**Updates**

Brantley--He is doing SO well. We just had another doctors appointment and he now weighs 8 pounds 5 ounces. He is getting so big, the doctor was so impressed with how well he is growing and he thinks that by the time we go back in two weeks for his next appointment he will be 10 pounds. We love having him home. He is such a joy to have. He is now full term. His true birthday is today. I can hardly believe how far we have come in the past two months. He truly is our little miracle baby. The other day he didn't have a very good day, he got a circumcision and all of his shots. It was a rough day for him and me. I was there when the doctor did it and it was not a pleasant experience. I started crying and had to sit down. There is nothing worse that watching your child cry and knowing there is nothing I can do about it. It was horrible. I am so glad he wont be able to remember it. The doctor also said that because he is growing so well that developmentally he should be caught up by 9 months. David and I were thrilled to hear that. He is doing so well. His monitor hardly goes off and when it does it is usually just because his sticky things have come off. And even though they come off a lot and send the alarm off I will be sad to see the monitor go. I love having the security of the monitor. But Brantley is happy, healthy, and such a good baby. He only cries when he is hungry, he loves to cuddle, loves his baths and tolerates mommy's many many kisses so well. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful little boy.

David--Just finished up his semester. He did FANTASTIC. The last couple of weeks were quite a struggle for him with having a new baby at home but he was able to manage helping me out, and helping out around the house and still do his homework and school work. He is a wonderful father and husband. He is so protective of Brantley and takes such good care of him.

Camille--I also just finished up my semester and I have quit my job so that I can stay home with Brantley. My semester didn't go so well, I don't even know if I passed. I am just so glad to have it finally over with. I have decided to take off next semester and I am so excited to have a break. I love being home with Brantley and just being a wife and mother. I am pretty much all healed the doctor has given me the okay to get back to all of my regular activities, thank heavens! I was going crazy not being able to lift anything or really do anything. I also think my body has gotten used to the lack of sleep. Life is wonderful and we are so grateful for all that we have and how well little Brantley has done. We have been very blessed.

Our little Brantley man

Just finishing with a bath

Brantley's first blow-out

*Showers*

Brantley is one very spoiled little man. We were so blessed by friends and family. He got SO many wonderful things! The first shower was given by my mother on behalf of my old family ward and Taylor side of the family.

I didn't get any pictures besides these two from the very beginning of the shower. But we got so many cute clothes, blankets, toys, a high chair and Brantleys nursery bedding. His room is a John Deere theme.

The next shower was given by my wonderful Smedley sister-in-laws. Where again I was blessed with so many great things. Love the Smedley/Chlarson families!

I was also given a shower from my Kroeger family. We had wonderful soup and salad for dinner and then I opened presents from everyone.

The last shower was given by some very wonderful friends of mine. We had some very delicious soups and played a cute little baby picture game. These girls are all so wonderful. I am so blessed to be able to call them my friends!!

Needless to say Brantley was so spoiled. I am so grateful for everyone and all that they have given us. Thank you to EVERYONE!!!

A PERFECT MATCH

One of my very good friends threw me a baby shower (more postings on that later) and for the shower she wanted a baby picture of both David and I for a game that she did. When I found the pictures I couldn't help but smile at the similarities that were between David and Brantley. He sure is his fathers son!!! So.....

This

Plus this

Equals this

Our last stay in the hospital....

Brantley improved so well in the hospital. he is our little miracle baby. The last couple of days there I got to stay the night. They have some special rooms on the NICU floor that are used for the parents the night before they go home to make sure everything goes okay and the parents can get a feel for what it will be like taking the baby home. We got to stay two nights because Brantley came home on an apnea monitor so the second night we stayed was so we knew how to handle the monitor. I have decided that Brantley is a cuddly baby and I love it.
He was filling right out at the hospital. He is getting some cute little cheeks.

Here is the room we got to stay in the first night, I forgot to take a picture of the other room. This one had just a bed and a bathroom with a shower in it. The other one had a little refrigerator, a microwave a sink, and a bathroom. The beds weren't real comfortable but it was better than the patient beds.

The last night, we got to have Brantley in our room. It was a long rough night for both David and I. We have been used to quite, full nights rest but everything has changed. We weren't ready for the every two hours and his monitor went off multiple times because his little sticky things had come off. We also discovered that Brantley makes so much noise when he sleeps that we couldn't really fall asleep because with every sound he made we thought he was waking up. Needless to say we are so glad to be out of the hospital.

Coming home from the hospital outfit

As soon as David and I found out that I was pregnant we knew immediately what we wanted to bring Brantley home in. A CAMO OUTFIT!!! It was really big for him, but we didn't care. He looked so cute!! He had a onsee, pants, and matching shoes. The only thing that was missing was a hat...I am just going to have to find one.

HE'S HOME....MY BABY BOY IS HOME!!!

He is home!! I can hardly believe it. This past month has, at times, felt as though it would never end but at the same time has gone so fast. Brantley has come so far and has made such good progress. He did come home on a heart monitor but David and I are kind of glad. The monitor gives us peace of mind. It tells if his heart rate drops to low or goes to high or if he stops breathing. But since he came home on a monitor we had to stay at the hospital again but this time we got to put him in our room. It was a LONG night for both David and I. We weren't quite sure what to expect but we got a real eye opener into parenthood. Last night when we brought him home was so much better. He sleeps good, he eats pretty good (we are still working on nursing but he does fantastic with a bottle.) and thankfully we haven't had to really use the monitor. He seems to be breathing and heart beating wonderfully.

We went to his first well baby doctor appointment today and he now weighs 6 pounds 14 ounces and if 21 inches long. He is getting so big and is filling out quite nicely. He is becoming a cute little chunky monkey.

Adjusting to parent hood is hard but he is so cute and he makes all the lack of sleep worth it. I love watching him and holding him. I am so glad he is mine. We are home for RSV season and will be locked away for a while. Life is good, we are so blessed and are grateful to everyone for their prayers on our behalf and that we are able to have our baby boy home with us!