6 week update!

Hi everyone! Well Matthew is 6 1/2 weeks old now, and an absolute doll. Here's an update of everything he's been doing lately...

We just got back from a trip to Halifax, and Matthew loved it. He was a champ on the plane, only complaining a couple of times, but generally it was really easy traveling. And he really loved being at Nonna & Bopa's house :) He told me he really wanted to stay but I reminded him that he wouldn't have anything to eat, so he agreed to come back to Toronto...

He started smiling ("social" smiles, versus the sleepy ones he has been doing since he was a week old) on July 4th. Well, okay... he really started on July 3rd for his Aunt Dominica and Nonna. But, because I didn't see it, it doesn't count. He REALLY started the next day, for me. :) :) Ever since I've gotten one or two big smiles a day from him and I just love it. He really knows how to make his mommy cry. Of course I haven't been able to catch any of these real smiles on camera, but Nonna got a couple of great shots while we were in Halifax.

He's really starting to hold his head up, especially when he's slung over a shoulder trying to burp (which he has also learned to do much better, thankfully). I've tried to give him some 'tummy time' every day to help with strengthening his neck muscles, but he really hates it so that lasts about 1 minute before we call it quits. He is getting really strong regardless - definitely not the floppy little newborn that he was before. When he's lying on my lap, he can just about launch himself across the room with his legs!

Matthew also really likes to watch his mobiles now. We have one over his crib that he likes to watch go around and around, and a fish one over his change table that he just stares at. He'll also follow objects with his head and has even started batting at the toys on his bouncy chair (maybe that was incidental contact from flailing his arms :) but I think he is learning none-the-less). He's also starting to find his hands which is a lot of fun to watch. 9 times out of 10 he hits himself in the face or misses completely, but the one time his fist goes in his mouth is worth it :) The best is when he just sits there looking at his hands. I really wish I knew what he was thinking!

Finally, he's started cooing and 'talking' which is so much fun. Sometimes we will talk to him and he'll open his mouth really wide, head moving back and forth, but nothing comes out. I can tell he's trying really hard to say something! Other times he will startle himself when he lets out a big "Oooh!", hee hee. We've had entire conversations with Sean or I doing most of the talking but he has plenty to say himself :)

We go back to the doctor in a couple of weeks when Matthew is 8 weeks old, for a checkup and a round of shots. Not looking forward to that part!