Category: Updates about Andrew

August 11 Update:  It’s been a busy week, and I’m now typing with Andrew sleeping on my lap and the laptop perched on my knees.  It works!  We had a great time at our annual pilgrimage to Jack’s house on the Wisconsin River.  The prairie was just beautiful, and the stars were unbelievably clear and plentiful.  Southeast Wisconsin is a fantastic corner of the earth.  Photos are available in the gallery.
Andrew did a major amount of eating during week five, and the past week, I imagine he was doing a lot of growing because he has been unusually fussy.  It’s been challenging to have our happy baby become a grouchy baby, but I think it’s temporary.  The past few days he’s been having awake-and-content times, so that’s been a welcome change.  I have just a few photos up this week.  They’re in the gallery.
We’re off to Wichita on an airplane on Friday morning.  Should be a really fun trip!

Lots of little fun things going on this week.  Andrew slept in his own crib several times this week.  He even has been letting us put him down while he’s still awake and he sometimes will sooth himself to sleep.  He’s still eating every 2-3 hours in the night.  Sometimes  we’ll get a four hour stretch, but in general that’s working alright.

On Monday we went shopping with my mom most of the day.  Andrew did a great job.  We found a big-boy car seat for him, and the cover is just perfect.  I thought we should wait until Christmas, but Mom went ahead and got it for him now.  There’s a photo of him in it in the gallery.  It’s fun to imagine how big he’ll be when he outgrows that seat!

On Tuesday we went to our Happy Bambino mom’s group again.  Had a great time and then went out to lunch with several girls afterwards.  Mom and her friend Mary came by our place in the afternoon.  Mary brought a basket of fun gifts for Andrew including some great bibs that she sewed.  She was really impressed by the quilt that LuAnn made for Andrew.

On Wednesday, I went into work and had lunch with some of my co-workers.  It was wonderful to see them all again.  Then Andrew and I walked down State Street to the Union to pick up Maretta from work.  We ran some errands together (which included stopping at Coldstone Creamery for ice cream) and she came over for dinner and a movie.

Now it’s Thursday.  I spent some time packing for our trip this weekend, but Andrew hasn’t given me much time to work on anything else.  He wants to sleep on my lap, NOT in his cradle, crib, or our bed.  I got some new books to read.  Last weekend I read Eragon by Christopher Paolini and really enjoyed it.  The sequel comes out in a couple weeks, so to tide me over until then, I got Trickster’s Choice by Tamora Pierce.

I’m sure that’s more info than almost anyone wanted to know about my week.  We’re off to Wichita tomorrow morning, and it should be a lot of fun!  Andrew’s first plane ride:)
Love,
Althea

Here’s the last weekly update from BabyCenter.com.  From now on, they have monthly updates:

Does your baby coo at you when you pick him up in the morning?
[ANDREW IS HAPPIEST IN THE MORNINGS.  HE’S STARTING TO COO AND GOO AT US SOMETIMES.  IT’S THE SWEETEST SOUND!]  Researchers say 50 percent of babies this age recognize their own parents, and a few even reward them with a big gummy grin. Recognizing Mom and Dad is just one sign that your baby is becoming more attuned to what’s going on around him.

Your baby’s head is fairly steady now and she’s able to exercise more motor control over her feet and hands instead of just swinging them wildly. To see this new skill in action, hold a toy or rattle up in front of your baby and watch her grab for it. Don’t forget to cheer her when she gets it. She’ll thrive on your encouragement for the rest of her life! [ANDREW’S NOT QUITE READY TO GRAB FOR THINGS YET.  HE LOOKS TOWARD VOICES AND FOUND HIS THUMB ONCE THE OTHER DAY.  I’VE EVEN SEEN HIM REACHING TOWARD HIS STUFFED ANIMALS WE KEEP BY THE CHANGING TABLE, BUT HE HAS YET TO GRAB A TOY:)

How your baby’s growing: Your baby has lost his pinched newborn look and appears steady and alert when held upright. [THIS LITTLE GUY LOVES TO PRACTICE STANDING.  SOMETIMES IT’S THE ONLY THING THAT WILL KEEP HIM FROM CRYING.]  When on his tummy, he’s able to lift his head and chest for short periods, almost as if he’s doing mini-pushups. [ANDREW ENJOYS HIS TUMMY TIME]  He might even be able to roll from back to front or front t back. [NOT YET! AND I HOPE HE HOLDS OFF A WHILE LONGER.  I’LL HAVE TO WATCH HIM MORE CLOSELY WHEN HE STARTS MOVING!]

He’s tuning in to you more each day. When you speak, he may stop sucking his thumb or interrupt a feeding to listen to you. [HE’S STARTING TO DO THIS ONCE IN A WHILE.  IT’S REALLY SPECIAL!]
Use your voice to connect with him. Repeat his coos and noises. Narrate your actions — speaking to your baby stimulates language development and is comforting. Make him the center of conversation. When you’re with friends, include him and let him hear the richness of human interaction. He’ll soon start to make all sorts of different noises himself.

July 27: Andrew is five weeks old today.  For him, there are milestones every week!  We went shopping last weekend with Maretta, and after screaming until I found a dressing room in which to change and nurse him, he slept all afternoon in his sling while we wandered the mall.  We went to our parents group again on Tuesday at Happy Bambino, and I had a wonderful time meeting and getting to know other moms with little babies.  Andrew is the youngest again:)
He got to meet his Great Uncle Kirk who was up for a visit from Texas.
We’re keeping busy and are out running around most every day.  The heat finally broke (it was nearly 100 on Sunday!), and today we enjoyed a long walk around the neighborhood.  Andrew held on to the edge of his sling and stayed awake the whole time.  April had fun too.
That’s our news for now!  Here’s a link to this week’s photos.

Babycenter.com update

How your baby’s growing: That smile lighting up your baby’s face — and your own — may be the real thing. You can tell it’s a social smile (as opposed to gas) if he uses his entire face to tell you he’s pleased. Though babies will smile only when they’re ready, you can get yours there faster by cuddling, tickling, and playing with him. [NO SMILES FROM LITTLE ANDREW YET, BUT I’LL BE SURE TO UPDATE WHEN THEY START APPEARING!]

By this time your baby can focus both eyes on an object and has begun to prefer more complex designs, colors, and shapes. He can track movement, which means that a simple rattle passed in front of his face can transfix him. Or you can play eyes-to-eyes — move very close to his face and slowly nod your head from side to side. He’ll follow you raptly, and you may even get another smile, or chuckle, out of him. [HE’S REALLY GETTING GOOD AT LOOKING AT THINGS.  HE LOVES LOOKING AT TREES OUT THE WINDOW OR AT PHOTOS ON THE WALL.  NOT SURE IF HE LIKES THE CONTRAST OF THE FRAME AGAINST THE WALL OR THE PICTURES THEMSELVES.  HE IS ALSO STARTING TO BE ABLE TO SWITCH HIS FOCUS FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER…BUT IT TAKES A LOT OF CONCENTRATION!]

July 22:  As hard as it for me to believe, Andrew is one month old today.  On Tuesday, I went to a great parents group and met a bunch of really nice other moms.  I weighed Andrew and was shocked to find out that he now weighs 10 lbs!  I was so surprised that I took off all his clothes and re-weighed him.  Still 10 lbs 0 oz.  He’s also 21.5 inches long.  That’s up from 7 lbs 3 oz and 19 inches at birth.  This little guy is growing fast!
Newest photos are up in the gallery

Babycenter.com Week 4 Update

Head’s up!

Your baby’s neck muscles are getting stronger, which allows him to hold up his head for short periods. He can hold it up for a few moments while lying on his stomach, for example, and he may even be able to turn it from side to side. He may be able to hold it up when he’s in a car seat or front carrier, especially if he has lots of support and you use special baby headrests designed to help him in those situations.

July 13:  Today, little Andrew is three weeks old.  It’s hard to believe!  He’s still very little and kissable.  According to our home measurements a couple days ago, Andrew is 20.5 inches long and weighs 9 pounds.  That’s up an inch and a half and a pound and a half since he was born!
We had a wonderful visit with Aunt Melanie and Uncle Ben and Mom and Dad Dotzour over the past several days.  Photos of their visit and of Andrew doing various cute things like crying and looking at stuffed bunnies are available in the most recent album in the Summer album in our gallery (here).

Bryan and I have been having a wonderful time getting to know our precious little baby.  A couple days ago, we took him for his first visit to Olbrich Botanical Gardens (see photos in the gallery under Summer/Trip to Olbrich Gardens). I think he liked hearing the birds and feeling the sunshine.  His umbilical cord fell off too, so he’s pretty much an old man now.
He had his first bath in the tub this week, and he seemed fascinated by the whole experience.  We held his head, and the rest of his body just floated in the water.  I think we’ll like bath time.
He continues to eat every couple hours round the clock, but so far, he’s still a very happy and peaceful baby.  We’re looking forward to a visit with Uncle Ben and Aunt Melanie and “Granny Lu” and “Granddad” starting on Sunday!

Baby Center.com 2-week update

Comfortably curled

Because he was curled up inside your uterus until recently, your newborn baby will probably look “scrunched up” for a while, with his arms and legs not fully extended. He may even appear bowlegged. Don’t worry. He’ll stretch out, little by little, and by the time he reaches his half birthday, he’ll be fully unfurled! In the meantime, as he adjusts to life outside the warm, safe confines of your womb, he may enjoy being swaddled.

By the end of his first month, your baby may lift his head briefly — and maybe turn it from side to side — when he’s lying on his stomach. Jerky movements give way to more fluid ones as his nervous system and muscle control mature. Still, your baby’s primitive reflexes, such as sucking and chewing on his hands, remain dominant.

Ruled by hunger and sleep

Food is the most important thing in your newborn’s life, with sleep running a close second. Most newborns will eat every two to three hours around the clock. Sleeping schedules are equally intermittent and quite variable from one infant to another. Most newborns sleep for a total of 16 to 17 hours in a 24-hour period, but that’s usually broken up into eight or so naps. By the end of the first month your baby may have developed something of an eating and sleeping pattern. But don’t count on it; you may not notice real regularity for months.

Crying is his main form of communication

Having undergone the trauma of birth, your baby is now trying to deal with an onrush of stimulation. You may not be able to detect much of a personality just yet, as he spends his time moving in and out of several different states of sleepiness, quiet alertness, and active alertness. Although the only way he knows to communicate is by crying, you can communicate with him through your voice and your touch. Most babies love to be held, caressed, kissed, stroked, massaged, and carried. He may even make an “ah” sound when he hears your voice or
sees your face.

He only has eyes for you

Your baby’s sight is still pretty fuzzy. And since his range of vision is just about 12 inches or so, he can see your face clearly only when you’re holding him close. Studies show that newborns prefer human faces to all other patterns or colors. (High-contrast items, like a checkerboard, are next in line.) Give him plenty of opportunity to study your features by gazing at him from a close distance.

Learning begins immediately

You may notice short periods of time when your newborn is quiet and alert. This is prime time for learning. Use these intervals to get better acquainted with your child — talk to him, sing to him, give him a tour of the pictures on the walls of your house. But if you try to interact with him and he doesn’t seem receptive, don’t insist. He may have gotten sleepy or moved into a state of active alertness (when he’s working on new physical tricks).

Even this early, babies can recognize faces and gestures intuitively — and sometimes even imitate them. Give your newborn a chance to imitate your facial expressions by putting your face close to his and sticking out your tongue or raising your eyebrows a few times. Repeat it. Then give him some time to mimic your gesture. Even if he doesn’t copy you yet, he’s keeping close tabs — and learning.

Newborn play

Mobiles with high-contrast patterns and books with photos of babies’ faces will captivate your newborn. So will his own reflection, so you may want to prop an unbreakable mirror next to him, or sit him in front of your mirror with you when you do your hair. A play gym with plenty of compelling things to watch, swipe at, and listen to will give your baby practice with arm, hand, and finger coordination skills — and make lying down less boring. In the first few months, he won’t move his arms purposefully to reach for particular objects — this sort of movement comes later, in a couple of months.

Remember, your baby is an individual

Each baby is unique and meets physical milestones at his own pace. Developmental guidelines are just yardsticks of what your baby has the potential to accomplish — if not right now, then soon.

Little Andrew is now 11 days old.  We’re enjoying each moment with him, and at the present moment, I’m learning how to type on my laptop while holding a sleeping infant:)
Squirmy (as we mostly call him these days) had his first doctor’s appointment on Tuesday last week.  He had already eclipsed his birth weight, and he weighed in at 7 pounds, 6 ounces.  A champion eater, he may be taking after his parents… We’re getting not quite enough sleep, but not too bad either.  Andy is a cooperative baby (so far!), and he’s just so fun to look at!  I put up some new photos from the past week in our gallery.  All the photos of him are in the Summer album.

Weekly update from BabyCenter.com
Week 1 –
How your baby’s growing: This week your newborn continues to adjust to her new world, which she finds perhaps a bit too noisy and well-lit for her taste. But she’s coming along. You’ll notice her limbs move in a jerky, uncoordinated way. Soon, probably by the end of the month, her movements will become more fluid as her muscle control matures. Sucking and chewing on her hands are her main activities for the moment.

Is your newborn a noisy breather? Lots of air passing through very small airways clogged with lint from blankets, clothing, and dust is the culprit much of the time. For the most part, you don’t need to worry; she isn’t likely to have a cold at this young age. She’s just trying her best to breathe.

He’s Here!!  Andrew Gordon Dotzour was born on June 22 at 6:14 am.  He weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and is 19 inches tall.
Mom, Dad, and Baby all are doing well.  Delirious:)

For some starter photos of our little guy, visit the photo gallery.

As we drove to the hospital the night before, there was a lovely full moon low in the sky.  It was also the longest day of the year.  An auspicious day!

I started having contractions on Monday night about 7 pm.  They weren’t regular or progressive but continued through the night.  On Tuesday morning, I stayed home from work…not knowing if the contractions would fade away or develop into active labor.  Bryan went to work in the morning and worked from home in the afternoon…by mid-afternoon it seemed like maybe we were on our way toward labor…contractions were about 5 minutes apart and lasting 45 seconds.  Around 8 pm, we called Laura, our birthing assistant, and asked her to come over.  The three of us headed in to the hospital at about 10 pm.  Active labor continued through the night, and after a bit over an hour of pushing, little Andrew was born at 6:14 am on Wednesday, June 22.  Well, Baby Dotzour was born at 6:14. We didn’t name him until the next day.
What a wonderful and life-altering experience.  Bryan and I both can’t believe he’s finally with us.

We stayed at St. Mary’s until Friday, and now that we’re home with him, we just can’t stop looking at him.  That and sleep is I think what will make up our hours for the next few days and weeks.  Thanks to the multitude of good wishes and loving thoughts and prayers that have been sent our way these past weeks and months.  We are so blessed to have this miraculous little guy in our life.

Love,
Althea

June 20.  I cannot believe that Baby D’s due date is just seven days from now!
Bryan and I celebrated our 6th anniversary on Sunday, which was a lot of fun.  We went to a hot and sunny Mallards baseball game here in town.  I had a good time at my 10th high school reunion on Saturday night.  Anne came over and painted a sunflower on my enormous belly.  Baby has been growing ever bigger, and with hot weather in the forecast this week, I imagine I’ll be ready to deliver whenever he wants to join us.  Bryan is beside himself with anticipation about meeting him, and each day we’re getting closer to seeing his little feet instead of feeling them push out of my side:)  My next (and last scheduled) doctor’s appointment is on Wednesday.

Babycenter.com Update

How your baby’s growing: Your baby’s ready to greet the world!
He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it’s likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) Your baby’s organs are fully developed and in place, and the outer layers of skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

How your life’s changing:
At each visit, your midwife or doctor will do an abdominal exam to check your baby’s growth and position. She might also do an internal exam to see whether you’ve started effacing (when the cervix thins out) or dilating (when the cervix opens). If the week passes and your baby stays put, don’t panic. Only 5 percent of babies are born on their scheduled due date. And your baby can’t make you wait indefinitely for his arrival. If you go past your due date, your provider will schedule you for fetal testing (usually a sonogram) after 40 weeks to ensure that it’s safe to continue the pregnancy. If you don’t go into labor on
your own, most practitioners will induce labor when you’re between one and two weeks overdue.

Pregnant women on television sitcoms always have their water break dramatically — in the middle of a crowded room, of course — just before going into labor.
Don’t worry about a similar scenario happening to you. Membranes rupture before the beginning of labor in less than 15 percent of pregnancies, and it’s not normally an enormous gush — usually a small gush or a slow leak. In any case, if your water does break (or you even suspect you might have a leak), call your doctor or midwife right away, but stay calm — it may be hours before your first contraction.