Happy Happy Joy Joy

I'm 3 months old today! (May 19th)

Today is Daddy's birthday. We celebrated by going on a hike around Buttertubs Marsh. Like my hat? (May 26th)

Just last week, I learned how to reach for things and bring them to my mouth. (May 28th)

Reading and touching my favourite book

Every kid has one of these photos. I'm so happy to be out of the bath! (May 31st)

Ben has had quite the developmental past couple of weeks. It seems he picks up something new every other day now. On Monday, he laughed for the first time. He is also considerably more mobile now; not able yet to turn over onto his stomach, but it won't be long since he is quite good at arching his back on his (usually right-) side now. He managed to get his leg stuck dangling out of the crib the other night, having turned 90 degrees from where we'd left him. His favourite word is "ah-goo", and he is a champion gurgler. Ben is also becoming more assertive, and this is most evident when he shreeks (a most unpleasant sound), which he does to let us know that he does not want to be in his car seat when we put him in, or he does not want to stop nursing, or he does not want to be putting all his weight on his legs, or, or, or....

Prodigy

Looks like Ben has picked his instrument already. Photo of Ben playing the toy piano (he actually was banging on the keys!) taken May 12th by our neighbour, Chris Boar (www.chrisboar.com), at his house.

Murmurs

Ben has discovered his hands in both sight and taste. He is just now starting to reach out for faces and toys in front of him, and is right on track for head strength. All of these developmental marks were tested at the pediatrician's office this past Wednesday. He was referred to one because last week the family physician detected a faint heart murmur during his regular 2 month checkup. The pediatrician heard it too, but based on that and absent symptoms, he didn't think it was the kind of murmur that is problematic. Just to be sure, yesterday's adventure was to try an EKG (the painless test where they stick electrodes all over you and you have to lie still - yah, right!) The technician wasn't sure we got an interpretable reading....in fact, Ben's high levles of activity lately are a sign that blood is pumping through his system just fine.

What is that funny-looking thing? And, subsequently, why does it taste so good? (May 8th)

Tummy Time - look how strong my head is! (May 10th)

This is Ben's favourite bouncy chair - talking and smiling at his fishies (May 4th)

10 Weeks Already!

Ben is into double digit weeks now and has changed a lot since the last blog entry, so it is time for some more photos. It has been a busy past couple of weeks for Ben. First plane ride, first trip out of the country, first visit with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa, first sleeps in his crib, first set of vaccines (bluch!), and first 4.5 hours without Mom (who took an afternoon outing on a coal mining tour of Nanaimo). We didn't get photos of every one of these, but certainly some telltale ones:

2 months old today

The four generations (Photo courtesy of Uncle Derek's facebook.com page)

Hmmm, checked luggage? (Photo courtesy of Grandma Jane)

About to embark on a baby bjorn walk with Mommy (there was a wind chill that day).


Smiling at Mommy (taken Apr 29)

We will continue to post the better photos to this blog, but there are many more photos on Mom's facebook.com profile (you must register with facebook to view these photos).

Easter Weekend

Ben's first Easter weekend, spent in Ucluelet with Dad's side of the family. Ideally this photo would have Long Beach as a backdrop, but not surprisingly, it was raining fiercly the whole time so all our photos of Ben are indoor shots.