Nick's Fourth Month

For the first time this month, I gave some thought to how much longer I'll be able to swing him around and carry him every-which-way. Why does 13+ pounds seem so heavy all of a sudden? Kids aren't born at 25 pounds because you wouldn't be able to lift them (I'm sure Brandi can come up with a second reason) - gotta build up my strength.

We've finally mastered Nick's plumbing. The right mix of formula and prune juice (thank you for the advice, Miranda!) did the trick. Every poo continues to ignite a victory party. And I'm getting the routine down set forth by his mother (which diapers are daytime, which are nighttime, where heavy onesies go versus light onesies, etc.)

I continue to collect the marks of a true Dad - slobber spots on the shoulder of every shirt (he loves to lick the starch off my dress shirts, so if anyone knows if starch is dangerous to an infant, please drop me a note), bags under the eyes, and the urge to celebrate whenever I hear someone burp. I'm going to accidentally congratulate a coworker for belching one of these days, but I doubt anyone will be surprised.

Nick's Baptism has been scheduled for Sunday, May 27th at Regina Coeli Parish in Toledo, after the 11:00 AM mass. Call us if you want more info. If you're taking the time to check on this blog, then you're probably one of the parties who is interested.

He officially moved into his own room this month, with tears of separation from his mother. We're all sleeping better with him tucked away in his own quiet space.

It's too early to cut teeth, but he has begun to chew on everything in site. His knuckles are the favorite chew toy, but his shirt, my finger, the closest toy, or anything not nailed down will suffice.

Now fully able to read at 4 months, he spends an hour each evening reading the warning label in his bassinet and laughing out loud. Who woulda thought the risk of injury could be so hilarious? He actually talks to the label in his carseat.

And he can push himself up with both arms, and look you in the eye now, so no looking down on him.

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He does own outfits that are not blue, just for some reason, every picture this month is a blue outfit.And there's more videos at right, so enjoy!

- Jason

Nick's Third Month 2.0

The requests for pictures, along with the volume of pictures, keep adding up so there's enough for a "Posting 2.0" from March.

Nick had his first trip to the mall this month, and ventured about for nearly three hours without a peep. He loves to people watch and take in the surroundings.

You'll also notice from some pictures that he can feed himself now. Can't quite go to the fridge and pour his own milk yet (oh, how I long for the day) but he's feverish with his hands and loves to hang onto the bottle. When he's not eating or sleeping, he relaxes in his new lazy chair which has some entertaining animals hanging from the bar above. He's most intrigued by patterns, like the cow design on the chair.

You'll notice the baby hair is slowy disappearing - actually faster off the left side of his head than the right. When he squirms in his bed (a move his mother affectionately refers to as, "the lizard") he's usually sliding along on the same side.

The story of the outdoor dog outfit has spread infamously, and there's better pictures this month. He's starting to grow into it about the time the weather warms up. As expected, Michigan will give us one more good weekend to put it to use this Easter holiday.

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You'll see I've made some changes to the site:

- New pictures posted directly on the site's home page at right.

- Videos finally available to the right also.

- Archived past entries which can be accessed by month at the right.

So if you're looking for something, go right.

Have a good holiday weekend, everyone.

- Jason

Nick's Third Month

Nick is into his third month, and evolving from a noisy lump of flesh into a little person. He talks and laughs alot, sometimes for an hour straight, and whether there's someone there to listen or not. He seems to have inherited a talkative gene (must be from his mother.)

With the cold weather breaking for a few days, he got out for a nice walk - had to wait for a day when the roads were dry to take that new Jeep stroller for a spin. Still growing into the dog outfit that keeps him warm outside.

Most fun this month was the visit to Taco Bell, which he talked and smiled and scanned the new surroundings intensely. That's my boy.
He got his first round of immunizations this month, and came through like a tough little man. He cried for about one minute during the shots, turned beet red in anger, and then it was over. He refused any pity - never cried again.

He rolled over on his own for the first time this week. I walked away and left him on his play mat for only a minute, and then heard the muffling grunts of an angry baby that was face down and none too pleased to be left that way. I offered a warm bottle as an apology and was quickly forgiven. (That doesn't always work. If I urk him bad enough, he will accept the bottle, but refuse to look at me while he eats.) 

He's not doing too well in his first NCAA bracket, but can't complain - the other 136 people in the pool don't realize that half of them have been out-picked by a 3-month old infant thus far (he pointed and we went with it - really!). We're having fun watching the games just the same. He watched the entire MSU/UNC game without interruption (I tried to feed him once and he was not pleased to be interrupted). Once the game was in hand for the Tarheels, it was time to eat. Nothing curbs the disappointment of a tough loss like a good meal.

Photos here.

I will get some videos posted soon.

- Jason

Nick's Second Month

Well, here's Nick through two months. He continues to grow like crazy, from eating like a wildman. He has established favorite toys in his "phunt" and "raffe" which can entertain him for hours (yay!!!)

 

From all the advice you have given, he'll start sleeping more than an hour at a time (or any length through the night) somewhere between 3 months old and 15 years old. In the meantime, enjoy the pics from his loving zombie parents.

Nick's First Month

Here's the second posting of pictures of Nicholas. There is an archive of past blog entries in the right-side frame on this page, and below. View them by date. The link to more pictures is in this entry. 

He's got his dad's personality - rather insistent on his way of doing things and a little short on temper sometimes, but there's nothing more charming and adorable when he's happy. (Sounds like me, right?) The picture posted here is not him yelling, it's actually a great photo in mid-yawn.

He's made it to the five week mark, and has gained 2 lbs. in his first month. And is very well-traveled - already been to baby showers, dinner, housewarming parties... all over town. The cold weather hasn't slowed him down a bit.

 

Photos here.

 

- Jason