Dad's Thoughts, Vol. 2

Al Capone once said, "You can go a long way with a smile. You can go a lot farther with a smile and a gun."  

Eleven weeks in the books with Zachary and this baby guy really has come a long way. In the context of this quote, the smile has made a world of difference. I am experiencing my son in new ways every day and the simple fact that he can at least produce a smile makes me feel more connected to him and Cindy. Going back to the quote, Zach's "gun" will be each successive milestone.

Some highlights since I last wrote, besides the smile:

• Eating at some of our favorite food places. We didn't think that we'd be able to take you to some of our favorite eateries so early in your life. I thought it'd be at least 5-6 months before we could take you anywhere. Then we decided to bust out the Ergobaby for me to carry you to church at 7 weeks since you were already 12 pounds (you big eater). 

We went to 85C Bakery the day after Thanksgiving and you were so good!

• Having you practice standing and jumping. You have way too much energy. I can hold you under your armpits and you can bend your knees and bounce up and down on your own. Sometimes, I'll help you get some air after bending your knees. 

Helping you stand so that we can compare you to your friend Caden.

• Seeing you grow like a beast. Statistically you somehow manage to be above the 95th percentile for head circumference and height. And everyday you get heavier than my bowling ball. 

Multitasking: feeding you and scratching your big brother at the same time.

• Seeing you release gas. It's more rewarding to burp you because I know that it relieves a nuisance in your esophagus and somehow it gets louder every week. Your burps are louder than your Auntie Ashley's. 
• Sock patrol. Someone is always on duty when we go out to make sure you don't lose a sock. You love kicking which means you also love to loosen those socks from your feet. Lost sock count: 0 so far...

These footed sleepers are really supposed to be pajamas, but sometimes we take you out in them during the day because that way, there's no chance of you losing a sock.