8 Weeks Old!

Well, Cecilia has been hard at work practicing her smiles! Mommy and daddy get many of them every day and this past week Uncle Michael and Grandma and Grandpa got a couple as well. She is cooing much more as well practicing those vowel sounds.

Perhaps even more joyous, between 8 and 12 weeks, Cecilia's digestive track should mature enough for gas not to be a bother to her anymore, which should make for a happier Cecilia and a much happier mommy and daddy. Boy are we watching the days for painful gas to be a thing of the past. Plus, then mommy can eat dairy again! Improved head control is the other milestone mommy and daddy are eagerly awaiting.

Since she is awake and alert more now, starting this week we are upping her baths to 2 per week. She LOVES her baths, so she should like this as well.

During Tummy Time she is not only able to lift her head quite well, but also can push her chest up with her arms. It doesn't last long, but progress is progress. She is also getting better at hitting and grasping objects, although we aren't quite there yet. Last Monday she gave mommy a big surprise with another first. Mommy placed her tummy down on her play mat and just went to grab her glass of water and when she came back, Cecilia was on her back! We know it was by accident, but she rolled over Tummy-to-Back for the first time!

Cecilia now much prefers to be held upright rather than cradled. She seems to like TV (God help us) as well as the stained glass windows of the Last Supper at Church and appears to already be a Duke fan (maybe next year she can watch more of the Blue Devils!).

Well, at 8 weeks, Cecilia is now about 22 3/4 inches long and weighs 10 pounds 2 ounces!

Here are some pictures from yesterday and today. Enjoy the cute smile that we have been able to get from her. It's hard to catch it on camera!

Dad and Cecilia

You see Cecilia taking a nap on Dad's shoulder. Believe me, she was tired!

Cecilia, Mom, and Grandmom Carol

Cecilia with her Uncle Michael

Here are some pictures of Cecilia with her Uncle Michael. He was visiting for a few days.

Sleepy Cecilia!

Here are a few pics of sleepy Cecilia in her car seat.

Pics from March 5, 2006

We hope you enjoy these cute pictures of Cecilia.

New Pictures of Cecilia from Today!

We hope you enjoy these new pictures taken this morning of Cecilia.



Just a word of advice...beware of the flying legs!!!! They are cute and deadly!



Here is a cute close-up of Cecilia!

5 Weeks and 1 Day Old!

Well, Cecilia is 5 weeks and 1 day old. Last Saturday, she weighed in at 8 lbs 10.5 oz. She has been doing very well. Some nights she gets a full 5 hours of sleep in one stretch - boy do mom and dad love those nights! She can also hold her head up for a few minutes at a time. She has begun smiling involuntary within the last few weeks, and yesterday Cecilia gave her parents her first real smile Sunday morning, at 5 weeks, on March 5th! We'll try to get pictures of that big toothless grin with the wrinkled nose as soon as we can!

Cecilia has been struggling more and more with gas the past couple of weeks, so, based on suggestions by a couple of baby books as well as the La Leche League, Katherine has cut all dairy from her diet - which for her is no small sacrifice. Add this to the fact she is advised against eating beans, broccoli, cabbage and drinking alcohol (duh), caffeinated beverages, carbonated beverages and citric juices, she is not giving up any more food or beverages for Lent. But hopefully all this will make for a healthy and happier Cecilia.

The planning of Cecilia's Baptism is well under way. We have it set for Easter Sunday, April 16th (also ordinarly the Feast of St. Bernadette!). We are looking forward to friends and family visiting during that weekend to celebrate not only Easter but a Baptism as well.