3 months

6/2
At ten weeks Micah is pretty much holding is his head up on his own! He is so strong!  He loves to stand and requires very little support. He has the cutest little (big for a baby) calf muscles too! Yesterday when he was laying on mama's knees he kept leaning himself forward info a seated position!

6/3

 Micah has been increasing his "words" for awhile, and today he talked to us non-stop! It is so stinkin' adorable to hear his coos and gurgles!We just melt every time he opens his mouth. He gets really loud and smiles in between and totally seems into our conversations...I wish I knew what he was trying to tell us! His own little personality is emerging and it's so amazing to witness.

6/4
Micah got to meet his auntie Angie today!! She brought him a fun new giraffe toy and covered him in lots of kisses!

6/6
Micah had his 2 month check up....a bit late at 11 weeks. He came in at 12 lbs 11.5 oz (50th percentile) and was a whopping 24 1/4 inches (95th percentile!!) We met our new pediatrician (Dr. Sears!!!) who said Micah was healthy and "very connected." He told us that he obviously didn't need to do his attachment parenting spiel and to keep doing what we are doing, which made mama feel very happy, especially coming from one of her parenting heros!

6/8 Micah had his first trip to the beach today. Mama, daddy, Anthony, Maggie, and Anabelle headed down to Huntington Beach to listen to some live music, walk around the shops, and grab a bite to eat. Micah did so well, despite having almost no nap!

6/11 Mama's first time leaving Micah to get her hair done! He did so good, mama on the other hand, was a wreck!

6/14 For the past couple weeks when Micah wants mama he says "mum mum" over and over again! It is so cute and melts Mama's heart every time! We didn't think anyone would believe us so we got it on video! Our child is a genius! :)

6/15 Father's Day & Micah's first wedding! We tried to do way too much with our little guy today and by the time we got to the wedding he was already exhausted! He did pretty good throughout the ceremony but got upset when everyone started cheering. We lasted about 10 minutes at the reception....there was just way too much going on! I think 12 weeks is a bit too young for a wedding! Poor little guy! Since Father's Day was jam packed with church and wedding plans we celebrated daddy on Saturday. After running our weekend errands we all went to dinner at Native Foods and Micah & mama gave daddy all his fun gifts when we got home.

Micah in his wedding attire!

Mama and Micah made daddy a father's day present with these photos....

6/16 Micah is now picking up his toys and bringing them to his mouth!!

Here are some more photos from month three...

Micah loves to play "flying baby!"

Tummy Time! Such a big boy!

Mama perfecting the ring sling!

Micah's new sleep sack...we can't help but giggle every time we put him in it!

 Our first "craft" - didn't anticipate how difficult it would be to get a hand print!

Nakey time!!!

June 8th: A Day I Won't Soon Forget

I'll never forget the feelings that washed over me that afternoon; sheer helplessness and overwhelming guilt that didn't feel like it would ever relent.

Our little guy had a nick on his face that morning because of the weed-like growth of his fingernails, and our inability to keep up with the maintenance required for their unreasonable pace. Micah hates having his nails clipped... with a passion that shouldn't exist yet in someone so little. That being said, traditionally we've utilized the, 'clip them while he's breastfeeding' trick. But that morning, mom was getting ready so that we could go out. I decided I could take on the task on my own.

One nail was conquered, with just minor fussing; but once he caught wind of what was happening, he quickly began to voice his disagreement. On to finger number two. A clip... then screams, then tears. I looked on helpless as the tiniest line of red began to form on the skin just on top of his nail. Then the tiniest bit of blood. The first unwarranted, human-induced pain caused to our child, and it was me. Daddy.

To me, it felt as though I had butchered and most assuredly debilitated my poor son for life. His tears, oh his tears.. they were like salt being poured over the spot where a dagger had just moments earlier found its new home in my heart. There was nothing I could do. No words I could say. No means to express to this child how deeply sorry I was, and how in that moment there was absolutely nothing in the world I wished more than to be able to rewind time and take back that slip of the clip. But he couldn't understand that, which redoubled the pain. I could hardly bare much more. 


This flowery harangue, however, has an end (thankfully), and a purpose - it led to insight and an epiphany: I love this child more deeply that I can even fully comprehend, and I don't know that I'll ever be able to. I know that now with a 'certainty' that can only come through experience. Most good fathers know that they love their children; but it's difficult to really know what that means. There were so many things going on inside of my mind, my heart and my soul simultaneously that I wasn't capable of processing.

My love for this little boy is unlike anything I have ever experienced before, and with each moment that passes I'm learning more and more what that looks and feels like. As my lovely bride has so eloquently proffered as a means to understanding: 'My Heart Is Full'.

Don't worry little one, mom hid the clippers. 
 

2 Months

We started the month out with a visit from Nana Barbie!! Micah loved her right away and she was able to soothe him with the rocking chair and the paci for two days straight! (Prior to this nursing was the only thing that worked!) Nana's visit gave mama a chance to get used to taking baby out of the house (and driving him around!) and Micah got to visit Starbucks, Target, Sprouts, Trader Joe's, and Babies R' Us. Mama loved having her own mama around and the visit went by much too quickly! On the 3rd day of nana's visit, right before she left, Micah remembered that he hated the paci and has only taken it sporadically ever since.

Mama and nana took Micah to his one month check up where he rolled from his tummy to back for the very first time! (4/25/14 exactly 5 weeks old!) Micah was perfect and came in at 10 lbs & 23 1/4 inches long!

Visitors: Auntie Carime came over and Micah got to meet his cousin K2; cousin Tammy & Noel came over (and brought Micah a swing to use!!); and Mama's friends from school Angie & Heather also met baby Micah this month!

From week 5 to week 6 Micah's favorite spot was the changing table over the washer and dryer! He loves to look at his little black and white pictures that mama hung, the cloth diaper laundry instructions, and the shiny washer knobs! Mama and nana bought Micah a "pee-pee-teepee" and giggled uncontrollably when we put it on him and he started to play soccer!

Mama is getting better at leaving the house with baby and made a few grocery store trips with Micah in the moby wrap or ring sling. He loves to nurse while mama is shopping and things have gone pretty smoothly, save for the times when mama is trying to check out at the grocery store line and Micah unlatches himself and thrashes around in search of the boob! Mama felt like super-mommy after doing her first big grocery trip with Micah and then nursing him in the moby while she lugged the heavy groceries up the stairs to the condo all by herself! Mama also met a fellow hypnobabies mommy for coffee at Starbucks and both babies nursed the whole time they chatted!

Early in the month Micah perfected both his pouty face and and his adorable smile! Mama and daddy first got a taste of Micah's "happy hour" at about 6:30 a.m. and this pattern continued for several weeks...all day he would be very serious but for a brief chunk of time between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. he would be all smiles! Micah has the most adorable dimple and has mama and daddy wrapped around his little fingers! Toward the end of the month  (week 8) Micah smiles more throughout the day and has begun to giggle (his first giggles were in his sleep!) He loves to sing songs with mama and daddy, do "super-baby," and stare at lights!

Best smile in the world!

Micah is talking so much! He started finding his voice around week 6 or 7 and has increased his volume and variety of noises ever since!

Early in the month Micah began balding like a little monk...so funny!Toward the end of the month his hair is growing back in the front and beginning to thin out in the back.

Micah's male pattern baldness! <3

Daddy has become really good at rocking Micah to sleep and is often able to get him back to sleep without nursing (miracle!) 

Micah LOVES bath time and now has one almost every day as part of his bedtime routine.

This month we had our first church attempt, which did not go so great...we had to leave about 10 minutes into the service. Our 2nd attempt  (on mother's day) went much smoother as it was a smaller service and Micah was able to nurse the whole time while mama and daddy sat in the back. 

Daddy made our first mother's day extremely special and surprised mama with a ring sling, a handmade framed keepsake, and an awesome arrow necklace with Micah's name!

Mother's Day!

Daddy's first attempt at babywearing!

At the end of the month Mama had her grad school graduation ceremony and Micah did so well! He hardly fussed during the ceremony (the longest he had ever been away from mama) and afterward when we were walking him around and showing him off he was completely calm and alert, just taking everything in. We decided Micah must be one of those babies who loves stimulation, new environments, and meeting new people. 

By the end of the month Micah's eyelashes are suddenly very long and dark! He is just getting more beautiful by the day!


More photos from this month...

Mama and daddy have several nicknames for Micah including: 
*peanut
*peanut butter pie
*Micah bear
*punky poo bear/hunky punky poo bear
*pumpkin butt
*pookie bear
*pooks
*butter
*bubs
*bubsies
*babas
*cudddle buggle
....and more!