Nap Time

Happy Valentine's Day!

The cats were very curious about the letters I was making.

Happy Baby

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

Never without his audience. 

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!

  

Three Months

             EJ is three months old!!!  His adjusted age, the age he would be if he was born on his due date, is three weeks and one day.  His adjusted age is used to track his development (for example, babies start smiling around three months, so he’s expected to start smiling at three months adjusted age, not three months actual age).  Most babies' development catches up to their actual ages by two years old. 

EJ had a big third month!  He gained three pounds (!!!), which took him from 5 lbs 5 oz and the 2^nd percentile on the preemie charts for weight at his two month appointment to 8 lbs 7 oz and the 40^th percentile at his three month appointment.  His pediatrician, who had been a bit concerned about his size, was thrilled, as are his proud Mommy and Daddy!  EJ's wearing newborn sizes now.

We’ve been noticing some changes in our little guy.  He babbles more and makes lots of fun little baby sounds.  We love listening to him talk to himself while he kicks around in his Pack-N-Play.  EJ’s getting better and better at pushing himself up and turning his head during tummy time.  He spends more time awake and alert these days, and EJ follows things with his eyes now.  He still loves being held and would much rather nap in our arms than by himself.  (I'm holding a sleeping baby as I type.)  He’s happy and good natured.  He doesn’t cry very much, and if he does, there’s a reason, like that he’s hungry or has a dirty diaper.  He’s cuddly and sweet and makes us so very happy!      

Here are some pictures we took today to celebrate three months.

I meant to take pictures like this weeks ago when his hands were really tiny, but I kept forgetting.  Today I learned that if you put something in a sleeping baby's hand, there's a good chance his arm will jerk in his sleep, flinging the item across the room.  It took me ten minutes to find Pete's ring.

I usually have an audience when I take pictures of EJ.