Just Ducky

Hi Peeps! (Peeps...ducks...get it?)

AJ here... Just checking in to let you all know that everything is fine here in the jungle. We're still working on find a routine.

Well, actually, I think our routine is just fine as it is. I wake up, mama feeds me, then we play, then I sleep in her arms, then I wake up when she tries to put me down for a nap, then I eat and play some more. Sounds great right? Mama seems to think she needs to "get things done" and that I need to "nap in my crib" but I'm pretty sure she doesn't know what she's talking about.

I mean really...look at how cute I am all wrapped up in my ducky towel. Why on earth would she want to put me in my crib when I'm clearly quite comfortable sleeping in her arms?

So, if you're checking the blog for updates, or waiting for an email or a phone call from my mama....please be patient. She can only do so much in those 15 minutes I will sit in my bouncy chair.

Love,
AJ

Happy Two Month Birthday Little Monkey

How is it possible that you're only two months old? As I type this with you laying on my chest (which isn't easy by the way) I really can't remember what it felt like without you in our family. I'm pretty sure I slept more, and I know for a fact that I was able to take longer showers, but that's about all I remember.

Even though it feels like you've been with us forever, I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. I remember when I found out you were a boy, just like I thought. I was so excited to finally have my Anderson James. I remember telling you that I saw you when you were just a follicle! I guess that's one of the perks of the fertility treatments we went through to bring you into the world. I really can say I knew you from the very beginning!

Your daddy made fun of me in those first couple of days because I just kept saying you were amazing. I used that word over and over because it was really the only way to express the way I felt when I looked at you in my arms. Two months later I'd say the label still fits. You amaze me, even at 3 in the morning when I'm changing your diaper with my eyes half open. Your smile makes me forget that I'm tired. Your daddy will tell you that's pretty amazing since I'm normally very grumpy if I don't get enough sleep. You amaze me when you fall asleep laying on me in a position that looks anything but comfortable. You especially amaze me with your uncanny ability to poop right after bath time. :)

In honor of your two month birthday, I thought I would document a few details about your life right now...

At 2 months...

• You weigh 11lbs 13oz (55%)

• You're 23.25inches tall (65%)

• Your head is 40.cm around (72%...big head big brain right)

• You are becoming a great sleeper giving us six straight hours on most nights and sometimes even 8 hours.
  
• You still sleep at night in the pack and play next to our bed. I love having you close, but I won't miss all of your loud sleeping noises when you move to your room.
• You are swaddled by Daddy every night at bedtime. We call him the swaddle master because he does a much better job than mama.
  
• You take one good nap a day in your crib. You go down anywhere between 10:30 and 12:00 and you wake up between 1pm and 3pm.
  
• You catnap during the rest of the day in the carseat or the swing, or your very favorite place....on mama's chest.
• You started smiling at 6 weeks and now you smile every day. You're especially smiling in the mornings, which makes it a little easier for Mama to wake up.
• You love to be in the car, but would prefer it if we could run through stop lights and never had to stop for gas. Sometimes I hear you sigh happily when we accelerate onto the highway. Even at 2 months you have a need for speed.
  
• You get two bottles a day so we can give you your anti seizure medication, but other than that you are exclusively breast fed. Like a typical breast fed baby, you look at anyone holding you as a potential food source and you get a big smile on your face when daddy passes you off to me to eat.
  
• Your opinion on baths seems to be changing. Daddy made the water a little warmer and now you seem pretty content to hang out in the sink for a while. You still hate the getting out and drying off part though.
  
• You spent your first afternoon away from Mama and Daddy on 8/2. You hung out with Auntie Trish so that we could shoot an engagement session.
• 80% of your clothing is monkey related.

Until next month...here are a few pictures from your two month birthday...

We love you little monkey man!

Rub-a-dub-dub...

Photo shoot in the tub...well, sink actually. Here's a few shots from tonight's bath. It seems our little monkey man is deciding bath time might not be so bad after all.

not so sure at first...
Thinking this is kind of nice....
Hey, what's with the camera?
Put that thing down and wash me!!!

Another Week and More Pictures

Hi guys. A.J. here!
Did you know it's already August?
Mom says summer is really flying by and she can't believe I'm going to be 8 weeks old tomorrow.

Want to see what we've been up to around here? Here are a few pictures from the past couple of weeks...

Mom says this is her new favorite picture of me even though it's a little blurry. I call this my "KISS audition face"

Also on Mom's "favorite picture list": pictures of me showing off my newly discovered smile

Here I am smiling because I kept Mom up all night and she looks very tired.
And here I am smiling because Mom is about to feed me some breakfast. I'm a growing boy you know!
And here I am smiling because I'm wearing my miracle onesie that was made just for me. I'm trying not to let it go to my head.

In between smiling, I've been doing some other things too...
I took a trip up to Green Bay to say goodbye to my favorite weekend morning anchor, Jenn Karlman. Apparently not even my cuteness was enough to keep her from moving to San Diego!
I also entertained Daddy by letting him take pictures of me while Mom was trying on some jeans at the store.
A boy can only stand the camera for so long you know!

I also entertained my Auntie Trish, who apparently really really likes to hold babies. We had a special date on Sunday while Mom and Dad went to go shoot an engagement session.
I also entertained the girls at Sam's baby shower. Every ladies only event needs a token male guest right?
And finally, I entertained Mom with my funny faces while waiting in line at Woodmans. I may take up a lot of room in the cart, but Mom says I make grocery shopping a lot more fun.

Now you're all caught up on my week. I'll be back with more pictures and more stories to tell soon.

Another Photoshare

Hello all, AJ here! It's been a busy week so we've got lots of pictures to share with the blogging world!

We'll start off with a couple that slipped through the cracks when my mom was updating last time:

This is me with my Grandma and Grandpa Homburg way back over 4th of July weekend. I look pretty small in these pictures.

Back then I was only 9lbs 12.5oz. I'm much bigger now! The nurse weighed me yesterday and I'm 11lbs 2oz. That means I've gained almost 2lbs since the day I was born. Not bad for 6 weeks old!
Now that we've caught up with those older pictures, let me show you what I've been up to lately.
On Wednesday night my dad came home from his first business trip since I've been around. Mom and I had a good time while he was gone, but we were both very happy to have him back!

On Thursday, Mom and I had a very busy day. Mom had her post baby doctors appointment, so we brought cupcakes to all of the nurses who have been so nice to us. Everyone was very excited to meet me because I'm so cute.
After the appointment we headed to the Copperleaf hotel to meet the Andersons! We went to dinner at Fratellos and then came home to get some rest since everyone was very tired!
On Friday, we went to my first drive in movie! Here I am with mom and Grandpa Anderson before it got dark enough for the movie to start.

I know I don't look very excited, but I had a really good time! I was really nice and let my mom and dad enjoy the movies. I only cried once and spent most of the time just sleeping in Mom's arms.

On Saturday, Aunt Barb met us bright and early to go to the farmers market. We were very excited to see her since she's been gone for a while!
When we got home, Mom found a package for me in the mail with this awesome bib in it! It came from Mom's friend Sharyn who is Finnish and also understands that Sisu is mom's favorite word she learned in the U.P.
On Sunday, Mom and Dad had some friends over and made lots of food. I'm too young to enjoy it, but I wasn't left out of the cook out fun...
Here I am sleeping the afternoon away in my swing that Dad put under the tarp outside. It's important for babies like me to stay out of the sun, but I still got to enjoy the warm weather!

We decided to take some family pictures before the Andersons left on Sunday afternoon. Little did the grownups know...I had a surprise for Grandpa Anderson!

I decided to make a nice big diaper for him while Mom was taking pictures. I guess he wasn't too excited about my gift. Dad wasn't excited either when Mom informed him it was his turn to change the diaper!
New diaper and one last picture to wrap up the weekend. We had a lot of fun this week, but now I think it's time to rest. I've got a lot of growing to do before my big two month doctors appointment in a couple of weeks!

Catching up on Photos

Good News...AJ has decided maybe it's not too terrible to nap in the crib this morning. That gives me an hour or so to catch up on my to do list. And near the top of that list was to post some more pictures of the little guy over the past few weeks.

So in no particular order, I present the past 3 weeks of life with AJ:

Walker and AJ chilling after a long day of driving their mama crazy. Please note AJ is sporting nothing but a diaper. That boy LOVES to be nekkid.
Sleeping through Luke's first birthday party. Believe it or not he wasn't the youngest guest. There was a baby 5 days younger there too!
Wishing everyone a happy 4th of July.
First date with his long distance girlfriend Miri. As you can see, AJ came on a little strong and Miri had to tell him to "talk to the hand"
With his future mother in law? :)
Mama and baby courtesy of Auntie Em.

Chilling out on his cool playmat from the WBIR folks. Please note the cool onesie from Auntie Em. Proof that my son does in fact own clothing that doesn't have monkeys on it.

A look I expect to see a lot more of in the coming months. "Mom why is that camera in my face AGAIN?"

Checking himself out in the mirror. It's so cool to watch him discover things.

I think he looks like his Uncle Stephen in this one.

Thanks for the reminder buddy. :)

One month old birthday celebration at Dairy Queen. Blizzards for everyone...except AJ.

"My momma is so mean. She made me wear a hat AND socks to the farmers market just because it was a little chilly outside!"

The farmers market is boring when Aunt Barb isn't with us!

And on that note, Mama is off to hop in the shower while AJ is still sleeping. More pictures to come soon! Happy Wednesday!