Summer, Summer, Summertime

Is there a baby underneath all that gear?!

(Gotta keep the sun off that baby skin...)

Toe dipping

Sawyer tries to take his shirt off

Chillin' with Dad and doing the baby backstroke

Sawyer and Cousin Cole make a splash

This was Sawyer's first outing to the pool. The conditions were perfect for the little man's first swim; the water was 86 degrees and the outside temperature was 90 degrees. He certainly seemed to enjoy himself; kicking and splashing like a pro. He's getting proficient at the back stroke and enjoyed pushing off the wall with his legs. After a nice swim he laid out by the pool (in the shade, of course) and relaxed in the nude. (Nothing clears up diaper rash like a little fresh air on the bum.) What a life!

Friends and Flowers

Ms. Kaemi and Sawyer

Ms. Natalie and Sawyer

(What a cuddle bug!)

Scott, Jessica and Sawyer

Renee, Sawyer, Me and Anna

(Sawyer and Anna will make a cute couple some day!)

Auntie Renee and Sawyer at the farm

Renee, Anna (in the backpack checking out the water below) and I at Duke Gardens

The happy family!

Sawyer stops to smell the roses

As you have all probably noticed, we've been very busy with visits from friends. Thanks to everyone who has come to see us, we love the company! We had a wonderful week long visit with my best friend Renee and her adorable daughter Anna. It was fun to see what we have to look forward to in another 6 months (crawling, eating, babbling, screaming). We can hardly wait!

Sawyer will be 3 months old on Wednesday. He's holding his head up almost constantly although it still gets a little heavy now and again. He is starting to sit up with a little assistance, push up on his arms while laying on his belly, swat at hanging toys with his hands and is even starting to discover his feet. At his 10 week check up he weighed 14lbs 9oz and was 25 3/4 inches long! (He's grown over 3 inches since birth!)

A few other milestones (for me anyway) were our first trips to the grocery store, the farmer's market, a department store and Duke Gardens. Every outing brought new lessons in motherhood. An infant car seat can be balanced on a shopping cart, but must be removed prior to check out; jog strollers are not good for winding through the farmer's market, but are an excellent choice for off-roading through gardens; be prepared to stop and nurse a fussy baby in the most inconvenient places and at the most inconvenient times; garden benches make good changing tables; it is next to impossible to keep all sun off a baby so just do the best you can; and never ever leave the house without a pacifier.

We're all smiles!

What a big smile!

And an even bigger smile!

He played so hard he fell asleep.

Look at those chubby cheeks (at both ends)!

Bunny love!

He'll regret this photo when he's older.

Sawyer is so much fun these days. He loves to smile and coo. He's actually quite the chatterbox at times. He'll lay in bed in the morning and talk to the shadows on the ceiling. (We've got to get this kid some better entertainment!)

Sawyer is starting to find his hands and has begun grabbing things around him. Already we've experienced some fun issues with his new found hand control. Sawyer has figured out how to grab and remove the pee pee cloth (shield) while I'm changing him. (After all, he loves to be completely naked) This morning he reached down and pulled off the pee pee cloth just in time to pee directly on the dog! Poor Kacie. She thinks she's been marked as his territory!

In addition, he has started pulling things toward his mouth with those newly agile little hands. It's only a matter of time before everything gets the Sawyer "taste test".

Sawyer is 8 weeks old (9 weeks tomorrow) and now weighs ~14.5 pounds. Still a growing boy, but I think his growth is starting to slow down. (Which is fine with my lower back!) He has also started sleeping longer at night. He'll typically go one stretch of 5 hours between feedings each night and then it's back to 2-3 hours between feedings. I'll take it; 5 whole hours of sleep is a dream come true!

P.S. Thanks to everyone who has been leaving comments on the blog! We love reading them! By the way, does anyone know who this "godfather" guy is??