Dear Moe (14 weeks)

It was a hot, hot week this week, little man, and you figured out how to beat the heat. We went swimming at Uncle Ted's and you loved it. We popped you into this little inflatable turtle, and you lounged around the pool looking as though you might at any moment ask someone to beer you. You were in there about 30 minutes yesterday, without any sign of complaint. I could have likely left you in there longer.

We've gone back to old habits to get you to fall asleep... swaddling. It seems odd to suddenly do that with a 3.5 month old, but your arms just flail so much and you yank your soother out and generally startle yourself. So we tried that last night on a whim and you fell asleep right away. In fact, that's how I put you down for the nap you are taking right now.

You are making great progress with your tummy time and head turning exercises. You love looking at the baby in the mirror, or turning your head to look at a toy. We went to CHEO to see if they would teach us some more exercises, but the doctor said we'd have to go to physio to learn those and there's a 6 week waiting list. As you are getting stronger and stronger, I think we'll let it go.

You had a major growth spurt this past week. You gained almost a full pound, weighing in a 13 lbs 8 oz. Also, all signs point to you starting to teethe. You are starting to drool quite a bit (bibs are now part of your daytime attire) and you've had some moments where you're generally miserable for no apparent reason. So I gave you a soother from the fridge and you perked right up and sucked on it for dear life. So we'll see how that progresses.

We tried going dairy free this week to see if it would help your skin, but stopped for a few reasons. I didn't see much improvement, we weren't ready in terms of groceries, you declared your hatred for soy formula, and I really love milk and cheese. But we'll likely have another (more organized) go of it when we get back from Halifax.

Through it all, you are sweet and patient, even when you're miserable. You smile when I come to see you in your crib after a nap, and you smile at your Daddy when he gets home from work. We take longer to breastfeed now because you like to stop for breaks to chat with me. I could never get tired of chatting with you - you have so much to say! You're learning to bounce your own bouncy chair, and you reach out with your hands to grasp things. You stare at us with your adorable and intelligent eyes. We love you so much.

Dear Moe (13 Weeks)

This week, you turned 3 months old. Both Daddy and I agree that in some ways, it doesn't seem like it's been 3 months already, and in others, it's like you've been here forever. We just love having you in our life, we can't imagine it without you.

I'm pretty sure you've been having another growth spurt this week - you've been eating pretty much every two hours for the last couple of days! I'm looking forward to THAT being behind us. But you make such appreciative noises while you feed that I don't really mind. It's nice to be appreciated. ;)

You weighed in at 12 lbs, 14 oz this week at the well baby clinic, and we had our 3 month check-up with Dr. D. She referred us to the torticolis clinic at CHEO, and our appointment for that is next Thursday. They will give us some exercises to do. She also gave us a stronger prescription for cortisone cream for your back and arms, as the eczema there is getting pretty bad. You also have quite a bit on your scalp - it's hard to tell where the cradle cap ends and the eczema begins. So I'm taking Grandma's advice and going off all dairy for a week to see if that improves things for you. Today is Day 1, and let me tell you, it isn't easy not to go to the fridge and grab a glass of milk out of habit!

We had our first trip to a museum this week! Grandma and Granny and I were planning on going to the opening of the Canadian Museum of Nature, but when we got there the line was all the way around the building. It occurred to me that the Agriculture Museum was probably pretty empty, and it was! We watched border collies do agility runs, and watched dogs herd sheep. You really watched, tracking the dogs and the sheep with your eyes. You dined alfresco under a tent, and we got into the car just as the rain was starting. You wore your sunglasses and your sunhat with reasonable patience, as long as you were out of the stroller and in my arms.

You do the funniest thing when you're awake and alert and lying on your back. You grunt happily and move your legs like you're running. You've done this for some time, but I never thought to mention it in a letter. We love it - it's so cute. It's like you're training for a marathon or something. We're not sure where you're going, but we know you're getting there fast!

You are starting to have toys that you really like. Kneebra the Zeebra, for example, who has little knots for knees, sits with you in your bouncy chair and you grip his legs and jiggle him. You also enjoy your colourful dice. You don't hang with Sophie so much anymore, because I've started putting you in your cot inside your crib, so there isn't as much room for Sophie. I do this because otherwise you weasel away from your blankie roll and end up on your favoured side. I'm hoping we can get you back to being the small boy in the big crib again soon.

You bring such happiness to our lives, little Moe. We love you buckets and your smiles and giggles brighten our days. Keep being such an amazing awesome little guy. xoxo

Dear Moe (12 Weeks)

Hello, sweetheart! You found your fist this week! And as much as you enjoy munching it, sometimes it betrays you. If you are tired you lose your coordination and your fist bops you in the face. It is both funny and tragic.

You've officially doubled your birth weight, tipping the scales at 12 lbs, 6 oz. You are getting deliciously plump - whenever I bathe you I find new crevices to clean.

You are so even tempered and chill, it's amazing. We brought you with us to a fantastic dinner out last night, and you sat happily in your car seat until dessert, when we popped you out and passed you around. You didn't fuss at all.

We've started a new routine. We do things in the morning, nap together in the afternoon, and then in the evening I can sometimes go and do something on my own. Also, Grandma is insisting that Daddy and I go out alone together at least once a week, and we're going to do that. We went to a movie last week, and it was strange to be without you, but nice to see each other. We came back eager to see you, though!

When we go to the doctor on Tuesday, we're going to talk to her about your head and neck, and about your skin. You still have patches of eczema on your face, neck, arms, shoulders and back. And you have a bit of a rash on your tummy. I've switched to Aveeno soap, and everything you wear gets washed in the sensitive skin detergent and without fabric softener. We've up your tummy time considerably, but you still favour that one side of your head. I tried propping your shoulder up with a blankie roll in your crib, you can weasel away from it. So now you sleep in your cot in your crib. You can't slink away from the blankie roll in your cot!

You have a delightful smile. You love pony rides on my knee, which is also an effective way to burp you. You collect lint in your toes, which are practically prehensile. You still have your awesome little faux-hawk (or, if you prefer... moe-hawk). When you are awake and alert, you are AWAKE and ALERT. Your cheeks are super kissable. You enjoy being in the Baby Bjorn carrier, and when you're in there, you look up at me with your adorable eyes. Your ears wiggle when you nurse, and your eyebrows waggle when you're engaged. You are made of awesome, and we can't imagine life without you.

Keep being such a wonderful, sweet little guy. We love you so much, there are no words.

Dear Moe (11 Weeks)

Eleven weeks old, sweetheart! Where is the time going? You have had a great week, little man.

First, I think we've solved the burping issue... or at least, it's getting easier. Grandma suggested that maybe you're a relaxed burper, which means that patting you on the back does nothing. Instead, I just get you to relax and I move your torso around. Sure enough, you burp! You may not be burping as efficiently as you were when we did the back patting, but you are burping more consistently, and that's a good thing, sir. Indeed it is.

You do still get gas pains occasionally, and when you do at night I pop you into your little cot and put you in my bed so I can keep a hand on your belly and replace your soother as quickly as possible. Usually, the hand on the belly helps you work through the gas and once you've done that you go back to your crib without an issue.

(Side note. When we do fold you forward to burp you and pat you on the back, you are so cute. You look just like a little hotei - I want to get you a little bag to carry over your shoulder.)

We get to see you sit up more often now - Aunt Laurie and Uncle Scott got you a lovely red bumbo chair. I've put you in it every day, and for the most part you like it very much. I'm looking forward to when you can hold your own head up and sit in it and play with your toys on the play tray.

So I noticed that you really, really favour one side of your head. You constantly look to the right when you're lying down. As a result, your head is getting a little flat on that side. In an effort to strengthen your neck muscles and fix your little melon, I've been doing stuff to correct it and make you look to the left. I roll a little blanket and pop it under your shoulder and beside your head when you lie down, and I prop you with a blanket roll when you sit in your bouncy chair or the car seat. Hopefully this will help and you'll get used to looking to both sides. (Also, you pin your right ear something fierce.)

Another thing we're doing to get your neck muscles stronger is tummy time, and a lot of it. Until now, we've only really been doing it once a day. Now I aim for three or four times a day if we can swing it. You're getting really good at it, too - it's gratifying to see you getting stronger and lifting your head so well.

(Another side note. I think you have your Daddy's feet, darling. They are wide and thick and adorable. When you start to outgrow a sleeper, it's the feet that get tight first.)

This week we went swimming for the first time! It was wonderful - you really enjoyed it. You smiled and looked generally happy and pleased. We'll go again next week for sure, and now that I've been to the pool and seen how it all works, I'm confident I can take you there on my own. Your Aunt JFlo was nice enough to come with us to help out that first time. I didn't have you in there longer than a couple of minutes - I wanted your first swimming experience to be a good one - but I think we can get away with ten minutes next time. And you look so freaking cute in your little swim diaper.

You met a very special person for the first time this week. Your Aunt Natalie came home from Korea and we surprised her at the airport. She seemed quite taken with you, and you with her. :)

You weighed in at 12 lbs and 1/2 oz this week. A few more ounces and you'll have doubled your birth weight! But I think we may skip the well baby clinic this week, if I don't have any questions to ask the nurses. I'd like to take you to Stars and Strollers and watch a movie with you. We'll see how it goes.

I love the way you look at me, especially when I'm feeding you. You have incredibly intelligent and beautiful eyes. And when those eyes cry real tears, it breaks my heart. I love you so much, little Moe. When you are awake and smiling, it is the best part of my day. And tomorrow when I celebrate my very first Mother's Day - a day I used to dread - I want you to know how much happiness you bring me. I love being your Mommy and I couldn't ask for a more wonderful baby. You're simply a fantastic little creature and you make our lives so bright.

Dear Moe (10 Weeks)

Well, darling, you're definitely in the middle of a growth spurt. You like to feed every two hours during the day, if you can get away with it, and you spent one day last week sleeping like a log. The Muppet suit is getting too small (I went and bought you a couple more - a 6 to 9 month and a 12 month - since we like it so much) and we had to cull a bunch of your littlest onesies.

You have a little girlfriend at the Well Baby Clinic, where you tipped the scales at 11 lbs, 8.5 oz this week. Emily is a few months older than you, and this week you lay side by side with your hands touching. It was very cute. Emily's Mom has been really helpful to me - she convinced me that wearing my engagement ring wasn't a danger to you, suggested the soother brand that I'm comfortable with, and told me where to find sunglasses with the strap on the back so they don't fall off. I bought some at Walmart today - we'll see what you think of them.

The Baby Bjorn is fitting you much better now that you're a bit bigger, and we took a nice long walk with Uncle Dan with you in it. It worked quite well, and my back wasn't sore at all. I've had to adjust your car seat and stroller straps to make room for the bigger version of you. It's wonderful to see you grow, but it's hard to believe you aren't the tiny little guy we first met.

On Monday, I signed up for a free membership with the Ontario Early Years Centre and we attended our first playgroup. You were one of the youngest babies there (we met a little girl who was born four hours later than you!) but we still did circle time, and you managed quite well. I'll see about going back there, especially once we're done with the Well Baby Clinic, which goes to three months.

I'd like to start taking you to Stars and Strollers. There's one on Wednesdays, so we're hoping Daddy can start taking that day off instead of Tuesday and we can go as a family. Daddy and I haven't been to a movie in a long time! Maybe next week.

On Thursday, your Aunt Natalie comes home from Korea and you'll meet her for the very first time. We're quite excited - we've missed her. I know she'll fall in love with you as soon as she sees you, and that you'll love her very much.

You are typically very patient and sweet, even though you have some trouble getting to sleep during the day. You likely don't nap as much as you should, and that may be due to my insistence that we get out every day, but you're not sleeping too badly at night. I'm hoping that once this growth spurt abates you'll go back to giving us 5 hour stretches every so often.

You're smiling more and more - little contented crooked smiles that tell me that you're generally a happy little lad. That makes me happy - I want so much to take good care of you. I hope you're glad that you are a part of this family - we love you so much and wouldn't trade you for anything in the world. When Daddy comes home from work, he says you make everything better. I feel the same way. We love you oodles, darling. Keep being such a wonderful little guy.