Two Months!

My sweet baby boy,

You have gone and grown again! You are two months old today, and I can't believe it!

I wasn't supposed to have your latest "stats" yet, as we were scheduled to go to the doctor tomorrow afternoon for your well-visit and shots (boo!)... but you woke up with some sort of crazy swelling and rash on your face/head, so I called in an appointment for you and we went this morning instead!

{Doesn't the poor boy just look pitiful?!?} :(

Luckily, the swelling and rash had completely disappeared by the time we got to the doctor, so they said you probably had a random reaction to something - we'll have to keep our eyes on that! I don't want you encountering that again, even though it didn't seem to phase you one little bit!

Since we went to the doctor, they went ahead and did your well-visit and shots... so here's the latest info on you!

Height/Weight/Clothing size: You weighed in this morning at a crazy 10 lbs, 4 oz!! That's a 2 lb, 4 oz gain in one month, sweetie! You are an eater, though, so I'm not terribly suprised ;) You are 21 3/4 inches long, and your head is 15 inches in circumference. All in all, you're following your growth chart perfectly, staying in the 10-15%ile for all measurements! You have definitely outgrown your newborn clothes... first were the sleepers since you got too long for those and they have the footies in them. Next came your onesies - they would fit okay around the belly, but would puuuuull at the neckline because you are so long! You wear 0-3 month clothes and a size 1 diaper, as of today, when I used the last newborn one! :)

Eating:  As I mentioned above, you are still an EATER! You nurse about every 1 1/2 to 2 hours during the day, unless you're in a deep, sleepy nap. I have lifted the time restrictions on your eating, though, since you've learned to stop yourself once you're full. There's still some spit up, but not too much, and it doesn't seem to bother you or the doctor at all! During your bedtime routine, Daddy feeds you a bottle so you can have some quality time with him, and you sometimes take about 5 ounces before you're nice and satisfied and sleepy! No wonder you gained good weight!!

Sleeping: You have started to learn to love your nighttime sleep, baby! Your beditme routine (no matter when it gets started) consists of a bath or rubdown, lotion massage, and quiet bottle with Daddy. Then Mommy swaddles you up - in a SwaddleMe, not a blanket, because you would get out of the blanket swaddle EVERY TIME! - and puts you in your crib! We have a heartbeat sound playing all night long in your room, and you do wonderfully at going to sleep. Your first sleep stretch is currently a consisten 5 1/2-6 hours... the other night you gave us nearly 7 hours, so I think we're making really good progress! After that first stretch, you have 2 more 2 1/2 - 3 hour stretches before you're up for the day. Your naptimes are pretty random; some days you're awake all morning and sleepe the afternoon away, other days you sleep all day long! I have just learned to follow your lead and do what it takes to keep you comfy and satisfied :) That makes for a happier household all around ;)

 {Those poor legs :(}

Playtime: You're definitely more aware of things at this point than you were last month! You looooove to look around at any lights you can find, and you do an awesome job of tracking objects. You've come to enjoy your play mat a little bit more, and you'll grab ahold of the toys that dangle in front of you if your hand comes in contact with it. I'm not sure you're reaching for things on purpose yet, but you'll hang on for dear life once you get something in your grasp! You have given Mommy some pretty great smiles in the past week or so... I have to be super silly in order to really see them, though! You're holding out on Daddy, but he sure tries his hardest, and I know any day now you'll give him a big smile that will simply melt his heart!

Joey, you are the light of our hearts, and we are so so so very thankful for you. I pray every day for your future and that God will show us how to lead you down the correct path for you. This Sunday, you'll be dedicated at church (along with your two cousins; what a special day that will be for the whole family!), and we will make a promise before everyone to raise you to be a Godly boy and man. I cannot imagine life without you in it, and I love you more than words can express. I can't wait to see what this next month will bring!

~Mommy

First Father's Day weekend!

It was a good weekend :)

Joey started smiling on Saturday morning... wait for it...

 wait for it...

THERE IT IS! :) He wouldn't stay still enough for a picture of a normal smile, but I love this action shot!

 And our nightly routine... Small Joe sleeps on Big Joe as they have their time together.

 So sweet. He feels so safe with his Daddy. As he should. :)

I can't wait for many more Father's Days to come to celebrate the great Daddy that Joey has to look up to!

It WILL BE a happy Friday!

Here's what yesterday looked like:

- Unless Joey was sleeping or eating, he was screaming crying.
- The only way he'd sleep was if he were sleeping on me.
- During the 9 hours Daddy was gone to work, Joey took one 2-hour nap and one 45-minute nap.

Needless to say, I got NOTHING accomplished. Not even a shower. Shoot... my teeth didn't get brushed til Daddy called to say he was heading home. :/

BUT! Here are reasons why today is going to be better than yesterday :-)
- We got our first 4-hour stretch of sleep last night!! Praise the Lord!
- Thanks to Aunt Jessica, we have a new big washcloth that stays on top of Joey to keep him warm... meaning bath time may not be a wriggly, squirmy, screaming match any longer!

- It's 7:00, and here's already what I've done:

• showered
• dried my hair!
• put a load of laundry in
• cut up old shirts into rags

And now, here I sit... blogging, eating my bowl of fruit, and watching Good Morning America while my baby snoozes away. Even if the rest of the day turns out like yesterday, it's already been a happy Friday.

And for that, I'm thankful!