Joshua Daniel: Two Months

Joshua is home! It's been the best having him home and we're all so thrilled we get to smother him whenever we want.

Thank you to my friend Tailor for taking these pictures for us

Joshua had his first appointment with his pediatrician a few days after coming home. She was recommended to us by Josh's neonatologist and I really like her. He was 6 lbs. 4 oz. at that appointment. I was impressed by how much weight he's gained back since being in the NICU. But when you have a dedicated feeding schedule that helps. We'll see what his weight will be now that he's been almost exclusively breastfed for about a month. It blows my mind to think that the size he is has been the size of our other babies in my womb. How do they fit in there?! It's amazing.
Josh is still fitting in his preemie clothes, but we've put him in some of his newborn ones even though they're a little big. He's in newborn diapers and hasn't had as many blow outs since being home, which is nice. Ha his poor nurses that had to deal with all those. Bless them.
I think he is having some reflux because he seems to get uncomfortable if all his burps aren't out. He does spit up pretty often too but it's usually on the minimal side, thank goodness. Aunt Nikkole is a NICU nurse and so I've been chatting with her about things and she told me it's common for preemies and could be because their esophageal sphincter isn't fully developed. He has still been eating every three hours, with the occasional recent four or five hour stretch at night. He's a good eater.
Poor little guy is sick and has been for about two days now. Thanks to his sisters who smother him. I can't say I'm too surprised since all three of them are in school and those are petri dishes for germs. They aren't the best at staying out of his face either. He hasn't developed a fever or anything, just has a stuffy nose and a little cough. (He has another doctor's appointment tomorrow so I'll talk to his pediatrician about it because it concerns me a little more since he was a preemie.) It makes me sad when he cries when I have to suction his nose or when he coughs. Sick babies are no fun.
Dan started his paternity leave last Monday and it has been glorious to have him home to help. It's good for Josh to have some bonding time with his Dad too. He's the best Dad and I'm so grateful for him.
Josh sleeps in a swaddle that we got from the hospital. He doesn't like having his arms down by his sides when he's swaddled, he tries to break free if he's like that. He likes to have his hands up by his face. Sometimes he likes to fall asleep with his pacifier and sometimes he doesn't need it. He does really well in his bassinet at night.
Even though he is two months old, we still have to take his adjusted age into consideration. That's gonna throw me off until we don't have to worry about it anymore (which we were told is around 2-3 years old). So we basically have to treat him like a newborn and the milestones he should be hitting at that time, which makes sense but it's still weird to me to think about that.
We didn't think Josh liked his mamaroo but we recently tried speeding it up and that seemed to help him be more content in it. He mostly sleeps in his car seat and has done really well when I've had to take him places. He doesn't like how tight the straps are and will puff out his chest and cry so I loosen them a little whenever we get to our destination if he's going in the stroller or not getting out right away.
Josh likes to be held and definitely sleeps better when he is. Since the girls are in school during the day (Paige only half day) I can snuggle him a lot more than I feel like I could with the girls. This has been very different since I don't have other toddler(s) at home along with a newborn. I did forget how tiring it is but I feel like I've been able to nap a little more in this situation. Or at least nap better since I don't have a toddler waking me up or worrying about what they'll do while I try and sleep haha.
The girls have been good helpers with him. Sometimes too good, hence why he's sick. They love "little JD" and are so glad he's home. They continue to pray for him to be healthy and grow every night. They're good big sisters. I love all four of them so much!

Surprise visit from Dr. Dad! He had some cases at the same hospital.

Newborn clothes are a little big.

NG tube is out!

Time to go home!

I think all four of our kids have some sort of picture like this.

Cute jammies from one of my gym friends in Lubbock.

We love our little Joshy boy! He is the best little caboose I'm grateful Heavenly Father blessed us with.

Paige: Five Years

Paigerade is five! She's catching up to her sisters and able to keep up with them.

Paige is one spunky little girl. She has more sass than she needs, but it's mostly a fun thing and keeps us laughing. She has opinions she's not afraid to share and, at times, with an attitude.
Paige absolutely loves gymnastics. She asked for a gymnastics bar for her birthday and has already spent a lot of her free time on it. She loves doing cartwheels everywhere she goes. She does them randomly in the parking lot, the store, the house, at church, you name it. You have to watch out cause she's not the best at watching out for you when she does them. And I have to remind her that the floor is gross in most places and not to do it but surprise that she doesn't really listen to that.
Paige has loved going to preschool. She was excited for it to start for her this year. Her best friend is in her class too and that makes it even more fun for her. She has learned a lot already and I am so impressed with how smart she is. Just ask her to spell waffle house haha.
Paige loves playing with her sisters. She still occasionally asks when they will be home from school so she's not the only one home with me. They like playing outside together, doing nails, watching movies, playing with barbies, making bracelets, and drawing. Paige lets Hayley do her hair more than she lets me. Although she has been better about that recently because she wants me to do her hair like her "bestie, Hazel." 
Paige loves being fancy. She will ask me if she can wear some lipstick just about every day. She likes having her nails done and she enjoys dressing up. She changes her clothes throughout the day sometimes still. It's a good day when she stays in the same outfit all day, less laundry for me. 
Paige likes to eat chicken nuggets, especially from Chick-Fil-A. She likes to get slushes from Sonic. She enjoys ice cream and cookies. She isn't the best at eating dinner. It's hard to get her to eat a full meal at dinner time. She will eat the minimum and then be done, even if it means skipping dessert. 
Paige is wearing 5T clothes. She has a longer torso so her 4T shirts have been kind of small for the past couple months. Sometimes I have to size up in shirts before pants. She loves clothes and shoes and accessories. And she loves anything with sunflowers since I call her my sunshine. 
Paige has finally (knock on wood) been going to primary without crying! Thanks to her amazing teachers mostly. She was even crying at the gym sometimes when I'd drop her off at the childcare. Hopefully it's all in the past. I have honestly mostly enjoyed her being my little shadow, but it had gotten harder with her being older. She doesn't snuggle with me as much as she used to, and that makes me a little sad, but she lasted longer than her other two sisters. 
Paige has been a good big sister. I think it helps that she's five years older than Josh. She would kiss my belly every night before bed while I was still pregnant during the last half of my pregnancy with him. She is very sweet to him and it makes me happy. 

My gym buddy.

She practiced her Ps on my wall and then needed to add stickers too.

When Paige doesn't go to sleep and is keeping her sisters awake, she has to come sit out with Daniel and "read" a medical journal haha.

She told me she was going to have a baby.

My airplane buddy.

First Mardi Gras Parade.

Stealing my food and drinks all the time.

She loves her Grandpa.

Using my belly for a pillow.

Playing surgery with Dad.

Running errands with mom while sisters are at school.

All worn out from grocery shopping.

So grateful this girl is part of our family! We love her so much!