Three months old

Friday was Zane's three month birthday and, to make it memorable, he slept EIGHT hours! This is a first....hope it's not the last! Guess he thinks he's a big boy now! Of course, I woke up at 1 and checked on him, went back to sleep, and woke up at 4 to find that he was STILL asleep! And then I couldn't go back to sleep, of course. Maybe he liked the sound of the storms? He woke up at 6, ate, and went right back to sleep......I kinda miss the little guy. Should I go wake him up? No way!

I couldn't get a great picture of him in his chair, but I'm posting one anyway because I like having the chair and monkey as a reference for his growth.


I love this little outfit! I bought it at Janie and Jack soon after I found out that I was having a little boy. He wore it Saturday night to his first wedding reception. Well, I should say that he wore it for about, oh, 15 minutes before we had to do a...ahem.....wardrobe change.....if you get my drift. He was the hit of the party! Hope he didn't steal too much attention from the bride ;)

He discovered that he can get his fists to his mouth about two weeks ago. His current ambition in life is to get the whole thing in his mouth. He's pretty close!




Mornings are his prime time. He is always in a great mood. That's when he likes to smile, laugh, and "talk", but first he has to do lots of stretching!



Even when sleep deprived, how can you not be happy to see this precious face?! I can't believe he's already three months old. It really has gone by so fast. I find myself turning off the tv and not answering the phone more and more, just so that I can be in Zane's world. Sometimes when he's sleeping he makes all kinds of faces, one after the other. Smile, poke out his lips, frown, pucker up, squeeze his eyes shut tight....he's so funny to watch. I could stare at him for hours and never get bored. And I love the way he smells.....wonder how long you can say that about a little boy? I even love to breathe in the smell of his breath. Ok, ok....you get the picture....I love my sweet little boy! Happy 3 month birthday, Stinky Face!

angels' wings

Nope. No way, no how. Nu-uh. Not gonna do it. Digging in my heels. Kickin' and screamin'. Not gonna go...except that I have to. Somehow, tomorrow morning I have to look into those beautiful brown eyes and say goodbye as I go back to work....for a long, long, long 12 hour shift. I just can't stand even thinking about it. About how badly I'm gonna miss him. How my arms are gonna ache to hold him. I'll want to sniff his little head. And kiss his neck. and his mouth. Cause I'm his mom. I've been with him every single day for 12 weeks. I know him.

I remember going to get pictures made when he was just a few weeks old. I don't remember much from the first, oh, six weeks...seems like such a blur, like I was in a fog that wouldn't lift. But I remember the photographer asking me how he liked to be held. Was there a certain side he preferred? We were still getting to know each other and I didn't know. I thought, "How will I ever know?"

Well, now I know. I know that he likes his bouncy seat, but only while the vibrations are on. And he likes his play mat for a little while, but only with the music and lights on. He likes to sleep propped up in his boppy. I know that when he gets sleepy his little eyebrows turn red. And that's the only time he wants his paci, and to be cradled like a baby, and swayed from side to side. Not bounced. Bouncing is for when he's fussy. And I know his sounds, his different cries. I can tell when he's hungry or fussy. I know that he loves his feet rubbed, but not his head. Sometimes when he's nursing, I'll rub his soft, little feet. And if I stop before he's ready, he'll make a little whimper. And he'll pick that little foot up and plop it right back down in my hand. No lie. He already knows how to get what he wants. He likes to hold hands....well, his whole, tiny little hand, and my finger. I know that he knows that I'm his momma.

But will he understand tomorrow when his momma leaves? It's gonna be THE-HARDEST-THING that I have ever done in my entire life. How am I going to make myself walk out that door? And I know that he'll be SO LOVED and taken care of while I'm away. I'm a very lucky girl in the fact that I have family taking care of him. He'll actually be spoiled rotten. And I'm also grateful that I have a good job to go back to. I never thought I'd not want to go back to work. I mean, I got a bachelor's degree and a doctorate so that I could work, so I could help people....and I've got the student loan payment to prove it. But I'd rather get paid to be a mommy :)

So, if you're reading this, say a prayer for me. Actually, say two. I'm going to need angels' wings to carry me out the door.

Daffodils

Matt and I took advantage of yesterday's perfect weather and drove to Wye Mountain to see the daffodils. We had high hopes of getting some great pictures; however, Zane had other plans. He never seems to be in a great mood when the camera comes out! We were also battling his fist that always seems to be in his mouth and the sun being in our eyes, but we got a few good ones!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Here's my little McCutie on St. Patrick's Day

Don't you want to pinch those cheeks, even though he's wearing green?
Maybe he's doing an Irish jig?

This is for you Nana Beth

Mom,

I'm posting this video just for you. Hopefully, you'll get your 'fix' to tide you over until you can see him again. Please ignore my baby talk....I sound so silly. Zane-O Potato Head makes some pretty cute noises, though....and a grunt, of course! Enjoy :)

Naptime equals bathtime...

I took a step back today and surveyed my surroundings....and realized that maybe it's not normal that I put my child in the bathroom floor while I take a bath and get ready everyday. But his morning nap is oh, so sporadic. It may last an hour or it may last all of 15 minutes, but one thing is for sure--being right there to stick that paci back in his mouth guarantees that it will last a little longer! Other moms probably have a more normal routine, like putting their kids in a crib, pack 'n play, or cradle....but, who needs normal? We think a couple of blankets and the boppy work just fine, right Zane-O?

Bustin' Out!

Well, surprise surprise....Zane just keeps growing.... One day I will try new clothes on him that are still too big, and the next time I try them on they're almost too small!

First time wearing these pajamas

Bustin' at the seams!

Two months old

• I can't believe Zane is already two months old!
  
• He is growing everyday and is now starting to grin at us....some....it has to be on his terms. He's pretty stingy with them right now.
  
• He's finding his voice. Lots more cooing noises.
  
• He is happiest in the mornings, right after he eats. That's when he will sit contently, look around, and 'talk' to me.
• He loves bath time unless he gets cold. Keep that boy warm and he's happy as a clam.
  
• He is sleeping better, not anywhere close to sleeping through the night, but at least it's more predictable.
• He makes a funny face where he sticks out his lips and crosses his eyes. We call him "The Cross-Eyed Bear". Funny story....his Aunt Kaye Kaye thought that was the name of a song when she was little...you know, "Gladly the Cross I'd Bear"....
• Speaking of bears, he grunts ALL NIGHT LONG. He's getting better, though. And he squeaks a lot. Especially when he's eating.
• He can hold his head up like a champ.
• He could bring his hands together from birth. He always has those hands moving around. Matt calls them his 'jazz hands'.
  
• At his 8 week appointment he weighed 11 lbs (25th percentile) and was in the 50th percentile for length. I don't remember the exact length....over 22 inches.

The many faces of Zane