Eleven weeks two days

Hello world!

My name is Franklin Richard Rigel, but my friends just call me Franklin. I'm nearly three months old. Even though that sounds little, you might be surprised just how big I really am. For instance: I can sit and stand up if someone holds my hands. My mama thinks I'm the cat's sleepwear when I do that, so I respond by looking modest. I have started rolling a little, especially in bed. I can roll fully onto my side in bed, but then I'm so tangled up I have to call for help. Luckily my mama just loves to rescue me, so it doesn't matter how many times I do it.

I really like to be awake and playing, but I'm not that interested in toys right now. Mostly I like playing with my mama. She does very interesting things like wiggling my toes, blowing on my tummy, kissing me, and tickling me. I find a lot of what she does quite hilarious.

But I also like to have a nice sleep. My mama showed my dad how to soothe me and he picked it up right away, to my surprise. I went right to sleep when he did it. Another favorite activity of mine is bathing. Whether it's with one of my parents or just by myself, that warm water and nice massage is the best. When it's time to get out, sometimes I'm so upset that I start crying.

The other day after eating (my most favorite activity, by far), my mama was holding me on her shoulder burping me, but I had to poo so bad that the force of it could not be contained by my diaper. Not even my clothes held it in. I got poo all over myself and all over my mama. We both had to change all our clothes--mama even had to change her bra. She laughed about it, but I was just relieved to get it all out.

Love,

Franklin

Ten weeks one day

For a few days Franklin's been lifting his head while laying down; I surmise he wants to sit up a bit more. I like to prop him up with pillows on the bed while I get dressed or put away laundry, though he still gets a little anxious if I take too long.

Speaking of anxious, he and I went shopping, and then I brought him inside and set him down in his stroller while I brought in the groceries; the screaming was dreadful: he even cried tears. When I picked him up after hurtling the frozen things into the freezer, he snuggled into my shoulder and gave a few little shuddery sobs to let me know how much he missed me, but he felt better now.

In the bath, Franklin has learned to relax his arms so his hands trail in the water, warming them up. He also tries to taste the water by turning his head to the side and searching with his mouth. He loves to taste things; other items he has tasted: lemon, lime, gravy, baked potato, baked beans. I gave him half a segment of a tangerine to suck and he loved it; I had to hold it very firmly to prevent him swallowing it whole. He also had a good chew on an apple core last week.

Here's a proper smile! I nearly always get a smile or even a laugh when it's time to change Franklin. He just wiggles his legs and laughs at the ceiling. Then he spreads his arms and legs out, so I call him a little starfish and tickle his tummy. Then he laughs some more.

Franklin is now 23 inches long and weighs 11.1 pounds.

Nine weeks

I tried snapping a photo of Franklin smiling, but this was the best I could get. He smiles with very little provocation now, and has begun laughing, too. Oddly enough, he really likes smiling and laughing at the ceiling. I can sometimes get a laugh from blowing on his tummy, and Partner can occasionally get one from tickling his chin.

Franklin has learned how to kiss now--or at least baby kiss. When I bring my face close to him and give him a "mwah" he'll open his mouth for it. It usually provokes a smile or laugh, too.

We have been going to a baby group at the local children's center every week. I think he likes the noise and seeing other babies (most of whom are mobile--he's the littlest one there). There was a little girl about a year old who got increasingly upset with me as I kept giving back the toy she repeatedly shoved in my hand. She didn't talk, but she kept pointing at Franklin, so I figured she meant that the toy was for him, not me, so why wasn't I giving it to him? He watched the proceedings with great interest, but didn't have the slightest clue what to do with the toy. He hasn't worked out the see-grab response yet, though he can grab things if I put them in his hand. I'm working on it by showing him things and stroking his hands with them.

Several mothers have told me they can't remember their babies/children being Franklin's size. I remember when he was born, for sure. I felt him come out, and then holding him, thinking there was no way this big baby fit through that opening! I do remember his head being smaller and his arms and legs skinnier. He was weighed at 10.5 pounds at his check-up last week: a gain of nearly three pounds since birth. And don't I know it! My mother told me then that he would only get cuter as he grew, but I didn't believe her; I thought there was no higher level of cute. I was wrong; he continues to amaze me with his feats of cuteness.

Eight weeks one day

Naptimes are becoming progressively easier. He can now take one in his stroller, but I don't know if I prefer that or upstairs in his basket. I can't do things upstairs if he's in the stroller because I don't leave him alone with the dog (who is not allowed upstairs). But unlike the basket, if he starts to cry in the stroller I can push it back and forth to soothe him.

We're also going up to five hours at night before waking (this is heaven). Sleep. I don't get much, but I get a lot more than when he was first born.

Franklin has begun making little cooing noises when he's happy. He makes an "oh" sound, or an "ee" sound, or sometimes "ah." When he's really upset the noise that comes out is "N-DAH!" or "NOY!" I try not to let it get to that point; usually it's just a generally waahhh!!! But I hasten to add that he only gets upset for legitimate reasons (like when I purposefully withhold food or sleep or his sucker from him).

He had a hard day today--two walks: very exciting--and needed a big cuddle so I let him fall asleep in my arms this afternoon. To tell the truth I needed the cuddle too. Tomorrow he has his immunizations and I'm not looking forward to it.