4 Months & Counting

Colton James Myers
came into the world on May 10, 2016 at 2:30pm. He weighed 6lbs, 6ozs & was 19.5 inches long. He was 2 weeks & 2 days early! He had dark, squiggly little hairs all over his head, we thought for sure he was going to be curly headed! But that changed after they washed him up, his hair has been straight ever since. Everyone noticed how big his hands & feet were & how long his fingers & toes were. He was a good baby from the start. He had lots of family & friends come to visit while we were in the hospital & we were able to take him home for the first time 
on Friday, May 13^th. 

The first couple of days were pretty rough for me & Casey trying to adjust to having a little one in the house, lots of visitors (whom we were thankful for), & little to no sleep. We knew something wasn’t just right with Colton though because of his nursing habits. So we decided to take him to the doctor the following Monday for a check-up & he had dropped a lot of weight, he lost 9% while we were in the hospital & dropped another half a pound. We left the doctors office with a game plan to feed him formula but by later that afternoon things still were not better so the doctor thought it best he be admitted into the hospital again for fluids. He had become dehydrated because my milk had not come which we didn’t know & felt terrible about. We, yes all 3 of us, stayed in the hospital 2 nights & then we went home again. Ever since, he has been a growing baby boy with a lot of adventures. 

Colton’s first 4 months were pretty busy with lots of first…as to be expected. 

Here’s a month by month recap:

May

Being he arrived a little early the outfit I ordered for him to wear home wasn’t ready, so he wore a cute onesie that Mother, who will be known as Granny from this point on, bought for him when she first found out we were pregnant & we used one of the blankets Marcia & Daddy, known from here on out as Nana & PawPaw, gave us. He was so tiny in his car seat & we were nervous riding in the car with him. His coming home outfit came in a few days after we got home & we were able to get some pics with it on him when he had his newborn session done, which was on his original due date ironically enough.

 Wally & Roxy took pretty well to him, at first Wally was very uninterested & Roxy wanted to be everywhere he went, then they reversed rolls for a while. Now they both love it when we let them sniff him & they both know when he cries he needs to be taken care of. They are pretty funny to watch. I think Roxy still doesn’t understand why she’s not the baby anymore. 

As soon as we got home Casey started talking to Colton. 

He talked to him the whole time I was pregnant too. He would tell him how much he was loved & how much fun they are going to have driving me crazy, which is probably true. They started watching sports together right off the bat & napping together...it must have been golf. 

We all nap during golf. 

He had a few doctors appointments just as follow-ups for the first month or  so to check his weight & make sure he was developing like he should be. Once we got over that initial hump it’s been smooth sailing. 

He loves to eat & will let you know quick when he’s hungry. Colton slept in a bassinet in our room for about a month & a half, he started outgrowing it so we moved him to his crib. He likes to be swaddled & was a good sleeper from the start, as long as his belly was full. He has smiled in his sleep since he came into the world & continues to be a happy baby & lights up as soon as he makes eye contact with you. It’s the cutest thing, 

his little tongue sticks out when he smiles too. 



June


We had visits from Jennifer & Hadley & Sara & Sterling, both Hadley & Sterling were born a month before Colton, both on April 11th. They were a little more aware of him than he was of them. 

Rafael came for a visit too for the first time since we were in the hospital & he volunteered to babysit anytime we need it….he probably doesn’t remember saying that. He also sang “Donkey Butt” to Colton, the influence he’ll have on our child is slightly concerning. LOL! 








Colton turned 1 month at 8.1lbs & 21.75” long. We decided to start taking the monthly pictures & posting them on Facebook for everyone to see. We try to include a little write up on what he likes to do with each of us. It’s so crazy to see how much he changes each month. Every month I think, he can’t get any cuter, but he does…every time. 

Casey celebrated his first Father’s Day, Colton wore a special outfit for him, we gave him a special wooden watch & I cooked is favorite dinner, Chicken Fried Steak with country gravy, mashed potatoes & corn.

We used to take so many pictures of the puppies, now it’s all about Colton, I think I’ve taken 10 a day since he was born. He does such funny things we want to be sure & caprture as much of it as we can.

We found out too that he likes magic, because he has Houdini like skills when it comes to getting out of his swaddle. As much as he likes to be swaddled, he likes his arms out too, usually above his head. He stretches all the time too, big grown-up stretches, it so funny.

July

Colton celebrated his first 4^th of July in proper fashion, literally. 
We went to Tammy & Glenn’s for the Hicks’ Annual Cornhole Tournament & Cook-out. Nana & PawPaw didn’t play so they watched him for us while Casey & I defended our title from the year before to no avail. Kylie & Jason finally beat us…wonders never cease. Ha!

We discovered he’s a sleeping squirmer in addition to being Houdini. He squirmed right out of his hat one morning when I went to check on him. I started back to work which was not as hard as I thought it would be. I would much prefer to stay home with him, but it’s a great peace of mind knowing he’s not in daycare. I did have a couple of days where I got emotional having to leave him to go to work, but all in all it’s not been too bad. He stays with Granny 3 days a week & Casey keeps him 2 days a week (Tuesday & Wednesday).













Casey started Topless Tuesdays, where Colton only wears pants & a diaper all day. Again I’ll say…don’t know if I’m looking forward to the shenanigans to come as Colton gets older.






Colton also had his first birthday party, it was Finnley’s 3^rd birthday & was held at Mudbrick. Sara did a drive-in movie theme making cars out of boxes for the bigger kids & gave everyone a license plate with their name on it. Colton slept through most of the party. We also celebrated Granny’s birthday with a nice dinner in Fairhope, he only spit-up on her once. 

We had his 2 month check-up & vaccinations. He did really well, only cried for a second, he came in at 10.1lbs & 22.75” long which put him in the 30^th percentile for his weight & 50^th percentile for his height. We were glad to see our little bit was growing!

August

This was a busy month! 

Colton turned 3 months cuter (instead of older, because he gets cuter everyday) weighing in at a whopping 13lbs! His legs are starting to show it with a couple of little rolls. Again, so cute!

We celebrated my birthday, Casey took me out to dinner & a movie while Nana & PawPaw babysat for us. It was our first “just us” outing since we had him. We celebrated Casey’s birthday too by going out to dinner at Osman’s while Nana & PawPaw babysat again, that was part of PawPaw’s birthday present, getting to keep Colton. Also part of Casey's celebration was going to Colton's first Baybears game. We had a suite compliments of the Bubble Lounge & he got a picture with Teddy & Bay B. Bear.

Colton had his first church visit this month & we were able to get all dressed up for the occassion. We went to Mt. Pisgah with Nana & PawPaw & got to see lots of our Leakesville friends & family. MawMaw Betty held him for the first time as did Ali, Addisyn, Kennley & Kade. They just couldn’t understand before why they couldn’t hold him & they all love babies so much it was just killing them. We were at Daddy’s (PawPaw) & as soon as they hit the door they went to the bathroom to wash their hands & came running back in the living room asking to hold him. They just loved it.

Hadley came to visit again & Colton got all dressed up in his “suit & tie” for her. This time they were very aware of each other. We have video of them just staring & smiling at each other, it’s so cute. 

He started holding his head up on his own for the most part & doing really well with tummy time, holding toys, recognizing people & watching you walk across the room. Casey made several videos of him asking him if they can best friends & every time Colton smiles as big as he can. Again, another cutest moment ever (Will they ever stop? Those best ever moments? Probably not.)

Colton figured out he likes the TV, especially cartoons & he had his first grocery store trip. Fortunately I haven’t had to do any major shopping with him in tow yet, I know that will come at some point though. He loves being outside & just out of the house in general.

Uncle Javis made him this really neat & thoughtful shadow box. The two rocks in the sand are the same rocks that are in the picture in the shadow box. J was at the beach in Washington state where the movie "The Goonies" was filmed, he & Casey are big fans of the movie. He says there were these rocks all over the beach but only these two were next to each other touching. He said he thought about what it must have taken to unite these two rocks, so the rocks are symbolic of Casey & Colton. He took a picture of the rocks, then brought them home to place in the shadow box which he then added several things to, like the treasure chest with treasures in it, the sand, oars & stickers on the sides to represent The Goonies. He painted it to match Colton's room. Casey & I love it & appreciate it so much, it's a very thoughtful gift & we know Colton will love & appreciate it one day soon too.

September 

Football started!!!
Colton will equally support my team, Alabama, & Casey’s team, Penn State, but we are all united when it comes to the NFL, we’re a Broncos family. 
Colton showed off his spirit for all the teams on the first weekend of football. 

Colton started laughing out loud for the first time the last few weeks. Casey plays “get your belly” & tells him he likes his candy bacon belly & will pretend to be "eating" his belly. He laughs outloud, every…single…time. It’s the cutest thing ever! Casey plays all kinds of games & does crazy things with him, one being the Cheerio Challenge, see how many cheerios you can stack on the sleeping babies head. We laugh at how Colton sleeps all spread out. Ha!





We had a busy weekend! 
We visited Nana & PawPaw & wore one of the first outfits they bought for us...it's Camo of course! We went to Uncle J’s for Bayleigh’s birthday party too & Colton wanted to wear the sombrero….he’s always the life of the party. Ha! 

We had his 4 month check-up, he did cry a little more when he got his shots this time & so did Momma. It killed me hearing him cry like that, he was crying so hard he wasn’t even making any sound, broke my heart. He was 15.2lbs & 25” long. He was in the 50^th percentile for his weight & height but in the 75^th percentile for the size of his head….he takes after his Momma. 

  

That's all the excitment for the first 4 months. 

Stay tuned for more exciting adventures with Colton James!