8 weeks young

Yup, lil' Leo is nearly 2 months old already. Hard to believe -- it has been a blur. Can't even remember this morning, to tell the truth. But he has certainly changed a good deal in all this time. Besides being deliciously chubby now (oh those thighs!), Leo is also a lot more attentive, actually looking at us for long periods of time, which just encourages us to act very silly. And he is smiling a lot more too, though sometimes his smiles seem to appear at very odd times. Or he smiles beguilingly for minutes at a time at, say, the fridge. His little hands are getting a lot graspier, though as yet this does not seem purposeful. And he is still eating and sleeping well. We are getting more and more used to each other, so that even though he still occasionally seems like a little alien being dropped in from outer space, those times are becoming less frequent and we mostly get along well. There is hope for intergalactic understanding!

Apologies for the lack of photos. Our camera is on the fritz. :(

Leo's new friend

Leo and his new friend, Mr. Dog.



Hopefully once Leo is talking he can do better than his parents at coming up with a creative name for his friend.

Six Weeks

Well, we have made it to the magical six-week mark. They say the first six weeks are the hardest. The pediatricians said not to bring the boy into heavily peopled areas for the first six weeks since the immune defenses take some time to build up. The first six weeks are the most important for breast-feeding. And so on.

So how has Leo changed in six weeks? He is chubbier. He has lost some hair. He got very spotty and is now less so. He got some "cradle cap" (eeeww) which seems to be lessening somewhat. He is strong--he can kick and lift his head and hold on to our fingers like a champ. He has some new calls. He is squeaking less and honking more. He no longer objects at all to baths or changes, unless they last too long and he gets cold (can't say he is pleased by them either, though). He stays awake for longer periods during the day, and continues to give us a 5-hour sleeping stretch (more or less) during the night. He has some vague little smiles now and then but hasn't started flirting with us in earnest.

Nevertheless, we continue to be in love. And since these first six weeks don't seem to be a "trial period" after all -- and we have to keep him, no money back -- that is just as well. Here's to the next six months, years, decades, and beyond!

We went to Naples...

... and we got a temporary permanent visa to the US for Paul. And a beautiful view of Mt. Vesuvius from our hotel room:

We were very impressed with how well Leo traveled, in the train:
in the hotel:
and on the crazy streets of Napoli:

More photos of our trip in this gallery.

Yay Ireland! Go!

Here is Leo supporting the Irish rugby team. Anyone know who number 13 is? No matter... Go team! Up the Greens! Rah!

Happy One-Monthniversary!

(yes I know it is one month tomorrow but our new motto is: if you think of doing something do it right away or it might not happen!) Our baby had his first visit to the pediatrician and all is well. He weighs a whopping 4 kilos (8.8 pounds). Hooray! I'm going to bed.

Cheaper by the dozen

Here is Granny Ann with her 12th grandchild! They are getting along famously.

Head Lifter

Some parents have kids who are head bangers; ours is a head lifter. He held his head up like this for a good long while today. Wow! Strong :) (Sorry for the blurriness...)

Leo looks at the camera

Baby's First Post

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