Talkative

Jonah makes a lot of new noises these days -- happy noises! They're fun to hear and to try to imitate. He and I have a "conversation" every morning, when I'm eating breakfast. I'll talk to him, and if I give him a little time, he'll respond with a comment of his own (frequently, "goo."). He likes it when I try to make the same sound.

He also likes watching me eat, especially cereal -- it's like he's trying to figure it all out. I bet it's the shiny spoon he likes.





We got him a play mat last week, which he loves. He likes the star that sings to him and flashes lights in time with the music, and he likes smiling at the baby in the mirror. And man, that play mat is a Godsend for my mornings -- there is a lot less screaming now, which makes it a lot easier for me to get ready for work! I bring the star to work and hang it on the mobile on the Pack-n-Play, so it can sing to him at work and at home. He loves that star -- we get lots of kicks and smiles and happy noises when the star is on. I've also rigged it so I can hang one of those soft cube toys that has lots of different textures and dangly bits from the mobile, nice and low, and he likes that, too. Just today, he's learning that if he waves his left arm around, he can hit it and it will move! Very exciting.

Two Months

Dear Jonah,

A few days ago you turned two months old, and the last month has been lots of fun! You're awake a lot more now than you used to be, and you turn your head to look at the world. You started smiling at us, and then smiling and wriggling, which is so cute I could just eat you up. You definitely know Mommy and Daddy, and you're juuuust starting to notice the cats. Savannah likes to snuggle with you when you're on Daddy's lap, and occasionally gives you little licks -- you obviously need mothering like the other humans she lives with!



You're finally able to tolerate spending some time not being held, which is really nice. Now that you're interested in the world around you, I can put you down on your back and you'll be happy for a few minutes, looking around. The cats are less than pleased with this development, however; I think they see the floor as their territory, and Samantha especially is a little worried that the interloper is taking over even more of her home!

I noticed a couple of weeks ago that both the sleep issue and the breastfeeding issue smoothed out at some point; your Dad and I are both a lot less tired than we were. We've adjusted to the amount of sleep we're getting, which is good since we're all back at work. For now, you sleep out on the couch on my chest, and Daddy sleeps in our bed. You fussed all night when we put you in your bassinet, so we decided to go with what gets us the most sleep. I know you would sleep better alone if we put you on your tummy, but I just can't do that. Pretty soon, however, we're going to start teaching you how to sleep on your back in the bassinet, because we can't sleep out on the couch forever -- I miss my bed!

When we're out in public, you are a great baby -- you hang out in the wrap, mostly sleeping, and everyone comments about how cute and how good you are. I'm glad that you're good when we're out, but I bet they'd have other comments if they heard you screaming when you're at home with us! You're not an "easy" baby, but you also don't scream for hours on end, so there's that. I just wish we knew what it was that you're screaming about, so we can fix it!

You come to work with me, which is fun and draining all at once. You hang out in the wrap most of the day, and you're very good and mostly quiet. I'm so grateful that my work lets us do this, because I would hate to have to leave you every day when you're so little!

On that note: you are a BIG boy! At your two-month checkup, you weighed in at 12lbs 10oz, which is bigger than I estimated! When you were born, you were in the 25th percentile; now you're in the 75th. You've chubbed up, my little tank!




You also started liking your swing this month, which is really nice for me in the mornings. You only like it for a short time, but it lets me get a shower most days without interruption. Getting out the door in the morning is still a major challenge, but it must be done, so we muddle on through!

We've given you a few bottles this month, and I am SO GLAD that you don't object. In fact, you don't seem to care at all about the delivery system, as long as food is delivered on time. This is really great, because it means that I can get a break every now and then! We're planning a couple-hours' escape for our anniversary soon, made possible by the pump and the bottle.

We can't wait to hear you laugh -- should be any day now! We'll get out some toys soon, too, and that will be lots of fun. You are such a blessing in our lives, and it's fascinating to watch you grow!

Love, Momma

Sneeze

Jonah makes the cutest noises when he sneezes, or when a sneeze eludes him. There's no way to describe them accurately -- sort of an "ohh" mixed with an "ah" and an "oo" -- but it's totally adorable.

It wouldn't be nice to stick pepper under his nose, would it?

One Month

Dear Jonah,

A few days ago you turned one month old. You are just the cutest thing, and I am totally unbiased when I say that. It's been a crazy month -- your dad and I are awfully tired, and we still need a translator to understand a lot of what you have to tell us. You eat about every three hours, and during the day you usually sleep between meals. Unless you fuss. You do that at night, too, after the "middle of the night" feeding. That's in quotes because you aren't even close to being on some sort of schedule, which is starting to get to me. I can't make plans, because I don't know when you're going to want to eat. Some days I'm up and showered by 10am, and other days you don't let me put you down long enough to shower at all. The main reason this bothers me is because I'm going back to work, and I really prefer to shower daily.

You love being worn in my Moby wrap -- you quiet right down and go to sleep whenever I put you in it. If your dad or I could sleep sitting or standing, we'd get plenty of sleep just by wearing you at night. You hate your carseat, at least until it gets moving. You are a prolific spitter-upper, so we are never without burpcloths. We are getting the hang of this breastfeeding thing, but, man! are you a messy eater. You'll latch on great and suck to get the milk to let down, but then you're not patient enough to wait for the milk. So you release right about the time the milk arrives, leaving it to spray everywhere while you fuss. You're gaining weight, though -- chubbing up -- so I know you're getting plenty to eat.




You have a little dimple on your left cheek, which we've seen when you "sleep smile." You've done this almost from day one, and it's a weird thing to watch: you run through a whole list of expressions. We know you're not truly smiling -- your brain is just practicing that combination of muscle contractions -- but it's wonderful to see. It's also a little jarring when it's followed by a sullen look, or a suspicious look, or a perplexed look, or a superior look, but all these expressions are lots of fun to watch.

The cats haven't paid much attention to you so far; they leave the room when you cry, but other than that they pretty much ignore you. They're interested in your stuff, however -- I'm sure your little chair looks like it would be a great place for a cat nap.

You make all sorts of funny noises, and Daddy loves your startle reflex. It's so funny -- we never know what's going to startle you. Plenty of loud, sudden noises go unnoticed, but quieter noises elicit raised baby arms.

You've started losing your hair, which is really too bad -- it's so soft, and your scalp underneath is not as soft. Also, your little hairs get stuck on my Chapsticked lips as they fall out. I hope the hair that grows in will be red, especially since the hair you're losing appears to be!

So, it's been a whirlwind month -- amazing and exhausting and exhilarating and frustrating all at once, as you go from screaming for some reason we can't fathom to being nice and quiet and alert (these moments are happening more lately, which is really fun to see). Daddy and I will figure you out eventually, and this will all get easier. But we love you more than we knew was possible, and can hardly wait to see what you do next.

Love, Mama

Meet Jonah

Introducing Jonah Thomas Scranton, born August 16, 2007, at 4:22am. He weighed 7 lbs, 2 oz, and is 20 inches long.


Labor was quick -- little more than 5 hours -- and easy (relatively speaking). We're doing pretty well, so far -- he's a little bit lazy about eating, so he's a little jaundiced. They kept us in the birth center an extra night because of that and because I lost a lot of blood after delivery, but we're home now and are getting the hang of things.

Welcome, Jonah! God has blessed us by giving you to us. May you never be ashamed to call Him Lord.