Six Weeks with our Sweetheart

It has been just over six weeks since we welcomed our little boy into our arms for the first time...and we are loving him even more....exponentially more than that first day, if that is even possible.

Michael is just a little sweetheart. He is smiling very regularly now, spending lots of awake time, and starting to make "cooing" sounds more regularly. Michael is very good at kicking his feet, and takes a lot of pleasure and gains a sense of accomplishment at being able to control his little legs.

He is gaining weight like a champ, and is even starting to get some good sleep patterns going! He has a little bouncy chair that he loves! He sleeps in it well, allowing me to get a good amount of work done, and he likes being awake in it while he plays with some of the dangly things on it.

Speaking of work, I officially ended maternity leave on Friday, and spent a good portion of the day in the office, and it went very well! Much of the time, Michael slept in my arms while I worked on the computer (Thank goodness for wireless keyboards!), but then he also let me work while he slept in his bouncy chair...it was great!

I have a nice little corner chair where I can nurse him in private, and, even though my productivity isn't quite as high because I'm holding him, I'm still able to get work done, and just "be present" to help oversee things.

Daddy Michael, in the mean time is working very very hard on his dissertation. But, he comes home at night and usually comes home to a little baby who is SO excited to see him, and loves to kick, and play, and coo, and smile at his Daddy and his Daddy's antics. It's the highlight of my day, not only because the love of my life comes home, but because the two loves of my life, my dearest Michaels are together and playing and bringing so much joy in the home.

Michael does seem to have hit his six week growth spurt, marked by sleeping a lot and eating a lot. When I hold him in my arms, he just seems to be getting so big! And you know, the way things go....he's only going to get bigger!

Oh...it's so much fun being parents! Yes, it takes a lot of work, and I don't know how long it will be that I can look forward to a good night's sleep, "sleeping in" or those things which I used to treasure so much, but, by the grace of God, have had to let go of....all those things are nothing compared to holding our little boy and watching him grow and develop.

And you know, even letting go of some of those things lends greater appreciation to the "little things" in life. For example, today, my parents came over and after I made sure Michael had a nice and full tummy, they took care of him and went out to the store...did my own shopping, walked around baby-free for a little bit and got myself a Starbucks. It was bliss! I was home within the hour, but that few minutes of my "old life" was just enough to recharge me and truly enjoy it.

And the funny thing was that while I was at that grocery store, I saw SO many babies and all I wanted to do was hurry home to my little Michael!

He has permeated every fiber of Michael's and my life...and we just love, love, love our little boy!