discoveries/accomplishments:

• You sit up all by yourself with no support.
• You love holding toys in your hands and shaking them around.

Places you went/adventures: 

• Due to your lingering ear infection (going on 6 weeks), you got tubes in your ears this month. The procedure was super quick and went great. It was harder for mommy than Keegan!
• We celebrated your first Easter and you rocked during Mass.
• You went on your first 5K with mom and grammy.
• We went to celebrate dad's birthday at top golf! 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

What you don’t realize about the first 2 weeks of motherhood

Everyone says the first two weeks are the hardest. It’s the truth. Your world has just completely turned upside down. You’re figuring out how to keep a tiny human alive and happy. Everything you learned in your baby essentials class suddenly escapes your memory, and your hormones are surging. Point blank: it’s overwhelming. 

The single hardest part of the first 2 weeks is the lack of sleep. If you think you didn’t sleep well when you were pregnant...you’re in for a surprise. And, if you weren’t sleep deprived, you could probably handle all of your other responsibilities with stride and more patience.

Some other realizations in the first 2 weeks:

• Breastfeeding is hard, but it gets better. This is the other “hardest” part of being a new mom, in my opinion. More on this to come. 
• You’re going to get pooped and peed on. 
• Feeding your baby takes a long time. I had to breastfeed and supplement with formula the first two weeks, which took forever. I can’t imagine having twins.
• Your baby doesn’t know the difference between night and day, but you won’t spoil them by letting them sleep during the day in the beginning. 
• You’re going to cry at the drop of a dime. Just let it out, it helps.
• Breastmilk poopy stains are bad - make sure you have good stain remover!
• Sleeping when the baby sleeps is not as easy as it sounds. I was not good at this, but having one nap a day was helpful. 
• Drinking a cup of coffee once a day is not going to hurt the baby - do it for your sanity.
• You won’t feel normal yet...

There are tons of little tidbits and pieces of advice that are circling in my head. And, it really takes longer than two weeks to get in the swing of things (more like 2-3 months), but you learn so much in the beginning. For me, it was about listening to my body, knowing what I was feeling was okay and taking things day by day. 

Keegan monthly update: 6 months

Height: 25 and 3/4 inches (13%)

Weight: 14 pounds, 5 ounces (5%)

Head circumference: 42 cm

Vision: You're really starting to notice and pay more attention to everything around you. 

Movement: We still don't have a roller, but you turn on your side all the time. You grab at everything ALL the time now. You are also sitting up great with support from the boppy - and are starting to use your hands to support yourself sitting up.

Eating habits: You generally eat every 2-3 hours, except at night. We backed off rice cereal or introducing any other foods this month because your appetite has been low (still sick) and we want you to get the right nutrients when you eat.

Sleeping patterns: You're still a bit off in the area with the lingering ear infection and colds you've had. You still go to bed by 7:30, but we're getting up to put your paci in a few times per night.

Sounds/words: You are still babbling, but have seemed a little more uncomfortable with the sounds you're making. We can tell you're sick - poor guy!

New discoveries/accomplishments:

• You found your toes! Pretty much any time we lay you down your toes go up in the air and you grab them.
• You "play with toys" so much more now, thrashing them about as you talk to us. You have finally been able to grab the dragonfly on your playmate that you've wanted to badly to get for a while now.
• You sit up great with support and are really close to shedding the support and sitting on your own. You'll be there soon.
• You colored for the first time holding your own marker.
• You love bubble time at school!

Places you went/adventures: 

• You hung out with Grams and Pops while mommy and daddy went on a date night! Despite better judgement, Pops took the opportunity to put you in University of Florida gear...
• You played with your cousins - you love hanging out with your cousin, Alex.
• We laid low for most of the month as we finally got over your ear infection.