Buddies

Holden is very lucky to have some really great friends - and I am lucky to have their mommies as friends! 

Over the past month, we've had some fun visits with Kristen and Simone, Crystal and Ava J, and Anne and Grace and Lily. We've also been invited to a few parties and Holden has been able to meet lots of other little boys and girls.

It is really sweet to see how children respond to other children, and I must admit that it does give me a slight twinge to want to give Holden the gift of being a big brother. We'll see though!

Here is Holden with Simone and her wonderful mommy Kristen:

Here is Nathan and Holden (2 months) and Crystal and Ava (6 months): 

Ava is trying to "eat" Holden's fingers:

Little Miss Ava!

Me, Holden (in the swing, 2 months), Grace (almost 3), Lily (almost 1) and Anne:

Beautiful Grace. She was so sweet to her little sister Lily and to Holden.

Bedtime Stories

Every night, after Holden's bath, Nathan and I read Holden two Bible stories and two regular stories. I know Holden does not understand the words we read or anything about plot and characters. Honestly, the bedtime stories are more for us to get in the habit of reading to him on a nightly basis. 

Holden really does enjoy the pictures, though. He stares intently at the different colors he sees on the pages and now he is even trying to grab the books. 

Hopefully, we will instill the importance of reading on Holden and he will be a happy, avid reader when he is older. 

Here are pictures of Nathan and Holden reading together:

 

Jungle Boogie

Thanks to his wonderful aunts Rose and Hilary, Holden has a very fun Jungle Playmat that he LOVES to have activity time on. There is a little mirror that he looks up at, and he talks to the "other" baby. He also is learning to grip and hold on to the animals. What is interesting is that he likes to use his left hand more than his right. Could we be looking at a south paw?

Two Month Stats

Nathan and I took Holden in for his two month check-up this afternoon. We were told that he is a healthy boy and doing well. His neck contusion is much better, as well as the eczema, but we learned that we aren't cleaning his manhood as well as we should have (sorry about that Holden...). We were shown what to do, though, so he should be good to go very soon.

We also decided to start vaccines this month and Holden received DTaP. I nursed him while the nurse administered the shot, and he did really well and only screamed when the needle was in his thigh (the nurse had it in for quite some time!). I cried more than Holden did.

On a side note, we were going to have Holden receive the Rotavirus as well, but our doctor actually advised us NOT to get it! He said that two of the three Rotavirus vaccines had been pulled from the market already, that it is uncommon in our area and that winter is usually when it strikes. I really appreciated our doctor's honest assessment, instead of just loading Holden up with vaccines.

Anyway, here are Holden's latest stats:

Weight: 14 lbs., 8 oz. (95%)

Height: 25 inches (90%)

Head: 15.5 inches (70%)

Holden is still easily gaining weight, but it looks like his height is slowing down. Maybe he won't be taking after Grandpa Ronner (6'2"), Grandpa Sandell (6') or Uncle Andrew (6'5")!

Here are his one month and birth stats, if you are tracking his growth ;)

One Month stats:

Weight: 12 lbs., 2 oz. (95%)

Height: 24 inches (slightly above 95%)

Head: 15 inches

Birth stats:

Weight: 9 lbs., 5 oz.

Height: 22 inches

Head: 14 inches

Holding my baby after his vaccine. I think I needed him more than he needed me!

Holden's first shot and band-aid.