both the Good and the Bad

So, I'll talk more about Brigham since he is just the greatest!
There have been some good things and some bad things develop in the last month or so that we've been out of the hospital and in DC. Mostly good things.

Good news is he has dimples! Love them. There seems to be a trend in my fam and extended fam. The first borns have a dimple or two.

Good news is we took him into the Godiva store and he was so smiley. I feel like this was the official test to see if he has Shields blood in him since we love chocolate.

Bad news is he already struggles with going to church :) Seriously though....I've never seen anything like it. He is normally very happy, but when we walk into the church building he screams for almost the whole 3 hours. Last week, I had to take him on a walk around the parking lot for 45 minutes before he calmed down enough to go back in the building. haha! It was kinda epic.  This is Adam so happy once Brigs finally fell asleep at church.

Good news is that he has amazing quad muscles. Not the best pic, but I think it shows his quads off alright. I've only ever known cute chubby babies and didn't realize they can develop such huge muscles.

Good news? Bad news? Brigham looks like this when he yawns. We didn't think it was that out of the ordinary to have this big of yawns, but everyone reacts to them. It always makes us chuckle.

Great news is that Brigham can take thin liquids! We've been waiting to redo a 'swallow study' for months since after birth he aspirated his food and has major reflux. I've called the radiology dept every weekday for 3 weeks and never got through to anyone in scheduling. So, when we were seeing the cardiologist I asked Adam if we could stop by radiology. Well we basically stormed in, told them we'd been waiting so long to repeat the swallow study, and told them we wanted it today. They were SO nice and accommodating since it was the end of the day and mult docs had to stay late for us. Those doctors are amazing. We were able to repeat the swallow study that day (which is quite the ordeal by itself). The best news is, he was cleared for thin liquids! YES! Basically, that means we don't need to add a Tbsp of rice cereal to every ounce of formula. It may not seem like a big deal to anyone else, but it is huge to us. It also means he can eat frozen bm. I'm not going to lie, we felt so much parent pride in storming into radiology. ha.

Us in the x-ray room getting ready.

Brigham eating a normal, thin liquid for the first time. Yay for him learning how to eat correctly.

Since we've come to DC we've had about a week to explore before Adam started his crazy schedule. Of course, a couple of those days have been spent going to doctor's appointments for Brigs. Besides that, we have been trying to see some of the sites we haven't been to before. Well, Adam has been to some of them when he lived here a couple years ago, but he wants to see some again now, naturally. 

When we went to Teddy Roosevelt Island we tried out the baby carrier for the first time. I can't tell if Brigs likes it or not. He made that face the whole time - hilarious.

 Oh, here are the boys on our first official outing. Teddy Roosevelt Island.

Then we stopped by Iwo Jima memorial. I was very excited to come to this memorial. My sister-in-law was with us when we went here and all of us agree it is a very special site.

Another day we went to see some Smithsonians. While we were crossing the street, 2 women started commenting on Brigham in Japanese. Adam was able to chat with them and give them directions. It's really cool for me to see Adam actually converse in Japanese rather than just hold a one-ended convo with me - it has already happened a number of times since we've moved here. Oh, but because we ran into the Japanese women we were a little distracted and this is the only shot I got of the Smithsonian castle. ha. a stuffed peacock. ha. not the best photo documenting skills.

When we went to the Air and Space Museum, we saw Amelia Earhart's plane. She is one of my heroes so I was a little too nerdy-excited to see the Lockheed Vega plane she flew. 

There were so many things to see. I LOVED it! Adam and I both love space so hopefully Brigham will like it too since we spent a whole afternoon at the museum. Oh, just in case you're wondering there is a great 6 part documentary on netflix that really portrays our history's space travel well. it's called "when we left earth: the nasa missions"

Judging by that smile he is going to love air and space travel history like his parents :)

This is at Great Falls with Adam's sister and her fam. beautiful place to be.

While Adam was at orientation, Brigs and I went to the National Zoo. Brigs slept the entire time, but I had a nice time seeing all the animals and chatting with my cousin, Steph on the phone.

We've had quite some fun since moving here and we still have such a long list of places we want to go check out.

 If anyone wants to come visit, feel free! We have a guest room you could stay in...It'd be great fun!

Sayonara!

  

Sayonara Hospital! Last picture Adam took from the hospital. 

Brigs looks so ready to get out of there.

 First real car ride on the way home for the first time.

Total time Brigham spent in the hospital: 53 days

 WELCOME HOME!!!!!!!

Adam set out some of his toys and things and a sign we made him. 

We were stoked to finally have him all to ourselves.

4 days later....Sayonara Pittsburgh! Just feeding him at a Subway on the way down to DC.

More Visitors!

Last weekend Jen came to visit! It was so nice to hang out with a best friend and get to know her little boy (who we will refer to as kiddo for safety's sake) since we haven't lived in the same state since before he was born. It was such a fun weekend! Jen is so chill and her kiddo is such a trooper to play in the hospital lobby all day, most days.
Oh, we were able to drive around Pittsburgh and show them some of it and where Adam goes to school.

And, since this doorag is still too big on Brigham, we decided to try it on little kiddo. Turns out his head size was perfect for it. Look at his best biker face?

 Oh, and we did take Jen's little kiddo on a walk to a nearby cemetery. It is beautiful - Pittsburgh's largest and oldest cemetery. They have huge tombs, graves and monuments with stain glass and statues as high as office buildings. It was quite an experience.

On their last full day here we were able to take Brigham outside where he and kiddo could meet :) (as long as they didn't touch. there are certain precautions since Brigham is still getting antibiotics) Look at those faces!

When Adam and I first brought Brigham down to meet kiddo we found him like this: doesn't this remind you of peter pan in Hook?

disclaimer: Jen was standing by even though it doesn't appear so. she was letting him get a nap.

Adam's parents gave little Brigham his own little jersey. Adam is pretty stoked they'll get to wear matching BYU paraphernalia for the upcoming season. I have to admit, father and son look pretty awesome and stoked for this year.

Brigham has been strong enough to do tummy time. In fact, he's super strong and growing everyday.

Also, we've been able to take him on stroller rides back behind the facility on this walkway. It's so nice to get him outside since all three of us get a little cabin fever in his room, so we just walk up and down that little walkway. It's so fun for Brigham!

Visitors!

The few weeks we've had a slew of visitors. It has been so much fun and broke up the hospital monotony.

Two weekends ago Adam's parents came to meet their grandson! They are leaving on a mission in a few days to Manaus, Brazil. So, it was especially nice to have them here so we could spend some time with them before they leave.

While they were here, it was Dad's birthday and it was very fun to celebrate with him. Adam's sister and her family also were here with us for the weekend, but for some reason none of those pictures came through. I'll have to get some from her and add them later. oops.

We are very excited for them and they are going to be exceptional missionaries!

For the last week and a half Adam has been sick - not horribly sick - but sick enough to keep him in bed and away from Brigham. Obviously, Brigham is in a fragile state and can't be risked coming into contact with any sickness. So, Dad and son haven't seen each other in a long time. That is why today is so very thrilling. Now we don't need to video chat Adam from the hospital for him to see Brigs:

Today, Adam was well enough to go see Brigs! What a day to celebrate because...

In the last week a lot has happened....including a very successful check-up trip to the cardio team.

Where he got to ride in a stroller for the first time. Luckily he loved it!

He also got his dressings off his chest so he can wear clothes and onsies now. Cute!

Also, everything else is just getting better. There have been so many improvements in the last week. Too many for me to mention here. We are just going to celebrate the normal baby experience that Brigham is just beginning to experience (ex. car rides, stroller rides, clothes)