You may have already heard that Justin and I have been working on a new project. Baby Shepherd #2 is set to arrive this summer (due date 7/4/08). We are pretty excited. I'm 12 weeks pregnant right now, and though the morning sickness I had with Lewis is back, it doesn't seem to be as bad this time around. The first hour is rough and then after a bagel, everything seems to settle down!
We have switched doctors to Joseph Gass, M.D. and have been very happy with our decision. He seems like he will be a great fit for my personality and the type of childbirth we are planning. The best part was the ultrasound they did at my first appointment. Here is our baby at 9 weeks gestation. He/she actually wiggled a little bit while we watched.
The expanding Shepherd Fam wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a fantastic 2008!
Friday, December 21, 2007
ups and downs
We have had a crazy week with Lewis' first real illness. After weaning him about 6 weeks ago, it didn't take long for him to get a nasty cold that turned into an ear infection and the croup! Lewis is now on antibiotics and some other drugs to kick this thing from his system. My doctor put me on an antibiotic as well. It has been rather rough here at times.
On the flip side, Lewis is the happiest sick toddler we've ever seen. He's still running around in good form and enjoying himself most of the time. He's starting to get his appetite back some too. (Sidenote: He even ate his first brownie today once the drugs started kicking in. He loved it!) We had to cancel his therapy session today with Krista, his developmental interventionist, who works on his mobility issues. She has been wanting us to work on getting him to sit up from a laying position, but also just to sit on his own (which he does a lot, but often prefers standing all day long!). He has never laid down on his own, aside from falling, but tonight he put himself through quite a work out, diving on the floor and then spinning around until finally standing at the end. Maybe it's the drugs doing their thing, but I took a video because he did this over and over and it was rather humorous.
After all of this, we got out a book called "Elmo's Twelve Days of Christmas." Lewis loves Elmo and looks forward to watching the Elmo's World portion of Sesame Street most mornings. We have been trying to teach him to point, or at least touch, items he sees in books. Elmo was featured on each page of this book with other characters and Lewis was able to touch Elmo on almost every page! This felt like a huge breakthrough because sometimes he starts turning pages so quickly it seems like he doesn't even see what is there. This might be my best Christmas present this year.
The other blessing recently is that Lewis is loving brushing his teeth. It was kind of a fight for a while, but he really gets excited now and we have to coax him to give up his toothbrush so he can go to bed.
It is horrible to see Lewis going through his first illness, but there's so much good stuff coming out too. We can't complain!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
partying for the holidays
We've found ourselves at several parties recently and wanted to post a few pictures. Here's one from the Spencer'sCoffeehouse "family" gathering, which was over a week ago. Jenny seems to be having the most fun!
Next we went to a surprise party for Ryan Swigart. Lewis particularly enjoyed their pool table and pool balls. He's a blur in this picture with a ball in each hand. (photo courtesy of Derek Holt)
He thought Rebecca was nice too, but he stole her party hat.
He also had fun beating on daddy's face. (photo courtesy of Derek Holt)
Finally we hosted our small group Christmas party. Here's Jo Ellen excited to get a decorative eggplant in the dirty Santa game. The Morgans seem rather envious.
Bryan Tillery opens the coveted reindeer tealight holder.
Lewis enjoys Justin's prize gift, the Walmart/ USA themed gift pack.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
babies, babies, babies!
Several of our friends have added a second child to their families in the last month. Congrats to Val and Morozov who had a girl on Nov. 15th. Also to Matthew and Sarah Wilson who had a boy on Dec. 1st, and Brice and Julie Boyer who had a girl on Dec. 7th. I almost forgot Cheyenne and Darla Olgesby who added a girl to their family on Dec. 4th. You are in our thoughts and prayers!!
new haircut, new zebra, new stunts
Lewis has had a busy week. Last weekend, his grandparents brought a pre-Christmas gift called the Bounce and Spin Zebra. Lewis is not exactly bouncing and spinning, but he is enjoying the lights and music it plays. Note in the below picture the new haircut he had to suffer through early in the week.
Here is a before picture:
It was getting a little out of control! Lewis has had several "firsts" in the last couple of weeks. He fed daddy for the first time the other night.
He also is standing up from a laying position, which is amazing. He's working on sitting from laying and we have actually found him both sitting and standing in his crib this week which has never happened before. He is also clapping when we do pat-a-cake now too. He will clap sometimes at our suggestion but has not spontaneously clapped yet which we are looking forward to. No words yet, but we're happy with the progress he's making.
We took some pictures at Spencer's the other night. Our employees decorated for Christmas and we were pretty impressed with what they came up with. Here's a sample.
Monday, December 03, 2007
the return of derek holt
Our good friend Derek Holt returned to the U.S. recently from Austria where he'd been living for over a year. We gathered some friends together to welcome him back over a week ago. Justin, being the patriot that he is, insisted that we sing the Star Spangled Banner when he came through the door. So the alternate title for this video could be "The moment Derek would never want to re-live." But since we videotaped it, you can enjoy Derek's discomfort, and our own as the song goes on and on.....and on.
Photo highlights:
Ashley and Ryan Swigart playing with niece Taylor Wilson under the hanging decorations.
