• Weeks 1-4
• Weeks 5-8
• Weeks 9-12
• Weeks 13-16
• Weeks 17-20
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• 10 months

 

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Weeks 5-8

Week 5: Alec got his first pictures taken this week at Sears in Burlington. It was quite the experience to say the least. Just annoying since when we got there for our appointment at noon he was wide awake, smiling and very chipper. But then they were running about an hour behind. Grrr. Luckily he just fell asleep but then when it was our turn it was hard to wake the sleepy guy up so most of the pictures had him sleeping and I really wanted one with his beautiful eyes open. The lady was pretty nice though and took some extras to see if we could get some open eyes and we sort of did. He started getting fussy at the end though, poor little guy. But he trooped through it. After the pictures we hang out at the mall and bought out the Gymboree sale rack which was fun. It's so good to get out of the house now. We hibernated for so long!

Week 6: Alec went on his first car trip! We went to Ithaca, NY to an open house at Cornell to see how Michael liked the school and we liked the area. Alec did so well - passed out completely in the car and I had to wake him at 3 hours to feed him the sleepy little guy. He does the best stretches when you pick him up when he is asleep - just like a little old man. Arms go out over the head and by his face and as you lift him he pulls his legs up and sticks his butt way out. Must get a picture of this, it is really so precious. Anyway, and then I was so worried he would be up all night after sleeping all day, but he actually did a 4.5 hour stretch that night. Though of course the next few nights he went on one of his fussy jags and was fussy from 11 to 1 am which is never fun.

But Alec was great during the days at Cornell, really just slept, even went to a lecture by the dean and (thankfully) slept right through it. Then we continued on from Cornell to Williamsport to visit his grandparents and great-grandparents to celebrate his great-grandmother's 80th birthday. He had such a great time with everyone and was thoroughly spoiled by his Mimi, Grandad and Nan and Pop. Though I think the overstimulation was bad, he was all out of sorts and wouldn't go to sleep until 3 am our last night there. Thank goodness my mother wanted to walk with him!

But he is really smiling now and it was neat to watch my parents and grandparents play with him and see Alec's whole face light up with a smile for them. He loves that sing songy voice, especially my mothers. And she was so amazed by how much he had changed in the 4 weeks since she'd seen him, he is just so big now and his whole face and head have grown so much - he's got so many chins! He is now pretty much in size 3-6 months and I have packed up most of his newborn clothes. He's also been in size 1 diapers for awhile now. So sad to pack up those cute little clothes!

Week 7: Alec is getting so big - and heavy! Our backs are killing us, especially since he now loves to be held and walked around the apartment. Sitting on the couch and bouncing no longer cuts it. He wants to see what there is to see! He is much more interactive now, really stares at us and seems to see us, and will smile in response to us. There is nothing like his big wide open mouth smiles. His smiles light up his eyes as well so you know they are meant just for you - not just some gas pains. Alec is such a smiling fiend that we have nicknamed him smily guy. He is getting to be so much fun! He smiles a lot now and when he lays on his back and sees something he likes he pumps his arms and legs wildly to show his excitement.

He is cooing a lot more now as well - when we talk or sing to him he responds with his own language. He has so many stories to tell, I wish we could understand. Sleeping is not getting much better though - still every 3 hours (or less) at night and even less during the day. Sometimes he wants to eat every hour - the monster! He has really discovered his hands now, he puts them together almost as if in prayer sometimes. Other times he is trying desperately to get his whole fist, or both fists into his mouth. He's been putting his fists to his mouth since birth but you can tell now that this is a conscious movement, not just a reflex or accident. The desperation is obvious - He is still trying to find that elusive thumb!

He is so vulnerable and dependent on us it is overwhelming sometimes. I feel so bad for him - it must be so frustrating with no real way to communicate and just hope these strange large people figure out what you need. If he wants to get out of his crib he can't - he can't even roll over, just sort of scoot around and that is pretty random with no purpose. We have to carry him everywhere. It's just so amazing how little and vulnerable everybody once was. Their need is so sweet though, makes you wonder how any one could ever hurt a baby. They are so simple and so sweet and tender.

Week 8: Alec laughed! He doesn't do it very often (though h does do it in his sleep) but while changing him the other day (4/27) he smiled so wide and big that a strange breathy laugh came out. I was so excited! He is focusing a lot more now and loves to lie in his crib and watch his mobile go around. He gets so excited his legs and arms are flying everywhere. He's always been fascinated by his "A" toy at his changing table and now we put a mirror there too. He looks at himself and seems fascinated though I wonder if he thinks its another baby. He's such an easy baby - we go out a lot during the weeks now on errands and such and he does so well - thankfully sleeping most of the time. This is usually his one big nap, if we are home all day he won't nap quite as long. Strange places and lots of noise still really shut him down.

Alec went on his first subway ride and to his first story hour at the Boston Public Library. It was quite the outing! He did very well except wanted to eat during the whole story hour and then on the way home screamed all the way from Park Street to Kendall Square - the longest 10 minutes of my life. But there was no way I could feed him on the rush hour packed T. I was about to get off at Kendall to feed him but he screamed himself to sleep. Talk about guilt - I felt like an awful mother :(

At his 2 month appointment Alec got another rave review. He has completely shot up. He is 13 lbs 4 oz and 24 1/4 inches long. I knew he had gotten big! Such a little chunk. He got 4 shots though, that was the very unfun part of the appointment. I will be so sad to leave our pediatrician, she is so great with him and takes so much time with us to answer all our questions.