Estes Family Corner: Four Weeks Old and We're Getting the Hang of Things

Little Michael James will be four weeks old tomorrow and it feels like just yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital, terrified when he cried and just trying to keep him from screaming. Flash forward one month and David and I have blossomed into caring, patient and sleepy parents, keeping him happy at lease 80 percent of the time :)

Like any newborn, Michael is still primarily focused on eating, sleeping and going to the bathroom, but his personality is starting to shine a little more each day. He is more awake and aware than he used to be, which makes it harder for Mommy to nap because I can't keep my eyes off him. He loves to look around with those beautiful blue eyes. Not too much at Mommy, Daddy, Madi or Gizmo yet, but the ceiling mostly - he loves those skylights in the living room. His facial expressions are still adorable - he smiles a lot more (although I know he doesn't really know he's smiling), makes little noises - some are as if he's laughing, coos and chomps down on the pacifier when he's getting hungry, to name a few.

His jaundaus levels are finally down and therefore, the patches on his head are gone and the biliruben bed has been removed. He had to go to his pediatrician, Dr. Frand, nearly everyday since he left the hospital to get blood draw to check his jaundaus levels. Eight pricks in his heel and two in his arms later, he's a healthy, growing boy. As of late last week he was weighing-in at 7 lbs., 6 oz. He's consuming around four ounces of milk per feeding so I imagine that number has grown since then.

Since coming home, he's had lots of visitors, including his aunt Christy and cousin Gerson, his Auggie (my Mom) and aunt Deborah and auntie Em and several friends have stopped by, including: Matt and Coleen, Annie and Gabe, Kevin and Shelley and Deirdre. He's quite the popular boy. And more visitors are on their way including: David's family for Christmas and then Auggie and my aunt Allison.

We're very excited for his first Christmas. He has lots of presents under the tree from family, he got his picture taken with Santa and Santa personally told me he'd be visiting our house this year to give Michael a little something. Although he won't remember his first Christmas, we plan to document it and make it as special as every other Christmas he'll experience.

My Mom took some great pictures, as well as my good friend Annie who came over to do a photo shoot with him and my family when they were in town, and below are some new pics for your enjoyment. He's the cutest, don't you agree?