9 months

Happy Birthday Brady! We are inching our way to that 1 year mark! YEAH! Our little man weighs 17.4lbs and is 27 3/4" long. That puts him in the HUGE category on the Down Syndrome chart and tiny whiny on the regular chart, but who needs that one when you are good looking beyond any measurable means. 

We have 2 days left on the steroids and then we are meeting with our ENT to discuss a partial tonsillectomy and removal of the adenoids. The adenoids are no big deal and pretty common at this point, but the tonsils are another story. The earliest most Doctors would consider taking them out is age 3, but because Brady's tonsils are so big and creating an obstruction, his Doctor is making an exception. I'll keep you all posted. 

So the roids have been entertaining this time around. Brady hasn't so much been a bear, but a total clown. He is hilarious. He is making sounds, squeezing cheeks, pulling hair, yelling, talking, rolling and trying to sit up. This is a jazzed up version of Brady. I think Broadway might be in his future. Watch out Corky Thatcher!

Busy

The only word that can describe Brady these days is BUSY! He has been busy around town, busy gaining 2lbs in one month, busy trying to sit up on his own and busy being insanely charming. Well the charming bit is going to be short lived! Brady is back on the roids. The good old common cold struck again, flaring things up in adenoid land. No worries, the steroids are effective and Brady should be breathing normally again in no time. Beware to all who cross his path in the next five days. With the extra 2 pounds under his belt he is bound to make the attack on the nurse at Children's look like a mercy killing (please review past postings for a reminder of Brady on roids). In an attempt to curb some of his tantrums we have begun daily yoga and rehearsing positive, uplifting mantras like "you don't have to rip any one's arm off today," and "peace is power." So far they seem to be working considering Bill still has all his fur and our windows are intact. 

P.S.  Mama bear is recovering nicely. It was humbling being a 90 year old for a week. Thanks to all of you for your positive words. 

Mama Bear Down

I know this is a blog about Brady, but considering I am his primary care taker, this directly relates to him. I threw out my back! Yeah, I'm 31 going on 90. It must be from carrying Brady's big lug around. He is getting so heavy these days and throw in the car seat, baby combo and we're talking Olympic level lifting. So after a midnight visit to the ER, 2 chiropractic visits, tuning up on Jeff's Mr. Mom's skills and grandma nanny to the rescue, things are slowly getting back to normal. We are doing our part to stimulate the health care industry. Brady insisted I post the above picture to rub his limberness in my face. My toes might as well be in China, because there is no way I'm touching them in the near future. 

Eating?

As you can see in this video Brady isn't the biggest fan of eating...solids. He would much prefer to create and iron gate with his lips than swallow something other than milk. Usually he greets the spoon with a howl and a swat of his hand. I have been wearing the latest fashions of sweet potato puree and apple mash. Jeff and I have tried every eating strategy on the planet. We've tried a variety of spoons and Jeff even gave a spatula a whirl. He thought maybe "frosting" the food into Brady's mouth would prove successful... nope! I guess the good news is Brady's not starving and I look good in sweet potatoes. 

Of course in true Brady fashion he is working it for the camera. He just won't allow a bad image to develop. 

Happy Easter

I have subjected Brady to one final holiday themed outfit. So far he doesn't seem to mind. By this I mean he has not filled his Easter basket....yet. From the look of this picture, my time is limited. 

Studious

This is Brady hard at work. His fancy PT (physical therapist) put together a sitting desk for Brady. It's designed to help him work on sitting up. He's giving me that look because he doesn't like to be interrupted, even for photo opts. 

So everyday I plop him into his seat and place all his "tools" around him. He begins each session exactly the same... he clears off the toys he doesn't want and then grabs the rattle and pounds the table top like he's driving nails into wood. I'm guessing he is just showing off his bruit strength. Maybe it's even a warning to Bill (the cat) of what's to come. Beware, alpha Brady coming Summer '09. Once he figures out this sitting bit, it's free reign in terror town. 

Flying Colors

Brady had another follow up yesterday. This time with his ENT specialist at Boys Town. The visit went extremely well. The conclusion... do nothing for now! Good news in our book. The less times we have to stick a scope down our little man's airway the better. A weigh in was not part of the plan, but a very nice nurse appeased me and let me weigh Brady. He has gained  1lb 4oz in 3 weeks, putting him at 16.5lbs! WHOA! We are so thrilled. I am especially proud since I've been providing the nutrition every two hours around the clock. He has backed away a little from the Old Country Buffet in the last few days (thank God), so I think his growth spurt will tapper off now. 

Other than packing on the pounds Brady hasn't been up to anything real novel, just the usual baby stuff. I have caught him working on some crunches and dipping into the spray tan though. He claims it's his "spring preparation." Since he's not old enough to go on spring break he just thought he better look the part. With his Buddha belly and inherited pasty white skin I think it appears the North Pole will be his destination.