Just a little hello.

Well, today is another day off and I plan to take a nice, long nap!!! Prior to that, I have some things to do around the house, tests to grade, phone calls to make concerning insurance and Tanner's NICU bill, and I really need to make the next layout for Scrapbook Club. I also need to design a shirt for Science Club! UGH! Now I feel overwhelmed again!

Tanner is doing very well both here and at daycare. As shown, he loves the "ocean" that they put him in at school. It is a Baby Einstein, ocean-themed concave vibrating seat that makes sounds and has little stuffed ocean animals on it. He has lost most of the hair on top of his head, but has this little ring of fairly long brown hair that goes from ear-to-ear along the base of his neck! It's hilarious looking! I can't make myself cut it and make it a more uniform look, but it does cross my mind!

He has really started smiling a lot lately, finally! He recognizes our voices and will track us across the room. He'll also look around if he hears us, but cannot see us. He has been much happier now that he is back on breast milk and hardly ever has crying fits anymore. Maybe when he's sleepy, or right before bed. A bottle and his swaddle blanket and he's right to sleep. Speaking of sleep, he is doing amazingly well and sleeping for up to 8 hours at a time. Over the night, he went for two nights in a row without needing an overnight bottle. He did the same thing last night too! That is WONDERFUL!! I still have to get up in the night and pump, but I get back to bed within 45 minutes or so.

Tanner is growing like crazy! He is around 15 pounds now and about 25 inches long. He has fat rolls and chubby thighs. I have two big bags of clothes that he has grown out of already! He is on the edge of 0-3 and 3-6 month outfits. Chronologically, he is 3 months, 3 weeks, and 4 days old, but that is a different story developmentally. Due to being 7 weeks preemie, we have to work with his corrected age. So, that is something I have to keep in mind when comparisons are being made. He should be doing what a 2 mo/1 week old baby would be doing. He has his 4 month doctor visit next Wednesday and we plan to go over all of that stuff percentile-wise. Plus, shots, I think. YUCK!

Tobin is definitely gearing up for hunting season. He shoots his bow every night and keeps track of it on the garage wall! He watches deer hunting videos in the garage (his cave) each night. He has even done many loads of scent-free detergent laundry and hung it outside to air dry. Next week is his first trip and my om will stay with me. (primarily to help with Tanner in the mornings when I am getting ready for school/work) This weekend, we also have the annual Elliott family reunion.

I have been busy with school and baby, like usual. I am on the career ladder committee and that has been a little time-consuming. It will pay off next summer, but in the meantime, there is a TON of paperwork and plans to review for each person in my building. I'm thankful that our school is finally able to participate in the program though.

Well, I think this is one of the longest blog posts for me, so I'll end here. We're having some beautiful fall weather this week; I hope everyone is able to get out and enjoy it!