Hey Julius, here’s a video of you watching Pinocchio on the floor, just chilling. You especially like the part in the movie where little grains of sand are falling in the hourglass (the sound makes you perk up). And you also seemed to like the scenes with the blonde princess when she showed up. Your mouth would open really wide.

Love
Mom

Julius,

You were so freaking hilarious when we shot this video! OMG. Like your father, you sometimes like to stay awake even when it’s past your bedtime (he laughs at this and say, “Atta boy!”). We know where you got that! You were so full of energy and I had been trying to get you to follow a consistent schedule so you would take naps, feedings, playtime, bathtime, and bedtime; I was trying, essentially, to get you used to sleeping at the same time every night. Problem is, lots of time you’re just so full of ENERGY. After I had tried everything in the book (singing to you, putting you in bassinet, lights off, low music, no music, blanket over the roof, no blanket, diaper change, bath time, baby massage, cuddling, etc.)… nothing was getting you to sleep. Finally, I just put you in the bouncer so you could let out your built-up energy. For about 30 minutes you bounced and bounced and bounced… and then… you started to drift into a sleep.

As I attempted to lift you out of the bouncer when you were falling asleep, you’d suddenly start bouncing again. Then you’d fall asleep again. I’d try to grab you and you’d bounce some more. This continued for about 15 more minutes until finally a friend suggested I grab the video camera since you’d NEVER believe me unless you saw it with your own eyes.

Some people sleepwalk. You, my dear, sleepbounce.

Love
Mom

Hello sweet Julius,

It’s hard to believe you’re over 3 months old already! And so cute you are. Today is Thanksgiving and there are many thanks due. I still can’t believe that you’re here and that me and your daddy made you. You are such a miracle, you know that? Your father is in Virginia visiting family right now, and everyone says hello! I would have gone too, but you’re really little right now, plus we would have had to buy a whole bunch of travel items and well, anyway, maybe next year we can go! Today you had a ball and right now, you’re sleeping in your bassinet.

You’ve developed some sort of rash on your stomach (extending to your sides and up to your neck) and it could be something called heat rash or roseola (it’s pretty common in babies, nothing to be alarmed about). It’s thanksgiving today so I can’t take you to the doctor (they’re closed), but tomorrow I’m going to call the pediatrician and set an appointment to get you checked. You don’t seem to be bothered by it though. No itching or scratching. I’ve been putting things like A&D ointment, hypoallergenic lotions, and even baby rash cream on your belly and neck to try to speed the healing process. This should help until we get you a prescription.

I think maybe you’ve started teething, but I can’t tell yet. Your hands are almost always in your mouth these days. You’re so cute, you know that? I took several photos of you today - check out the photo set called “Thanksgiving 2009″ to see more photos of you.

You’ve been making these cute “gooogeeegooogee” sounds lately. Sometimes you and I will play a game where you make a sound and I repeat it. We do this for almost an hour sometimes! And you’re SO freaking smart. You love watching fire in the fireplace (you’re mesmerized by it). And you love watching the zen garden on tv. And you love listening to Bone, Thugs, and Harmony while you sleep - it puts you in such a great mood.

Love
Mom

Well you survived your first Halloween with your mommy! You know, my birthday is on Halloween, so you’re stuck having to dress up EVERY year You didn’t like the strawberry outfit very much, you cried and cried and cried and wanted it taken off. So I put you in the pumpkin outfit and you were happy for the rest of the day. You seemed to think it was more comfortable because you moved around a lot, laughing, and smiling. I loved seeing you so happy.

Trick-or-treaters came to our door and they all got to see you when we opened the door. Many people said, “Aww how cute” when they saw you… and you’d grin so cutely! Gosh you are adorable. I could just pinch your cheeks!!

I kinda went Halloween crazy this year with the face painting and I got you 3 outfits (2 of them shown). I also videotaped you trying to crawl while wearing your pumpkin outfit. I’ll get that uploaded soon. You still can’t crawl, but you’re already rolling over beautifully and you keep trying to move forward on your stomach.

On your two month check-up at the pediatrician’s office, the doctor said you are very well-developed and are already as advanced as a six-month old in most areas. That’s incredible! My smart, happy baby

You as a pumpkin:

You as a strawberry:

There are more photos of you wearing your costumes in the Photo Gallery under the photo set “Halloween 09.”

Love
Mom

Hello my sweet Julius,
I thought you’d get a kick out of this video! Here you are in your Halloween pumpkin outfit trying to crawl. You look SO adorable! I thought Bob Marley music would be appropriate. My cute boy…

Love
Mom

One of the things I love about you is how you look at everything around you as though you’re seeing it for the first time. If you think about it, it’s really magical. Everything is new. Everything is beautiful. Everything is… well… perfect. You are such a happy baby, I can tell. And you LOVE to be held. Have I told you how precious you are today? I love you so much.

You keep me on my toes, gotta keep this short. You’re waking up right now.

Love
Mom

Julius,
When you listen to coffee house music on Sirius satellite, you’ll either fall asleep or coo adorably. It seems you like acoustic cover songs cause you hardly ever cry when you listen to it. My goodness you are cute. I think you get your cuteness from your daddy. He’s actually driving you around town right now, so you’re probably sleeping in the carseat in the backseat all tucked in and cozy. Oh wait, you both just got home! Gotta go greet you at the garage door… bye for now!

If you want to see more check out the photos in the “Closeup - 7 weeks” set in the photo gallery!

Love
Mom

Julius,

Everyone that meets you comments on what a happy baby you are. I’ve never really met “angry” babies per se, but I have met babies who seemed unsatisfied. It means a great deal to me that in these very first stages of your life, you have a sense of satisfaction, fulfillment, happiness, and if you cry you’ll know someone will be there. Later on in life, there will definitely be suffering and disappointment - it’s all part of appreciating love when you find it - but for now, it’s my goal to keep you in a peaceful bubble. I’ll do everything I can to protect you, keep you safe, and hold you as long as it takes so you know I’ll be there for you. When you smile at people, it’s as though you’re beginning to recognize who they are. Those who pick you up days after holding you are greeted with your contagious smile. It really does light the whole room up. I can’t believe you’re real. You’re REAL. You’re REAL!! Real real real.

If you want to see more photos of you in this set, check out the “I’m dope - 7 weeks” collection in the photo gallery!

Love
Mom

Dear Julius,

You are such an inspiration! Did you know you smile in your sleep? While you’re sleeping, I love to paint and draw… and when I peek over at you… you’re smiling. It’s the sweetest thing. It really is.

Sometimes when I hold you and can hear you breathing, feel your weight in my arms, and feel your little hand gripped around my finger - I’m reminded of just how lucky I am. You are a miracle through and through. I’ll never forget that. I still can’t believe you’re here. Grateful doesn’t cover it. I’m walking on air.

There’s more photos of you in this outfit! Check out “The Awesome Julius - 7 weeks” set in the photo gallery!

Love
Mom

Hello my sweet little Julius,

You are so adorable wow! When you smile, you just light up the whole room. You melt me heart so much. Watching you grow is an honor and I am so proud of you. Not only are you beautiful but everyone that holds you thinks you are sweet and lovable. You have so many fans!!! The monkey in the background is a special gift from our friend Jason who we nickname the “Monkey King.” It’s just perfect for you, you seem to dig it.

Right now you’re sleeping in daddy’s arms while he’s resting in the recliner. He fell asleep with the XBox 360 controller in his hand haha. Don’t worry, mommy’s watching you

I uploaded a new set of photos (you’re 6 and a half weeks) in the “Monkey Heaven” section in the photo gallery. Be sure to check it out to see the rest.

Your toothless grin is soooo cute:

Here’s a video of you cooing in the bassinet with your monkey:

With all my love,
Mom