Wrapped Around Our Axel, Laced Around Bridget Grace

One thing that I have been (impatiently) waiting on is the appearance of the non-gas based, non-dream state smile.  That golden moment when your little person looks at you and just BEAMS.   I was especially curious, because everything I had read indicated that it would be around the 6 week mark of life that this would occur.  I think that I have mentioned before, but one of the main things I am fascinated with in the world of the preemie is milestones... which milestones will be met based on birth date, and which milestones will be met based on due date. Of course, this one is based on Due Date.  Now, I admit, every now and then our boy would break out in a grin as if to say he had a secret that no one else knew... but you couldn't really engage him to make it happen.  It was solely on his terms. The other morning, *melt*, it happened and I just about broke into song. This is how it started... Holy cuteness.  I mean, really.  That was ...

I don't know what's harder to believe.  The fact that Axel is two months old, or the fact that had he come when planned he would barely be three and a half weeks old.  It feels like this is all old hat now, we are pretty used to our routine now and I feel empty handed leaving the house without him. His one month picture, for contrast. :) I'm still very curious as to whether or not his milestones will be driven more by his birth age versus his gestational age.   So far it seems like we have a combination in terms of things he has hit and things he hasn't.  And for some things he seems to be in kind of a hybrid state.   For example, of course, I would think that one of the most exciting milestones for a baby to hit is that first time that they smile in response to you as a parent.  He isn't QUITE there, but he is at the point where, during quiet alert time, he'll break into a (non-gas) grin.  It's absolutely heart melting, so I can only ima...

Full disclosure, I am starting this blog on a more somber note than usual, but I promise I will bring in levity with super cute pics. We lost our cat, Espresso, yesterday after he had a brief battle with cancer.  He was a really, really spectacular cat.  Just cool.  One of those cats that even non-cat people liked.  We got him when he was an itty bitty kitten - Ben found him when he used to install fireplaces back in the summer of 1999.  He found this cute little Siamese (mix, I'm sure) hanging out in one of the fireplaces he was working on and brought him home.  The rest was history.  Ben actually had a woman offer him $500 for him when he took him to get neutered because he was such a pretty thing... Ben said no. :) I was feeding Axel last night at 3am and of course my mind was going, thinking about how to best articulate how long he had been a part of our lives,.  I know that sometimes non-animal people have a hard time comprehending h...

Axel has had a fun filled week, filled with lots of family love.  He has seen, in no particular order: both grandmothers, an uncle, his sister and his cousin... and his cousin/aunt is coming in tonight... followed by HER mom on Friday!  Omigoodness the love!!! We were thrilled to have Brittany come into town to see this boy last Wednesday - and she's staying through Sunday of this week.   They immediately took to each other and he was like velcro - or better yet, a super strong magnet.  It seemed as if every time I would put little man down, he was in the arms of his sister.  I don't think he's complaining. We were sure to greet our sister in the appropriate attire... Immediately after we got home from picking Brit up at the airport, it was time to eat.  Great time for them to bond. :)  Clearly the bonding went well...  they enjoyed taking some selfies together...  Fun to see them together and I know it especially m...