Big changes

I was writing a few sentences each day in a journal for Luke.  I wanted to remember what we did on the first days of his life, and for the most part, I have been successful in keeping up with my writing.  In the past couple weeks, with all the craziness, I have missed some moments, and so I wanted to take some time to remember some of the big changes that have occurred over the last couple weeks.  I recently posted that he went to bed a newborn and woke up a bigger baby.  That's when the big changes happened. 

At around this same time, he developed a mommy attachment.  I noticed this when we had Laura, our totally awesome friend and babysitter, come to help me get some thesis writing done.  Unfortunately, Luke decided to voice his mommy preference during Laura's first babysitting day with us.  He went on to show this preference with Granny and Papa, and even a bit with Daddy.  He is getting better, but we have worked on it a bit.  I am hoping Luke will develop natural attachments with other people in his life, not just to give Mommy a break, but to help him bond with other important people who will be a lasting presence in his life.

Luke also has developed sustained eye contact.  He holds eye contact during a "conversation" without being distracted by external stimuli.  He focuses on faces and responds appropriately.  He smiles when we smile; he shows confusion when we frown or look angry (but we don't do that too often).

Luke also holds his head up on his own for minutes at a time.  Even just two weeks ago, he was unable to do this, but he has developed significant neck strength and can hold his head unsupported.

Unlike his newborn behaviors, Luke now looks from side to side at will.  He doesn't only look to follow an object or look for a sound.  He chooses what he wants to see and focuses on it until moving onto something new.  I mean this in no derogatory way, but he kind of looks like Stevie Wonder when he does this.  It's just a visual to help other parents identify this behavior in their own children.  (And we actually love Stevie Wonder, with "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" being our current favorite song.)

Luke has a new routine now as well.  He wakes up in the morning and fusses a bit to let me know he's ready to wake.  I usually try to get him to sleep a bit longer, but if he persists, up I get.  I always lean right over him and say, "Good morning!" as enthusiastically as I can.  He offers a huge smile as if to say, "Thanks, Mommy, good morning to you, too!"  This is so rewarding, as I usually want to stay in bed a bit longer, but seeing that smile gets me going better than coffee.  This routine has been going on for about three weeks now.  I love that he is such a pleasant baby to be around.

My favorite of his new changes is his new ability to laugh.  Yes, Luke had his first laugh on Friday morning.  He was being changed by Granny when he laughed at her!  I was not there to see it, but I heard it from the kitchen.  I knew for a few days that he was building up to a laugh, just as he had built up to his first smile for a few days.  He has not recreated this for me yet, but I am not too worried.... I know I have many years more to enjoy his laugh.

That's my Luke... a big boy now, growing more every day.  I don't want to miss any of these changes, as each seems so special and significant.