Cuteness

At seven weeks old, Levi is doing a good job sleeping at night.  He generally goes to sleep by 9:00, wakes up at around 2:30 to eat, and then eats again at around 5:30 or 6:00.  Occasionally he falls back asleep after the last morning feeding, but if he stays awake, he's usually in a good mood (so we don't mind so much).  Most days he only naps for 20 or 30 minutes at a time in the morning, but mid-day or afternoon he'll take maybe a 90 minute nap.  Since he didn't sleep well yesterday, he's making up for it today: it's almost 11:00 A.M., and he's been dozing since 9:30.  You know what that means?  I can catch up on some of the things I've been putting off!  Here are a couple of random photos I wanted to share.

Daddy has the magic touch.  Levi can always fall asleep in his big arms.
We love this little outfit.  He's too big for it now, and we're making the switch to 3-month size clothes.
Notice the frog on his bottom.  We hear croaks coming from that area all the time. . . . :)

Grandpa is kind of blurry in this shot, but you
can see how happy Levi is with him.

Levi is getting more and more smiley.
Here is one of his playful smirks.

Ann & Olivia's Visit

Auntie Ann and Olivia flew out from Boston to meet Levi and his cousin Maddie.  They were here March 18th through the 24th.  We had a wonderful time relaxing, taking walks, and even eating out.  Auntie Ann perfected a relaxation technique that worked for Levi: "The Boston Trot."  She took tiny little jogging steps around the house until he calmed down.  Thanks, Auntie Ann!

Great Auntie Ann

First-Cousin-Once-Removed Olivia

Ann Olivia and Maddie with Levi 

The three sisters with the babies.  Levi and Maddie are wearing shirts that say "I Love My Aunt."

Hanging out with Great Grannie

Great Grandparents

On Saturday, March 12th, my dad and I took Levi down to Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa's house.  Great Aunt Maureen and First-Cousin-Once-Removed Marcus were there, too.  Levi wasn't in the best mood that day, but it was great to have a chance to finally visit!

Great Grandma Ruth

Great Grandpa Harold

Great Aunt Maureen

One Month Old!

Levi turned one month old yesterday!  I know every parent says this, but I can hardly believe that much time has passed already!  Levi smiles at us now (real smiles ... not just gas), and he is "talking" quite a bit more.  Just like his mother, he is kind of a loud talker. He enjoys taking "showers" in the kitchen sink instead of fully-submerged baths.  He is even outgrowing some of his newborn clothes.

We got to have our one-month doctor's appointment yesterday, too.  Levi currently weighs 9 pounds 6.75 ounces, one pound more than his birth weight.  He also measured 22.5 inches in length.  The doctor didn't say what percentile he is in for his height and weight, but it seems like his growth is progressing normally.  (I was trying to read the little marks on the growth chart, but it was too small to see.  I think Levi is somewhere in the 50-75% range for all his measurements.)

Overall he is a fairly happy boy.  When he has a bad day, he has a really bad day, but when he's feeling good, life with Levi is absolute bliss!  We love our little guy!

Below are a few photos we took to mark Levi's one-month birthday.  As you can see, we had some trouble taking a flattering shot.

Photos to share

Here are some shots from recent events.

Grannie, Great-Grannie, Great Aunt Jill, Great Uncle Randy, Cousin Kevin, and
Grandpa Garrett (not pictured) stopped by on March 6th.  What a treat!

Diedre Baker was one of two ERC
ladies to bring us dinner.

Great Uncle Randy

Sometimes Levi really enjoys his swing.

After his bath.

At the ERC shower.

Olivia, Troy, Madison, Levi, Nathan, & Jennifer
at the childbirth class reunion.

Madison is about nine weeks older than Levi.

Hey!  Whose activity gym is this?
Oliver Twist thinks it's his!

Busy weekend

Levi had a lot to do this past weekend.  On Saturday the wonderful ladies at ERC (Evangelical Reformed Church) gave us a baby shower.  Levi wasn't in a very good mood, and he had to stop and nurse half-way through the party.  Fortunately the women were all very patient.  Nobody seemed to mind that there was a screaming baby!

On Sunday Levi went to church for the first time, and he was very well-behaved!  He was alert and listening during choir practice, he ate during Sunday School, he slept through the whole service, and he continued to sleep during our after-church choir rehearsal.  Of course, as soon as we got in the car, he started yelling, but most people at church think he is a delightful little baby!

That afternoon we hosted our childbirth class' reunion.  Although there were four couples in the class, only one other couple and the nurse who taught the class came for our potluck lunch.  The other couple's daughter, Madison, is about ten weeks old.  We put the two babies next to each other on the couch for pictures, but before we had a chance to get out our camera, Madison had rolled onto Levi and squished him.  He started crying, so the photo session was quickly ended.  It was a pretty funny sight, though.  I'm sorry I couldn't post a picture for you!

Levi is starting to do a few more things.  For about five days now, when we give him a really big smile, he actually smiles back.  It is so adorable!!!  The other day I started putting him in his bouncy chair in the music room; he listens while I play the piano and sing.  (Well, he listens to about three songs before he's had enough.)  I also always sing to him while he is nursing, and yesterday he started vocalizing along with me.  It is really fun!