Just a quick update on our little man. Fortunately for him, he isn't staying too little. Of course as mom I'd love him to be my little baby forever, but the fact that he is healthy and growing and thriving after his explosive early entrance into the world also makes my heart melt. His last appointment was for his 4 month well check. He is slowly creeping closer to the "standard" growth charts. His length actually made it near the 3rd percentile. When plotted on his preemie chart he is holding his curve and remains around the 60th percentile for weight but it isn't enough to make the "standard" charts just yet. He either has been having growth spurts of late, or just misses mommy. That boy normally likes to eat, but brought it to a whole new level the first week or so I was back at work and continues to ramp it up every couple of days. Either way, he is putting on some pounds, adding to his roll count on his little legs, and of course there are those cheeks.
So far though we haven't had any major concerns. That doesn't mean I'm not hyper vigilant anymore about protecting him. After all I do cringe every time another little one gets close to his face for fear he will catch somethings. I also recruit my pediatric Physical Therapy sister to do an evaluation every so often, but overall I think I'm doing okay at letting him be a regular little baby.
We've even been at the germ factory (read: daycare) for almost two months now, and so far so good. Of course I can't help think about all the flu and RSV and common cold viruses lurking around every corner there, but if I've learned one thing is that I have no control over the timing of any of this. So he has started attending germ camp at the same time as virus season explodes.
WASH YOUR HANDS PEOPLE! (That is just a PSA as a health care worker I felt the need to throw out there and in no way is a reflection on our daycare itself. Our daycare is actually quite awesome as germ centers go.)
So anyway, Will is now almost five months old adjusted. I sometimes for a minute forget that he is really only three months adjusted; when I think about it I am that much more amazed at him. He has been cooing and started giggling. He is more alert, watches his sister be goofy and is starting to reach for toys. His smile in the morning is the best reason to be up and always gets me going (until the coffee kicks in). It helps that his smile also has a way of causing amnesia from the lack of sleep he caused the night before! It would be nice to have some consistent sleep, but knowing how he is growing makes the ongoing middle of the night feedings (sometimes every three hours) rewarding by the light of day. I haven't been tracking his milestones per se since it doesn't feel like the best measure of how he is doing. Obviously he is behind for a five month old, and we are supposed to adjust based on his due date so he should be at a three month old level. I am roughly aware of what he should be doing of course, but as long as he continues to make progress I am happy to let him just do that.
And that is just what he is doing!
