Flip a Switch

Elliott is like a different little person from who he was just three months ago when he joined our little family. Lately, he has been so expressive and is starting to interact with us. I love getting to see him do that little, shy smile of his. He has also starting to try to laugh now. Currently, he smiles really big and makes this little noise, but it is not quite a laugh. He is getting close, though! He has really starting "talking." He makes all these cute sounds and has all these facial expressions like he is trying to communicate with us. I have joked with other people about how he already talks more than Chuck and I combined, but every day I'm realizing that is not totally a joke. We might have a talker on our hands!

Our little munchkin is also eating more (4.5-5 oz) a feeding and eats pretty much every three hours. Unfortunately, he got out of the habit of sleeping through the night recently and wakes up quite a bit. Sometimes I wonder if that little stinker just wants a visit in the night from Mommy or Daddy even though he doesn't really need anything. He can also be found with his head turned sideways (He sleeps on his back) trying to chew on his crib sheet. Really, at this stage, he will try to put pretty much anything in his mouth that he can reach. I think he has even had a go at the cat but, thankfully, with no success.

I am getting more and more "adventurous" with him. I've taken him out in public by myself a couple of times now. This is a really big deal for me, considering just the thought of it caused me a lot of anxiety just a few months ago. I've been trying to do baby steps, though. We've been to the mall with friends and to Publix (haven't been brave enough to try any other grocery stores or good ole Wally World). We have visited Chuck at Starbucks a few times. Elliott and I also had brunch with some church friends and lunch with my college friends. He made his Mommy proud during most of these adventures.

A good friend told me that things would really start to change at three months, and, wow, she was right. It really is like I flipped a switch and turned on this new, smiley, more aware little Elliott. He still has his fussy moments (like, oops, today in the church nursery), but I am seeing more and more of his personality. I look forward to getting to know our little guy more and having the chance to witness all his new little ways of doing things.
-N

Two Month Check Up

The three of us (Elliott, Chuck, and I) went to Elliott's two month check up yesterday. I knew going in that our little, sweet boy would be getting his shots. I have been dreading this appointment from the moment I heard about it. On the one hand, I know the shots will help keep Elliott healthy; on the other hand, I was not looking forward to the pain that goes along with that. I'm pretty sure I felt just as nervous about that appointment as I did the day I went into labor! 

I was so proud of Elliott during his appointment! He is a growing boy (Weighed 11 pounds, 8 1/2 ounces and is 23 1/4 inches long). Yes, he did let out a scream that hurt me to my core when he got each shot, and the look of pain and surprise on his face after each shot almost had me in tears myself. But, he quickly calmed back down. 

He was great the rest of the day. I would have totally understood if he had screamed like a banshee after that experience and was actually trying to prepare myself for that. But, he proved me wrong. The little noises he made were more like little whimpers from being uncomfortable, and he slept most of the afternoon. I took a few pictures of our little guy and tried to spend most of the afternoon snuggling with him and being there to comfort him. I love my Elliott!

Waiting in the doctor's office to go back

One shot in this leg...

Two shots in this leg

Afternoon snuggling with Mommy

Hanging out with Daddy in the evening

Getting ready for breakfast the next morning...
Feeling good and hungry like always :)

These boys...

I love these two boys SO MUCH! Seeing them together makes me so very happy. Chuck is such a good Daddy to little Elliott and is always stepping up to help without complaint (even when Elliott is demonstrating what a good screamer he can be). I have enjoyed watching their relationship grow and was excited to witness Elliott smiling and almost giggling at the faces Chuck was making the other night. These boys of mine already have a special Daddy-Son bond forming. I am thankful I get to be on this life journey with them!
-N

The Many Faces of Elliott

So, this quickly growing boy of ours has so many different facial expressions already! I look forward to the many more that will come. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the ones I've been able to capture with the camera.
-N

This is his "pouty lip" expression. As you can see, he is pretty good at it!

11:15 pm/ 6:15 am

...That's when "Baby Elliott" (as some of the kids we have seen lately call him) ate last night/this morning! This is the longest he has ever slept at night. I thought the clock was playing some kind of joke on me when I looked at it this morning. But, sure enough, a second look revealed that I had, in fact, seen it correctly through my blurry, barely awake vision. Elliott not only slept for a good long while; he was also so sweet this morning. None of that screaming that often goes along with him having to wait for food took place in our household. He just looked at me with those big eyes and that innocent little face and waited patiently for his bottle. 

So, for the record, Baby Elliott is 9 weeks, 5 day old today and is drinking 3.75 ounces of breastmilk per feeding at about every 2 1/2-3 hours. In addition, his Mommy is feeling more like a person this morning and less like a zombie for the first time in a while. This is an occasion worth documenting in the Peek household!
-N

Baby Elliott

Tubby Time

Our little Elliott loves his tubby time! He can be screaming like the world is coming to an end. Put him in his little frog bath tub and find a contented little boy where all is right with the world. Elliott has this certain look he does whenever he is getting a bath that melts this Mommy's heart and helps her forget the previously mentioned screaming fest that took place in the bathroom floor just minutes earlier. During his tubby time, he sits there chilling and enjoying life while he looks at me with those big, expressive eyes. Although he often "thanks" me for giving him a bath by using the bathtub as a big diaper, that's ok. At least there is peace and quiet in the Peek household and a clean, little boy at the end of it all...at least for a little bit...
-N

DURING TUBBY TIME

AFTER TUBBY TIME

It's Jammie Time!

Who doesn't love holding a little baby who is wearing his jammies? If it were socially appropriate I would leave both Elliott and myself in our jammies all day! (We do, on those rare occassions, have family jammie day, and even though I am a gross, sticky, greasey version of myself all day, I sure am comfortable. Also, let's face it: Family Jammie Day equals less laundry, which is always a plus.) When Elliott wears his jammies, he is so soft and cuddly and looks so cute when he kicks his little legs. I just want to scoop him up, kiss those cheeks, and never put him down. 

I will say that the jammies with snaps are an evil joke on new Mommies. If you don't believe me, trying snapping up a gazillion snaps in the dark, in the middle of the night, when you feel so tired that even the floor looks likes a nice place to sleep (well, if you could see it.) Take it from me: stick with the zippers if at all possible!

As I type this, Elliott is in his swing wearing his "Baby Bear" jammies (Yes, we name his jammies. How else can Chuck and I communicate effectively about which jammies our little munchkin will be sporting that night?). He looks so sweet and cuddly. So, for all of you out there who don't have a wee one at your house right now to put jammies on, here are a few pics of Elliott... 
-N

NEWBORN

"Happy Dinosaur" Jammies

ONE MONTH

"Blue Elephant" Jammies

"Happy Lion" Jammies

TWO MONTHS

"Baby Bear" Jammies

"Silly Monkey" Jammies

                 THREE MONTHS ON...

             Meghan's Magic Jammies