As Promised

Toys Galore


My Racetrack


11 Months Photo


Toybox Fun


Attempting to Walk


Fun at the Park




Park, Day 2

Time for an Update

Things must be crazy around here, so here it is! It is so nice to see the sun out and have a few nicer days. Alex has been able to get outside with us the last few days. We've headed to the park, and he loves it. But first, let me give you an update on what he's been up to. He is now 11 months old and getting ready for his first birthday! We are amazed that he is almost a year old already! Time flies. In the last few weeks he has been making strides at walking. He really is starting to get the confidence to let go. He has been taking about 5-10 steps from one thing to another. Today instead of crawling to where he wanted to go, he just turned and started walking. I think Kent and I just held our breath, like "wow, there he goes!" I'm just in another month he'll be walking everywhere. Another thing he has learned to do is shake his head no. It is quite funny actually! We're not quite sure if he knows what he is saying, but every once in awhile it makes sense when he shakes his head no!

We're trying to get a video off of our video camera for the blog, but for some reason it won't show up, so we'll keep working on it. For now, you'll just have to settle for the pictures! We've taken so many this last month, so I'll try to pick just a few of the best.

I'll post the pictures hopefully later this afternoon.

Video Fun and more

Alex has been doing this silly thing with his mouth lately. Last night I captured a SHORT clip of it, so enjoy the video. :)



Also, we had our dermatology conference today. Really we did more educating the doctor's than they did answering any of our questions, but hopefully we will gain some information from them after they finish meeting today. After we left, they spent the day talking about different cases they saw and their impressions. I'm guessing that we won't really find anything out, but it was good to talk to our own dermatologist again and see what he was thinking today. Alex was a trooper. He was so good, even as it was during his nap time. He let all of the doctors (about 30 of them) look at his teeth and his nails. He had a great time in the room as well. We were in a little exam room. We walked in and they had a little hospital gown for him, which he didn't end up needing, but it was adorable. It was kind of funny as all of the doctors kept saying how laid back and well behaved Alex was. They didn't see him climbing all over the room before they came in. He managed to find the buttons to move the exam chairs up or down, the drawers with the medical supplies in it, and the stool that they doctors all wheel around on. It was entertaining!

Genetic Update

On Wednesday we had an appointment with a genetic specialist to talk about Alex and the form of Ectodermal Displasia that he has. After a thorough exam, it was decided that we would test for a specific form of ED. Unfortunately, the kind that we actually think Alex has doesn't have testing available yet, even though though the gene is identified. The doctor thought it was at least worth testing for this other form, which also effects hair besides the nails and teeth. Obviously Alex has really short, fine hair, which can be a symptom, but in his case we really don't think it is at this point. We'll have results in about 4-6 weeks. The downside of this news is the fact that most likely we won't know genetically where this came from, which means we won't know how future children may or may not be effected.

In other news, NEXT Wednesday we are going to be a part of a dermatology conference downtown. We got a call a few weeks ago and were asked if we would be interested in bringing Alex downtown to be examined by about 20-30 dermatologists. THey will then meet together and talk about their impressions. We're excited about gaining so more information and also spreading knowledge about this rare disease.

Still Winter

I don't know about you, but we can't wait for winter to be over this year. It feels as if winter has lasted forever this year! We are so anxious to get outside again and play in the warm weather. We have been getting creative with playing inside and trying to make errands fun.
Alex is about 10 1/2 months old now. He has made a lot of little changes all the time. He has just started to take the fork from us when feeding him and he'll put it in his mouth by himself. He also has been standing a little bit on his own. He still isn't quite sure of himself, but he's getting there. He is motoring around all the furniture though.
It has been fun to see the changes over the month. It hard to believe that he is almost 1 year old already.
Things are going well for Kent and myself as well. Like I mentioned, we are ready for spring, but we've been making the best of the cold weather. We joined a local gym that is wonderful! (Including a steam room and hot tub!) It has been nice to get in a good work-out even when it is so cold outside.
I'm including some recent pictures of Alex, of course, so enjoy!

Doing Chores Already



With Mom




My 1st Babysitter (that I've met, usually I'm asleep when they come)




Climbing through my Exersaucer




Happy Valentine's (from Alex)



Playing in my room

10 months old!

Alex is 10 months old today!!! So, we took the ever so famous, "corner of the couch" picture for you. I'll post that with some others for you. He is climbing all over everything! We've discovered that he will be a climber. He tries to climb up his crib, and anything else that he can get too. It's fun to watch, but I'm sure we'll soon be wishing he wasn't a climber. He makes it interesting though.

In other news, we're enjoying this crazy weather we've been having. Our 10 inches of snow from last week are melting right now, but don't worry we're expecting another 8-12 inches again tonight and tomorrow. At least the snow is pretty when it is freshly fallen. :)


Corner of the Couch Picture


We actually got 2 good ones this time!



Playing



Sitting at my old-fashioned desk



At the desk again

Snow Day!

We have gotten so much snow this winter, it is ridiculous! I heard yesterday on the radio, before this huge snow storm that we had already gotten THREE times as much snow as in previous years! CRAZY! Anyway, last night we added about 10-12 more inches of snow to our total! It was finally warm enough too to take Alex outside to experience the snow for the first time! I'm not sure if he really liked it. He wasn't too sure about the cold wet stuff. I think he enjoys looking at it more for right now! Maybe in next year he'll enjoy it more! We did take some pictures though for your enjoyment!

At my toybox made by Uncle Chris:



How I get up:



Sledding:



More sledding:



I think this snow is okay:

9 Month update

Alex is now 9 months old and is growing like a weed. At his doctor's appointment he weighed 22.06 pounds and was 29 inches long. Crazy how fast he grows! We have been trying mostly table food with him and he is doing great with it. He's still crawling all over and pulling up on anything. He has gotten more sturdy on his feet when holding on with only one hand.
We have had some updates on Alex's teeth and nails. As some of you might know, when Alex was born his nails weren't quite right. They weren't really growing, so we went to see the pediatric dermatologist. We were told that he has spoon nails. The dermatologist told us that there was a small possibility that his teeth would be pointed when they came in. In October, his teeth started to come in and so far all four of them have been pointed. So, last week we headed to see the pediatric dentist and found out that Alex has Witkop tooth and nail syndrome (unofficially). In February we will meet with the Genetic Specialist to figure out what testing we need to do in order to figure out where this comes from. Witkop is an autosomal dominant trait, but obviously neither of us have any of the symptoms. It may be a mutation of a dominate gene, or something. We have found out that basically kids with this live totally normal lives. Most people have tons of questions, so feel free to ask away if you have any questions. Or, you can always google Witkop Tooth and Nail syndrome.

9 Month Old Picture


9 Month Smiles


So Big!!


Close-up!


Winter Sled

Giggles

As Promised

I feel like there are a ton of pictures to post, but not really anything new with us. I have still been working 3 days a week, which I am loving! My job has been great and I'm starting to feel like people are thinking more about music therapy referrals. I started going down to the Kellogg Cancer Center last week as well one day a week. They were so welcoming and very appreciative of all of my services. I am looking forward to getting more involved with their program.
Kent is still working from home 4 days a week. It has been going well, and he continues to be busy with more and more work. He is looking forward to finishing a certain product he has been working on.
Alex continues to grow and change what seems like every day. He is still scooting himself around the floow. He is content to army crawl with mostly one arm and one leg. It is quite entertaining to see how fast he can get around that way. Right now he is loving to pull-up on anything he can get to. He'll crawl right over to you, put his arms out and then grab ahold of your hands to pull-up on. THe funniest thing is to watch him in his pack-n-play. He thinks he is hot stuff when he is standing their holding on to the edge. Right now I think he's working on his fifth tooth. He is a blessing to us everyday that we see his smiling face.

Our Christmas was good. We spent the weekend with my family in central Illinois. It was fun to watch Claire this Christmas especially since she was old enough to know what was going on. She even passed out presents! Amazing for a 15 month old. Alex loved his tonka truck as soon as he opened it. He began to climb all over the box. The only problem was that Claire loved it as well. We're still working on sharing between the two. :) We're hoping that now we can find a little bit of time to relax as things have been crazy for us these last few months. We plan on just enjoying the Illini in the Rose Bowl this New Year's.

Pack-N-Play Fun


All Smiles in the Jumperoo



Dinnertime Messes


8 Month Pictures



Beautiful Snowfalls


Go Bears! (Yes, we know their record!!)



Alex loves to hear the guitar



More Smiles



Brushing Teeth- First time



Bathtime is the Greatest


First Christmas Ornament (a tradition in my family)



Close-up of Alex's ornament



A common site out our windows



Christmas Eve Morning (opening our gifts)



Hot Stuff


Christmas with Claire



Wide-Eyes with the new Tonka Truck



This is Fun!!!



Claire obviously isn't interested in her new chair



Playing the drums like Daddy

Stay Tuned....

I am going to try to update our blog this weekend, so stay tuned. That is, if anyone still checks it. I'll post some pictures from Christmas and an update on what has been going on in our lives. We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year.

Pictures Galore

Dedication Sunday


Family portrait in front of the fireplace- After Alex's dedication


After a nap


Fun with Claire


Bathtime!!