The activity chair instructions say its only for children who are able to sit up on their own, but Theo is such a strong stander we thought maybe just maybe if we set it up he might be able to enjoy it a bit 

with some support from mom and dad.  Sure enough, he barely

 even needs us - but we're keeping a close eye on

 him nonetheless.  He's barely discovered its a bouncy chair, too.  So far, all he cares about is the sunshine face toy.  A video was most necessary...

Kirtan retreat at Breitenbush

We took Theo to Breitenbush for a kirtan retreat last weekend.  Theo really seemed to enjoy the music and mom and dad got some much needed  rejuvenation.  Fortunately, there was no shortage of Theo admirers.  We even got friends to babysit a couple of times so we could hit the hot springs together.  The best part was when Theo would lay between us on his blanket and wiggle and smile to the music with one hand on each of our knees.

See baby sit, see baby stand

Theo's gross motor skills are coming along swimmingly!  Thanks to a borrowed bumbo seat, he can practice sitting other than on the couch.  This is the first time, though, he's actually looked happy while using the bumbo seat.  

He's been loving to practice standing for a couple of weeks now, but suddenly he's keeping his legs under himself while I hold his torso for half a minute!  I even managed to take a picture while holding him by one arm.  And only 3 months old!  

Theo's best friend the red bird and Theo's drooly smile

Theo holds a toy!

This morning at breakfast while Theo sat in his bouncy chair waking up and flashing morning smiles, I decided to hold a toy up to Theo's hands.  He has been spending new time lately hitting things with his hand and watching his hand open and close.  He grabs at things now, but mostly unconciously it seems, and especially during diaper changing time.  

So I held the toy up to his hand and he started opening and closing his hand as he watched closely and saw that he was grabbing the toy and letting go, grabbing and letting go.   Suddenly he grabbed the toy and held on.  Before I knew it he had the toy firmly in his grasp and did not let go for a good 10-15 minutes.  We of course had to take a video for posterity.  Enjoy!

Grandma Janet and Pop (Grandpa Gene) come for a visit

Theo had a great visit with Matt's parents - Grandma Janet and Grandpa Gene aka "Pop"

I found my fist!

Theo's shown for the first time that he can intentionally do something with his hand.  He likes to suck it.  Boy does he like to suck it.  And like everything Theo does with his mouth, he sucks it loud, so make sure the volume's on when you watch the video.  Other firsts this week: he grasps the Purell bottle when his fist hits it during a diaper change, and he pushes his whole body up into cobra pose when he's on his tummy!  He also holds his head up almost entirely on his own now.  Wow, he learns fast!  We knew he was a genius when he was sucking his thumb (albeit on accident) when he was only a week old...

Theo's friend Mae

Hallie and Michael came over for dinner last night bringing Jonah, 2, and Mae who is just 2 months older than Theo.  Mae and Theo are totally hitting it off and will be fast friends before long.  They even held hands, totally unaided by the doting mommies, which is utterly amazing considering they can barely control their own hands.  Clearly there is chemistry between these two.

Great Grandparents!

Theo had a blast visiting with his great grandparents Frank and Migs.  They're both head over heels in "babylove", and Theo put on quite the show to earn it.  He's gotten more dramatic on all fronts.  He cries harder than he's ever cried when things aren't right - exercising those lungs nicely and surprising his parents.  He's also more fun than ever, with all sorts of new vocalizations and lots and lots of smiles.

I'll drink to that!

The luck of the Irish...Theo has slept for 5 hours in a row three nights in a row!  What an angel.  I can't even tell you how glorious it is.  Please note his seasonal onsie with the milk bottle...aw.  I'll drink to that!

Theo's 2 months old

Theo turned 2 months old on Tuesday.  Time flies.  We had our big weigh-in at his 2 month well baby visit.  We've been very curious about his weight ever since he gained a whole pound in his 2nd week.  The verdict is 13 lbs 4 ozs.  We're so proud!  What a good eater.  We took him on a hike at Tryon Creek State Park the next day and he showed his pensive, thoughtful side in the car seat on the way there.  Then his silly happy side in his bouncy seat at lunch.

First vacation!

Mom and Dad took Theo and our dog Lucy to the beach at Twin Rocks for three nights at the beginning of March. 






Although it was a little hard digesting the reality that when we go on vacation, we still have to be parents and do all the hard stuff, we had a spectacular time relaxing with walks on the beach, contemplating the sea and sharing that beauty with Theo.  We all had a blast, but Lucy probably enjoyed it the most, of course!  I enjoyed watching the beauty of the constantly changing colors of the sky, rocks, and sea as the weather evolved and time passed each day from morning to night.  We think Theo even looked at the ocean some, though we're not sure what it looked like to his still developing eyes.   Most of our walks he spent sleeping, looking at the sky, or at Mom or Dad.  We felt so lucky to spend some time all together as a family relaxing and enjoying  such a beautiful place.

Theo's first smiles

Its been hard finding the time to keep this up to date - so many more important ways to be spending our time right now!  Here's a little of what happened in February during Theo's fourth through sevenths weeks in the world...

Theo at about 4 weeks - he LOVES looking at the windows, blinds open 

or not, from his diaper changing table!

Theo visited with his future BFF Skyeler - here are the happy moms and their sweet babes.

Grandma Betsy came for a visit and did lots of baby sitting.  Alexis and Matt got to have th

eir first date without the baby and had a great time going out to dinner, enjoying a belated celebration of their 15 year anniversary.

Theo grew by leaps and bounds during February.  Here he is at about 5 and a half weeks - compare the way he fills out this 3 month outfit to when he wore it just one month earlier (see Theo's first 2 weeks pictures below).

Mom and Dad catch some of Theo's first really good smiles on camera at 6 weeks.  We're having so much fun with him!