Happy Memorial Day

So, Memorial Day isn't nearly as exciting when you aren't working or going to school. It's really just another Monday. I thought it would mean that they would open up the pool at our apartment complex and we could take Ben for his first swim. Turns out they just pulled off the cover, revealing the nasty sludge that's been festering under there for the past 6 months. It was tempting, but I decided not to take my brand new baby into water that was a nice combination of seaweed green and poop brown.

Ben hasn't done too much new in the last couple of days. He's grown out of a lot of his 0-3 month clothes. Also, he must have hit another "growth spurt" because he pretty much eats all the time and acts famished when he's not eating. I put "growth spurt" in quotations because I'm still not exactly clear on what a spurt is at this age. I mean, he did have 50% weight gain in a month, but one patch of that was supposed to be a spurt.

Anyway, it's starting to look like he's going to be a red-head. In natural light, his hair is pretty clearly red. It's interesting because it also looks like he's going to get Jon's olive skin, and redheads with olive skin are pretty unheard of. He definitely has blue eyes. Right now they're such a blue that sometimes they almost look purple. We'll see, obviously it's still a little early to know for sure what he's going to look like. I'd post a picture of his red hair, but the coloring never shows up in the photos.

Also, Ben rolls from his back to either side. He hasn't made the complete roll to his tummy yet, but sometimes I think that's because there isn't room in his cradle to roll all the way over. Oh yeah, also , there's not much motivation to roll over to his tummy since he hates it. He's a definite mover and a shaker, though. If he's not eating or sleeping he wants to be moving, either in a car or a stroller or in mom or dad's arms while they walk as fast as possible. He's also entered a drooling stage as of today. Before today he would have spit bubbles, but now he drools pretty considerably. If you hold him over your head, you're liable to get a ball of spit in your eye.

As for the rest of us, we're just figuring things out for the impending move and enjoying life with our little guy. Jon has his last exam for his first year of medical school this Friday. He's feeling pretty good about that. I look forward to having a couple of weeks with him around before we separate for the rest of the summer.

1 Month Old

So, today was Ben's one month check-up and he passed with flying colors. When the doctor walked into the room, Ben was lying in just his diaper on the table. He was flailing around like usual, just kicking and punching like crazy and looking around the room. The doctor took one look at him and said, "Looks like a healthy and alert baby to me". Big Ben tipped the scales at an even 12 pounds today and measured 23 inches and I think 39 1/4 for the head circumference. That's about 95th percentile weight, 80th height, and 75th for the head. He's just a big boy and a very healthy eater.

I'm a little bummed because I really love the pediatrician we have here, and I'm worried we won't be so lucky finding a great doctor in Rockford. I think Ben liked him too, but it was hard to tell. He got really upset around the time the doctor was checking his eyes and ears and stuff and just screamed for the rest of the appointment. Turns out he was hungry, but at least he showed the doctor that he has a really healthy set of lungs.

Also, Ben is smiling all the time now and his tummy is ticklish. He doesn't really laugh when you tickle him, but he smiles like crazy and flails and squirms. It's really cute. He likes it when I sing to him, especially while I'm changing his diaper. He just looks at me and smiles. It turns out his favorite song so far is "Take Me Instead" from Blackbeard (by my cousin Rob for those of you who don't know). Random, I know. I started singing it to him because I realized as I've tried to come up with songs to sing to the little guy that I don't know all of the lyrics to many songs. That song made the short list, so there you go. Anyway, when I start singing that song, he just smiles huge and doesn't make a fuss about being changed at all, which is nice.

That's all for now, though I realize it's kind of a lot. I tend to have a lot to say most of the time, so get used to it.

Four Weeks and Counting

I can never decide which pictures to use, so I just make slideshows of them all. I hope nobody minds.

Rollin, rollin, rollin

You saw it here first!

They just grow up so fast

I realize I'm pretty new to the whole motherhood thing, but I can't believe how quickly time passes. Ben was four weeks old as of yesterday. I guess he realized it was a big day because he pulled a couple new tricks out of his hat. First, he just kept laughing all day. He'd laughed the day before that, but I just figured it was a fluke. He's been smiling for a while now, but mostly in his sleep. Sometimes he'll give Jon or me a big smile, but rarely long enough to get a good picture. Anyway, he doesn't really laugh in response to anything, just in his sleep. He kept laughing either when he was first falling asleep or just waking up. It was pretty stinking adorable. We tried really hard to catch it on video, but you know how babies are. He always stopped laughing as soon as we pulled out the camera and started up again as soon as we turned it off.

Also, last night, the little guy rolled over from his tummy to his back. We didn't catch the first time on tape, but we did get number two. We kind of thought it was a fluke at first, but he appears to have figured it out as he gave a repeat performance. I guess it's kind of like water skiing, it's really frustrating when you can't do it, but as soon as you figure it out, it sort of clicks and you can keep doing it. I'll try and upload the video of him rolling over as soon as Jon can help me. Turns out our high tech camera needs to be converted so other people can watch the videos and I don't know how to do that.

Ben's first few days

Our baby really is the best

So, we know that our baby is the cutest and greatest thing on the planet and we've created this blog so the whole world can know that as well. I make no guarantees that I'll be super diligent in updating things, but I'll do my best to document our little guy's progress.

To catch everyone up on things so far: Benjamin Danvers Willes joined our family on April 18, 2008 weighing in at 8 lbs 12 oz and measuring 22 inches long. He's our little big man, and he's just adorable. He's extremely strong and seems to be unaware of the fact that newborns aren't supposed to be able to lift their heads up and such. He loves to be held as much as possible. His mommy and daddy are generally willing to oblige. Jon and I feel so blessed to have this precious little guy in our lives. We've been overwhelmed by the love that he has brought into our lives.

Ben is now 3 weeks old. At his last appointment, just before he hit the 3 week mark, he weighed 10 lbs 5 oz, so he seems to be growing really well. It turns out he's a really good eater. If he's not sleeping, he pretty much wants to be eating.

As for Jon and me, Jon is just about done with his first year of medical school. I'm adjusting to life as a mother, and generally enjoying it. Jon and I will be moving this summer for the 2nd through 4th years of medical school and Jon will be teaching an MCAT program in San Diego. It's a great opportunity, but we're going to have to be separated for six weeks, which will be tough.

So, that's the gyst for now.