Some cute pics....

Here are some cute pictures from the last few weeks...

Solids!

A few weeks ago, we got the green light to start Declan on solids! So, we started him on rice cereal, and since then, he has also tried carrots and green beans....and LOVES them all! I am pretty sure we won't have a problem with him disliking anything! It's so funny feeding him - he just can't wait for us to put the food in his mouth!
We weren't sure how he would do, because they say between 4 and 6 months old, babies can start eating solids, but sometimes it takes them a while to get used to swallowing thicker substance, but Declan has been doing quite well. Of course, much of it gets all over his bib, face, hands, ears, but he is really getting the hang of this whole spoon eating thing!

SJU Homecoming

Tony and I took Declan up to St. John's homecoming this weekend to visit Conor. It was a beautiful day and we think Declan had a good time at his first football game! It was so fun to see people and their kids....I can't believe it has been over five years since we graduated! We visited Conor's dorm room, which brought back memories for Tony....their room was right by Tony's old room! We couldn't leave without getting Declan some Johhnies gear....a new sweatshirt and winter cap for the hockey games this winter!

He was wiped out!

Conor and his girlfriend Cate



Gotta love the Baby Bjorn!


Declan and Ali

4 Months Old!

Sorry it has taken me so long to post, but it has been a crazy month! I was supposed to go back to work the week of August 18, but I ended up with Pancreatitis. I was in the hospital for a couple of weeks, but I am back at home getting much better!

Declan had his 4 month appointment last week, and I was so proud of him! He cried for a second when he had his shots, but then was just fine! He now weighs 15 pounds and 15 ounces, almost 16 pounds already, and he is 26 inches long! He is in the 75% in weight, and the 75-90% in height! We are now able to start him on rice cereal, which we have tried a few times, and he seems to like it! In fact, he grabbed the spoon out of my hand yesterday when Tony and I were feeding him....I think he wanted to help.

He is getting so big everyday and is so much fun! He is smiling, laughing, and talking like crazy! He is also developing a more consistent nap and bedtime schedule, which has been nice for Tony and I. At daycare, they discovered that he likes when the little boys bark at him (I think he remembers Luca!) and he laughs like crazy. We have also learned that he also likes when we sing and dance with. He's so much fun and loving daycare. Tony and I are so glad we decided to go with Melanie's Munchkins instead of KinderCare.

Here are some recent pics....

Hanging out with Auntie Colleen when we met for lunch one day

We brought Declan to his first hockey game on Saturday night! He slept most of the time, but seemed to enjoy it. He is excited to go the the Johnnie hockey games to see his Uncle Conor play soon!

Hanging out with Mom!

Grandpa and Grandma Caswell got Declan some new jammies, and they came with a matching hat! We had to get some pics with him in it - he looks so cute!

Such a big boy in his bumbo seat!

Tony and I at Rutter's cabin

Tony sent me flowers and balloons in the hospital, and when we got home, Declan seemed to love them - he couldn't stop staring at them!

Declan and Dad hanging out before the Talbot golf tournament. We will have to get Declan some baby knickers soon so he can join in the fun!

Getting ready for bed!

Everything goes in the mouth now!

Not going as planned.....

I'm sorry I haven't been able to post lately. Things did not go as good as we hoped for at the Fairview hospital, so we came down the St. Mary's, the hospital at the Mayo for further testing and evaluation for my pancreatitis. I am updating the caringbridge website if anyone is interested, which is: www.caringbridge.org/visit/shannoncaswell.

Hopefully, I will be out of here soon and back home with my boys.

Gall stones and a wedding

We had Kate and Will's wedding last weekend, which was a blast. I ended up going to the hospital the next day though with Pancreatitis, and ended up having my gall bladder taken out Tuesday night. I had a bad stomach ache about a week before the wedding, but I wanted to push through it. I was hoping the stomach ache was just from the stress of going back to work and the upcoming wedding. It's a good thing I went in because I ended up having a ton of tiny gall stones in my gall bladder, which apparently is more dangerous then having larger stones. Yikes! Things are going well now though and I am home recovering. Going back to work has been delayed to September 1st, so we can make sure I am 100% before starting. I have posted some pics from the wedding below.....

I go back to work next week, so I am just trying to cherish our last days together as much as I can. I know it will be hard for me because we have had so much fun together during the days. It has been a great summer to have my maternity leave. We visited "Melanie's Munchkins" on Monday and dropped off all of Declan's cubby items. Melanie has two new little boys. It was cute, one of the boys, who is about 4 years old came up to Declan's carrier and said to me, "You know what? You have a really cute baby!" It was adorable! As hard as it will be for me to have Declan in daycare, I know he will have so much fun playing with all of the little boys....even if he is just able to watch them. Hopefully, he will learn to walk/crawl earlier having the boys to look up to everyday! This week is a crazy last week for us with Katie's wedding, but I wanted to post some 3 month pictures of our little one. He was three months on August 9 - it's gone by so fast!!

Tummy time in his Wild jam jams!

Finally, we had a cool day where he could wear the Twins windsuit that Grandpa and Grandma Caswell got him!

Getting kisses from Grandma Rooney

Hanging out with mom

Declan loves his Aunt Tols

This Saturday, Will will officially be Declan's uncle!!

Hanging out with Uncle Conor before he heads up to SJU to play hockey - GO JOHNNIES!

Mmmm, this tastes good...

Goobering all over his shirt!

Sporting the bath robe that Nikki gave him - so cute!!

Like two peas in a pod.....Tony and mini Tony

After bath time he is always so snuggly!

Who is this girl!? It's Nikki!

He loves Lulu - thanks Katie and Adam!!

Aunt Katie and Uncle Will

The summer is coming to an end.....

Although we still have the whole month of August left of summer, it feels like it is coming to an end. I officially have two weeks left of my maternity leave before I head back to work. Although I am looking forward to getting back to the challenges that my job gives me, I will really miss hanging out with my little buddy everyday. We have had so much fun, but I think he will really like going to Melanie's Munchkins! We decided to go with a home daycare in July (last minute) because we happened to know of someone opening a home daycare. Tony and I had Declan all set up with the Kindercare in Lakeville, but we thought it would be worth looking into. We learned that there were many advantages in going with a home daycare, so we decided to give it a shot. Melanie has three boys of her own, so she definitely has experience with little boys! Plus, Declan is her first child (and only child at this point), so he will get lots of attention!

Declan is getting to be such a big boy. Some of his new accomplishments:
- Smiling ALL THE TIME!
- Talking, talking, and talking. He loves to have conversations with us.
- His neck is getting so strong that he loves his Bumbo seat now. He loves to be able to sit up and look at us without laying down!
- He can flip over from his belly to his back again! If you remember, he did this a few times when he was a month old, and then never did it again for a while. He's back!
- He is almost flipping over from his back to his belly. He has all of his body flipped over. All he needs to do is bring his arm over, and he'd be there!
- His naps are getting more on schedule! He will nap in his crib in the morning - no problem. However, we are having trouble getting him to nap in his crib in the afternoon. For some reason, he will not fall asleep in there. He loves sleeping in there at night and in the morning, but not in the afternoons....wierd! So, for now, he's in his swing. We just have to keep trying!
- At night, he's gone 7 hours a few times! Not all the time, but he's stretching it out, which helps mom out alot!

The next couple of weeks are going to be pretty crazy as Katie's wedding is next weekend! There are alot of Will's family coming into town from England, so we have to show them a good time! Kate comes home tomorrow, and she's got lots to do for the big day!

Declan and I are getting ready to go watch a baseball game that Grandpa Rooney is coaching today. Hopefully the weather can hold out for a few hours without storms.

Have a good Sunday!