Big Boy!

Today Nash had his 2 month check-up. He was 14 lbs. 3 oz. (97th percentile) and 23.5 inches long (75th percentile). Who knew us scrawny folks would have such a hefty kid?! The Dr. said he's completely healthy and she commented on his "good muscle tone" and "excellent head control." So, of course, that made his therapist mama proud!

Napping is improving - he had 3 days in a row last week where he took good naps. We're still working on getting it consistently, but it has definitely gotten better. I'll probably move him to the crib in his room before too long.

He is cooing and talking up a storm! It is the cutest thing EVER! His favorite way to play right now is to read books and sing songs with body movements. "My God is So Big" gets sweet little giggles.

I am SO glad I took another month off work. We both needed this time to get a little more settled. I'm still only going to go back 2 days a week, so it won't be bad. I love my job, but I sure will miss my little man!!!

A rare and precious occasion - NAP TIME! He had been sleeping an hour and a half, so I had to go check on him and I thought he was so cute!

He loves hangin' with Dad!

I swear he got this extra arm roll overnight!

Talking to Mama

Our Precious Jake

I had a feeling I just needed to call my mom today. When I did, I could tell she was upset. Turns out, she had just gotten the news from Ty and Amy (my bro and sis-n-law) that Jake (my 2yr. old nephew) is going to have to have open heart surgery AGAIN. His last surgery, when he was 10 mos, repaired the mitral valve and the hole in his heart. Since then, a membrane has grown in his aortic valve and it is 75% blocked. This is apparently a rare side effect of the first surgery. So, in the next couple of months Jake will have to have that membrane removed. Please cover the McCathran family in prayer as they prepare to go through this again. Pray that Jake will recover quickly!

Jake, Aunt Destin, and Grace at Casey's wedding

God is good!

God is good, folks! He has blessed this Brannon house tremendously! We are all doing well. Nash is 8 weeks old and is continuing to grow at a crazy rate. Today he weighed 14 lbs on our scale and is in 3 month clothes, some of which are getting too short. Last week I had to put some of his clothes away b/c he had outgrown so much of it. It kinda made me sad that he will never be that size again, but I guess that's how it's supposed to be.

He still is not much of a daytime napper - short 30 min naps max if he's not being held. My friends and family keep encouraging me that it should get better in a month or so (thanks Katie and Monica for letting me vent to you!). However, he's a champion sleeper at night - going 5-6 hrs at a time, so REALLY, I have it good. It is amazing how much mental and emotional clarity comes with 5 hrs. of straight sleep as opposed to 3! I can see now how sleep deprivation is a form of torture. I am starting to feel human again.

I WAS supposed to go back to work this week, but I just couldn't do it yet! I called my wonderful boss, Rebecca, and she was so sweet and understanding. So, I am taking my full maternity leave (12 wks), which is another month. That decision has been such a load off my heart!

Mr. Nash is showing lots of personality. We are gathering that he seems to be a passionate person. He goes from smiling and giggling to ticked at the world with little to no warning, but then also recovers quickly. He smiles and talks to us frequently and really seems to be distinguishing mom and dad from the rest of you (yes -he's a mama's boy and that's ok for the next few years!).

I haven't been very good at taking pictures the last couple of weeks, but here are a couple of our favorites.

This is him chillin' in the sling. He is finding his thumb more and more often - such a Brannon! =)

Some New Things

1. My sister and Jose got married this past weekend and it was seriously one of the prettiest weddings I've ever been to! Now they are off galavanting in Australia - to which I say (in my best Napoleon Dynamite voice) "Lucky!"

2. Nash met his great-grandfather, Grandaddy, and Marie. He also met his cousins, Jake and Grace (who is 5 days younger than him).

3. Nash wore camo for the first time just for Pops

4. Nash is sleeping well at night in the bassinet and starting to nap in the crib (as of today). I know, I know.....I have spoiled him rotten holding him for naps during the day - we both just get SOOO much more sleep that way! I have no trouble getting him to fall asleep - just to stay asleep without being held is our struggle. I was going to wait til 2 mos to start trying, however, he will start going to the babysitter in 2 weeks and I know she can't hold him all day. So, today was our first real attempt at the crib. The first half of the day was TERRIBLE - we both cried ALOT. But, then he had a 2hr. nap in the early afternoon with only one waking and he went right back to sleep with a little help from our best friend, the pacifier ( I wish there was a way to strap it to his face without it being a strangle hazard). I'm not really letting him cry it out just yet - I'm just trying to comfort him without picking him up. He's asleep again in there right now (fingers are crossed). I haven't gotten any sleep today myself, though, b/c I'm so nervous that he will wake any moment and want that pacifier back. It is so much worse just barely reach the land of nod, only to be startled awake, than to just skip that nap. Please pray that this gets easier. I think I miss holding him just as much as he misses it.

5. Nash loves to look the stripes on the wall when he's on his changing table - he used to scream at every diaper change, so this is a GREAT development!

6. He is doing well holding his rattles, tracking them from side to side, and batting at the ones dangling from his play mat

7. He smiles a lot these days which makes it all worth it!