My Baby Boy: Twenty-Seven Weeks Old

Happy 27 weeks to our baby boy!!

He couldn't stop grabbing the chalkboard!

It's A Wrap!

I have been talking for what seems like ages about getting little man's cranial helmet wrapped {here}. Initially our intention was to book a flight to Dallas to hit up the Wrap Buddies monthly Wrap Party where many families bring in their kiddo's helmets to get wrapped professionally and free of charge. We just couldn't get the date to work out, plus airfare was ridiculous and we didn't want only one of us to go on the trip {Cruzer's first plane ride as well} to get it wrapped, so we kept checking out our options.

We were ultimately referred to Signs Plus+ Graphics in Sioux Falls, SD. They recently became a Wrap Buddies partner and had never wrapped a cranial helmet {we were their first!} but after talking to Roger and his team we were sold. So we loaded up the car and made the trek to Sioux Falls on a Monday...and I'm so glad we did it.

All in it took about three hours each way to drive and only an hour to get the helmet wrapped. Roger took many pictures to post on their Facebook site and gave us loads of business cards to pass out to other parents. We can't sing their praises enough and are so appreciative of their generosity. Now when his cousins talk about his baseball helmet, it really looks like one!

Driving to Sioux Falls
He did fantasy baseball The. Entire. Way. There.

Smiley boy at lunch - waiting for his helmet to  get wrapped

The finished product
A huge THANK YOU to Signs Plus Graphics!

Check out how realistic the stitching looks

All smiles in his newly decorated helmet...

...and, yes, I'm sitting in the back seat with him on the way home....
so I can take pictures and send them out to the fam!

First Mother's Day

Ahh, a day specifically dedicated to mothers. Who would've thought it would be that great...I never did. But after enjoying my very first Mother's Day, I have to say that it's pretty fantastic! BBQ, Girl's Night Out, brunch and enjoying downtown Omaha with some cocktails. My idea of a perfect day.

Last Sunday marked my first Mother's Day since having little man bless our lives and I couldn't have been more happy with how the day turned out. We started celebrating a little early on Saturday night- after work we headed over to Nanu & Grammy Jan's for a BBQ with the fam. Then, mommy had a little GNO planned and headed over to my friend Shannon's for some wine, cheese and lots & lots of great gossip - it was such a fun night and I definitely got a little bit tipsy {big thanks to the hubby for watching the little guy!}

First Mother's Day Present: gift from Cruz & the teachers at Primrose

On Sunday morning, I woke up to a very smiley baby {who slept in might I add!} and some beautiful yellow roses, a balloon and a few gifts. He was VERY generous to me this year :) After he played with my card {sang the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse song - his fav!} we got ready to meet my mom, sisters, MIL, BIL + Brittany and niece & nephews for brunch at The Player's Club Country Club.

Gifts from my little guy

Started getting fussy + I wasn't ready = this is what you get!

Dayvaney enjoying a glazed donut - I may have snuck a bite or two
{when do I ever get to eat a glazed donut?!?}

Nick, his mama and brother Marc

Soon-to-be SIL, Britt with Cruzer

After brunch, the guys headed off to golf while the ladies & kiddos headed downtown to Gene Leahy Park {yes, one of my favorite places to hang out}. We fed the ducks and played on the cement slides, then headed back out to the golf course to meet up with the guys...where the ladies proceeded to imbibe in a few too many cocktails.

Lynch kiddos at Gene Leahy park

And with their gorgeous mama

The most amazing mother in the world - my mama, Dianne and Cruz

Auntie Jen - I don't think Cruz could've been more comfortable!

Loving on daddy

The love of my life

We were blessed with the most beautiful day and I couldn't have ask for a more amazing first Mother's Day with some of my very favorite people. Now if only every day could be like this. 

My Baby Boy: Twenty-Six Weeks Old

Happy 26 weeks, Cruzer!!

{Pics taken on his actual 26 week birthday, but his mama just didn't get them posted on the right date!}

26 weeks, really?!?

No smiles for me that morning, but plenty for his cousins at brunch that day!

Our Little Guy: Six Months Old

Little Mango is SIX months old!

What has Cruz been up to?

• Big News: I have to say we got the best news about our little man's cranial remolding helmet. Cruzer just had his 1 month check-up and his noggin' grew so much in that first month. He started off at 12 1/2mm off which was considered severe and after his 1 month scan he is down to 5 1/2mm off - 7mm change in just one month! We are praying for continued growth so that his time in the helmet is limited and hopefully he can get it off before it gets too hot out.  He has also been laughing so much this month - his daddy gets the biggest laughs from him, but I've been known to get a couple myself. I guess I'm just not as funny as the hubby {ha!}. The worst news is little man was sick two different times this month - once with RSV/ear infection and another with Croup. Fortunately, he's doing much better. Cruz experienced his first Kentucky Derby, outdoor soccer and baseball games {supporting his cousins!}, many dinners out with family & friends, and two whole nights alone with daddy while his mama traveled for work.

"Just fixin' my melon. Not quite ripe."

Watching soccer

Dante's Pizza with mama & daddy

• Eating:  Our little guy loves himself some food! He is consistently eating 7.5oz every three hours when he's awake {maybe that's what helps him sleep so well at night!} and we've introduced solids this month as well. He started off with 1/2 a container of veggies at night, graduated quickly to a full container and then we also started a container of fruit each morning. His favorites are squash, sweet potatoes, green beans, apples and bananas. I'm excited to get his updated stats from his 6 month check-up because I know he has to have grown and there is no way he's below average these days! 

Yep - pants are unbuttoned

• Sleeping:  When he isn't sick, Cruz is the best sleeper I know. He has been sleeping through the night and takes naps so well throughout the day. We generally put him down between 8pm-9pm.  Since last month he has been in his crib every night and I just love checking in on him or waking up to him in different positions every time! He is moving all over that crib in his sleep and has even been sleeping on his tummy from time to time.

• Developments:  Little man is weighing in at 18lbs 9oz (65%) these days and continues to grow. He is 27 3/4 inches long (86%) and his head is 72%. He is rolling over all the time, but still cannot get back onto his tummy from his back - we are working diligently on this. :) Toward the end of the month we really focused on sitting up because he had been doing so well in his Bumbo and now he's able to sit up unsupported when his hands are on the floor in front of him. Any day now he will be sitting up on his own - I'm very excited for this but also a bit nervous because all of the other helmet mommies have told me their little ones fall back on their head on purpose because it doesn't hurt with the helmet, but once they get the helmet off and try it, they don't fare too well! One of my favorite things is when I'm hovering over him and he grabs my face - it's so sweet.  And best of all he has finally gotten his cute little toes in his mouth and constantly pulls his legs up so he can play with his feet. It's the cutest thing. And, finally, the Baby Bjorn has become our go-to around the house - I love having my arms free to do chores and he loves checking out the sites from up high. 

You lookin' at me?

Ridin' in style

• Features: Our baby is finally getting chubby! He has little rolls near his wrists and ankles and a cute little double chin. He continues to look like his daddy with his gorgeous baby blues, but there are still times that I think he looks like his cousin, Aaysen, which tells me he looks like my Fuchser side because Ace is all Fuchser! 

Happy 6 months, baby boy!

Kissy Face

My son doesn't have a Facebook page, nor has he ever seen what Facebook looks like, so I want to know....how in the heck does he have the Facebook "kissy face" down so well?  The kissy face, you may ask? I know you've all seen it and you probably know someone on your friends list who takes pictures of themselves making a kissy face into the camera of their iPhone and then posts it for all to see.

But here we were last night doing our 6 month photo shoot in his nursery {yes, you got me, I cheated and took his pics for the 6 month post early. So shoot me.} and toward the end he started making his own version of the kissy face. And you know what? It's pretty damn cute. I may start "liking" every kissy face photo I see posted on Facebook from here on out, just because I know how cute it really can be.

Look at those lips! They must be from his daddy...
(Don't mind the red marks - that helmet really does a number on his face!)

And this pic was just too sweet not to post :)
He couldn't stop stroking the owl's fur

Great Helmet News

This morning Cruz had his 1 month check up on the helmet's progress in helping our boy  get a symmetrical head. We have noticed definite improvement just by looking at his head, but were so happy to hear how much improvement he really had.

In the beginning of the appointment we were hoping to find out that he would be getting the cheek pad off his helmet. Originally our Orthotist thought it would only take a month to get his cheeks back on track. Instead, he determined that it wasn't quite where he hoped, so the cursed cheek pad will stay on for another couple weeks.

This bad news was overshadowed by the news of his head correction. When he was first diagnosed with Placiocephaly {an asymmetrical head}, he fell into the severe category and his head measured in at 12 1/2mm of asymmetry. After one month of wearing his helmet, the scan showed that he had 7mm of improvement, which means his head only has 5 1/2mm of asymmetry! We couldn't believe it and Tim was shocked at how much improvement he saw in only one month since the norm was 3-4mm improvement.

The goal is to get to 2mm or less asymmetry.  While we hope to see similar results in the coming month, we are careful to get our hopes too high. Often times, families will see good improvement one month and no improvement the next. . Let's just hope we fall into the minority and our little guy improves enough to get rid of his helmet just in time for the summer heat!