Week 13 (photos)

Tickle the Ivories

Charles was out and about and bought this Discovery Kids piano for just $1. It has a key missing but Pierce doesn't seem to mind. We can change the sounds, play different beats or rhythms, and it has some drum sampling buttons too! He just loves it. Here he is tickling those ivories while sitting in his bumbo seat. The tray makes the perfect platform for the keyboard. Roll over Beethoven...here comes Pierce!

Week 12 (photos)

More Cow Bell!

Pierce is hanging out with Dad and playing the drums! He's getting to be more dexterous all of the time. I don't have to tell you how delighted Charles was with Pierce holding the drum sticks. Of course he did need a little bit of help actually hitting the drums but he had a death grip on those sticks! Awww...our little drummer boy.

Week 11 (photos)

Sleep when he sleeps?!?

With our schedules finally getting ironed out and both of us returning to work, we needed a little help babysitting Pierce. Grandmommy Phyllis was more than happy to help us out. Here they are napping the afternoon away. At first I was unsure if this really counted as babysitting, but then I remembered the new mom mantra "sleep when he sleeps". Grandmommy must take that mantra very seriously. Aren't they sweet?

Week 10 (photos)

Bouncy! Bouncy!

Pierce is getting stronger and stronger everyday. His Aunt Cheryl and Uncle David sent him this Rainforest Jumperoo and he just loves it. He's actually not heavy enough yet to reach the floor so we put two seat cushions below it and brought the floor to him. Although his attention span is not supposed to be greater than 5 minutes or so, he will sit in this and bounce around for 15-20 minutes! It makes jungle animal noises and plays cute little songs that are activated with his movement. You can tell he's getting tired when the music stops for periods of time. With toys like this he'll be walking in no time!

Bisabuela Rosa

Pierce took his first road trip this weekend to meet his bisabuela Rosa (great grandmother) in Waco. The trip to Waco went rather well. Pierce slept most of the time and was in a rather good mood when we got there. The trip back was a different story. He had been in the car seat a total of about 4 hours that day as we drove around from place to place and the last 15 minutes of our trip he had had enough. Poor little guy. Once we got home we played, took a bath, read a book and put him to bed. Obviously worn out, he slept for 5 hours straight.

Here Pierce is with Great Grandma Rosa. She definitely had the touch. Within 20 minutes of being in her arms he passed out.

2 Month Checkup

Pierce went for his 2 month checkup yesterday. They weighed and measured him and he also got 2 vaccinations. We'll start with the good stuff...He was 11 lbs and 14 oz which put him in the 53rd percentile. He was 23.5 inches long, putting him in the 70th percentile. And, his head was 16.4 cm around putting him in the 90th percentile! Holy moly!

Now for the bad stuff...his shots. The Rotovirus vaccine was oral so it wasn't that bad (although the nurse said it tasted like paper... yuk!) The DTaP shot was painful to watch. The needle looked HUGE compared to his little thigh. He did pretty well and only cried for a second. He was smiling shortly after. In this picture he's sitting with Dad waiting for his shot.

Week 9 (photos)

Dr. Sears Alternative Vaccine Schedule

With all of the talk of vaccines causing autism and whatnot I thought I'd post this alternative vaccine schedule by Dr. Sears for other parents. He spaces the vaccine's out throughout their youth so that they aren't getting too much medicine at one time. The MMR shot is probably one of the most dangerous and criticized culprits of autism, but this schedule divides them up at 1, 2, and 3 years old.

The months with an * are shots-only visits b/c most doctors don't do well-baby appts those months. I'm leaving the Flu shot out of this schedule b/c there are footnotes that basically say to start it with 2 doses between 6-12 months during flu season, then get one each year through age 5.

Please use this list as a tool to discuss vaccinating with your pediatrician.

Dr. Sear's Alternative Vaccine Schedule

• 2 months: DTaP, Rotavirus
• 3 months*: Pc, HIB
• 4 months: DTaP, Rotavirus
• 5 months*: Pc, HIB
• 6 months: DTaP, Rotavirus
• 7 months*: Pc, HIB
• 9 months: Polio (IPV)
  
• 12 months: Mumps, Polio (IPV) (See 3rd UPDATE)
• 15 months: Pc, HIB
• 18 months: DTaP, Chickenpox
• 2 years: Rubella, Polio (IPV) (See 3rd UPDATE)
• 2 1/2 years*: Hep B, Hep A (start Hep B at birth if any close relatives or caregivers have Hep B)
• 3 years: Hep B, Measles (See 3rd UPDATE)
  
• 3 1/2 years*: Hep B, Hep A
• 4 years: DTaP, Polio (IPV)
• 5 years: MMR
• 6 years: Chickenpox
• 12 years: Tdap, HPV
• 12 years, 2 months*: HPV
• 13 years: HPV, Meningococcal (once Meningococcal vaccine is approved for age 2, Dr. Sears will move it there and delay Hep B by 6 months)

A NOTE FROM ME: The MMR vaccines are no longer split up into 3 different shots. As a result I have chosen to wait until my son is over 3 to get the MMR shot. He has to have 2 MMR vaccinations before starting public school so I will wait as long as possible. However, if there is an outbreak in my area of any of the 3 diseases, I will consider vaccinating him immediately. - Shari

****UPDATED ****
It was brought to my attention by an anonymous reader (thank you) that the IPV vaccine is actually included in the above....it is the Polio vaccine. I confirmed with my own research. However, I am leaving this other alternative vaccine schedule recommended from a different author and pediatrician. This is just another option for concerned parents. This schedule is based on Dr. Stephanie Cave's What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations .

Here is her schedule:

Hep B
Delay until the year before starting school, although we may consider starting the series as early as two and half if we are considering preschool at the time.

Hib
4 mo, 6 mo, 8 mo, 17 mo

IPV (Polio)
4 mo, 6 mo, 8 mo, 17 mo (booster at 4 years)

DtaP
5 mo, 7 mo, 9 mo, 15 or 18 mo (booster at 4 years)

Pneumococcal (PREVNAR) one dose at age 2

Varicela (Varivax)
Age four, if at all

MMR
Mumps – 15 mo
Rubella – 27 mo
Measles – 39 mo
Booster – age 5

****UPDATED ****
I ran across this article and decided to post it. It is about a father's struggle with vaccinations and how his decisions effected the way he chose to vaccinate his two sons. He did a year's worth of research and this article is part of his result. "To vaccinate or not to vaccinate is the parental question of our time."

****UPDATED ****3rd UPDATE****
Merck is no longer making the MMR shots separately. As a result, personally, I am putting of the MMR shot until my son enters kindergarten. I am doing this because I think this is what is best for my son in my situation. Hopefully in the next 4 years they will have more answers and I can make a more informed decision. As for right now, this is what I've decided to do and my doctor is supportive. You, as a parent, must make your own decision on when you will get the MMR. I hope this helps - Shari

Grandmommy's Little Love

Here Pierce is with his Grandmommy Phyllis. She comes over all the time to see him and gives him tons of attention. It's going to be hard to keep her from spoiling this little guy down the road. But, I guess that's what grandparents are for, huh?

He just smiles and smiles at her. He also coos and makes pterodactyl noises. She smiles back at him and says "You're Grandmommy's Little Love!"