2 months old...

And look what I can do!

We took this a few days before Shortstop was 2 months. We are so proud of how well he coos and we can even get him laughing. It is the best thing I have ever heard in my life and it still brings tears to my eyes.

Happy 2 months, little man cub. Dad and I love you so much!

Newborn pics

I have SO much to catch up on. It has been an exciting week of vacation and meeting new people and so many firsts for Shortstop. But before I do that I wanted to post the newborn pictures my sister took. I have waited to post these because they were a gift for Father's day for Mark and then we left for almost two weeks for vacation. But here are some of them. And they were a hit with his dad! I put the baseball ones in a big wall frame for him and he loved it!

This last one is by far my favorite. He comes by this face naturally from his dad and grandpa. The best is that Shortstop looks like a grumpy umpire and it is so fitting with the mitt and everything. He is such a happy baby and smiles and laughs now but when he is just relaxed, he has this grouchy expression. Love my baby! Just wait until I get pictures up from vacation...he has changed so much!

Music time with dad

Almost every night Mark likes to play some music while he holds Shortstop. He either helps him lead the music or has him dance to it and each time, our little guy loves it. Sometimes he waves his arms about by himself to the beat or just smiles at Mark. I love watching them. Shortstop is smiling so much and wakes up such a happy baby. Last night he cooed so loud for the first time it brought tears to my eyes.

And this picture is just too cute not to post even though it has nothing to do with the video.

Father's Day

I have been so excited for today to get here to celebrate a first Father's day for Mark. My whole life I have had great men in my life as examples of what fathers should be. My dad is amazing and I love the relationship I have with him and all the things he continues to teach me. My father-in-law is a wonderful dad and I appreciate the way he raised Mark to treat women with the upmost respect and love. And of course I am so grateful for Mark and the man he is. He is such an amazing husband and now I get to see him be an incredible dad. He has taken to fatherhood so naturally and I love watching him interact with our little shortstop. It seriously brings tears to my eyes and my heart feels like it is going to burst. I am truly blessed. Words cannot express how I feel. To have a day to honor father's is genius!

We started our celebration yesterday by going out to dinner to Mark's choice of restaurant. He picked Outback...meat and potatoes, of course. I didn't mind going there due to the crab legs and sirloin deal they are having. So good! When we came home we watched The Guardian, a movie Mark has been wanting me to watch forever. It was not as bad as I thought it would be. I am just not a Kevin Costner fan.

Then Mark got to open one of his gifts, a Duke sweatshirt. His dad went to Duke, Mark was born there and everyone in the family has a hoodie from there, except Mark. So I went ahead and bought him one even though I am not a big Duke fan. After all I guess the gifts are for Mark and not me. :) The way I gave it to him was I wrapped Shortstop in it and asked Mark to hold him...it took him a minute to realize it was a sweatshirt.

Then today we went to church and Mark got to hear the primary kids sing to the dads in Elder's Quorum. It made him excited for when his boy would be up on that stage singing.

The other gift we gave him was a collage of pictures my sister took of Shortstop when he was first born. They are so cute! I will be doing a post with those pics soon.

After church my brother and his wife were troopers and came over so Mark could play a board game with Ej. It is not something I care to learn how to play so he has to go to others to play with him. It is called Axis and Allies; I am just not smart or patient enough for the rules and strategy. This picture was staged...I promise Mark is not as violent as it looks.

Later tonight I am making dinner, BBQ meatballs and rice then yellow cake and chocolate icing for dessert, Mark's request. So far, Mark said he has loved his first Father's day. Well, sweetheart...you deserve it! We love you every minute of every day!

In Shortstop news: He is still the cutest little thing I have ever seen! We just can't kiss his chubby cheeks enough. Lately he has been wriggling his arms free from his swaddle during nap time but he still stays in it at night. Go figure. Had to get a picture.

Also, we are working on tummy time. It is not his favorite thing but he does such a great job lifting his head. I couldn't capture it as high as he lifts it, but you get the idea. He holds his head up for so long whenever I am holding him and trying to burp him. So strong!

And last, I love this outfit and had to capture it. The shorts are still too big but he looks so stylish. Yay for mid yawn pictures!

The next post will be an fun video of Mark and his boy doing what Mark calls "Music Time with Dad."

One month old!

Where has the time gone? I know it has only been a month and soon I will be saying this when he turns a year but I really do feel it has gone by SOOOOO fast.

Shortstop is doing great. He loves to grunt and growl as a way to communicate. We love it! He also is lifting his head so much and loves to just stare in our eyes while we hold him as he moves his little tongue all over the place. He is sleeping and eating like a champ and growing into 0-3 months clothes and out of newborn clothes. Fortunately he can still wear the newborn but they are getting snug. I can't believe what a good boy he is. Mark and I love being parents but especially his parents. We are learning so much and are grateful he is patient with us rookies. What a blessing this little guy has been to us and will continue to be.

As requested by his aunt Rachel in Boston, here are some up close facial pictures.

Busy weekend

Shortstop had quite the busy weekend. First, Mark and I decided to buy him a papasan. With me me going back to work there may be times I just can't hold him as I need to get paperwork done, but I don't want to just lay him in the other room. This way he can sit right by me and I can talk to him while I get things done. It is a Winnie the Pooh papasan and has a vibrating button and music. Too cute! He doesn't look sold on it at first...

But I think he likes it...you?

The next big event does not have a picture but our little man took his first bottle. We wanted to test it out so that when I had to leave Monday for the first time, both Mark and I would be okay knowing whether or not Shortstop would be okay with eating from some foreign plastic object. He did great! I was a little emotional watching Mark feed him as the practice since feeding him has always been my job. But I am grateful that pumping has come easy and that this allows me to go to work knowing he is just fine and won't go hungry. I am also so grateful that Mark's schedule is such that he can stay home with him when I do have to leave. I will only have to leave for 3-4 hour 3 times a week which is so nice. The rest of the time I work from home or can take him with me.

Sunday we went to church for the first time as a family. It was great! I loved showing him off to even more people. (Sorry I am not in any of these pictures...I just seem to be the one behind the camera.) Look at my guys! So handsome!

And finally. yesterday, I went back to work. I was only gone for 3 and a half hours and yet it was the hardest thing I have had to do. Mark did great and loved the time with his boy. They just watched sports and hung out. But look what I have to leave...it is heartbreaking! I survived and I am grateful for the flexibility of my job and Mark's job.

First date

My best friend Joslyn had her baby girl 5 days after Shortstop was born. We even stayed in the same recovery room at the hospital! Anyway, her little girl is so cute and such a petite little thing. It was weird to hold a baby smaller than mine! And she was in pink and yellow when all I am used to are things covered in blue and sports! We went over to their house for the afternoon and I think there was an instant love connection. :) Aren't they cute together? Gotta love my boy's fussy face...looks just like his dad. Mark thinks they look like an old couple who have been married too long and are annoyed with each other.

So tired from all the flirting.

And here are the proud moms.