Another Month Flys By: Your Second Month

Dear Huck,

Without our permission, you have continued to quickly grow and change right before our eyes.  You now smile and coo all the time.  You have about a thousand different expressions and we love seeing each and everyone of them.  Even your oh so sad pouty face (a favorite of ours).  You've also started this new thing where you suck on your bottom lip and sometimes your top lip.  You don't do this that often but you do love sucking on your hands.  No matter how hard we try to get you to take a pacifier, you still aren't crazy about them. The only time you seem to accept one is when you're in your car seat.

Your smiles have become one of our favorite things to see and there is no shortage on them. You are always happy to flash a smile to anyone you know.  Daddy and I get lots of smiles and Mimi's starting to get many smiles as well.  Your brother and sister might be your favorite people.  They love talking and playing with you and you always reward them with lots of smiling and cooing.  It's so amazing to watch you develop the start of your language and social skills. 

Your second month was a busy one.  You finally lost your umbilical stump during your sixth week.  We were so glad because you LOVE baths and we no longer had to be careful with your belly button.  The first two vacations of your life also took place during your second month, the first to Destin and the second to Lake Douglas in Dandridge, TN (more on that later).  You often change your mind about what you do and don't like but I think it's safe to say that you officially love your swing, your play gyms, sitting up (supported), and standing (with support).  You swat at and try to grab any toy or object that is dangled infront of you and it delights you. The jury's still out on pacifiers and the bouncy seat, they're pretty much hit or miss.  Your car seat is something you seem to simply tolerate as long as it's in motion.  If the stroller or car stops moving for a significant amount of time, you want out!

Your daily schedule is about to change since Mommy is going back to work and you're going to daycare but here is what your typical day has been looking like:

• Wake-up and nurse between 6:30 and 7:30.
• Hang out on my lap cooing and smiling for 30 minutes to an hour.
• Sit in your swing looking around the room until you fall asleep.  You usually sleep anywhere between one and two hours.
• Sometime between 10:00 and 11:00 you wake-up and nurse again. 
• Play on your play gym or run errands.
• Fall asleep in your car seat or in your swing. This is usually your longest nap of the day. 
• Between 2:00 and 3:00 you'll wake-up again and nurse.
• We sing songs and read books.  You actually really like this. 
• Take a nap in your swing or bouncy seat.  This is usually your last nap of the day. 
• Wake-up between 5:00 and 6:00.
• You play with me or daddy for an hour or two on the couch or your play gym.
• At 7:30 you take a bath, read some books with me or daddy, nurse, and get put in your crib.  You usually are asleep by 8:30.
• I wake you up between 10:30 and 11:00 to nurse and you go right back to sleep.  You usually sleep between four and six hours and then another four. 

As I mentioned, you are starting daycare soon.  In order to prepare you for this, I have been pumping milk and working with you to take a bottle.  I'm proud to say that you took to this pretty easily.  You will now take a bottle from anyone, drink from at least three different kinds of bottles, and the milk can be room temp or warm and it seems to make no difference to you.  It is such a huge weight off my shoulders to know that you shouldn't have any problem getting a full belly at daycare. 

Last but not least, your stats for your second month. You are now wearing size 3 month clothes and have few things in the 0-3 month size that fit you.  You grow out of your footie pajamas quickest because of your long legs.  We recently switched you to size 2 diapers and we've had far less blow outs and leaks.  At your two month appointment the nurse practioner did your physical and said you are perfect (she really did say perfect)! You are now 24 1/4 inches tall (96th percentile), 12lbs. and 1oz. (50th percentile), and your head is 16 inches (95th percentile).  You seem to have slowed down a bit but I'm sure that won't last long.

Now, without further ado, some of my favorite pictures of your second month.

We look forward to what this next month brings...

Love Always and Forever,

Mommy and Daddy