Chores

Keely has been such a little helper around the house lately. She loves to be doing whatever Brent or I are doing. I'm trying to take this behavior and help teach her how to do certain "chores" around the house. Some of her favorite chores are putting dishes away and setting the table. Only one problem though...

Making sure she watches where she is going :)

Keely and Daddy

Man, how this girl just LOVES her Daddy. It is so interesting to see how partial she is to him at such a young age. Yes, she loves her Mommy but there is just something about that relationship between Father and Daughter that is so unique and special. It just melts my heart to watch them together. Lately Keely wants to be doing whatever Dad is doing, which means some homework time too. Since she wanted to help Brent out I set her up with her own homework. She also loves watching Brent juggle and he even gave a go of trying to teach her how to juggle too. What I just love the most about these two together are the sweet, sweet giggles that come out of our little munchkin!

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4 Month Check Up

4 Months Old

Taking a break from the helmet...look at that hair!

Our little chunky monkey :)

Brayden turned 4 months old this week, I truly can't believe it. Especially when I think about everything that has happened in these short 4 months. Here's the stats from his appointment:

Weight: 15 lbs 11 oz

Height: 26.46 in

Head circumference: 42.6

Thankfully we left the appointment without any alarming news this time. This was the first time our pediatrician had seen Brayden since he noticed the bulge on his head at the 2 month check up. He was shocked at the difference in his head already and how quickly everything happened. We have a healthy, happy little boy growing like a weed!

Yesterday we had our first check up since they gave us the helmet. We're still working out the kinks trying to get a good fit. The helmet keeps sliding down over his eyes. Once we get that "perfect" fit I know Brayden will be relieved. Two nights ago was the first night he wore the helmet. We've been easing him into the helmet wearing it a little longer each day. He was sleeping great during his naps with it but when it came to the night time sleep that was a little bit of a struggle. The first night I had to take the helmet off because he was so hot he couldn't go to sleep. The next night we were up every 2 hours shifting the helmet off his eyes and eventually giving him an extra blanket. Last night went MUCH better. After the adjustments yesterday and finally getting the room temperature right, I think we're well on our way to good sleep (again)!

Brayden really is such a trooper. He's so patient and really has a "go with the flow" attitude. It makes all of this so much easier. I had some moments where I broke down and it really seems I'm having a harder time than he is. I'm much better now, it was just those first few days realizing this is our reality now. He will wear this helmet for about a year and that's just life these days. You don't realize how much you caress and kiss there little heads throughout the day until you have a huge piece of plastic as a barrier to their sweet head. Those first days were also hard to have Brayden do tummy time. Adjusting to the new head weight just makes his neck all the more stronger and again preps him for the NFL, ha ha! But we're adjusting and remembering not to dwell on those moments. He's doing so good and he has such a good spirit which helps keep myself in check. Brent and I are so proud of our little guy and know that this time will pass in just a blink of an eye. So although we can't wait to move past this time, we also want to delay time and freeze these precious moments.

Strollin

Whoa, that's a new view of sister!

Hey Mom, we're ready for Disney World :)

Got my new stroller! Finally went and had to get the double stroller. Thinking of our vacation this summer, trips to the park or zoo, even doctor appointments..there was just no way around it I needed the double stroller. A way to get around and have BOTH kids contained. Keely thought it was so neat to have Brayden next to her as I rolled around the house trying out the new wheels. Can't wait for the weather to warm up to take long walks with these two!

The B.R.A.T. Diet

Ahh...things are looking much better in the Duncan household. Thanks to my good buddy I was enlightened with the B.R.A.T. diet for when your child has the...well you know.

Bananas

Rice

Apples

Toast

Since last Friday I have done laundry about everyday including a middle of the day bath for the lovely explosion that Keely leaves each day. Not that it's her fault, I feel for her and wish I could just make her feel better. But thankfully after I was enlightened today was MUCH better. Last night Keely had some french bread and apples and it's nice to see her wanting to eat again. I just can't wait to see her back to herself. The flu is NO fun for anyone but when it's your kids it just makes it all that much worse. I'm sure that many of you already knew the magic foods that can help in this situation but since I didn't know I thought I'd share in case someone else were in my shoes. Thanks again for the helpful advise Sar!

New Head Gear!

So here it is, the new gear that will be part of Brayden for the next 9 months or so. Pretty much just shows us how handsome he'll look when he's a football player! He'll have to wear the helmet for 23 hours a day. Right now he'll ease into it throughout the next week starting at an hour at a time and at the end of the week he will be in it the 23 hours. Easing it into his life should make the transition easier for the little guy.

Last week Brayden got his staples removed and that is when they fitted him for the helmet. Thankfully the day they removed the staples was the same night that Brayden slept through the night again, woo hoo! So glad to say that the routine is back on track and that all in the Duncan household are getting good nights sleep (with the exception of the stomach flu that struck over the weekend. Poor Keely got it on Friday and then it hit Brent and I on Monday. Thankfully everyone is doing MUCH better.)

Keely also got a helmet from her Nana and Pop Pop so she could have one of her own. Nana and Pop Pop thought it would help Keely with the transition of her brother's helmet by letting her have her own so when she asks about his she can wear one too, thank you Nana and Pop Pop!

Future NY Giant's QB!

Keely strutting head gear too!

Happy Boy!

Well as you can see little Brayden is doing just fine. He is pretty much back to his old self. He is rolling over, kicking about, cooing, and cracking us up with his hysterical laugh. One area still needing some improvement is sleep. The one area that is still not quite back to the way it was before surgery. He was sleeping through the night and life was so sweet, but now he's back to waking up once or twice needing his pacifier and then up at 5. I know this is just a minor setback and we're barely at a week post surgery so I'm very hopeful that we'll be back in the old routine in no time. But I really can't complain because when I see that sweet, happy face and know what he went through just last week it's really hard to believe how good he is doing. I was told how surprised you'd be that at this young how quick they bounce back and recover but until you see it you really don't believe it. His swelling is all gone and there is definitely a difference in the shape of his head. I just can't imagine what it will look like once he starts to wear his helmet!

Side view.

That smile is worth a million bucks!