Elise is doing great and has move into the kicking-legs-constant-cooing stage. It's amazing to see her trying to communicate with us. The docs have changed her protocol for reflux and it seems to be making a world of difference. She's no longer on Zantac and instead I am off dairy and we're giving her pro-biotics. Her skin has cleared up substantially (you'll notice in some of the pics below how bad it was getting) and her gassiness and eating pain has been very much reduced. She's also sleeping (most nights) 5 hours at a time. Then every third day she cat naps during the day and sleeps normally the next two.
Ryan had a big few weeks with field trips to the fire station, the apple orchard and swim lessons at school. He also got his first punch in the eye courtesy of a classmate...we're working through that with his school right now. Didn't expect bullying to be my main topic of concern before elementary school even began. All in all he's doing good, though going through a bit of the attention grabbing acting out that we'd expected earlier in Elise's addition to our family. It's all manageable and expected. It just feels a bit overwhelming when you add on football, regular work for Max, and my return to work.
As for Max, they ended regular season play last night with a 7-2 record. Last nights' loss came in the last 22 seconds of the playoff game for the conference champion title...a position the school has not been in since the 70's I believe. Tomorrow night the announcement show will tell them who they'll be playing in round one of the state playoffs. This is the first time Northview has ever made the playoffs, so everyone's shaking off the loss and looking forward to next Friday nights history making game. Take a peak at our cuties below and enjoy the crisp fall day. We plan to watch the Michigan / Michigan State game and just regroup before next week's busy pace.
Love to you all, Courtney, Max, Ryan + Elise
Me looking a bit rough after a long night and day!
Bathtime! Her eyes are staying blue so far.
Tummy time!
The mornings that Ryan comes into cuddle are the most precious moments.
Daddy and Ryan posing with the Dragon across from the Amway Grand.
It's not Grand Rapids until you run into someone you love. We looked up and saw Henry Danger as we toured the Gerald R. Ford part of the exhibition.
Photo credit to Max on this one. Here's Ryan with a buck. You'd never know this was in the middle of the city.
Daddy and Ryan looking through a piece of art... an outdoor kaleidescope.
Ryan protecting his sister.
Ryan's family portrait. Funny enough, the one he did in school had Elise's body over my tummy. We all look like Grimace from McDonald's but I find his intertpretation enchanting.
Nothing like relying on one baby to raise another. I eat bon bon's all day. Ryan does the heavy lifting with Elise.
Cutie pie!
My big boy has out grown all his clothes. He's now wearing a 5 and 11.5 shoes. And most nights he eats as much as me!
