Four Month Appointment – October 26, 2010

Well he started big and continues to stay big. We went to his four month appointment and he measured in at… drumroll please…

19 pounds – 9 month range

28 inches long – 10 month range

He also had to get four more shots in his thighs and one oral vaccine, as Darren said “he took it like a man”. The doctor said he looks good and healthy and that we can start rice cereal. Woo hoo.

Schnepf Farms – October 23, 2010

Grandma and Papa Englert, Darren myself and Brice went to the farm to pick out a pumpkin and enjoy the nice weather. It was a nice day out and Brice got lots of pictures in the pumpkin patch and got his own little pumpkin for his first Halloween!

John and Katrina’s Wedding – October 2, 2010

What a fun time. The family (Auntie Kyla, Auntie Lauren, Uncle Jake, Cousin Riley, Great Aunt and Uncle Joachim, Great Grandma and Grandpa and second cousin Tyler) all came into town for the big event. Auntie Kyla, Auntie Lauren, Uncle Jake, Cousin Riley all stayed at Casa de McCollem. We had a great time. On Friday before the wedding we went to the rehearsal dinner at Hole in the wall restaurant with all of john and Katrina’s friends and Family. That night Tyler stayed with us as well staying up catching up on all of Darren’s movies with my favorite line by the fatherly voice of Darren, “no you can’t watch 300 it has boobs in it”.

On Saturday me, Grandma Englert, Great Grandma Englert, Auntie Kyla and Auntie Lauren all went and got our hair done for the wedding. Then after getting ready we dropped off Brice at Auntie Megan’s house so we could have a worry free night. We then trekked across Arizona for a beautiful wedding in Katrina’s moms backyard. There was lots of dancing and fun.

Welcome to the family Auntie Katrina!

Thursday Night Dinner

We are still carrying on the tradition of Thursday Night Dinner. We go to Grandma and Papa Englerts and eat a delicious meal they cook, with gourmet deserts made by Chief Sheila. John and Katrina always come and we get to catch up and let all three dogs get some energy out!

October 22, 2010 (written)

Oh how a baby can keep you so busy and yet most of the time they are sleeping.

Lots has happens the past two months, Brice is changing and doing something new every day! Let’s start with I had to go back to work :( After 12 wonderful and sleepless weeks I had to go back to work. Yes, I cried all day Sunday, and every day after September 13^th I was ready to leave to see my big guy. On the plus side it was much easier going back to work, knowing Grandma (my mom) will be watching him during the week.

Things Brice and Grandma like to do:

Rolling: he rolled three times from grandma when he was 3 months old, then he didn’t do it again for me and Darren until about 3 weeks later, now he is a rolling fool, well at least from his back to his front!

Eating: started formula mixed with breast milk, and the gas has subsided, he eats 6 oz easily and lets grandma know if he wants more!

Talking: likes to impress grandma with his deep voice. No cooing here, lots of deep ahhhhhhhs.

Giggling: once he gets started it is hard to stop him he has a cute laugh and inhales at the end, sometimes making him cough.

Sleeping: Well as long as it is in Grandma’s arms!

Playing: He is grabbing at things including fistfuls of hair you can tell he “gets it”

Kicking: He hasn’t stopped moving since the day he was born, still kicking

To all my readers...

I am so sorry to keep you waiting for wonderful updates on Brice and our family adventures. I hope you stay tuned and catch up over the past five months. A lot has happened!

Two Months

Brice had his two month check up on August 24^th. This was the first time he did not cry throughout the checkup (well until the dreaded shots, four in the leg and one oral, poor guy). I was so proud of him. Two month stats: 15lbs 11 oz; 25.75 inches and 16.25 inch head. 97.5%

Our Week

I ended up taking Brice in when he was 6-weeks old, he had been fussy for a few weeks with gas, and now he wasn’t getting any sleep because of it and I wanted to make sure it was nothing more serious. He weighed in at 13lbs 4 oz, like I said he is my big handsome boy! The doctor checked him out and said it was mostly likely still gas and to watch what I was eating.

Grandma Ruth

I really appreciated having Grandma Ruth in AZ even more after the first week by my self. She visited us from July 4th -August 2^nd. She was very helpful, cooking great dinners , cleaning, holding Brice, lett ing me nap and shower. It was great just hanging out. We even experimented with getting out of the house. We went to Ross Department Store (she liked this store in CA and they don’t have it in MA), we also went on Target trips and by the end even went to the Village Inn after his one month doctors appt. for free pie Wednesday! One Friday we really braved it, Darren, Grandma and myself packed up the car and went to the Phoenix Art Museum. We figured it is air conditioned and wouldn’t have too many people. It was nice getting out o f the house. We of course never skipped Thursday night dinner at Grandma and Papa Englert’s, they need their Brice fill! We also got to skype with Grandpa McCollem one weekend so he could see his grandson live. Rumor has it Brice has Grandpa’s long arms!

The trip went by very fast. The Friday before she left Darren and I took Ruth out to The Roaring Fork for a nice meal while Grandma and Papa Englert watched Brice. It was a very nice night out. The Sunday before she left we had a Bacon Cheesburger cookout. In attendance were Grandma and Papa, Bryan and Owen, Jenny, Steve and Peyton and Janie and Steve. We said goodbye to her Monday morning and Brice and I prepared for the week ahead.

Brice’s one month stats (5 weeks): 12lbs 15oz; 24 inches long; he received his second hepatitis B shot.

Fun Facts

Visitors at the Hospital
Grandma and Papa Englert
Uncle John and Aunt Katrina
Sally (Darren's co-worker)



Nicknames
Fussasauraus/Fussalump
B-Dubs (Darren's Favorite)
Lovebug

Things He Likes
Being held (his absolute favorite)
Eating (also a big favorite)
Kisses (wait thats what mama likes)
To talk
His Swing
His bouncer

Things he doesn't like
His pacifier (He will take it after about a minute)
Being changed, although he hates having a dirty diaper as well.

Cute Facts
Brice plays with his hair while eating. Darren does this when he is tired, note the picture a day after Brice was born.


He is very strong, the first night in the hospital he was holding his head up. We still practice everyday and he keeps it lifted for quite a while until he is bored. He is also constantly moving his arms and legs!

He started smiling! Before I couldn't tell if it was gas or a smile, now he looks at you and smiles, I even heard a giggle. He started smiling at 6-weeks.



We moved him from the co-sleeper to the crib at 3-weeks. He was very chatty in the co-sleeper and we couldn't sleep. After about a week in the crib he is finally getting used to it.

We started our bedtime routine at 6-weeks, we get a bath, put on our PJ's eat and go down around 8:30. After just a few days of the routine he is starting to figure it out. We have our good and bad nights still, but now at 8-weeks he is going to sleep around 8:30-9:00 and stays asleep anywhere from 3 hours and one lucky night of 5 and a half hours!