Friday, April 19, 2013

One year ago...

April 14, 2013

One year ago, we were living in our apartment downtown and we found out we were expecting!  We didn't really know what was to come, but we knew we couldn't wait to meet whoever Baby Gibbs turned out to be. What a difference a quick year makes!


Remember when I purchased these onesies to break the news to Phil that we were going to be parents? Well, you saw James in the Ohio Baby newborn one here, back when he was only 3 weeks old (he looks SO tiny! And, surprisingly, had more hair than he does now, ha!):

3 Weeks!
Now, fast forward to age 3 months and look who fits into his 3-6 month size Ohio Love shirt perfectly. Our little love bug is getting so big!

3 Months!

Saturday, April 13, 2013

3 Months Old!?!

March 23, 2013

Oops, this post is a little delayed. BUT, James is still 3 months old, so it's still relevant.

We took pictures a few days before he officially turned 3 months, which we love (see them here - thanks again, Casey!). Since then he has added a few more milestones to his list that we had to capture. This has definitely been one exciting month for him!

Although we did not have a monthly doctor's appointment this month, here are my estimates:

3 Month Stats:
Weight: 14.5 lb
Length: 24 in 

Jamesy LOVES:
Smiling, drooling, gnawing on Daddy's knuckles, blowing raspberries, tummy time (yea! no more tears!), Mama, playing with his feet, eating his toes (so flexible!), kisses on his belly and feet, bath time, baby massage, story time, singing songs, watching people talk, "talking back," sucking on his hands (multiple fingers or fist), soaring through the air, play gym and kick piano, being held, sitting in the Bumbo, standing (while being supported), walks in the stroller, car rides, looking at the camera, looking in mirrors (who's the baby in the mirror?!), looking at the TV (mostly golf and basketball) and most recently, laughing (he sounds like a squeaky toy, hilarious)!

Jamesy DOESN'T LOVE:
Cradle cap, hiccups, burps, gas
(A pretty short list! Now that he is more aware of his surroundings, he is generally a very happy baby!)


James is so much fun! I have been spoiled being able to take such a long maternity leave (16 weeks!). I love our days together. Look at that smile. He is going to be a heart breaker for sure. We already know he loves the ladies (he's such a flirt). At three months, his little personality is starting to show. He is a sweetheart (loves to cuddle, be held and kisses), is very active (kicking/dancing up a storm) and inquisitive about his surroundings, but he can also be totally dramatic when he is hungry or overly tired (understandable).

He is growing so fast. His newborn clothes didn't stand a chance. He was only in those for the first four weeks. At one month old he was already able to wear his three month clothing, and now at three months, he has outgrown almost all of his three month clothing (only a few of the "longer" pieces will fit him) and is now wearing six month clothing! I remember looking at some of the six month clothes he had in his closet when he was in newborn size, thinking they were huge! Now they fit perfectly... and I find myself saying the same thing about the twelve month sizes... can you just stay little forever, little man?!

James is starting to find his voice. Everyday it seems like a new sound comes out of him, and it's fun to watch his surprise, wondering where the sound came from. Once he realizes he's making it, he will repeat it over and over. At times he sounds like a squeaky toy, or a high pitch cat. He is very entertaining and I probably could watch him play and discover all day long (but unfortunately, we need to eat dinner, have clean dishes and clothes, and have a *generally* clean environment to live in as well...). His soft cry or whine is adorable because he says, "Ma...Ma...MA" without really knowing what that means yet. Still, it makes me feel like he's calling for me. And it's funny because if he is complaining, he will say "Wah...Wah...WAH. Wah...Wah...WAH (pause, insert pouty lip)," like the sound you would read in a book that a baby makes, but he actually says the word. He also is the master of the pouty lip. Not sure where that came from, but it's too cute.



Look who found his toes and can now put them in his mouth!


We love you, James!

Friday, April 12, 2013

Splish, Splash!

... James LOVES takin' a bath!  AND, he is facinated by his toes!








Tuesday, April 2, 2013

James' First Easter!


We had a great first Easter as a family! Very low key, which was nice and relaxing.

Although he's too young to notice, I still had the urge to add a little Easter decor around the house last week for James' first Easter! He had fun helping me decorate, and looking at all of the lights and colorful eggs in his front row seat, the forward facing Baby Bjorn. 

We started the day off with brunch at our house with Grandma and Grandpa Wisch, and then had dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Yale's.

Here is the little man in all of his first Easter morning glory:


The Easter bunny came to visit!


For brunch, I made two new strata recipes that I highly recommend you try: this Apple Cinnamon one from Cooking Light, and this Monte Cristo one from Food & Wine. Although I've never made strata before, I love eating it. So, I needed to learn how to make it! These are so easy, and you can make it the night before (when baby is sleeping) to chill overnight. Therefore, brunch is made easy the day of - just throw it in the oven and an hour later, it's done! Perfect. I think we may have found a new Easter breakfast tradition (and possibly Christmas too) - they were so tasty!

James with Grandma & Grandpa Wisch (and Piper!)
Smiles for Grandma!

My parents always seem to shy away from the camera! But, we managed to get a good family shot:
Me & my snuggle bunny!

Of course, the Easter Bunny was very generous and visited James here as well:

In addition to his Easter baskets, James received this adorable personalized "James Theodore's Snuggle Bunny" book with a matching plush bunny to snuggle. So sweet. 

A big thanks to our parents for a great day spent with family!

Monday, April 1, 2013

Botanical Gardens


This Easter weekend we took James to the Cleveland Botanical Gardens.

We haven't been here since we were kids; I always forget that it's here! What a fun place to take James to. Lots of new sights and smells. Although it was chilly outside, inside the glass gardens were warm and steamy - a great place to kick off the beginning of Spring (or, more like a great way to make it feel like Spring, as we wait for winter to disappear and Spring to actually get here already!). We felt like true new parents. We took the stroller to the second public place it's ever been to, and attempted to maneuver it through crowds of people, rain, butterflies and elevators. And, nothing quite caps off the experience like nursing and changing the little man in the backseat of the car, in the parking garage. Success! I see lots of "family day outs" and road trips in our future. Afterward, we paid a visit to Little Italy and Phil and I enjoyed a semi-dinner date (as James took a nap and let us enjoy our wine ;) ).

Fun family day!