Lashes

Nope, no Latisse here. These are au natural.

Rise and Sparkle

Little one, you sparkle in the morning. It's my favorite time of day because you've gotten a full nights sleep and so often I'll come out to feed you around 7-8a and you're all smiles just entertaining yourself in your crib or chair. This is one awesome milestone of your being 2 mos old - you are becoming independant and can hang on your own for quite a while! Here you are first thing this morning thumbseeking and smiling up a storm.
I just love your sparkle, lil guy. Please don't ever lose that sparkle.

Baby Bum!

Nothing is cuter than a baby bum with a monkey on it!

Sizemore Hands

Thumbseeker

Well baby, it seems this whole thumbsucking business might be totally in the genes. When your daddy was younger, he was one heck of a thumbsucker, and it's looking like you are headed in this very direction. Your new favorite thing to do is try to get your thumb in your mouth, and it is the funniest thing to watch. You try so stinkin hard to get your thumb (or we think really any finger would do) into that tiny mouth of yours. A few strategies you've implemented are to put the entire fist into your mouth and hope for the best, use one hand to guide the other in, and the all famous clasped hands to hold it in once you're close. We have mixed feelings about thumb sucking vs. binkies, but in the end as long as your comfortable, we're all for it. Have fun thumbseeking, babe.

Stop: Shower time

Daddy doesn't so much love the whole baby bathtub idea - it takes too long and let's be honest, daddies just don't dig the precious bathtime as much as we mommies do. So, we've figured out that our little water baby loves showers almost as much as he loves baths! Here you are with your daddy in a PG-rated shower shoot!

blankie

I never thought to try to acclimate you to a blankie until Auntie Kelsey and your future girlfriend Lucca sent you this amazing blankie made by mama Krug. I never would've thought it, but you LOVE this thing. The polka dotted side is your comfort - you stare at it when fussy or wanting to play, and you want this silky side in your mouth when you're tired of trying to get that thumb in there. You love the monkey tags on the edges and the soft side is your comfort that keeps you warm. I swear this blanket was made with magic mommy love dust because it is officially your special blankie that I know will be with you for the long haul! As soon as little Mr. Chao arrives he will love this blankie just as much as we do!

Thanks to the Chao's and Mrs. Krug!!

Black and White Rules!

Auntie Kelsey reminded us recently that our beloved playmat turns over into a black and white wonderland! Three cheers for contrast as you coo with glee!

How could you not love this face?

8 Weeks Today!

8 weeks ago today marks the best day of my life. You entered the world and changed me forever. I am a sappy, lovey, sentimental mush of emotions and I have you to thank for it. You have taught me lessons in compassion, understanding, unconditional love, and most importantly for me: patience, a skill I have always lacked.

I cannot believe you're already 2 months old. This scares the bajesus outta me. It means so many things, mostly it reminds me to be thankful for every precious moment I have with you while you are my tiny infant, but it also means that you are getting older every day and before I know it, you'll be walking and talking. I am beyond terrified to return to work and leave you, I just can't imagine not spending every single day with you, but I've also had an incredible 8 weeks and I get 6 more!
Today I give thanks for you, my sweet baby boy. Here's to each and every day with you.

Don't wanna miss a thing

When I ask my friends for advice, 99% of the time, one of their tips (if not their #1 tip) is to enjoy my baby while he's little. Time flies and they grow so fast. I've taken this advice to my deepest heart. Every breathe you take, every moment, every wiggle and coo, I am trying to mark it in stone in this memory. I wish I had a vault that would keep these memories and all that are contained in them - the scent, the sound, the emotion. Many of these moments will never be replicated, even with baby #2 (if we are so lucky) I know that baby #1 comes only once.

I snapped this photo the other night as I thought this was one of those moments never want to forget.
Just you and I cuddled up in our favorite rocking chair at 5am.
Loving.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Best lil bday present ever!

Shark Attack!!

Seriously ridiculously you.

Layman Family Baby Shower

On March 12th you were lucky enough to meet your other Grandma and almost the entire Layman family! Your Grandma Jeanne and Great-Aunt Louise were kind enough to throw a baby shower for us at Louise's home in Portland. It was so much fun, you were able to meet many of your Daddy's Aunts and cousins, and fun games, fabulous gifts, and yummy food!

Here are pics from your day:

You, your daddy, your Grandma, and Great-Grandma!!

7 Weeks!

Remember that time I said we'd be writing weekly updates? Yeahhh, that was before I realized how challenging it would be to sit in and think for longer than 10 minutes. Props to all you mommies you have 2+ children, I can't imagine having time for anything except looking after you (and watching you sleep, and making sure you're breathing, and cleaning up your pristine nursery).

But here we are, at 7 weeks (almost 8 weeks!). I cannot believe you've grown up so quickly. To think that it's already been that long since I gave birth to you is unbelievable. It feels like just last week that we brought you home from the hospital. What's more insane is how much more I love you each day. I am a walking cliche, and it's the best thing ever. Every tiny thing you do makes me smile (even when you cry), and with every coo and grin you win me over and over again. We are so blessed to have you in our lives and I am enjoying every single minute of our new life. You gave us your first smile at 5 weeks and this milestone has me seriously conflicted. Part of me wants you to stay this size and this age forever: you are so tiny and cute and cuddly, you LOVE your mama (it's true), and it's relatively easy to tend to your needs (AND you can't talk back, major bonus!). But at the same time, seeing this first smile of yours makes me want to fast forward. I can't wait to see what kind of little person you're going to be - shy, sweet, and emotional? Or social, outgoing, and talkative? I'm doing my best to savor every minute with you while I appreciate the past and look forward to the future and watching you grow into your own person.

For now, here's a few updates and photos:

+ SMILES (YAAAAAY!!) ~started smiling at 5 weeks

+ Cooing/making noises ~started this at 6 weeks, and now you're definitely responding to our prompts

+ at 6 weeks you started reaching for toys/objects

+ at 6 weeks, after following the Baby Whisperer program for about 10 days, you started sleeping approx 5 hrs each night. More recently we've been able to get 6 hour stretches of sleep and it's a DREAM!

+ You hold your head up like a pro, it's ridiculous how strong you are

+ You recognize your Grandpa's face (and you love him so, so much)

+ You are chewing on things like you're teething; I know you're not but you do love to have things in your mouth; you will chew on my finger for an hour, or you'll chew on your binkie, it's quite hilarious

+ You love your tongue, always sticking it out and moving it around in your mouth during playtime

+ You are playing more and more, and sleeping less and less (during the day)

+ You still LOVE bathtime!

You've had many visitors. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few, but here's all I can remember for now:

- Liz Thoenes

- Dustin Wolfe

- Stacy Hartzler

- Holly Newton

- Liz Walden

- Sally

- Eric Wilmarth

And just a few pics:

Your daddy and Uncle playing pretty music for you...

That crazy tongue of yours

Your chewing habit

Those adorable shoes!!!