Wubes - [woobz], noun

Going to the hospital

2008-09-22T13:53:00.000-07:00

This post was supposed to appear before the one titled "Its a Boy (2)", sorry for the confusion!

Here is Sarah on September 4, 2008. We did not know that this was going to be the day before Luke was born, but as it turns out, it was.
Baby Luke was born on 09/05/08 at 3:16 pm. Ryan came home from work at 2:08 pm and we go to the hospital at 2:30. We barely gave Dr. Samuelson enough time to get there and get his scrubs on, Sarah pushed a few times and then he came. "It's a boy!" Ryan declared.
Here is Luke tipping the scales at 6 lb, 11.2 oz (3040 grams). He was 20.5 inches (52.1 cm).
This picture was taken before we knew anything was wrong. Notice the purple lips. He was not getting enough oxygen and was having trouble breathing, so away he went - eventually ending up in the intensive care unit (NICU) for ten days with a respiratory infection.
Luke in the NICU on September 6.
Concerned mother holds baby's hand.
Sarah finally gets to hold Luke on September 8. He is off of his respirator and doing better!

Here is a video of Brandon saying "Luve you" the day before Luke was born!

It's a Boy (2)!

2008-09-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

Baby Luke comes home from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after a ten day stay, he is okay and has no cords attached!
Baby Luke is home for the first time, 9:38 pm on Monday 09-15-08

Brandon is excited to meet his little brother, and promptly poked him in the eye - then kissed him on the head.

Brandon giving kisses.
Baby Luke after his first bath at home. What a handsome little guy! (and pretty Mommy!)

The Stewart Family!

New update

2008-05-18T20:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been so long! Two months have gone by and lots of fun things have happened.
If you didn't know, Brandon will be a big brother! We are expecting our second child on my birthday, September 19! I think that's a pretty good time to be born! (We will not find out the gender until then, sorry :)

Some other fun things that happened for the first time:
Brandon got his first haircut.

Brandon walking in cowboy boots

Brandon helps out with some chores, he likes to feed Wubes and help with the gardening,

Brandon goes fishing, (more like throwing rocks in the water)

Brandon stayed over the weekend with grandma and grandpa Stewart...

...so Mom and Dad could get away for a weekend in Manitou Springs...

and finally, one of the most exciting things that has happened since March 2 happened the very next day - March 3, Brandon has a new cousin. Andi Novak was born to Clint and Abby Novak (Sarah's sister). More pictures at novakancy.blogspot.com!

2008-03-02T14:13:00.001-08:00

Our trip to Florida:
We knew flying with an active fourteen month old baby would be a challenge, so we brought about 17 different toys, objects, snacks, etc. to entertain Brandon. Well, about 17 minutes after we boarded the plane, we had not even taken off yet and we exhausted all of our distractions. I have chosen not to remember the rest of our two flights (through Minneapolis, isn't that on the way to Quebec?), but I know we eventually made it to Jacksonville, Florida and everyone was much happier when we walked out of the plane and it was 75 degrees! We went to visit our friends the Wyss's and their newly adopted son, Asher.
Asher is very excited to tell us about the stick he found in the grass, Brandon is still trying to figure out how the grass got greener and all the snow went away.
One day we went to the butterfly pavilion in Gainesville and Brandon is pointing out the Japanese longwing butterfly to us. There were thousands of colorbuterflies to see.
Sarah gives a little snack to Brandon and Asher.

The Beach! We took a trip to the coast just south of St.Augustine and Brandon loved the beach.

Brandon would crawl out to the waves and just keep going if we didn't stop him, he wasn't afraid!
Even though the water wasn't really that warm, it didn't bother Brandon

NUDE BEACH! Brandon gets the sand washed off.

More Walking

2008-02-28T20:31:00.000-08:00

Brandon is almost walking

2008-01-25T17:32:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday

2007-12-30T15:08:00.000-08:00

We went to Monument for Christmas this year. Ryan's sister Sara and Avery sit in front of the mound of presents (most of them for the grandkids).

Brandon shows off his riding skills with his new pony and new hat

Brandon and Avery examen some new toys

Brandon watches it snow outside with his new tractor (It's a John Deere!). It was a beautiful white Christmas in Colorado!

We celebrated Brandon's birthday in the evening of the 25th with some homemade red cake and more presents.

Brandon and his birthday cake:
Part 1: Brandon has to be restrained from physically diving into his cake (although he had no idea that a cake is even edible)Part 2: It takes Brandon no time at all to figure out it tastes pretty good. Notice his technique using both hands.

Part 3: Within minutes the cake has disappeared from Brandon's plate. (Of course he didn't eat it all, Kota estimated that approximately 29% fell to the floor for her to clean up, 7% remained in Brandon's lap, and 12% remained on the table, leaving 52% that made it into Brandon's tummy)

Bye-Bye

Pre-Christmas Post

2007-12-28T15:22:00.001-08:00

In order to keep this post short, I will post some pictures from before Christmas.Brandon started pulling himself up and standing on his own and walking with a toy walker in November. It is quite a surprise to look over and see our little baby standing by a chair.

Brandon loves to play with the globe, he's got the whole world in his hands!

Sarah and I got all dressed up for my company holiday party.

Sarah's family was all together for Thanksgiving.

My family got together the weekend before Thanksgiving in Brandon, NE.

I love this picture of Brandon reaching up to touch the frosty tree. It captures his observant and inquisitive nature.

Brandon must get all his good looks from his Mom!!

No excuses

2007-11-09T19:03:00.001-08:00

Sorry we have not updated lately. I have no excuse other than the fact that I am narcoleptic and fall asleep every time I get on the computer.................................zzzzzzzzzzzzz like that!

Here are some pictures, I tried loading a video but can't get it to work.

The first two are September Pictures

Are you ready for some football?

Rub a dink dink, baby in the sink!

Wow, hope this works!!

New Pictures

2007-09-05T20:35:00.000-07:00

Brandon, welcome to Brandon for your first visit!

So cute you will melt...

2007-07-30T20:25:00.000-07:00

Over the Hill and Back Again...

2007-07-07T19:29:00.001-07:00

Hi everybody! Let me tell you about all of the fun things I have been doing. One of my favorite things to do is learn how to eat (can you tell?!). Now you can truly call me a "pumpkin-eater"!

Last week, Dad and Mom and I went on my first vacation with Uncle Rob and Aunt Sara and my cousin Avery. We drove over some big hills called "mountains", though beautiful river "valleys", and stayed in strange rooms at something called a "Motel".

Dad carried me to the top of a mountain where you could see the whole world I think!

Mom and Dad went to this place called a "winery" and tasted some fancy grape juice in a bottle. They told me I couldn't have any for 21 years, but I don't even know what a "year" is!
After that we went to a town called "Crested Butte" (not "Crusty Butt", that's different). People were sure excited about this day called the "4th of July". I couldn't figure out why, but I will learn that I guess. There were lots of people standing in the street watching cars go by - some of them were playing music, some were throwing candy, some people were dressed funny with painted faces. We saw some pretty flowers there too.

We had a lot of fun, and I learned some new tricks from my cousin Avery. I can twirl both hands and feet at the same time, I can grab both of my big toes, and I can do the "Superman" belly rock.
PS - Now I can babble "DaDaDaDa" and Dad gets pretty excited!

I'm six months old!

2007-06-24T19:53:00.001-07:00

Am I that old already?

If only I had teeth...

Hanging out with my cousin Grace

Two hunks on a blanket

Just chillin with Daddy

Huh?

The cool summer look

Father's Day

My first trip to Rocky Mountain National Park

I'm so lucky to live in Colorado-the most beautiful place in the world!

I love Mommy!

I found my toes and they sure are fun!

Is it May already?

2007-05-09T19:46:00.000-07:00

No, Brandon does not have any teeth yet, but that hasn't stopped him from munching on a carrot! Actually he just stole it from Mom and held it for awhile. Well, he didn't really steal it or eat it, Mom just let him hold it.
Looks like Brandon is learning how to pose for the camera. Ladies, look out!

Oh look, its the rest of the family. Brandon's first trip to the mountains. He likes pine trees and sage brush and looking for animals. Or maybe that's just Daddy...

Sign me up Coach!

2007-03-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

Brandon is excited about March Madness! He has only been in this world 3 months and he already knows what comes in March - college hoops!

Brandon's favorite player is Brandon Wright from UNC because he has a cool name, but he is picking UCLA to win it all, he must have heard that from Papa (Papa was there when Wooden was).

Brandon is smiling a lot now and starting to giggle. He loves to make all kinds of sounds and talk to the couch or the chair or a spot on the wall.

He is learning what is hands are, and can use them sometimes to hit things or even hold this ball (for a few seconds anyway).

A happy cherub after eating and a bath!

Stewarts and Luthers

"Hey cousin, how far can you get your fist in your mouth?"

News from Brandon

2007-02-19T11:55:00.000-08:00

Isn't he the cutest chubby baby? Do you think he could be a baby model? Post your comment!

Brandon with his cousin, Grace, who always runs to hold him as soon as we walk in (hmm, who doesn't do that.....?)

Our Valentine

Brandon and the Wubes pose for this shot. Do you think Kota could be a model dog?
Kota loves the Baby Einstein play gym more than Brandon.

Brandon chillaxes in the bathtub.

The Stewart clan (sans Kota)

Hello!? Hello?

Is there anybody out there? I think I have this figured out. I just push on these buttons and make a bunch of words and I can send messages, at least that’s what Dad told me. I have been here almost 2 months now! I already must be someone really important because so many people want to hold me and buy me presents! I can tell that lots of people love me and want me.

The world is really complicated compared to the womb. It is really interesting and I like it a lot. I really like the two big creatures that I get to see everyday, they call one Mommy and one Daddy. Mommy reminds me a lot of my days in the womb, she must have been there too. Daddy is funny and kind of weird – he can be really loud sometimes. He likes to read books to me and he always talks to me when he is around, most of the time he is talking about non-sense or really complicated stuff, it’s like he thinks I can’t understand him – I think he just likes to hear himself talk.

I am starting to get this routine figured out – about every three hours comes my favorite time of day, I like to call it “Munch Time”. There is a reason they call me “Muncher” – my favorite thing to do is eating! I eat so much I usually spit up half of it, but it sure is good stuff.

One of my other favorite pastimes is trying to pee on Daddy every time he changes my diaper. I’m getting to be a pretty good shot and getting some good distance. I can get him from about four feet.

Munch time is coming up so I have to go, here are some more cute pictures of me.

Love,

Brandon

Brandon one month old pictures

2007-02-04T20:13:00.000-08:00

Brandon says, "Go!"

He is a muncher! Brandon weighed 10lb 10 oz last Friday, 2/02

Hanging out with Mommy

"Whoa! Look at me flex!"

"Brandon, do you remember your cousin Avery?"

The Wubes watches out for Brandon

Baby Pictures

2007-01-21T09:01:00.000-08:00

New Baby Pictures!

2007-01-20T20:24:00.000-08:00

Brandon is a cutie. He is putting on some weight now. His new thing is grunting in the night, I don't know if he has gas or what. Kota loves to lick him whenever she can, Brandon thinks that is just fine. Brandon thinks New Orleans will win the Super Bowl, but Ryan thinks it will be Indianapolis. Kota thinks the Cleveland Browns will, I tried to explain they were out of the playoffs but she insisted. What can I say?

-Ryan

A Christmas Birth!

2007-01-10T20:43:00.000-08:00

The story from the Wubes:
'Twas the night before Christmas, and I was happy I got a new rubber bone for Christmas! We all went to bed, and I lay there thinking of the last nine months. The two of them had been acting differently since April. Sarah's belly had grown rather large, and they would talk to it and pat it. They got all this new stuff and changed the room called the "office" into the "nursery".

Now, at 12:30 am, Sarah awoke and ran to the bathroom. I could sense she was concerned about something, anxious and excited, when she stood by Ryan's side of the bed and awakened him, saying "Honey, I think my water broke!"

They were up and talking and calling on the phone and then they laid down again in bed and I was hoping to get some rest. I could hear them timing something, Ryan was calling out times each time Sarah nudged him with her elbow, "one-ten, one-fifteen, one-nineteen, one-twenty-three," and so on every 3 to 5 minutes.

Then they got up and went to the family room so I followed them. Sarah was on her knees and looked like she was in pain so I walked up licked her in the face to say, "Hey, it's okay, I love you." Boy, she didn't seem to like that very much.

Sometimes those people are like that, they get all grumpy when I lick them, but I keep trying... someone's gotta spread the love, right? Everybody needs a few good licks every 15 minutes or so, that's what I think.

Anyway, they started taking stuff outside and throwing stuff in the car and they were really happy and scared and concerned all at the same time. I knew this was serious because they never do this in the middle of the night. Well, they put me back in the bedroom and left.

I paced around for a while, but they were obviously not coming back. I crawled into my sanctuary under the bed and worried about them and prayed for them. Then I forgot all about them and went and laid on my bed and slept.

I woke up and realized it was Christmas morning and Ryan and Sarah were gone. How was I going to eat?! Well, luckily this really nice couple they call "Clintandabby" came over and fed me and played with me. Boy was I excited!

Well I spent the next two days outside in the snow, and, boy, was I bored! I invented some new games though, one is called "Run around as fast as I can in the snow" and another one is called "Run around as fast as I can in the snow with a stick in my mouth."

Two days later Ryan and Sarah show up with this little package. They carry it around and talk to it all day long and hardly ever talk to me anymore, they call it Brandon Micah Stewart. I got to see it a couple times and it looks like a little mini-person. I think it looks like Grandpa. At first they wouldn't let me even lick him and spread the love, but now they give him two licks when I go by, but no more.

Here's the rest of the story they told me later. When Ryan and Sarah got to the hospital, Sarah was already fully dialated and started pushing as soon as they checked in. About an hour later, Brandon was born.

Here are the stats:
Birthdate: December 25, 2006 3:24 am
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
Weight: 6lb 15oz
Length: 20 inches

You wouldn't believe all the fuss this little guy creates, people come over just to hold him and look at him. He can't even walk. He is sure cute though, he might be even cuter than me, but I doubt that, he doesn't have very floppy ears.

Well, I'm learning to live with Brandon, and actually I'm starting to like the little guy. I can't wait until he's old enough to play with me!

- Kota