Eric must be funny...

Because Anson just laughed for the first time while playing with Dada! Eric was sort of tickling him and just being silly when he did it. Then he did it again and again. Three firsts in one week - he's on a roll!

And The Other Way

So Anson just started rolling from belly to back a few days ago. This morning I put him down on his back on a blanket while I was making breakfast. I come back and find him on his belly. Poor second child - I totally missed the moment. But I sure was surprised! I can't believe he is already rolling that way. G was much older when he started that. A is going to be rolling around the room in no time!

Anson Rolled! (and a few other things)

Anson rolled over (belly to back) for the first time today! I just put him down on his belly and he immediately did it. The strangest thing is that I checked Grady's baby book, and he was the same age TO THE DAY (3 months, 1 week, and 1 day) as Anson when he did it. Anson also slept in the pack-n-play for the first time last night, and he did great. As I suspected, he actually slept better in there than in his bouncy seat. He is just getting too long to sleep in there comfortably. Plus it was closer to our bed and I think we were comforting him when he just needed to resettle himself. I should also note that he has certainly found his hands and always puts them in his mouth now. He also clasps them together a lot.

Here is my little roller!



He has always (like from birth) pushed on his legs when you stood him up. He can basically hold all of his weight on them already, though he obviously is very far from being able to balance! This was him on his 3 month "birthday".



Love this picture - this shirt says "I'm new here"



First time napping in his crib



I took Grady to the Children's Museum on Saturday, and we had a blast. Seriously. He had a great nap before we went, so he was just so good and thoroughly enjoying himself. It felt like old times :)





pretending to be a check-out guy at the huge grocery store section



cleaning in the Japan exhibit (it is a travelling exhibit - apparently in Japan the students clean their own schools and this was set up to be like a Japanese school)



He's obsessed with the butter churn whenever we go to the farm area - no idea why

Anson is Three Months Old!

My little guy is 3 months old today, and he is growing like crazy! Based on my unscientific method of weighing him at home, he is 13 pounds! According to the CDC chart, that puts him at 45th%!!! He has gone from 30th to 45th % in one month! So no wonder I feel like he loves to eat. He looks like such a chunker to me.

He's doing quite well. At night he sleeps from about 7:30PM-7AM, waking twice. I look at that as pretty good for that stretch. If I feed him around 10PM, he will only get up once. And he usually goes right back to sleep, often drifting off while I feed him. His naps are a bit all over the place. We have good days and bad days. Its like if I can get him past the dreaded 45 minute window, he will sleep and sleep.

He's a great eater - nursing about 20-30 minutes now, which is still long, but tons better than it was. So far he has had no formula, which makes me happy. I wanted to make it until at least 3 months (ideally 6 months) without supplementing.

As far as developmental stuff, he coos lots, can really hold his head up great during tummy time (just noticed a big difference a couple days ago), and is a champ at following things with his eyes (regardless of direction). He seems quite social and smiles lots. However, he is not nearly as "hyper alert" as G was - thank goodness! He seems much more mellow than G was, and will happily hang out on his own for 15 minutes or so. Even if there is nothing super exciting to look at, he'll just chill.

He seems to like when I sing and when I do "Itsy Bitsy Spider". He still loves fans too. He REALLY loves his big brother and will give him these amazing smiles where his whole face lights up.

We love Anson like crazy and are so happy he is here, despite the tough transition that we are still in the midst of. He's a great little guy, usually only fussing if he is tired or hungry. He also seems quite healthy, which is a huge relief. Happy 3 months "Chubs"!

We returned from our week-long trip to Myrtle Beach on Saturday. The trip went well, and everyone had fun. It was extra special since it was Anson's first beach trip, and Grady always loves the beach! Though the car ride to and from were less than fun. Anson just didn't sleep very well and would cry off and on. I couldn't do much to comfort him, which stinks. Good thing it was under 4 hours or I would have died. Grady did nap right through Anson crying on both the way there and back - good for him!

Our resort - The Ocean Reef - was very nice. We had a 3 bedroom condo on the 12th floor, with amazing ocean views. It had 4 hot tubs, a lazy river, 2 regular pools, several kiddie pools, and a whole tiki themed splash park - awesome! The weather was also perfect - about 90-95 and sunny every single day. The only storms we even saw were as we were arriving and the last evening.

Some pictures...

the view from our big balcony:



with my boys, right after we arrived



looking down at the biggest pool



Daddy and Grady on the beach the first day (Eric had to leave after that and came back on Thursday)



Anson napped in the Moby while I walked on the beach some mornings. Then it got too hot for that.



Grady and Nana in the lazy river



more napping on the beach







Some of the pools were shaded, so we could take Anson to one of those. We dipped his feet in!



He's such a chunker - he is just about 13 pounds!



Another view from our place



Playing with Papa - despite being born early, Anson is way ahead in tracking things with his eyes - he can do diagonal, up/down, and side to side. He's a little slower than G was with tummy time stuff, but not with that!



Grady getting into the pool



Nana and Anson



and with Grady too



Grady danced like this by the beach bar for like 3 songs straight. People we just watching him and laughing. A few even joined in!



A super funny video

Nana took G to the aquarium one day



touch tank



A's noggin with a view ;)





Nana and Papa got Grady these "monster mitts"



this picture cracks me up - Anson in his diaper cover and rash guard - all ready for the beach



Nana and Grady with my birthday cake



Grady also took me mini golfing that morning - haha! When I woke up Nana had put some money in his pocket so we could go. Grady got 2 hole in ones! I couldn't believe it. We had lots of fun.

Grady and Nana also went to Alligator Adventure

they saw lots of these guys...





and some tortoises



G wrestling a gator



There were some cool birds too



Again, Grady is the "Bug Whisperer" - this guy just hung out on him for a while




funny - Anson in Grady's hat



Anson and the view



The morning after Eric returned, Grady, Eric, and I all went to breakfast together at the resort's very yummy buffet



Grady actually sitting



more playing catch



beach baby



brothers - in the matching shirt/romper we got them in Puerto Rico



More beachy Anson



Me and Grady swimming in the tiki splash park



Grady with all of his "accessories"





Anson in the tub on the last night there



Grady went out to dinner at the Flamingo Grill with Nana and Papa the last night there - here they are on their way out, by the resort's sign



Eric and I finished up the trip with a dinner out at the same place, which was super fun and relaxing. Anson has been sleeping better in the evenings and at night, so it has made the evenings more enjoyable in general.

That's it! It was a great trip, especially considering I was quite nervous to go. Thanks Nana and Papa for all of the help and the fun memories.