Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

William turns 2 months old this week. In only 2 months, it is amazing to see all the changes as he grows. Sometimes I think he hasn't changed so much since some things stay the same (his cuteness, waking in the night, crying, pooping, etc) but I look at those pictures from "back in the day" and know he has already changed a lot. Of course he's grown and filled out - he now has yummy chubby legs and cheeks that you just want to eat. But there are also changes in his behavior that are interesting (and sometimes frustrating, sometimes wonderful) to observe.

Recently he's been able to spend more time quiet and alert by himself while he sucks his thumb, looking around him at the world. He's able to find his thumb much more easily and quickly than before, and it really seems to soothe him.

Slowly the smiles have started becoming more frequent, though they still don't come really often. Just this morning, I got some precious smiles and what seemed like an almost-giggle from him as we shared some special moments in the bed, and then on the diaper changing table. Seeing him smile at me, and his eyes light up as he looks right at me is probably one of the best things in the world!

He follows us with his eyes now, seems to be more aware of our visual presence. We have a fun colorful firefly toy from Elena that we like to hold above him and he seems more interested in it now, following it around with his eyes.  He loves to look at lights or up at the ceiling. When we hold him, he will fix his gaze on something and even if we turn around or move, he will turn his little head to remain fixed on whatever it is he's studying.

He finally seems to have learned the difference between day and night, sleeping more and for longer stretches at night. That's not to say he always falls asleep easily or sleeps for very long at night, but definitely more so than before. Recently he's slept a couple nights for almost 6-hour stretches! But he also has tended to have more trouble sleeping by himself during the day recently, meaning that we have to hold him so he can fall asleep and if we try to put him down in his crib or car seat (which is nice and snug for sleeping) he'll wake up after a little while. However, none of this is fixed either, since as I write this, he is currently napping by himself on the bed (see Lazy Saturday afternoon post), so it's still relatively unpredictable.

He loves to stretch out, arching his back, pushing his head back and rubbing his eyes with his fists. It looks so very satisfying that little stretch. He also moves his eyes and mouth a lot in his sleep - especially at the beginning of a sleep when it is still a light sleep. He will open his eyes and his eyeballs will move to the side or up, and he will make different facial expressions. The best is when he gives this big, open-mouthed grin. We first witnessed that at his one-month check-up in the doctor's office - his adorable sleep smile.

In the past month, he has spent more time making pushing and straining sounds, like he's really trying to poop. The doctor said this was normal, as his digestion is getting all worked out in his little newborn body. He will sometimes make these sounds in his sleep, especially more towards the early morning, which wakes me up, thinking he is waking up, but he'll keep making those sounds off and on for an hour or two.

Besides the smiles, the quiet alertness, thumb-sucking and gazing, the best new thing is the cooing sounds he has started to make more often. When he seems to be content, he will make these soft little coo sounds which just melt the heart and make you long for more. Oh, William! He is a lucky little boy, with two adults completely in love and dedicated to him, attending to his every need.

Even though sometimes we don't meet his need quite as fast as he would like and he has to pull a red-faced screaming/crying fit that almost sounds like a cat in some kind of agony, in order for us to truly understand his urgency. Oh and that is another new thing -- soon after the first smile came the first real tears! When he gets really upset and red in the face, now his little eyes will get moist too and little baby tears come out. So sad and yet so cute. Ahh little William, we love him so much.

Here's a taste of a red-faced screaming fit on the diaper-changing table, with little tears in his eyes... a little blurry but I think you can see the moistness in his left eye.