Half a Year

Six months ago, Daddy took Mama to the hospital to check out what seemed like a strange stomach flu; hours later, Samson was surgically removed from the womb two months earlier than expected to start his life in the neonatal intensive care.

Since then, Samson has made incredible progress. Here are just some of his accomplishments:

• coming home with no monitors after living for 6 weeks in the NICU
• growing from less than 4 pounds to over 16 lbs
• healing from a heart murmur, sepsis, sleep apnea, and umbilical hernia
  
• transitioning from tube feeding to bottle feeding to breastfeeding over a period of 12 weeks time
  
• going from a "colicky" constant crier to a happy, "rarely cries" baby after we removed all cow milk protein from his (and Mama's) diet
• from soaking 20-30 burp cloths (plus 2-3 changes of clothes for himself, Mama, and Daddy) each day to minimally wetting only 6-10 burp cloths and wearing the same outfit all day long
  
• from staying awake & fussing most of the night to sleeping most of the night between 9pm and 6am (and most importantly, going immediately back to sleep after his night feeds)
• from demanding to be held at all times to enjoying several 20-30 minute independent play periods each day in his crib, exersaucer, jumper, and playgym mat
  

Samson is becoming quite an active boy. He loves to kick and jump and wave his arms. He can hold his head up very well, and sit or stand with assistance. He likes to read picture books, suck and chew his fingers, and giggle and "talk" (especially first thing in the morning). Recently, he's begun to pick up some objects on his own and get them to his mouth for a taste; his favorite teether is a cotton burp cloth. Yesterday, he discovered that he can scoot/wiggle around his crib and he was able to roll from his back to his side for the first time.

Though we kept him cooped up for the first couple of months to protect him from germs, Samson has since made a few trips away from home to meet his East Texas family. He's been as far as Bryan, San Augustine, Beaumont, Houston, and Livingston. In town, he's been to the homes of the Turners, Murphys, and Boriches. He's eaten out at Elsi's, Central Market, Curra's, Opal Divine's, Chuy's, and Logan's. He's shopped at HEB, Whole Foods, IKEA, Sears, and Babies R Us.

Mama and Daddy are very proud of our strong, beautiful boy. We can't wait to see what Samson will do next and we're looking forward to some big milestones in the coming weeks. He will soon be sitting up unassisted, rolling over, and eating his first cereal.

Evidence of recent cuteness:


3/29/07


3/29/07


3/26/07


3/18/07


3/13/07