The Shots Heard 'Round the World!

Dylan had his two month check-up this past Thursday. His is a growing boy, and his stats are as follows: Weight: 12 lbs, 6 oz; Height: 23.75 inches. In other words, he is growing like a weed! All his measurements are on-target and moving forward, and his check-up went smoothly.

Of course, the two-month check-up is also the first real bout of inoculations. There were the HiB, the DTAP and a couple others. Three shots and one potion he had to drink. The nurse at the injection clinic was good - i.e., quick. She got those things in one, two, three, before you could say Jack be nimble! Dylan's reaction: scream! But then it was over and so was his distress. We had given him a dose of Tylenol prior to his shots and he didn't have any overt reactions and seems well past those now. Big sigh of relief. I got my flu shot at the same time, and Dylan was kind enough to hold on to me while I endured that! (Mommy had her flu shot earlier.)

So the little guy is good on his shots until January. Then it's another bout of four or so injections. Oy, vey!

Mommy and I have read a lot about the concerns of injections the last few weeks. One of our neighbors has a son with autism and she swears he 'got' the autism from an injection. And she is not alone in those feelings. So of course we, like many parents these days, have concerns. But after our research and a good long talk with Dylan's doctor, we went ahead with the planned shots.

He is talking up a storm these days, lots of 'ooohs' and 'gaahhs' and 'brraaahs' and the like. And you may notice the attire he has in the photos this week. We were loaned a DVD by our sister-in-law, "The Happiest Baby on the Block." The video talks about some techinques, used forever, to calm babies when they are fussy. We were already using many of them, but not as a cohesive unit as the video suggests. The techniques work, and we have all found them to be most useful. They involve swaddling (tightly wrapping the baby); sucking (the pacifier; later, the thumb or fingers); swinging (in a baby swing, and on a FAST setting!); side/stomach position (this includes gently wobbling the baby's head while he is on his side); and shushing (using white noise to create a calming sound similar to what he heard in the womb). But Dylan looks so darn cute in his swaddling wrap, our little Baby Burrito, with his watermelon cap (courtesy of his Aunt Patty - it's so adorable!) and his little blue pacifier, even if it didn't work, we might keep him in it!

OK, long enough for this entry. Hope you enjoy the photos!

Photos (top to bottom)

1. Bath time; Mommy and Dylan share a lovely moment
2 through 4. Dylan in his Baby Burrito outfit, swaddled nice and tight!

Dylan Pah-tays in Elk Grove!

Last week, we were invited to a party at Aunt Suzy's home in Elk Grove. Another chance to show off the boy, and a good opportunity to get some photos with his relatives. So, we loaded up the Scion and drove all the way down to Elk Grove. Despite the boy's expressions in some of the photos, Dylan had a good time. There was a lot for him to see, and many people there - perhaps a bit too much and too many, hence the look of being slightly overwhelmed. Things don't get that exciting back at home! Maybe we ought to spice things up here, kick it up a level or two! Nah, we like our little quiet home.

Well, everyone shows photos of their baby smiling (and Dylan does have a beautiful smile!), but these photos show another aspect of being a baby! Sometimes it's tough being a baby, especially one as popular as this little guy. Actually, he really does like going to other people's homes. Mommy and I went to see James Taylor this past Thursday, and Dylan stayed with Grandma Pat, and the two of them had a really good time. And so did Mommy and I!!

He has another big celebration coming up - Thanksgiving! More photos with relatives then!

List of Photos (top to bottom):
1) Aunt Amy holds Dylan
2) Uncle Koyo holds the little boy
3) Aunt Amy has a bundle of joy in her arms
4) Grandma Pat, cousin Aya and Dylan sit for a portrait
5) Uncle Koyo holds Dylan, Uncle Lou holds his son, Evan, while the cousins get some face time
6) Grandpa Lou, Grandma Pat and Dylan relax on the couch

One Sweet Honey (Bee)

Such drama! Such pathos! Such pressure!

Who'd a-thunk that outfitting a baby out for his first Halloween would be so intense! The competition: 1) banana; 2) pirate; 3) bumble bee. Each was charming and would work, but in the end, there could be only one winner. It was a real crisis, trying to figure whether to buy the banana costume on-line, find a pirate costume (or some other one) in a store, or make the bumble bee one! The date was drawing near, and the question just could not be easily resolved! Finally, at the last minute, Mommy made an executive decision, and got all the elements together, creating this Mommy-made bee outfit for the little guy. Could he BEE any cuter?!? We don't think so!

And to think the costume is just a onesie, some electrical tape, some aluminum foil on cardboard and black pipe cleaners (and those anntenae just crack me up!), along with sweat pants (heaven forbid!) and a bat hat converted to a bee cap... Very creative! Mommy is so darn creative and inventive!

Now that we have his first major life event (OK, second - after being born) taken care of, we now must turn our attention to the next big obligatory crisis: The Christmas Card! Oh my!