Knox - 2 Months

Weight: 12 pounds 8.4 ounces 59th percentile

Length:  22 inches 10th percentile

Head Circumference:  39 centimeters 48th percentile

Dear Knox,
2 months old!  You've done a LOT of growing in two months!  Mommy may not have been good at feeding you while you were still inside me but we sure are making up for it now.  You gained 3.5 pounds in one month.  You went from the 21st percentile to the 59th!  Even your head grew a lot, from 20th percentile to 48th.  You held steady at 10th percentile for your height but still grew 1.5 inches.  Good growing kiddo!  Your doctor said you look great.  He says there's no such thing as a fat baby.  If there was I'm guessing you'd be the definition of it with your short body and high weight.  Too bad "no such thing as fat" doesn't continue into adulthood!!!

Mommy is loving the baby stage with you!!!  You are a really good baby minus a fussy part that seems to happen each evening for about an hour.  Your doctor said that's colic most likely.  I've always been pretty scared of that word but if this is all it is I think we'll keep you ;).  I'm sure it could be A LOT worse but I am so grateful that we've never dealt with that with any of you boys.  Thanks for being such a sweet baby that shares your smiles so freely!  I think you are going to start giggling any day now.  I can tell you are trying to and you love to talk too.  There is nothing cuter than watching you work hard to get sounds out.

Food:  You are eating 4 ounces at each feeding still.  I was afraid you were about to go up again but you seem to have slowed down and even stopped finishing all 4 ounces at some feedings.  You seem to vary on how long you will go between feedings.  Sometimes it's 2 hours during the day, sometimes it's 3 and sometimes it's 4 hours.  I am still pumping at least 3 times per day.  I don't get nearly enough to grow you but I'm hoping you are still getting the antibodies you need from me, at least that's what I'm telling myself.  I only get about 6 ounces a day when pumping so this mommy is grateful that formula is out there and an option.  Your still on the fussy formula and we'll probably continue that for a couple more months and then try to switch you back to the regular.

Sleep:  You are getting better at sleeping at night I think.  It's hard to say what your normal is yet but there have been more nights where you are put to bed between 9 and 11 and not getting up to eat until 4 or 5.  I can't tell you how much mommy appreciates these long stretches!!!  You are still swaddled at night.  I sometimes try to put you on your belly and not swaddled but you don't seem to sleep as well that way.  I think your head is getting flat so hopefully you'll start turning it more while you sleep!   As far as naps there's no pattern that I can tell except that if you are in your carseat and it's moving you are most likely sleeping.  I haven't napped you in your bed much.  I'm thinking that might be a third kid thing.  You just end up rolling with wherever the day takes us so your naps happen on the go a lot of the time.

Clothes:  You are pretty comfortable in 3-6 month clothes now but can still wear some 0-3.  Your diapers are size 1 and I have no idea on shoes because you've never had any on.  I'm just thankful your feet are big enough now that I can put some socks on you that actually stay on your feet.

New Things:  You are spitting up a little less now, which is awesome!  You seem to stay awake more too.  The best part about that is that you are awake and happy a lot more too.  You love to lay in your activity gym.  Sometimes when you get fussy and it isn't time to eat, I have figured out you just want to be laid down.  Ty Ty was the exact same way!  You are still rolling from belly to back when you get determined to.  It isn't a quick process but you are definitely doing it intentionally.

These first two months with you have been so much fun!  I am one blessed momma to have you and your brothers!  I love you "back and to the moon"sweet boy!!!

Love,
Mommy

You NEVER get to play with your toys alone!  

You love bath time!  

I have no words for this picture but I see a meme
in your future.

Oh your bright kind eyes... they get me every time!  

You with the world's greatest ultrasound tech!  Love her!!!

You have the same strawberry birthmark on
your neck, just like Daddy and your brothers do

Hanging out with Maddox and Grandma.  She's amazing!

Daddy is SO funny!

A little peace and quiet in Ty's bed...

...but not for long...

...they just kept coming!  

So you moved to Mommy's bed :-)

 

This is SO true!

I love how you stick your little butt in the air when you sleep
on your belly!

ALWAYS have hands near your face!  

Milk coma... can't stay awake to burp

Post 2 month shots

Showing your war wounds from your 2 month shots.  Daddy
and Case and Ty all got their flu shots while you were getting
your 2 month shots.  There were a lot of Green Lantern
band-aids that night!  

 

Not sure what color your eyes are going to be when you

6 Years

Dear Joshua and Caleb,
6 years.  I can't believe it's been 6 years since that day.  The day we had to say goodbye.  No, not goodbye. Just see you later.   You would have started kindergarten this year.  Kindergarten!  Yet, I can still so easily transport myself back to that day 6 years ago.  The day we met you and lost you all wrapped into one mess of emotions.

I'm pretty sure there is nothing cuter than dressing your identical twins for their first day of kindergarten.  Sorry boys, you for sure would have been in matching outfits.  Even Case and Ty barely escape leaving the house without matching clothes so you can imagine how necessary it would be for my identical twin boys to be dressed identically at all times.  Sidenote:  when the day comes and I get to meet you again in Heaven, I'd appreciate it if you'd be wearing matching outfits.  Just sayin'.

Instead of struggling with which matching outfit to dress you in each day I spend my days caring for your three brothers.  That's right THREE brothers for a total of 5 boys this momma has been blessed with!  God must have known I couldn't handle a girl!  Knox joined our family just 6 weeks ago.  His delivery was a quick reminder of how quickly things could change when I found out his cord was wrapped around his neck three times.  He was perfectly healthy though and I can't even begin to explain how grateful I am because I know others who saw a much different ending to the same beginning.

So today I'm just grateful.  I'm grateful for the time I had with you.  I'm grateful for ALL the lessons you taught me, which certainly didn't stop the day you left us because I am still learning from you today.  I'm grateful that God blessed us with three more healthy boys after you.  Boys that I get to be a momma to every single day.  Boys that need me.  I'm grateful for the direction God took us because I know it was the right direction because it was His direction.  I'm grateful that your forever is with Him because it's exactly where you are supposed to be.

with ALL of my boys

I'm also grateful that this evening we got to slow down and focus on you for a little bit.  You're never far from my thoughts but this evening was about you.  Not just for me but for your brothers, and your daddy, and your Grandma and Grandpa and even your Poppy.  Yes, your 96 year old Poppy sure did walk to your grave this evening.  You boys touched him more than he'd ever say.  When someone asks him (or even when they don't :) how many great grandchildren he has he always says 19 because he ALWAYS includes you in that number.  I can't tell you what that does for my heart!  I guess that's just another example of a life that you touched.

The day began dreary and rainy but by this evening when we got to the cemetery it was perfect in every way. 

The view from your gravesite

Case and Ty love visiting you and they love to pick out things to decorate your headstone.  Today they enjoyed picking out a birthday gift and they went ahead and played with the toys they got you for a little bit before they left them.  You know just to break them in :-)

There were two monster trucks on your headstone today.  We didn't put them there.  Just another example of an anonymous life that you touched and another example of my heart overflowing with gratitude knowing that someone out there takes the time to stop and visit you.  Part of me wishes that I knew who it was so that I could give them a great big hug but the other part of me thinks it's even more special that I don't because I know they are only stopping for you and not for me.  As a momma it is so comforting to know that others are thinking of my babies.

Thank you for today boys.  Thank you for 6 years of learning and 6 years of special relationships with people that I never would have met without you.  Thank you for the lives you've touched and the changes you made in me.  I hope your party today was the best one yet!  I look forward to the day when I can see your sweet faces (and matching outfits:).  Your daddy and I love you and miss you.  See you soon my sweet forever babies!

Love,
Mommy