Luka at Three Months Old

Why don't you like to smile for your monthly pictures? Always so serious. No matter how crazy Sister and I act behind the camera, not even a grin. And I love you for it.

You are a Roly Poly- always rolling to the right, to the left, back to belly, belly to back. You're going to be athletic just like Dad and Sister. The three of you are going to give me a run for my money.

You are a big-time chatter. I've got videos upon videos of you on my phone of you chatting away. I get footage of you almost everyday talking to me. And most of the time I don't even need to be talking back to you. You just go on and on and on. And I can tell when you say something funny because you'll laugh. That's my cue to then laugh and then you continue on. Again, between you and Sister talking you're going to give me a run for my money.

You're very popular. I know we live in a small town and you can't help but run into someone you know everywhere you go. But no matter the place - playground, E's school, Foss Field, grocery store, post office - you name it, people know you and talk to you. I can't imagine how well known you'll be by the time you're 1 year old. You might have a VERY BIG first birthday party. (wink)

The weekend you turned three months old Aunt Ashley was visiting us. That first night she was here you slept through the night until 5a. Then the next night you did it again. I thought maybe it was a fluke but turns out it wasn't. You've been sleeping 9p-5a for two weeks now. When you wake up at 5a you'll eat and then you go right back to sleep for 3-4 more hours. You're a sleeping champ.

Naps are hit and miss. Sometimes you take them. Sometimes you don't. Keep in mind we are far from homebodies so you're consistently being toted around. But regardless you're a very happy baby.

One of your favorite things in the world is when Sister plays with you. If I lay you on your play mat and she sits on the floor with you, you are completely content for as long as she'll stay there. You love her so much.

You are still sleeping in a bassinet in our room. And mainly because of the necessity of the guest bedroom. The guest room will be changed into your bedroom once ... everyone stops visiting us. (That's a good problem to have.) And as of right now we have visitors still coming through the end of October. So looks like you'll be Mama & Dad's roommate for a little while longer.

You're not a cryer but more of a shouter. Dad & I laugh when you get in a mood. There's never any tears or lip quivering. You just shout at us and we can see the anger and intent in your eyes. You're yelling at us because you're bored or want to be picked up or want your favorite plush green monkey moved closer to you.

You have blue eyes. Dad always wanted his kids to have blue eyes and he got his wish.

It is nearly impossible to change your diaper with all of your wiggling. And I'm pretty sure you know how much harder you're making it for me because you laugh the entire time.

We are still breastfeeding. You love it. So do I.

You're a big boy weighing in at 13 pounds. And you're up to 6 month clothes, needed mainly for the length.

You're good at sitting and standing with assistance. And you'll even take steps if I hold you under your armpits. I've got a feeling you're going to be all over this house before I know it once you figure the whole crawling/walking thing out.

You're favorite song is MMMBop by Hanson. An oldie but a goodie. Sister and I sing it to you all the time.

When you smile, the cutest dimples form in the line creases that extend from the sides of the mouth up to the sides of your nose. I think it makes you look handsome.

You're pretty perfect.

This is the happiest our family has ever been.

You've swept us away.

Luka at Two Months Old

Two months. Wow, big boy.

You are growing so much. Every day when I see you first thing in the morning I swear that you have doubled in size overnight.

At your two month checkup, you weighed 12 pounds and are already two feet long.

You have dinner every night around 8p. Dad feeds you a bottle of freshly expressed breast milk. After that, you fall right asleep in Dad's arms. You sleep right on to 3:30a. And that's when you start your three hour feeding routine.

You started socially smiling on your two month birthday exactly. That day it happened to be raining and Dad came home early from work. We decided to take a drive to Nashua to visit Grammy and to take you to meet Teta Emmi and Cousin Anthony for the first time. What a treat for them because you smiled at everyone the entire time we were there. It was such a happy day and they fell in love with you instantly.

Aunt Heather just visited for a week and she was so impressed with your athletic ability. You move and shake every time you're not sleeping. You love to kick and punch. You love to be pulled up onto your feet and you'll even take a few steps while someone holds your hands.

You're also a big chatter. You'll talk to me anytime I talk to you.

You love Big Sister. Yesterday I went to pick her up from preK. When we enter the classroom her entire class runs over and circles your car seat. You hear shouts of, "Luka! Hi Luka! Hi big boy!" You smile and laugh. But as soon as you spot your sister your eyes don't leave her. You stare and reach for her. It's amazing how out of all of those kids you can pick her out.

You enjoy car rides. Not so much for sleeping. But you love looking out the window. I see you watch the trees go by. And you really enjoy yourself when it's raining. As much as you like watching the world on the outside of the car, you like even more staring at Sister whose sitting right beside you on the inside.

You're starting to like baths more and more.

You're pretty perfect.

This is the happiest our family has ever been.

You've swept us away.

Luka at One Month Old

You're one month old today! We've been a family of four for one whole glorious month.

You're a busy-body. Between Sister's activities and your mama's social life, you are always on the run.

You were born two weeks early but still came in at a strong 7lb, 3oz and 19.5 inches long. At your two week doctor's appointment you had already grown two inches and today on your one month birthday you're up to 9 pounds. You're a good grower.

It took a day for you and I to figure out our breastfeeding collaboration. But once you latched, you never looked back. You're good. Real good.

You have put yourself on an every-three-hour schedule with no help from me. When you wake up from a nap, you eat for 30-45 minutes. You can usually hold your eyes open for about 15 minutes of wake time. And then you're back asleep for a two hour sleep. This cycle happens at midnight, 3a, 6a, 9a, noon, etc. And you don't skip a beat.

Everyone always asks if babies are starting to sleep more at night. That's a no-go for you. I think it's because you like to eat so much. You would hate to miss a meal. (wink)

I can tell you recognize all of us. You know when I'm holding you. You know when Dad walks into the room. And you definitely notice when Sister talks/sings to you.

We get lots of compliments on your name. And as much as we love your name, it doesn't stop us from giving you a million nicknames. Buddy Boy. Bubba Boy. Buddy Boo. Buddy Boo Boo. Baby Brother. Brother. Babe.

We think you're perfect.

You remind me alot of Dad. Which is a very good thing. You're calm like him. And sincere like him. You have soft eyes and a relaxed disposition.

You're a mover and a shaker. Lots of arm movements and constantly kicking your legs. We've even actually seen you roll over a handful of times. I think you're a future athlete.

Your favorite things are eating and sleeping. You don't like to have your diaper changed. You don't like to put clothes on or take clothes off. You don't like to take a bath. 

You're pretty noisy. Not so much crying but lots of little grunts and groans while you eat and sleep. Dad says you sound like a baby dragon.

You've done so much for our family. It's amazing how much you, a newborn, have added to our family. I really can't imagine not having you around. I think I speak for Dad and Sister when I say, this is the happiest our family has ever been.

You've swept us away.

Music Class

Every Thursday morning at 8:45a Emilija has music class with Mrs. Nieman.  There's lots of marching and singing.  We beat on the drum and shake the bells.  Sometimes the BIG BALL comes out and the kids roll it back and forth to one another to the beat of the music.  

But E's all-time favorite part is near the end.  The lights dim and out come the hammocks (beach towels).  As a soothing lullaby fills the air E lies down on one of the towels facing me, and Mrs. Nieman and myself gather up the ends creating a hammock.  We sway E back and forth.  She becomes completely placid in this moment.  Her expression is tranquil and her calmness is effortless.    

We stare at one another and become consumed in each others presence.  And this soon becomes my favorite part of music class too. 

#everydayemilija