This week...

Well, Jakub accurately expresses how I've been feeling this week:) (don't worry, we comforted him quickly:) I also had to post this one because I know you Grandmothers especially were wanting to see ALL parts of Jakub's life so, I had to add this to the list! It was taken about one month ago.

We're sick again this week, except for Jakub, with strep throat. I got it first, but Josh quickly joined me- he's quite the supportive husband. It seems this winter and these illnesses are never-ending. I'm highly anticipating spring and good health to return permanently. I look forward to walks in the park with Jakub and to feeding the ducks in the river nearby- once it thaws completely. It's been tough being stuck inside, but at least I get to hang out with this precious little guy all the time. He's so sweet and even napping a slight bit better at random times, so that's made for a couple of much needed peaceful moments. We've needed them, because it's been rough being ill and trying to do all that Jakub needs- and with a smile on our faces:) It doesn't take much for him to get one out of us, though:)

A couple of new things this week- he's started sticking his tongue out more, he's moving around a lot more in the bed while he sleeps, and he's been grasping his hands together and playing with them. I'm hoping to take some 3mo pictures of him this weekend so, look for those soon!

The Bumbo Chair

Since Jakub has been holding his head up well and enjoying tummy-time so well I decided to see if he's strong enough for the Bumbo chair. Well, he is! He holds his head very steady and looks around well at his toys or books, but he still leans forward some and won't sit with his back straight. I have to admit that it's a little hard for him to do so with his big belly:) He's so cute in it and loves to sit and look at us and jabber away. He also likes to sit in front of the mirror in our bedroom and stare at himself.

In one of the floor-time pictures below you can see that he has his mouth open. He was talking to me and wouldn't stop long enough to smile for the picture:) Last night, during his usual coo-fest at bedtime he discovered he can make a high-pitched semi-scream noise and he thought that was really funny. He's pretty loud and it's so enjoyable to "talk" with him now. Josh told me that the other night he was sitting beside Jakub's bed, while he was laying in it, and he was singing to him. Well, Jakub decided to join in and cooed along with Josh for a while:) I'm sorry I missed it! We'll have to try and get some video of something like that soon.

Two short, but exciting, announcements on the sleep front- Friday night Jakub slept from 8pm until 6am. I did feed him in his sleep at 10pm, but other than that he was asleep in his bed. It was WONDERFUL. Last night something similar happened. He slept from 730 until 4am (except for the 1030pm feeding in his sleep) when he needed a pacifier and his arms re-swaddled, and then he slept until 5 before needing to eat. That was a pretty great night, also. The other announcement is that he had some pretty good naps today. His first was one hour, the second was two hours with a short time of being held and comforted around the one hour mark, and the third was 40 minutes. I'll take it! These things may not happen every day, or even every week, but they are so great when they do! We've also had sunshine on two of the last 4 days. So much to be thankful for. I don't think we've seen the sun two times in over a month recently. The snow is even beginning to melt! Spring is on the way soon... I hope:) I also hope you all have a good week.

Playtime with Daddy...a few weeks ago

Here's another video we wanted to put on here for family, but it's a couple/few weeks old. He looks the same, but he's much more coordinated with those hands now:) He never misses his mouth now when he wants to suck on them and he doesn't poke himself in the eyes anymore:) He's also really good at grabbing the orange octopus with his right hand now. Anyway, just wanted to let you know it's a little older of a video, but still fun to watch him. Enjoy!

Check-up and 3 Months Old!!

Well, our baby is 3 months old now. Wow, it really does fly. We had Jakub's check-up yesterday at the doctor and everything is looking pretty good. He weighs 15lbs 9oz, he's holding his head up about 90* and occasionally lifting up on his arms for a couple of seconds. He's healthy and growing well and we are so very thankful. He also had his first round of immunizations and so far he has handled them very well. He barely cried and only for a couple of seconds, then he smiled at a toy near his head:). He wanted to sleep more than usual when we got home, but otherwise seemed to respond well to them. He'll have another round next month. Things are still going well here and we're enjoying our time with him- especially now that he's talking a lot more and interacting more with us:) I hope to have some more pictures up soon, but we loaned our camera to some friends so I haven't been able to take any in over a week. Maybe we'll get up a new video soon!

What did you do today?

Sorry the quality of this video is not very good, but the lights were low because Jakub was supposed to be going to sleep (you might also need to turn your volume way up). He's decided lately he would like to entertain us, and postpone bedtime for as long as possible, with his sweet talking at bedtime. We really love this time and very much prefer it to the crying that sometimes comes before bed instead. Lately, after plenty of talking and cooing together, I've had to close my eyes and turn my head away to get him to stop talking and to try to go to sleep. Sometimes he keeps cooing over and over until I open my eyes again and look at him. How can you not? It's one of the sweetest moments in our lives so far! :)

A week in photos...

There aren't a lot of new things to write about, but I wanted to share some more of the pictures we have taken over the last week. In the first one Jakub is all bundled up and ready to go outside for a walk. I wish I had taken one with just his cute little blue cap on because it's the kind that has little ears on top and I love it! I'll have to take one the next time he wears it to go outside. I just love how snuggly he is in his winter clothing, but I will be extremely glad when it doesn't take 10 minutes to get him dressed to go outside. It requires so much clothing and layers, half of which have to be shed over time as he warms up a little- especially if we go by car. It's a mess! He handles it well though and doesn't cry about it, even when he's sweaty by the time I get him undressed again:)

Other pictures below are of Jakub during his nightly bath routine. He enjoys the bath and we love this time with him each evening. He talks to us and is starting to kick a lot in the water. Josh is teaching him to splash his arms...something I'm sure might not be as fun for us when he's older and gets everything and everyone soaked:) Oh well, we love it now!

Another picture is of Jakub with his friend Mikulas (meek-oo-losh:) They had a play-date recently as Mikulas's Mother, Stana, and I enjoyed some time visiting together. Jakub is only 3 weeks younger. Stana and I shared going through our times of pregnancy together and have now truly enjoyed watching our boys grow!

Speaking of growing, I had to put away most of Jakub's 3mo clothing this weekend and get out his 6mo and 6-9mo clothing. Some of his tops and night clothing that are 3-6mo fit, but some don't and none of his 3mo or 3-6mo pants fit anymore. The tops won't button over the diaper and the pants are too small around his BIG tummy:) The new clothing is a little long and a little big, but really not too much... At least there is room to grow into them, and hopefully not too quickly. The new 6mo tops are perfect in length of torso. I can't believe he'll be 3mo next weekend and has already grown so much. It's going by so quickly! He's beautiful, though, and we love him so much.

Oh, one more new thing. For the first time last night he went from 8pm until 4am without waking or feeding. That's one good thing about how much he has grown, he can last longer at night without needing to eat. He didn't even wake up and need his passy. I'm really thankful for how well the nights go, usually, because the days are still pretty hard. He goes to sleep pretty well now, without much fighting, but he rarely ever naps longer than 30-45 minutes and it's pretty exhausting for everyone. He's so tired afterwards, but won't go back down until he's been up for a while and eaten and played some more. By late afternoon he's so tired looking and doesn't play for as long. I'm hoping this phase will end soon, because I can see that he's tired and needs more sleep, I just can't get him to sleep beyond that first 45 minute cycle. Any tips you all have are much appreciated! Enjoy the pictures!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Aren't those lips oh-so-sweet and kissable? Jakub sends his kisses and love to all of you!

We've had a nice day spent here in our home. I had a good friend over for some tea, we all played with Jakub, one of his naps today was 1 1/2 hours (the rest were 20-30, though), we watched the snow come down, we had a lovely worship time and my friend stayed to join us, we had snacks afterward and all visited for a while, I gave Jakub his bath and we have fun cooing at each other, and now I'm relaxing some with Josh before we go to bed. Jakub is all tucked in and, hopefully, out for the night. He usually goes down around 7-730 now, but we had some gas issues tonight so he cried from around 730-8 while we worked those issues out and then he was asleep again by 830 (after another round of eating, of course!).

He rolled over today on his own again, from tummy to back. This time onto his left side- he usually favors his right side. This makes about 5 times total now. I'm so excited for him- it's so much fun to watch. He's also really using his arms during tummy-time as if he's trying to pull forward. One more thing I want to remember, which he did again tonight before going to bed, is that Jakub makes this sweet, contented, sighing sound/coo as his last noise before snuggling further into my neck or arm before going to sleep completely- at which time I put him in his bed. It's so sweet and I like to imagine it's his way of saying "I love you," in coo language before dropping off completely:) I just love it! So, it was a great day. I hope each of you are enjoying some special moments today. We love you!