This weeks pictures

Alex turned 2 months old yesterday, and today he is 9 weeks. Each week that goes by I can hardly believe it!

He got to visit with some family last night, but unfortunately he wasn't in the best of moods. He just wasn't being himself. I think he was just too warm in my brother's house. We did take some pictures of Alex with his cousin Aidan in the matching outfits that Aunt Pat gave them. So cute how Aidan has his arm around Alex. Too bad Alex wasn't in a better mood, though:



As soon as we got home, Alex laid on my chest and fell fast asleep. Such a cutie.
Before we went to bed I took some 2 months pictures - I couldn't let the day go by w/o taking some of him! Here's the cutest:


Today Alex is 9 weeks old. Since he tends to be in the best mood in the morning, right after his first feeding, we decided to do our 9 week photo shoot then. Here's one of him smiling, mouth WIDE open!

2 month doc appt - OUCH!

Alex had his 2 month doc appt this morning. He is continuing to put on weight, although he wasn't as much as I was thinking/hoping. He weighs 9lbs 2oz and is 21" long. The doc seemed happy with his growth and development, despite still being in the 5th percentile. He's just a little guy, I guess. He may be small, but he is healthy and doing great, so that is what is important!

He had to get his 2 month immunizations today. That was awful, hearing him cry like that! I got all teary-eyed too, picked him up as soon as I could (he got blood all on my cute pink shirt!), and he calmed down really quickly with his Mommy's hugs and kisses. PHEW! Hopefully he won't have any reactions.

Seem strange that he doesn't have to go back now until he's 4 months old. I keep trying to guess much he will weigh so that I know what size clothes to get him for specific holidays(like Halloween, Christmas, etc). He still fits in newborn clothes, but has started to wear 0-3months although most of that stuff is still big, especially the bottoms.

OK, that's all for today. Gotta go check on Mr. Man ;-)

What do we call him?

OK. We have been getting asked one question a lot by family and friends..."what do we/you call him? Alexander, Alex, AJ or what?"

Jason and I chose his name partly b/c we liked the different options. We call him both Alex and AJ, sometimes even Alex Jay or any of the many nicknames we have given him.

We realize that people do not wanna offend by calling him a name we have not "okay-ed", so we appreciate the question. However, we want people to call him whatever you personally feel comfortable with...if you see him as more of an Alex, or an AJ, or Alexander...they are all fine.

I know when we introduce him to people for the first time, we usually either say his full name, Alexander Jay Eric, or just Alex. But Jay and I really alternate between Alex and AJ pretty equally when we are talking to him or about him. My grandma prefers AJ, an aunt prefers Alexander, my dad prefers Alex...they are all fine!

Please feel free to call him or refer to him by whatever feels most comfortable for you. We are sure that as he gets older, certain names or nicknames will stand out more, but for now you chose for yourselves!

Hope that helps clear things up a bit :-)

Alex is now 8 weeks old. Hwill be 2 months on this Saturday 9/13/08. Here are his 8week old pictures taken on Sunday 9/7/08. Helooks like a little rugby player in the middle picture!

Could it be - a REAL smile???

Yes, this is the 3rd post in 2 days... but I just had to get on here now to report that I THINK I witnessed Alex's 1st smiles today. Not gas ones, but REAL, feel good smiles! Jay isn't convinced b/c everytime I called him in to see, Alex stopped. I was also alittle hesitant to label his 1st smile. Here's how it all happened:

This morning ater Jay fed him his bottle, Alex was in such a good mood. Really alert and curious, looking at us and all around the bedroom. When Jay left the room I was talking to Alex, and we were staring into each other's eyes when it happened the 1st time - a smile! Or was it? I wasn't quite sure, but then it happened again. Really? Could this be a REAL smile? I was still hesitant to say for sure. I mean, it is a milestone, an important moment in time when your child smiles for the 1st time. I don't wanna get it wrong! But I THINK he smiled this morning.

Then a little later in the morning, again after a feeding, I was holding him, staring into his big beautiful blue eyes and making faces at him. I was opening my mouth real wide and saying "hi!" then smiling at him. Then it happened again - Alex opened his mouth like me and then made a smile - one with his mouth opened a bit. I repeated what I was doing to see if he'd do it again, and he did! So I called Jay in the room and told him, but he still didn't believe me b/c when I tried to get Alex to do it again, he of course would not. That little stinker!

So was today the day our son first smiled? Am I imagining it, or trying to make another gas smile into something more? Or was this really a few precious moments between a Mommy and her son, meant only for the two of us to share?

Video: Introducing Alexander Jay Eric

Ali usually blogs but today I'm posting something. Here is a video I put together of our first moments with our son. (Make sure your sound is on)