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Pictures for May
Category: Parenting
This is the area dedicated to our grand experiment of raising children. Check here for grand adventures, trials, and wonderful mistakes.
So you may have noticed the absence of posts lately…I apologize. Things around the Werth household have been quite good, but quite busy. Jacob continues to grow and be a delightful young guy. At the beginning of May, Jacob was kicked out of his daycare due to another baby coming in (but we think it was his incessant flirting with the ladies). Knowing that this would happen :), Mary, Teresa, and Cathy each took shifts in providing care for the young stud until his father completed school. With only two days left, the end is rapidly approaching.
In the meantime, we have been searching for a place to live post-closing on June 3rd. We found a very nice (but small) apartment in Kalona to rent for the next year (yes, year). It is in between Washington (Elise’s work) and Iowa City (Jon’s work until the end of July), and cuts Elise’s commute from 40 to 18 minutes. It is a quaint little town with many Mennonites, nice parks within a block, and even hitching posts downtown.
School will finish the last full week in May for Elise, followed by the move to our new residence. In the meantime, I (Jon) have one online course this summer and am continuing the job search, searching for positions relating to music, IT, or libraries. Currently, two positions are looking hopeful and we will know more in the coming weeks.
Jacob has been quite active lately, growing much and exercising his voice and limbs. We will post pictures soon. Best wishes…
Jacob has been finding his voice lately and loves to stand up. While he always seems to be camera shy, we got a little of the fun recorded this past weekend. Enjoy the following videos:
I don’t want to talk
Laying down
Talking and standing with dad – this one may take a while to load.
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2 Month Checkup & Bathtime
On Thursday afternoon, I drove down to Washington to pick up Jacob from daycare and take him to the doctor. It was his 2-month well-child checkup in which he was to receive his first round of vaccinations. After getting weighed (12.5 lbs) and measured (23 in), he was examined by the doctor. Everything looked great and Jacob is progressing well. Then the fun part:
Jacob first received a live vaccine orally which went fine. While I was holding his hands/upper body, two nurses each held one of his legs. At the same time the poked the needles into his thighs; two in the right, one in the left. Needless to say, Jacob was quite angered and shocked at why he was being stabbed. However, the shock was quickly comforted with a little milk. All in all, he performed wonderfully. Also – having to brag – the nurses and doctor all agreed he was the cutest baby they had seen that day (and this was in the late afternoon). He’s got the ladies wrapped around his little finger(s).
Saturday morning: Jacob is now much enjoying bath time. Despite the strange looks on his face, he very much enjoys splashing around in the tub. Here are a few pictures and videos of the fun:
Some great videos:
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VISA Commercial for Health Insurance
Going in to the doctor for a false alarm: $2,000
Having a labor-side view of Kinnick Stadium: $10,000
Spending two nights in a hospital room: $5,000
Having your newborn son poked and prodded: $7,000
Spending six nights in the NICU: $23,000
Having health insurance: Priceless!
Just in case you were thinking about having a baby:
Delivery and spending a week in the NICU comes out to approx. $45,000. Thankfully we payed a lot less than that 🙂
Having a fantastic son and wonderful wife: best thing in the world!
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Jacob at Daycare
Last Friday was Jacob’s first day at daycare, with Elise back at Washington H.S. The ride home was not so great for either one, but this week seems to be going a lot better. Monday Jacob was a little fussy, but by Wednesday he is definitely in the swing of things. Gail, the woman caring for Jacob, just sent Elise these photos:
He’s apparently doing quite well!
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Some fun pics
Here are some wonderful pics I’ve found, taken over the past few weeks:
Wow! March has been quite the month. I apologize for the severe lack of postings.
Jacob’s baptism occurred on Sunday, March 6th. Both parents and siblings came down to Iowa, along with Jean and Aurelia (Jon’s grandmothers). Jacob looked quite nice in his baptism gown – made especially for him by Mary Degen. Jacob was nice and quiet throughout the mass (except for his loud sucking on the bottle), sleeping through most of the first half.
Other than the ceremony, the families hung out at the Werth home taking turns holding Jacob. It was an exciting and exhausting day for the little guy, as he saw two great-grandparents for the first time and started to explore with his tongue (sticking it out). On Monday, both him and Elise spent most of the day sleeping, quite tired from the weekend.
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A “growing” day
After getting a little flack from certain individuals that I rarely post any new information, I thought I’d give it a go.
Today was what I like to call a growing day for Jacob. It basically consisted of taking a bath in the early morning due to an amazingly full diaper that was easier to fight with an entire bathtub of water than just a few diaper wipes, a fair amount of eating, and sleeping…lots of sleeping. In fact, as I write this, the little man is passed out, wrapped up in a blanket after falling blissfully asleep after his dinner 2.0 (even though we ate at 5, he still managed to want dinner with the rest of us and then again at the time we have normally been eating this past week).
It is after days like today I wish we had a scale like the one at the doctor’s office. I swear he felt heavier when I fed him this evening than when he ate this morning!
On Wednesday, we will have sort of a trial run of what it will be like once I head back to work. I have a school obligation from 9-3 in Cedar Rapids that day and the boys will be hanging out together at home while I am away. I have confidence they will be fine together, I just wonder how it will be with me away. I guess there is only one way to find out…
I hear my little giant starting to stir so I had better hurry up.
Here are a few pictures of our antics from today. Enjoy!
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10 lb., 4 oz
I have a quick update before I head to bed: Jacob went in to the doctor last Thursday for a checkup, and weighed in at 10 lb., 4 ounces. He continues to jump quartiles on the growth charts and getting closer to Elise’s “Buddha Baby” goal. All is well otherwise, as Jacob continues to be more engaged and active each day.