8 Week Well Check Stats

Ok, so here's how this blogging this works. We have our 8 week pediatrician appt and then 3 weeks later, I finally get around to adding it to your blog. Your mama is slackin! I'm sorry buddy, but you're just keeping me too busy, and if it's a choice between cuddling with my babe and blogging, guess what I'm going to choose? It's been a crazy last few weeks, your mama caught a cold at her company party and shortly after had to have emergency surgery (these are unrelated). No fun, but thankfully, your Grandma and Grandpa were there to help us out, thank God for them! You were so good to me when I was sick and recovering, and I'm finally starting to feel better. So thanks, baby, for being such a nice little guy when I needed ya.

As of 8 weeks, here were your stats:

Height: 23 1/4 " - 60th percentile

Weight: 13 lbs - 70th percentile

Head: 15 1/2" - 35th percentile

At your docs appt, you also had your very first set of immunizations. We put you on a conservative spread out vaccine schedule, so you only had two immunizations. Again, you love these nurses. When the nurse put the needle in your leg you gave her the biggest gummy smile ever, making her laugh as she administered your vaccine. You continue to amaze me and everyone who meets you. You're such a social baby, you love to meet new people and this appt was no exception. She said in 10 years she's never had a baby smile when getting a shot - there you go, breaking records already. I'm crossing my fingers every appt is as easy as this one was. No tears, all smiles. Good baby.

Ok, here are a few fun milestones as of this week, since TODAY you happen to be 11 weeks old.

+ You are awake during the day more and more

+ You LOVE it when Daddy comes home from work, you smile at him when you hear his voice (he seems to be liking this too)

+ You blow bubbles and air through your lips

+ You are reaching for everything (rattles, your blankie, my HAIR) and holding on tightly; your mama is starting to realize what the "mommy haircut" is all about

+ You smile almost everytime I bring your blankie to you, we've got to get this on camera soon for your future girlfriend Lucca

+ You want to put everything in your mouth

+ You are such a joy in the morning after a full nights sleep, it's adorable, you're all smiles and coos, it's my favorite time of day

+ In other good news, we finally got your daycare worked out and we're very excited about it. They are great caregivers and we think it's going to be perfect for you (Mommy, however, might not take to this whole going back to work thing very well, wish me luck)

Here's wonderful, adorable, you:

Boppy Thief

Your daddy found a new use for your boppy.

Goodnight, Bird

You fell asleep holding your favorite bluebird. Tiny moments, too sweet.

Diaper Duty

Well, the truth is revealed: your Daddy will not be giving diaper changing lessons anytime soon. He gave us a pretty funny show, apparently your big bad man of a daddy has a sensitive gag reflex. He would rather eat nails than change a dirty diaper. Here were the events of todays diaper change:

- Daddy opens diaper
- Daddy realizes it's a poopy one and jumps 3 feet back, all while holding your legs above your body.
- Daddy's gag reflex kicks in and he starts coughing/gagging as you lay and giggle at him. Silly Daddy
- Daddy pulls diaper out from under you, in obvious protest as Mommy laughs, points, and snaps photos (seen below)
- Daddy pulls another diaper out as baby begins pooping on the blanket underneath him.
- Poop.is.EVERYWHERE.
- Daddy moves as far away from you as possible, still holding legs
- "I can't do this, I'm going to barf", he gags, between words
- Mommy takes over
- Baby finds this all terribly funny, smiling and cooing nonstop. What a show!
- Silly Daddy, we hope he knows this smell actually gets worse, not better. Get on the poop train, Daddy! There's a lot more where this came from.

This Face

I could stare at it all day.

Happy

You make it literally impossible to NOT take photos. Everyday. My poor Macbook harddrive is taking a beating. I was perusing some early photobooth photos we took. Here you are at 13 days old, and what is most noticeable to me is how clearly happy I've become. It's a new kind of happiness, the eternal kind. You have filled my heart completely and I'm thankful for you, my sweet baby boy.

Here you are, just 13 days old, the best little <3 Valentine ever:

These are a few of your favorite things...

Hanging on tight to your favorite blankie, favorite sophie giraffe, a binkie, on your favorite chair. The kid is alright.

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!