That's Me? Oh Boy!

Lately, Matthew has discovered himself in the mirror and thinks it's fun that he can see himself and others. It's funny how we are so used to these things, but they are fascinating to a baby because they are new.

We have a hideous front hall closet that is covered in mirrors. I was shifting Matthew from one door to the next. He was amazed at being able to see himself! And then himself again! We were laughing because he would smile in one mirror and then be really focused in the other. Then we started taping it:

3 Months!

First, some pictures and videos:

IU Jersey from Shane!

Check out that intensity!

New Hat from Grandma Jeanne

Below zero temps meant it was for sure time to get a warmer for the car seat

Always uses the armrest when available

3 Months Today!

He has just started playing with this car seat toy despite it being there for months.

In his jumperoo:

Cooing in his swing:

Walking with help:

Family Update: I am back at work 1-2 days per week.  A childhood friend of mine is watching Matthew.  It's very comforting to know that he is in good hands.  It is definitely a challenge for me to focus at work.  Mike's job is going well; still really enjoying working with his bosses.  The people you work with make such a difference. 

The most frequently asked question about Matthew: how's he sleeping?   He has mastered napping--yey!  But he naps on his stomach which means we watch him like a hawk!  At night, he is on his back because we can't watch him all night (well, Mike could, but he won't).  He usually sleeps for 7-9 hours at a time which is amazing and something we are incredibly grateful for.  He is still very difficult to get to bed most nights.  We have the same routine and some nights he goes to bed quite easily but we take turns watching him (15 min at a time) to ensure that he is asleep for a full hour.  He usually wakes up after about 45 min and becomes upset very quickly so it's important to be there to try to soothe him before it escalates.  And then there are nights like the two out of the last three when he is not in bed until 1 or 2.  Ugh.  But much has improved in the last month and most importantly, he is healthy. 

Get Me Outta Here!!!!

So remember the previous post where Matthew was tightly wrapped in his Sleep Sack? Yeah well, this is how he woke up the next morning:

One arm up the top and one arm up through the bottom.  We think it might be time to move beyond the swaddle.

SIDS Prevention Sleep Sack or Body Bag?

You be the judge:

hi i'm matthew

hi i’m matthew.  i’m a friendly little boy who likes stories.  i’m going to tell a story about me.

i live in a house with two people.  their names are shouty and milklady.  i spend most of my days with milklady.  shouty is around when i wake up and when i go to bed.  i like to play and not nap.  when i'm not playing or not not napping i like to cry for reasons only known to me.

i like to watch sports with shouty.  we watch indiana basketball together.  the only times i have gone two straight hours without crying or playing have been when i was watching the hoosiers with shouty.  but one time the hoosiers beat ohio state and shouty shouted and frightened me which made me cry.  milklady wasn't happy with shouty.

milklady is my best friend.  we play together all the time.  she bicycles my legs and breaststrokes my arms which makes me jolly and makes me smile really big although sometimes it makes me fart loudly which frightens me and makes me cry.

milklady and shouty both like to read me stories.  i like stories although the 350 words in the books are usually about 330 words too many to keep my attention.  i usually just start to stare at a window or a lamp or something shiny.  i like windows and lamps and shinys and farting as long as it doesn't frighten me.

i also like to poop.  i don't like to make eye contact while i poop but i do like to make eye contact right after i poop and let people know i am happy with my poop.  also, i like to get my diaper changed but i don't like when shouty puts on my butthole cream.  it is cold and goopy.  i have tried to tell him i don't like it many times by farting and pooping on his finger but he keeps doing it anyway.  i think shouty might be stupid.

milklady is not stupid, but she is manipulable.  a lot of the times i'm not even sad but i cry just to see how fast i can get milklady to come visit me.  shouty told me not to be a boy who cries wolf.  i should tell shouty that if the boy who cried wolf knew milklady he never would've gotten eaten by the wolf.

i am a big strong boy.  i turn 3 months on thursday but only wear clothes for 6-9 month olds.  last sunday i rolled over for the first time.  shouty's reaction frightened me and made me cry.

ok time to not nap i love milklady and shouty bye bye.

A Parent's (and Maybe Grandparent's) Pride and Joy

So...have you ever been at a friend's house and they ask you, "Isn't it amazing what ____ just did?"  Or have listened to someone tell you that each day with their child is incredible because so much is changing and developing.  And while you smile and nod, respectfully of course, you are really thinking, "Seriously?!?! No, this is not amazing.  Watching your child blink is not just short of a miracle. It's boring."

Mike and I are now those parents.  Although, while the things Matthew does each day excite us, we are fully aware that they are probably not that cool to you.  That said, they might be cool to Matthew's grandparents.

Below are a few videos of Matthew.  I will reiterate that what you are about to watch is not miraculous, it's boring.

1) Grabbing and shaking Tilly on his activity mat

2) Matthew's first step towards doing a pull-up:
 

3) Matthew and I playing patty-cake and babbling 

 
4) Rocking which will one day lead to rolling over

Photo Shoot

When Matthew was 2 and a half weeks old, we had a family photo shoot.  If you'd like to see some of the photos:

Go to www.studiow.com
At the bottom click "order online"
Then click "view your images"
Then click "portraits"
The gallery is titled: Schwartz
The password is: michael (all lowercase)

In case it's not completely obvious, the IU pictures were meant to be funny.  And they would have been better if I'd been able to keep a straight face!