Blake: 2 Months Old

Blake turned 2 months old on July 1st, 2018. With Emma I used the typical baby milestones to see where she was. With Blake I will be using both the typical and down syndrome time lines for milestones, although it varies so much sometimes that you can't have a time frame. We obviously don't expect him to hit his milestones at the same time as a typical baby because his muscle tone is a little lower. However, I still like to know where he is in comparison as it lets us know what we should be working on. 

Most Babies Will Be Able To Do:
Skill: Smile in response to a smile 
Ds Age: 2-4.5 months
Blake: yes

Skill: Notice their hands
Ds Age: unsure
Blake: not yet

Skill: Respond to a loud noise in some way
Ds Age: 1-3 months
Blake: yes

Skill: Grasp and shake hand toys
Ds Age: 1-5 months
Blake: not yet

Half of Babies Will Be Able to Do:

Skill: Vocalize in ways other than crying
Ds Age: 1.5-4 months
Blake: yes, he coos

Skill: Lift head 45 degrees while on tummy
Ds Age: 1.5-4.5 months
Blake: yes

Some Babies Will Be Able To:

Skill: Hold head steady when upright
Ds Age: 4-6.5 months
Blake: not yet

Skill: Roll over
Ds Age: 3-6.5 months
Blake: not yet, but he is trying

Skill: Pay attention to an object as small as a raisin
Ds Age: 4-8 months
Blake: not yet

Skill: Reach for dangling objects
Ds Age: 4.5-8 months
Blake: not yet

Skill: Raise chest supported by arms
Ds Age: 4.5-7 months
Blake: not yet

A Few Babies Will Be Able To:

Skill: Lift head 90 degrees while on tummy
Ds Age: 3-6 months
Blake: not yet

Skill: Bring both hands together
Ds Age: 1-5 months
Blake:  not on purpose yet

Skill: Smile spontaneously
Ds Age: 1.5-5 months
Blake: yes

Skill: Track objects 180 degrees
Ds Age: .5-4.5 months
Blake: he is tracking but not 180 degrees yet

Skill: Laugh/squeal in delight
Ds Age: 2.5-6.5 months
Blake:  not yet

Family Pictures: Spring 2018 (Blake Newborn)

We found local mom who also happens to be a part of the Down syndrome community who took Blake's newborn pictures, it was tad hot being in Texas in the middle of June, but we made it work. (Spoiler, it was cold for our Fall pictures in December, hoping for Blake's one year pictures the weather is better).

Emma is going through a weird smile phase and it is driving me crazy a little bit and she always leans forward. I am glad it is just a phase.

June 2018

June was our first month home together. Blake came home from the NICU on June 2nd.

 Emma wasn't sure what to make of him at first but warmed up pretty quickly as long as he wasn't taking attention away from her to often.

 She read to him and brought him toys.

 She was very interested in him eating and trying to be helpful. We told her to hold his foot.

We were extra brave and took them out to the store the second day we were home. 

Emma stayed in daycare the following week because Blake had a lot of doctor appointments and I was not ready to handle both of them in public by myself. 

She came up to me one day with some extra flanges and said "mom, I have to pump!"

 Tummy time is such hard work.

 Painting her own nails

June had a ton of follow up NICU doctor appointments. 2 to 3 a week and they always took forever. Emma did so well with all the changes this month. She did regress in potty training and we had to go back to a pull up. Once she realized that Blake had to get his diaper changed, she decided she wanted hers too. It was actually kind of nice because then I didn't have to worry about getting her to restroom during all the doctor appointments over the summer.