Brennan's blog

The other night Brennan and Daddy were having so much fun playing on the bed, I just had to get some pictures.  The lighting was all wrong, but it seemed more wrong to let the moment go uncaptured.

Airplane

We don't normally condone jumping on the bed, but since they were playing together and sort of "wrestling," we let it go.  He needed to burn some energy!

Sometimes it's hard to resist the simplest forms of entertainment.

I turned seven months old about a week and a half ago. I am growing like crazy, and life is never dull. My first tooth broke through yesterday, and I have a sharp little tooth bud. I am eating all kinds of fruits and vegetables every day, and my favorites are applesauce, squash, and sweet potatoes. I will eat most things pretty willingly, though. I am crawling now, but it is a sort of a swimming motion in which I use my arms to drag my body around. Mommy and Daddy are quickly discovering how many cords there are in the house and how many dangerous objects there are to move! I enjoy helping to turn pages when we read stories, and my favorite things to do include: visiting people, dancing, singing, and playing in the bathtub.

I have started sleeping through the night! For the last several nights Mommy and Daddy have put me down at 10:00 PM, and I have slept until 4:00 AM, 5:00 AM or 6:00 AM! When Mommy comes in to get me each morning at 7:30 (I go back to sleep after I've eaten), I greet her with a huge, delighted smile followed by countless giggles, grins, and coos.

I know Mommy and Daddy's faces so well now, and I'm so excited to greet them! Yesterday I was a little grumpy, but when Daddy came home from work and bent down to see me I was all smiles. I miss him when he's at work!

I went to the doctor on Monday, and I now weigh over 13 pounds! The doctor says I'm a big guy for my age (90th percentile for weight!), but he also said not to change anything. I've gained all of my weight on just Mommy's milk and he says that's good and to keep giving it to me when I'm hungry. I won't take in more than I need at this point, so I'm just a big, happy baby.

Being that I am eight weeks old, I have graduated to my own room, where I now spend the night. I am sleeping longer stretches, which makes everyone pretty happy. I can usually go without eating from about 9:00 PM until 2:00 or 3:00 AM, but I'm only up for about fifteen or twenty minutes before I fall back asleep. Then, I get up again one more time before I'm up for the day. I usually wake around 5:00 or 6:00 and sleep again until around 8:00. My daytime feedings have gotten shorter, too. I still eat every two or three hours, but I only need to eat for 10 - 15 minutes altogether. Despite that, I am getting "chunky," Mommy says. We go to the doctor next week, and Mommy expects that I will weigh about 11 1/2 pounds.

Today, as I hit six weeks, I have achieved some great milestones! I have started paying attention to the critters on my mobiles... they fascinate me! (I used to only look to my side when I was laying on my back, but now I stare straight up and love what I see.) I have also started smiling at Mommy. My smiles are sporadic and unexpected. (I wouldn't want things to be too predictable!) Mommy and Daddy want me to grin on command, but I'm still holding out. And today was a big day as I rolled over for the first time! It wasn't an accident... I proved it by doing it multiple times! When placed on my tummy I pushed up onto my arms and flipped myself over onto my back. It was a great trick because I don't always love being on my tummy!

I turned three weeks old on Thursday, and I've been a busy little boy! Eating, sleeping, and growing are hard work! Plus, I have been busy with visitors and outings. This past week my Nana, Grandpa, and Grandma came to visit me all the way from Jamestown, New York! We spent five days getting to know each other, and it was a lot of fun. They brought me Easter and birthday presents that people sent from Jamestown. We opened them after my first Easter church service. Grandma and Grandpa were sick when they were here, and so were Mommy and Daddy, but I haven't managed to catch anything! While everyone was here, Mommy got to take some naps and receive help with cooking and laundry, and I got extra doses of lovin' from everyone! We made a few small outings, and I even made my first trip to the mall on Wednesday! It was my first time in my stroller, and I loved it. After we left the mall we stopped by a hospital because Mommy's friend Sara had her baby boy Ryan that afternoon. I can't wait to meet Ryan and play with him! And at the rate I'm growing, it won't be long!

I am one week old tonight! Even though it has only been a week, I have learned a lot! I am working hard at regaining my birth weight after losing ten percent of it before we left the hospital. I have gotten really good at breast feeding, and I am now getting enough food to gain weight steadily. In fact, I gained four ounces from Tuesday to Wednesday, and Daddy called me a "quarter pounder!" So far I take after Mommy and Daddy and really like routine. I eat every three hours and wake Mommy for my feedings. Sometimes I will stretch to three and a half or four hours, but then I make up for it with a two-hour interval and get right back on track.

Other than eating well, I have also learned how to make Mommy and Daddy laugh at my silly expressions. I have lots of funny faces to choose from, but my favorite is the furrowed brow, which I learned from Daddy. I have especially learned that Mommy melts when I stare at her and study her face with my dark gray eyes. I heard her tell Daddy that it makes her whole day worthwhile. (Have I got her wrapped around my little finger, or what?) I'm also a great sleeper and a really calm guy.

Finally, I have learned how to keep Mommy and Daddy very busy changing my diapers. In the hospital I didn't make them work very hard, but now that we're home I like to keep them on their toes! Overall, we three are enjoying a slower schedule and taking life one day at a time. Each day in this big world is so exciting and new. Well, I'm off to have my first home bath! The fun never ends!

Hello, world! My name is Brennan Jacob Riggs. Here are some things you might like to know about me:

• I was born on March 30, 2006 at 4:53 p.m. CST.
• I weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces.
• I measured 19.25 inches.

Click my picture to see a bigger version!