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.

New Baby Jacob

(From my journal to Jacob)

I love you so much! Today has been fairly uneventful, for the most part. Since you didn't let me sleep last night, we both napped this morning. Today has just been feedings, naps, and diaper and clothing changes. You choked a little while feeding, and it really scared me, but you got it up pretty quickly and I kept you upright for a while after that. I'm hoping I just had you too horizontal and that it won't be a regular occurrence.

Your umbilical cord fell off yesterday. I'm pretty sure Boehmke carried it off, because I can't find it now. I thought once the cord was off, we'd be able to put diapers on tighter and that then you wouldn't pee through your diapers, clothes, blankets, AND bassinet sheets, but I was wrong! I've never done laundry on such a regular basis before -- it's pretty much always running. You're sleeping now, and you look so sweet! I'm waiting for your dad to call, and then it's shower time!

Regarding Pre-Benjamin Posts

Any posts before Benjamin was born are from my journal to Jacob. I put them in so this blog wouldn't be missing tons of Jacob stories. Well, it is still missing tons of them since I have forgotten to write down quite a few! Anyway, I typed in my journal to Jacob word-for-word, to balance out all of Benjamin's new baby stories. I also wanted a reason to insert some of Jacob's earlier photos. :)

I am keeping a journal to Benjamin, but I won't be typing any of those entries in here because I'll be keeping the blog current and won't need those entries.