Entertaining and meaningful...

Thanks to my sister Libby who reminded me that I could find Cosby Show episodes on Netflix! Now each day, during one of the times I am feeding Andrew, I turn on an episode and take myself back in time! I absolutely love the early episodes. Thanks Lib for that idea!!! Joe teases me that all I do around here is watch Cosby and eat bon-bons. At which I appropriately respond with a "what did you just say?" haha :) Thankfully he is totally kidding. I have also begun to listen to Family Talk radio productions (www.myfamilytalk.com) once a day, as well. We used to listen to the radio program together in the car each morning on the way to work. Now, Joe listens as he goes in to work, and I get on their website and listen at some point later in the day. What a blessing. Dr. Dobson has so much wisdom, and brings so many different people and topics on to his show. Praise the Lord for technology, allowing me to listen and watch each of these things!!!

Sleep Peacfully, my son

Sunday morning, I couldn't help but slip into Andrew's room as he slept and snap a shot. He was too cute! Dinosaur jammies and all. Why is it that babies are just adorable when they are sleeping? I could just stare at him the whole time he sleeps. *sigh*

Daddy is funny...

Caught daddy and son smiling at each other! Joe must have been pretty funny looking this time :) We can't wait until he starts to giggle, now!!! How sweet this moment was. Many more to come....

My sweet Valentine

Joe surprised me with a beautiful necklace for Valentine's Day this year! It is also celebrating Andrew's birth. The heart was hand crafted at our friend Brittany's dad's shop (whew!), making it all the more special. There is a diamond, as well as garnet stone set in the side of the heart. Garnet, as it is Andrew's birth stone. And the diamond was just for me :) I cried when I saw it and heard all of the thought joe had put into it. He explained that this was a piece of jewelry that I could cherish now, and when Andrew is grown and finds a wife (ahh! he is so little...it is hard to believe that day will come!), it is something we can pass along to him to give to her! I haven't taken it off since he gave it to me (which was last friday, b/c he couldn't wait until valentines day). I love you, Joseph. Your thoughtfulness and love melts my heart. I look forward to many more Valentine's with you!

Just Because

Oh Sam, how you are so interested in this new little boy we have brought home! If only you would stop sleeping in his crib! haha:) Andrew looks a bit bewildered this evening as we used the cat as his pillow. I hope they become good friends some day (and hopefully Andrew doesn't get any ideas like putting tape on his paws, or dressing him up in a cape and taping his ears back. Not that we have any experience in doing those things to a cat...)
My good friend Rosemary lent me her baby sling to try out a bit, and the first time I put Andrew in it, he fell fast asleep, as you can see! It is a nice way to keep him close, yet have my hands free to do a bit of work. It must feel as if he is back in my belly, b/c I was jostling him all over the place that afternoon in the sling, and was certain it would wake him. However, sweet Andrew slept on, probably comforted by the movement and my heartbeat :)

I was trying to get him to smile for the camera here...hmmmm. Oh well, we had fun trying :) He loves to lay on a blanket on the floor and just take in the world around him. This morning I set up a few stuffed animals for him to look at...I wonder if he knows what they are??

5 weeks and changing....

Here is Andrew sportin' his ND wear at a few days old....
And here he is this morning, at 5 weeks old!!! My how he has changed. I figured I ought to put the sweater on him one more time, seeing that he has grown quite a bit and its a good thing i did! It is quite snug now...but he still looks adorable :) Will you love Notre Dame as much as your daddy when you grow older, Andrew?? Will you sit and watch football games with him? And throw the ball in the back yard. Oh, I hope so!!

SMILE

Ta-daaaa!!!! Look at this little man! On saturday, we were all sitting around after breakfast, and Gabe made some silly faces at Andrew...and he blessed us with his first, full-on SMILE! This is what my heart has been waiting for :) Andrew didn't smile for Joe until Sunday, and then for me Monday morning...but thats ok. It just melts my heart to see him do that! He is focusing in on our faces more and more, and wiggling his arms and legs as he gets excited. So fun! One more step towards growing bigger. Here we go!
I just love this peaceful shot of him...I often find him sleeping with his arms up like this. We tried swaddling in the first few weeks, but he eventually let us know that he didn't really prefer to have his hands tied down :) So we semi-swaddle his legs and then just let his upper body kinda do whatever. It seems to work for now, but I know things could change!

Auntie Libby and Uncle Gabe come to visit!

Mr. Intelligent! We had so much fun with Libby and Gabe when they visited us this weekend! We wished that we all lived closer to each other :) They loved on Andrew for 24 hours, and it was wonderful! I think they had a good time, too. We put lib's glasses on Andrew and starting snapping away. Oh boy, this little man is in for a ride with the Brown sisters :)
I don't know if Andrew thinks this is too funny.....
Both libby and gabe did so well with Andrew. Libby helped me change him, dress him, and even give him a bath. She is going to be an amazing mother someday!!! What an amazing thing to watch my sister with my son....she loves him so much already!
Extra attention was not going unnoticed by Andrew...he got to fall asleep in many arms these last few days! Ahh, the life of a baby. So nice :)

Here is Uncle Gabe, calming Andrew like a pro! Any time he held Andrew, he was calm..it was great! He is going to be a great papa someday, too. Thanks for coming to see all of us here in snowy Ohio. We had a blast :)

books and buntings..

One of my favorite books! The illustrations are so cute and the story line is adorable. I found this book a few years ago, and gave it to my niece Johanna. She loved it! So I have begun a collection of several other books by Olivier Dunrea, and hope that Andrew loves them someday, as well. It is so relaxing to sit in the rocking chair in his room and pick up a book from the little book shelf. And I know he can't necessarily understand the exact words, nor focus on the pictures yet. But I hope I am transferring my love of reading through my voice, and expressions. One of my favorite childhood memories is of my mom reading to us kids, snuggled up on the couch. I want to do the same with my kiddos!
Even though the days are chilly, we bundle up and go for walks. I think Andrew might think I am a little crazy :) But it feels so good to get out...and he gets a nice nap in the jogger stroller, so its a win-win situation. This little snowsuit is a bit big for Mr. A yet, but he stays nice and warm in it! Plus I have like 3 blankets on him and over the stroller. Usually I enjoy winter, and do so many things out in the weather. But this winter is a bit different, and I find myself wishing for spring ever so much! Then we can go outside and just sit in the sunshine together, walk around the yard, work in the flowerbeds. Soon, very soon, spring will come. And Andrew will get a taste of fresh air and hear the birds singing!

Bathtime!

We gave Andrew his first bath last Saturday night...what a hoot! Up until now, we had been doing sponge baths, but this was the first time in his baby bath! He did so well, although a bit squirmy at times :) It seems that he likes the water, a good thing! I am trying to give him a bath every couple of days, to begin getting him used to a routine, and just for relaxation and wear him out at night. He can be a bit fussy during the evening hours, so taking a bath can help with that.

Sweet Andrew, you will grow so fast...we try and savor these moments. Wrapped up in your fuzzy towel, warm and clean. Smelling like baby lotion. *sigh* You are so sweet.