Some photos

Hi Baby Joey!
Another week gone by and you are a week older!  You are doing so great with your head.  You are just about steady.  You are so alert and watch everything.  Mary said you love to watch all the kiddos.  She put you in the exersaucer this week and you loved it.  Mommy will have to get yours set up for here.

You seem to be having a lot less fussy times.  I am not sure if you like the formula & you have the one with probiotics or you are just getting older.  You are sleeping so much better.  We moved the pack and play into my office to see how you would do.  You are pretty much sleeping 11-12 hours now. You will get up to eat once but that isn't too bad.  I guess you just wanted your own space in the quiet and the dark!

Today, we dressed you up in your husker gear.  I have gone through your clothes and Elijah's clothes and found you some husker clothes.  It is hard to believe that you are wearing 12 month clothes.  Although they are a bit loose, they fit.  Elijah wore these clothes when he was 9 months old and you are wearing them at 3 months!!  Elijah needs to watch out because you are going to overtake him any day now!  On a side note, I think managing your guys' clothes is one of the most difficult things to do as a parent.  I just can't keep on top of them - what fits, what is in season, what needs to be stored, what needs to be given away....

Well buddy - not a lot more to tell you.  Nothing too exciting going on this week.  I gotta find you a Halloween costume pretty quick before they all sell out!

Bath Video

Hi JoeJoe,
We had a great day today buddy!  We cooked, you played, you coo'd and smiled!  We also hung out with our family and then it was bath time.

You were so happy in the bath.  You were cooing, smiling and almost laughing.  I ran to get the camera then you clammed up.  You just kept looking straight at the camera and wouldn't smile or anything.  I did get some of your brother hamming it up but no JoeJoe smiles and laughs  :)

3 Months!

JoeJoe,
You are such a big boy.  You turned 3 months this week!  I can't believe it.  You are doing so much better holding up your head.  You are starting to outgrow your fussy spells a bit - they are still there but not quite as bad as they have been.  You are cooing a lot more and laughing a bit.  I just can't believe you are already 3 months.

Last weekend, we took you for your 3 month photos.  You did great but mommy and daddy learned that we dress you at the photo studio instead of before the photo studio.  Spit up is a photo killer!  These are my two favorite!  I had to get you there quick because your hair is thinning out a bit.

Yesterday, we went to the orchards and you did really good.  It was kind of hot but you were a good sport.  You only got fussy when you were hungry and we forgot your formula.  Unlike your brother, you were happy to take some photos with me and your daddy.

Today, we worked on cooking all of our apples.  You laid on the floor for awhile under the play gym.  Then, you got tired of not being part of the action so we put you in your bumbo.  A litle bit in the sink, a bit on the stove and a bit on the table.  You got to see all over the kitchen while we were cooking!

We are still negotiating the sleep thing.  We put you in the crib 2 nights in a row and you slept like a rock star.  You slept like 12 hours with just one feeding in the middle.  Last night, we put Elijah back in the crib and you back in the pack & play.  Let's just say it was a rough night.  We are going to try putting the pack and play in my office to see if you would sleep better without being in our room.  Or, maybe you just like the crib best.  I am not sure but we are going to keep experimenting until we get it right with both you & your brother!

Not a ton going on this week buddy!  I am hoping to go to the gym a couple of times and they have daycare for you.  Yay for mommy!  

First plane vacation

Hi Joey!
We had a big week this past week.  We went on your first real vacation.  We hopped a plane down to Florida.  We spent 2 days with Gramma Debi D and 2 days at Disney (also with Gramma Debi D.)  You were the complete rockstar of the trip.  You were not fussy at all.  It was hot, humid and you were in theme parks for 2 days but no fussiness unless you were hungry or needed to be changed.  Luckily for us, Gramma Debi D looked out for you while we spent time with Elijah in the parks.  I can't say that you got a whole lot out of our trip but you did get to see lots of bright colors and activity.

One moment that stands out for me was your first trip in the pool.  For once, there were no photos taken.  All of us were just too busy enjoying the time to get the camera out.  Elijah and I played for a bit then you and your dad got in the water too.  You fussed a little bit but then you seemed to enjoy cooling off.  I looked around and was overwhelmed with gratitude for my family.  Here I was holding you watching your dad and Elijah interact.  It was a great moment!

On Saturday, you went to your first Husker party!  You also met Funsucker Auntie Cindy, Uncle Dan and Zachariah - more of your Blankman family.  Becky was worried that you would be fussy so she didn't hold you long.  I don't want to jinx us but it seems like maybe you are outgrowing that fussiness.  You haven't had any unexplained crying the whole time we were off work.  Yes, you cry when you are hungry and want to be changed or you cry in the car but nothing like that uncontrollable stuff we were facing.

Developmentally, you are getting lots better at holding up your head.  You are playing a lot with your tongue.  You are reaching for your toys on your stroller seat.  You smile and coo a lot now - you interact with us tons more.  You love the bathtub.  Your hair is, unfortunately, thinning out a bit.  A big plus on our trip was that you started sleeping for longer stretches of time.  You slept thru the night a couple of times!  The other times you woke up was just for a quick feeding then back to sleep.  YAY!

We have some great family photos coming on our Disney disk but I will leave you with some photos from my camera.

You on the plane - you slept a lot!

Our first family beach photo

You dipped your toesies in the water.

Our first stop at WDW was for food.  You hung out in their car seat thing.

Daddy got some great shots of you & your brother.

Just chilling out before Hollywood studios.

Gramma Debi D hanging out with you while we were in the Muppets

How you spent the Disney trip - in the stroller looking around or napping

Daddy thinks you look like Handy Manny

You & Gramma Debi D before she had to go home.

Today - mid yawn while you were sitting in the bumbo

Weird look yesterday during your first Husker party.

Karma...

Hi JoeJoe,
Well, I kept saying that you never acted up for us like everyone tells us you do for them.  Well, that bit me in the butt yesterday.  You had a spell of several hours where you were very fussy.  I feel so bad for you - we changed your diaper, fed you and swaddled you but you still screamed.  We could tell your tummy was hurting - you were straining and spitting up a lot.  After a few hours, you finally passed out.  I think that your overall temperament is pretty laid back.  But, when your tummy hurts, you just can't take it and are fussy.  I can't blame you.  In between those fussy spells, I would get a few smiles and coos so it made it a bit more bearable.

I also think you are somewhat of a mama's boy.  Daddy can bounce you just like me and you will scream.  I bounce you and you stop.  I won't complain  :)  Maybe one of my sons will call me mommy.  haha.

Well buddy, let me leave you with some photos of the last few days.  Still lots of hair and still my cutie patootie!

Weeks 9 & 10

Hi Joey,
Not a ton to share with you since my last post.  You are smiling more and cooing more.  You seem to be doing a bit better with your tummy but we still have a few fussy spots.  You went to the doctor for your 2 month check up and you got your shots.  Fortunately, daddy went because you mom is a wuss when it comes to her kiddos getting shot.  You seem to be doing great at daycare and Mary told us that you love watching the kiddos and interacting with them.  You seem to be losing a bit of your hair but there is still a ton there  :)

Other than that, lots of home time.  You are still getting up twice a night or so.  You did spend a bit more time with family these past two weeks.  Aunt Laura babysat you one night - you cried for two of the four hours!  You have also spent time with your Grampa Keith and at your Gramma Debbie's after daycare.  I haven't gotten bad reports from them so, hopefully, you are being good during those 90 minutes.

I have a few photos for you on 2 scrapbook pages.  You are such a cutie kiddo - you steal my heart.  Big plans and lots to tell you for next week!

Survived!

Hi JoeJoe!
We survived your first day at day care.  You were fine, I was fine and Mary was happy with you.  Unfortunately, Elijah wasn't so happy that you invaded his territory but he will get over it.  You slept all night when you got home - you were worn out by all those kiddos.  I was so sad that you went to daycare and I missed you but I know that you are taken care of.

Today, you are two months old.  Holy smokes - who would have thought you were that old that quick!  I am torn because I can't wait until you are a bit older and more interactive.  But, on the other hand, you are my last baby and I need to cherish every moment of babyhood  :)

I told your dad that you have jimmy-leg just like him.  I swear that you never, ever stop moving.  Your arms and legs are constantly going.  Even swaddled, you move so much that you get out of the swaddle whenever you want!  No wonder why I was always in pain - you were pulling on every muscle and torturing me!