13 Weeks

"Stop taking pictures of me, Ma!"

JJ's favorite toy. Bonus: It doesn't make any noise ;)

I can't believe it's been almost three and a half months since we brought JJ home. It feels like the time has gone so fast, but also like he's been around all along. At 13 weeks, Jace...

Smacks his lips together, pulling in his bottom lip and everything. Adorable.

Sucks the pointer finger on his right hand. When he falls asleep or is really relaxed, his finger droops and hangs halfway out of his mouth. It looks like he's fish-hooked himself with his own hand.

Has a favorite toy! He loves to play with a little wooden giraffe, given to him by Great-Grandma Carol. When you push down on the giraffe's tail, the head and neck go up. JJ has always liked to watch Colt and I do it, but now he pushes the tail down by himself so he can watch the head and neck extend. He totally understands that when he pushes down on the tail, the head will go up. Such a smartie. He's generally not that interested in toys, but he loves this little giraffe.

Has started to purposefully bat at and grab objects hanging above him. Including my hair.

Is, so it seems, a little shy. Every morning, when I go into his room to get him out of his crib for the day, I carry JJ over to the big mirrors and let him take a peek at himself. He looks in the mirror, smiles this great big gummy smile at himself, then turns away and buries his head in my shoulder. He does this over and over. It's like he looks at himself, loves what he sees, then gets shy and turns away, just to do it all over again. It's my favorite thing-I love seeing his little personality starting to peek through!

Seemed like he was starting to roll over, then sort of lost interest and doesn't try anymore unless we make him. Ha!

Is still close to laughing, but not quite there yet. I can't wait for the big day!
Loves when daddy makes him fly like an airplane.

Finds it hilarious when people stick their tongue out at him, and when I eat dessert. He also loves the end of "Patty Cake," when we toss it in the oven for Jace and Mommy. He gets all excited after we mark the cake with a J, because he knows what's coming next. 

He's been such great company these days. He's my little buddy :)

Sunshine On A Cloudy Day

Jace smiles all the time, but it's hard to capture those moments on our nice camera, because he gets so distracted by the clicks when we take a picture. I had to pull out all the stops to catch a few of his sunny smiles today. They definitely make my day a little brighter! 

It's really hard not to post them all (this is only a small fraction of the pictures I took, believe it or not!). It's hard to pick and choose photos of your own kid; he has so many different smiles and expressions, and I want to remember them all. 

3 Months Old

And no longer considered a "newborn!" He's an infant now, boys and girls. Happy 3 Months to JJ, and to Colt and I, as well. We're doing it!

11 Weeks

Almost 3 months old! Jace...

Smiles with his tongue out all the time. Colt calls it his "Free Willy" tongue. If you grew up in the 90's, you know what I mean.

Hates getting dressed and undressed. He shrieks when we have to pull his arms in or out of his sleeves. I'm sure our neighbor loves it.

Sings along when I serenade him on the guitar.

Loves his "workouts" with dad. Colt takes him by the hands and pulls him to a seated position, then lays him back down so JJ can practice holding his head upright and steady. He's not a bobble-head anymore! Now he wants Colt to pull him straight from laying down to a standing position, because he's a show-off. He's getting so strong! He kicks his chubby little legs and waves those fat little arms all the time-I can't even handle it.

Lifts his legs and arms up completely during tummy time, like Superman. He's definitely considering trying to roll over; he tilts his body to the side, then gets stuck. We've started to practice, but he still makes me do most of the work.

Loves to suck on the thumb and pointer finger of his right hand, just like his Auntie Chelsey did as a little one.

Is super fun to talk to, and is so close to giggling. He's done it a few times but I don't think it was intentional. I can't wait to hear him laugh on purpose.

Imitates simple words we say to him: "Hi," "Hello," and "Yeah." He's practicing all those vowel shapes, and the SLP in me is so proud.

Love him so.

Sun's Out, Thugs Out

10 Weeks

Take a look at this dapper gentleman! Right now, JJ...

Is a drool-machine. Seriously, if it's not spit-up, it's slobber. 

Has discovered his hands. He's always liked to suck on his hands, but I think now he's starting to realize those things are attached, and he can control when he puts them in his mouth. It's the simple things, isn't it?

Is a pretty happy guy most of the time, unless he's tired, or not feeling so good. Which is like most people, I think.

Talks to himself before he falls asleep for naps. It's pretty cute. He coos up at the animal pictures on the walls of his bedroom. I think he truly believes that if he's charming enough, they're going to talk back to him at some point.

Unswaddles himself, which is rather impressive but also annoying, because then he won't fall asleep for his afternoon naps. "Who needs 'em?"-Jace Plessman.

Is a big flirt. He smiles and coos at anyone who smiles and coos at him first, and sometimes even with strangers who don't coo at him at all. I'm hoping he'll work his magic on the person working the cash register one of these days, so they'll give us a discount. 

Is so aware and alert. He loves looking at whatever is hanging on the walls, or on the shelves at the grocery store, and at people's faces. He tracks Colt with his eyes and his head as he walks across the room.

Is finally starting to enjoy reading books :) We found some of the simple board books that my mom read to me as a baby, so I've been reading those to JJ and he loves to look at the pictures as I read the story aloud. I think the ones I was reading to him before had a little too much going on-a little overstimulating for such a little guy.

Has slept through the night a few times, but isn't doing so consistently. I think he must really love the Pack'N'Play at Mimi and Papa's house, because that's the where he sleeps the longest. Which means...I must have that Pack'N'Play.

Has great head control, can hold up his head, neck, and chest for almost all of tummy time, and can support his full weight when we stand him on his legs. If the size of his thighs is any indication, we're raising a future soccer star.  Or just an awesome kid with thunder thighs.

Is 15 lbs, 5 oz. Woof.

Time is flying, J-money! Thanks for being such a cute little bug.

Buds

"Noble fatherhood gives us a glimpse of the divine."

-James E. Faust

Nine Weeks

This little peanut turned 9 weeks old on Monday! The days are long but the weeks are fast. He changes so much so quickly! At 9 weeks, Jace...

Weighs 14 lbs 14 oz, landing himself in the 93rd percentile for weight. Such a chubby bunny.

Lifts his head and chest during tummy time like a 4 month old.

Smiles at Colt and I when we come in to get him from a nap, and also when we are trying to get him to go to sleep. I read that smiling and and making eye contact with a sleepy infant gives them a little adrenaline rush and makes it harder to sleep, so I try to avoid smiling back-but it's too hard. He just looks completely delighted to see us and I don't want to hurt his feelings!

Laughs in his sleep.

Was sleeping really well and only waking once at night...but has since decided that sleep is for the weak. We're back to 2-3 night wakings now, although one of those wake-ups is at 6-6:30 a.m. and not exactly in the middle of the night.

Wears 3-6 month clothes.

Has a full head of hair. However, the top is still short and really blonde, so it's hard to see. He's got some reverse ombre going on. 

Inconsistently imitates us when we wave to him by opening and closing his fingers.

Loves face-to-face interaction. He isn't super interested in his toys or books yet, although he does like to look at the pictures in his book of colors, and at pictures or paintings on the walls.

Loves his dad. Colt is the one who has figured out all the good tricks for getting JJ to fall asleep and the ways he likes to be held. What's not to love?

Hams it up for the camera. He's his Grammy's boy.
Had his 2 month shots this week. Three injections and a supplement taken orally. He screamed for a minute, then got right back in the saddle and handled it like the bossman we know and love. He slept through the night afterwards (I, of course, woke up about every hour and a half. Why does this happen to me?).

I haven't been great about documenting each week, and he changes so fast. He definitely keeps me on my toes! I'm loving all the smiles and conversation. He's so much fun these days.