2 Months!

That's right folks! Tanner baby is 2 months today! This little one is growing like a weed! Today we had his check-up appointment. He weight 9 lbs. 5 oz. which is in the 5th percentile. That may sound little, but for a preemie, he's actually on the chart with the big boys, and I think that's impressive. He was 20 3/4 in. (3rd percentile). Everything checked out fine and the doctor couldn't believe how much he's grown! We are truly lucky to have this sweet kid! He's become a lot more active and interested in the world around him.

Likes:
Eating!!!!
His Soothie (Pacifier)
Taking a bath
Cuddling with Mom
His carseat
Comfy blanket that Nana made for him (wrapping him in this blanket is sometimes the only way to comfort him.)

Dislikes:
Changing his diaper
Being hungry
Getting dressed
His apnea chest strap
Being alone in his crib

Here's some recent pictures of Tanner!

1st time church

Nap Time

L-O-V-E

Love. There's all different sorts of love, but when it comes down to it, love is the same; caring for someone more than yourself. I love Valentine's Day, not only for the mushy side of it, but for the love that I have for everyone I know. I love my husband & son, my family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, ward members, and lots more. It's the 2nd greatest commandment. Love others. May we each reflect upon the love we have for those we know. Happy Valentine's Day! Here's a picture of my two greatest loves.

Phoenix Children's Hospital

Wednesday was my first experience at PCH. It is quite the place. Tanner had an appointment with the pulmonologist since he had to come home on an apnea monitor. There was high security from the moment we pulled up. The facilities are definitely top-notch; from the outside to the inside. Tanner's appointment was 2 hours long and we met with the doc, an apnea nurse, and a nutritionist! Tanner did so good at his appointment. He weighed 8lbs. 1oz. I can't believe how big my little man is getting! The doctor said he's doing fine and hopefully we will only have to have the monitor for 6 more weeks. Tanner is going to have an Upper GI Test done in the next week or two make sure that his digestive system is working fine. I'm so grateful that my Tan Man is doing well, but I hope in the future never to have a premature child. It's a lot of extra everything. Here's to 1 more week till 2 months! Time flies when you're having fun!

1 Month Old Today

I can hardly believe that my baby is 1 month old today! It seems like yesterday he was born. We love having Tanner home; even though sleep is short to come by (obviously the photos prove otherwise for Tanner). Tanner has grown so much since we've had him home. He is a strong boy and constantly amazes us with his strength. We love you Tanner!

Home at LAST!

Tanner was finally able to come home. Wednesday night I went and spent the night at the hospital with Tanner. It was my first night taking care of him all by myself and I got no sleep. Other than that it went fine. It was good enough that they let us take Tanner home on Thursday. It was the strangest feeling bring him home after 3 weeks in hospital, but the 3 of us have adapted well. We LOVE our little boy and are SO glad he's finally home!

On our way home from the hospital!

Already 2 Weeks?

They say that your kids grow up way too fast. I'm already feeling that. Today Tanner is 2 weeks old! It's hard to believe that 2 weeks have already passed since we received this sweet little angel. He's perfect and every moment I spend with him I love him more. I can't wait for him to come home, so life with Tanner can "start". I enjoy our special moments at the hospital and know that I'm starting a sweet relationship with my son. Here are a few things about Tanner today. He weighs 4 lb. 15 oz. and is bottling well. Tomorrow they will be taking the feeding tube out! I got to give Tanner a bath today. Mom loved it, but son's not too sure about it. I just think how someday he won't want to leave the water.

Introducing Tanner Justen Watkins

Wow! What an insane Christmas we've had this year. It all started Monday December 20th when my water broke. I had no idea that I was slowly going into labor. The next few days they tried to stop labor because I was only 32 weeks along. However the little man wanted to come. He made his first appearance on Wednesday December 22nd, 2010 at 3:36PM. He weighed 4 lbs. 8 oz. and was 17 1/2 inches long. Because he was so early he is living in the NICU. It has been hard to see him hooked up to machines and not being able to come home. However he is doing fabulous! He has been able to breathe on his own and is making HUGE milestones. Currently we are working on getting him to feed and gain weight. Thanks to all our family and friends for the love, support, and prayers; the three of us deeply appreciate it! We are already in love with our little boy and can't wait for him to get home!