Teef!

Guess who has a tooth coming in?! Me!! I've been drooling a lot the past few weeks and trying to gnaw on my hand or my mommy's hand (I can't quite hold anything to chew on just yet), so my parents knew it was only a matter of time before a tooth arrived. I've been a little fussy too, much to mommy's frustration, because there is little she can do to help since I can't hold a teething ring. Just a little numbing gel on my gums to ease the discomfort. But it looks like I'm following in my big brother's footsteps and getting teeth early. Bring on the steaks!

I'm Still A Shrimp!

This says it all:

But I'm filling out, getting chubby, and looking completely adorable! I'll catch up eventually!

Developments

This week, I've discovered my tongue. It's so cool, I can stick my tongue out, chew on it, etc! I've been practicing non-stop and my Mommy got a picture of it so you can see. 

I've also made a significant change in my sleeping habits. Two days before my mommy had to go back to work, I decided to start sleeping through the night...and did it 6 nights in a row so far! Mom and Dad are THRILLED! 

About 2 weeks ago, I started blowing spit bubbles. Not sure why I love to do this so much, but I do it all the time! And a week or so before that, I started talking back when I'm spoken to, I make cooing noises and also little squeals. Basically from month 2 and on, there have been small little developments that I have made that my parents find adorable!

Back To Work: A Note From Mom

I'm very sad that my maternity leave has come to an end, but what a wonderful 3 months it has been! I loved having Leif all to myself for so long and I wouldn't trade that time for anything! The one-on-one time we had, when Daddy and big brother were out of the house at work and school, is priceless bonding time and I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to establish that mother-son connection. He has grown so much from when we first brought him home when he was only a tiny 5 pounds. Tom and I feel that we were blessed with extra time with him because he was born so early and even though it was scary for us at the time, (he was so small!) we got our tiny little peanut early and all my worries of a busy schedule, work stress, and our house situation just melted away and the focus could be on happiness with my little one!

I've loved watching him change and grow...developing new abilities, discovering new things (this week, he has discovered his tongue!) and getting cuter and cuter by the minute. 

It will be tough being away from him 3 days a week, but I'm thankful to have a job that allows me to work part time and be home with him the other 4 days! I look forward to the time he can have on Mondays with his Grammie just like Heston did.

Lots of Laugs, Smiles, and "Talking"

It's amazing how time flies...there have been so many wonderful moments and they haven't exactly been documented on this blog because life is busy! About 3 weeks ago, I started making lots of little laughing noises and I really love to "talk." It all started with my Daddy talking to me and I would just sit and listen to him and his deep melodious voice and make cooing noises back. Then those little cooing sounds became "talking" in response to him. Mom couldn't believe it because I never did this with her! So my Daddy and I talked back and forth a lot and eventually I included my Mommy in on this special interaction. I talk and I smile back and they think it is the SWEETEST thing.

I've recently gotten an activity mat for playtime and tummy time. I really love it...especially the mirror! I love staring at myself! I also like the little animals that hang down around me and twirl around with the music...I play contently in this for about 20 minutes, talking and cooing and what sounds very much like a happy squeal. Then I'm done and ready to be held!

Mommy has been working very hard to establish a schedule for me the past month and she feels like a wizard for getting me on it so quickly. We've all enjoyed good sleep at night the past month and I'm starting to go down around 7:00 p.m., giving my parents some down time in the evening, and then waking around 6:30/7:00 a.m, with only one feeding in the middle of the night. Sometimes, if I've had a tiring day, I'll skip the middle of the night feeding and sleep right through it. I've also been doing great with my naps. Although I may not always nap on a perfect schedule, I usually take two solid naps a day. This was my Mommy's goal: getting me on a sleep schedule before maternity leave is up. Mom says: "VICTORY!"

Last week, I went to my church childcare for the first time. It was really hard for my Mommy to leave me, but I did fine. I didn't sleep very well, but I sure did when I got home...Mommy was amazed at how long I napped and she had to wake me for a feeding before going right back down at 7:00 p.m. There was so much excitement in my nursery at church that I didn't want to spend it napping. The sweet ladies in the nursery say I will adjust to the noise and excitement eventually. When Mommy picked me up, I heard her voice and I was wide eyed looking around for her! We were both happy to be back together after a long day.

Maternity leave is coming to an end and this is Mommy's last week before she goes back to work (3 days a week). It'll be a tough transition for both of us because the past 3 months have been so very wonderful having our time together. Thankfully we will still have our 4 full days together each week once she goes back, but that doesn't make the change any easier!

Sleep!

LOTS of little changes happening in my world...for starters, I've slept through the night twice! I've gotten up early in the morning each time, but that's because my big brother woke me and everyone up because of an ear ache and a nightmare. But I slept 7 consecutive hours in my bed and Mommy and Daddy seem well rested too! Once I've had my early morning feeding, I love to sleep in...after my parents get me out of my crib in the wee hours of the morning, I sleep in their bed and I'm content there for hours. I'm not an early riser like my big brother!!
Another exciting thing happening is that I'm starting to laugh...it's a cross between a coo and a giggle...Mom thinks it's cute!

This is a little late, but we celebrated Grammie's 60th birthday last week...HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAMMIE!!

Sleeping In My Crib!

Since my parents brought me home from the hospital, I've slept in their bed. This co-sleeping arrangement all stemed from a very scary dusky episode I had the day after I was born, where I briefly stopped breathing. My parents were scared it would happen again, so naturally they wanted to keep an eye on me at night and the co-sleeping bed was bought and I've been in their bed ever since. It got to a point where I had to be with my Mommy ALL the time and I even had to be held during naps. This was fine the first few weeks, but I wore my Mommy down! So she started introducing naptime in the crib a little bit at a time...putting me in there when I was already asleep. Gradually, after many weeks of persistence, she put me in my crib awake to see if I would fall asleep on my own. A little musical crib thingy gave me something to look at and keep my attention while Mom left the room. I cried being left on my own and she'd come and soothe me...every time and sometimes it would take quite a while to get me to sleep. (Feeding, changing diaper, soothing, laying me down & repeat!) Well...last night, after a warm bath and a big meal, she bundled me up, put me in bed wide awake, and waited. I made a lots of little noises as I listened to my music and watched the pretty lights. After about 15 minutes WITHOUT crying, I eventually drifted off into a deep sleep!! I slept for almost 4 hours!! Mom was thrilled...she fed me and then put me back in my crib, where I slept another 3 until I was hungry again. I went back in the crib a third time in the wee hours of the morning, but eventually the noise of people waking (my brother) woke me up and I was done with the crib. That means everyone in the household slept a full nights sleep! (Praise The Lord!) It wasn't an easy process, but a constant pattern paid off. We will try it again tonight!