Guitars

          EJ's Aunt Anna and Uncle Alex gave him this cute guitar onesie.  Anna and Alex are both very musically talented (they did all the wonderful music at our wedding ceremony).  We're hoping they sent some musical ability along with the onesie.  Otherwise, it's not looking good for EJ.

Getting sleepy.  Celebrating a clean diaper!  EJ hates sitting in wet or dirty diapers, and definitely lets us know when we're slacking off on the diaper changes.

EJ is very smiley in the morning.

EJ's getting a serious set of cheeks!

TBT

          Throwback Thursday.  I can't believe the chunky little baby in my arms started out as this scrawny, ribs-showing preemie!  He's come a long way!

Family

          Earlier this month, EJ’s Aunt Serenity, Uncle Matt, and cousin Vivi came to visit!  (There was a little preview of this in the Balboa Park post.)  They moved from California to Rochester, New York last May, so we were very excited to get to see them again, especially Vivi, who was just a baby when we saw her last.  Now she’s a walking, talking toddler!  We had a fun week going to the beach, the playground, and Balboa Park, and spending time with Serenity, Matt, Vivi, and Pete and Serenity’s cousin Hollis and her husband, Tony.  Thanks for coming to meet EJ, Matt and Serenity!

It was a beautiful day at Cardiff State Beach.

Vivi's first time at the beach.

Babies born to such pale parents instinctively know how to hide from the sun.

At Balboa Park

Hollis and Tony.  EJ loved cuddling with Aunt Hollis!

Cousins!  One cousin down, ten to meet for EJ.

Spending time with Uncle Matt and Aunt Serenity

Trading babies.

      

Happy Birthday, Uncle Chris!

          Today is EJ's Uncle Chris' birthday!  EJ hasn't met his Uncle Chris yet, but he's seen him on FaceTime.  Hopefully he'll get to meet him in person this summer.  EJ put on his best (only) koala onesie to take some pictures to make a card for Uncle Chris.  Happy birthday, Chris!  We love you!

He's getting so big!

And the final product!  Happy birthday, Uncle Chris!

Happy Baby

          Now that he's started smiling, EJ can't stop!

Never without his audience. 

Super-Baby

          EJ couldn't stay a super preemie forever! Grandma Karen made him this onesie when she stayed with us when EJ was born. He came out looking exceptionally red headed in these pictures!  

Mini Adventures - 1/25

          Everything else EJ did last week...

Bouncing!  Sometimes all EJ wants to do is bounce on the yoga ball.  This never gets old for us.  Especially not at 3 am.

To celebrate EJ turning three months old, we made cupcakes for the NICU nurses and staff.

While we were dropping them off, we got to see EJ's neonatologist, Dr. Suri!  We were very happy to see him because he wasn't working the day EJ got discharged, so we never got to say goodbye and thank him for taking such good care of our boy.  He was thrilled to see how much EJ had grown! 

More tummy time.

I was not responsible for this outfit.

Parenting Fail

          Duck face selfies at two months old.  We have already failed at parenting.

Smiles!

          I think it's official!  EJ is smiling!  Here are a few pictures.  So far his smiles are too quick and unpredictable to catch with the camera, so my phone will have to do for now.  We love this little grin!

Smiling is exhausting!

Milestone: Smiling

                Yesterday evening, EJ smiled for the first time!  At least we think he did.  He’s been making smile shaped faces for a long time, but they didn’t seem to be actual smiles.  This time, he looked up at his Daddy, and gave a big, open mouthed grin!  Luckily, I was right there to see it, too.  Last night during his 3am feeding, he looked up at me, then off over my shoulder and smiled again!  That one was harder to tell for sure since he wasn’t looking at me when he did it, but the grins were different than the involuntary, closed mouth, half smiles we’ve been seeing. 

                Hopefully we’ll start seeing some more grins and can be more confident that they’re real smiles.  Then maybe we can catch one with the camera!

                We’re very curious about when EJ will hit his milestones, since while preemies are expected to reach them at their adjusted ages, you never know.  We, of course, think he’s brilliant and will reach them all way ahead of schedule. J

Milestone: smiling

Age: 13 weeks, 5 days actual; 3 weeks, 5 days adjusted; 3 months, 4 days

Here’s a (low quality, cell phone) picture of Oliver trying to get in on the cozy spot I made for EJ.  I think it’s safe to say the cats are used to him!