Still Tired

(From my journal to Jacob)

Last night your dad took you from 2-4, which helped me get some sleep! You were very fussy for your dad yesterday, but were in a great mood yesterday afternoon. I slept on the recliner holding you from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. today. I felt better about doing that with the Boppy to help keep you in place. When you woke up, you were all smiles. We played together for about an hour, and that was really fun and special to me. We joined Dad in bed for some family cuddle time.

Lately you've been wanting to eat for only 5-7 minutes, and then you're hungry again pretty soon. This makes it hard to get things done! You haven't wanted to burp much lately, either, which causes you to spit up more.

Today you're wearing a fortune cookie onesie that says, "A surprise will appear in my pants."

A Tired Mom

(From my journal to Jacob)

You are so big! Last Wednesday, you weighed 10 pounds, 2.9 ounces after a feeding. This past Wednesday, you weighed 10 pounds, 12.4 ounces! Before a feeding! You are smiling more and you chuckle as you fall asleep sometimes. You can lift your whole upper body with your arms. Dad had you sort of standing last night. He had you standing with some help from his legs, but you could hold your entire body straight!

You've been fighting during feedings. You grunt and thrash your head around. You always fight to stay awake and leave your left eye slit open. You make lots of funny squeaky noises. You smile in the morning at things like the window and headboard. You're still sleeping in the co-sleeper, but I think I'm going to start you in the bassinet again tonight.

You like kisses near your ear and on your mouth. You always get comments about how alert you are, how big your eyes are, and how much hair you have, even though you've lost quite a bit since you were born.

I think just recently you've decided to become a night owl again. The last two weeks were good, but the last two nights have been bad again.

Today your Aunt Rosie came with us to my doctor appointment. She held you and you were so good! We visited Dad after work, and then Aunt Rosie gave you your first bottle in probably five or so weeks. Then we all met Uncle Theo at the Olive Garden. You snuggled the whole time with me and then Aunt Rosie. She is so crazy about you and Brianna! Aunt Rosie just goes on and on about how beautiful/funny/sweet you are (all true).

Your Grandma B. was showing off pictures of you to your Great Aunt Karen's Friday group today.

I love you tons and tons and tons! I am so tired, but so very happy to have you. I can't believe how big you are. I can't believe it's been over 6 weeks!

The First Visit to St. Louis

(From my journal to Jacob)

We visited your Grandma and Grandpa B. for the first time this weekend! We drove in Thursday night, and visited people on Friday. On Saturday, Grandma gave an open house for people to meet you. You were very good, but I think it was an overwhelming weekend -- we were all happy to get home on Sunday.

You started doing full face smiles this weekend. You smiled the most for Grandpa. Your grandparents are so in love with you! Your Auntie Anne couldn't come to the open house, but spent Friday night with you and Saturday early afternoon.

Your smiles are so wonderful. You're starting to reach for things. You grabbed someone's necklace and your grandpa's glasses. You're sleeping more through the night -- for longer stretches, at least. You're usually smiley in the morning. I love to just hold you and sing to you. You seem to enjoy it.

Tonight you were on your tummy and your dad leaned down close to you. I told you to smile for your Daddy and you did! It was so cute!

You rolled over tonight!!! You went from your tummy to your back. I'm so excited.

Sounds and a Photo Shoot

(From my journal to Jacob)

You are so beautiful! You are making "ooh" and "oh" sounds. They are so cute! A lot of times I can soothe you by saying "ooo" softly. You can lift your head for so long! We love how when we touch your lips as you sleep, you purse them together and pucker up. :)

Today we could calm you instantly by holding you in a sitting position with my arms fully extended and raising you up and down. However, you cried each time I stopped. It's very hard to do for a long time. It's really funny how well it works, though.

We took pictures of you and Brianna on Saturday. You were so cute! I love you so much and I just want every second recorded. I feel like I'm missing so many moments in here -- I wish I could write all of them down and fully describe them.

You are a very warm baby. Your head gets really hot and you get sweaty pretty easily. You love to be held, but you have to be able to see around you. You usually don't want to snuggle really close.

You fart and poop very explosively. It's easily heard across the room or over the phone. It makes us laugh.

You love to look at people. You can stare at your dad for a long time. Your dad can calm you better than most people by holding your chest on his palm and patting your back.

We love you!

Trip to Brown County

(From my journal to Jacob)

You are the sweetest baby ever. We had a lot of tummy time today. You get so frustrated because you can't crawl yet. You're crying and trying to move at the same time. It is so funny! You'll be moving around any time now! Your dad and I love you so much. I wish we could capture every single moment.

We drove to Brown County today to look at the leaves and trees. You slept all the way. We took a couple of pictures and then headed back. You got really upset close to home. When we got home, I picked you up and you just seemed so content to be held.

Jacob's First Time Eating Out

(From my journal to Jacob)

Today we ate at Logan's Steakhouse for your first restaurant. You slept the entire time. A couple and then two men went on and on about how beautiful you are! We went to the mall and you were awake and so good there! Your Aunt Rosie is so in love with you! She held you while I was trying on nursing tops and was just enthralled. You smiled several times in a row. I'm sure they're just gas smiles, but it's so cute! You are going to be quite the charmer once you're smiling for real.

Jacob's First Bath

(From my journal to Jacob)

Tonight you had your first bath at home! You didn't fuss much as I was cleaning your body, but you didn't like when I got your hair wet. You looked so cute all bundled up in the hooded towel! I didn't brush your hair right afterwards because I wanted to get you warm, so your hair's sticking out in funny places. It's so cute!

We've put you in a co-sleeper the past two nights, and the nights have been much better! I think you like being close. I keep my arm touching you, and it seems to help you sleep. Dad and I got to sleep in until 10 this morning! It's really exciting to be able to sleep.

Tomorrow's your two-week check up, so we get to see how big you've gotten! Your Grandma and Grandpa B. are getting ready for us to visit. It's still three weeks away, but they're pretty excited.