3 Months

Daniel was three months old on Monday. The old adage about the "fourth trimester" seems to be accurate in Daniel's case...he is really coming out of his shell this week! I took him to the lactation center to weigh him today: 13lbs 12 oz! I think he will have no trouble doubling his birth weight by 4 months.

He is also fitting into our family rhythm pretty well. Everything is getting easier. Honestly, the first week or so after we brought him home seemed a bit surreal for me. Suddenly I was a parent of a child with special needs. It seemed like a Lifetime movie or something that happens to someone else. The weirdest part was that he really didn't seem all that different than a normal baby!

But now...our life is just our life. I can honestly say we are all happier with Daniel here with us than we were before he was born. Daniel has taught us so much about unconditional love and opened our eyes to truths we had never understood before.

He is staring at his black and white picture board. :-)

So far the only delay in Daniel's development I've noticed so far is lack of head control compared to how Lily was at this age. His strength when he's on his belly is great, but when he's upright (like when being held) his head is still pretty wobbly. We're working on it, but honestly I'm fine with him where he is. In my eyes he doesn't get his worth as a human being based on his capabilities. I know he'll hold his head up well eventually.

He has an appointment with a developmental pediatrician (I think I mentioned this in a previous update about him) at the end of the month. They will evaluate him and give us a plan of action to support his development in the coming months. We are also working with our insurance to see if he can get approved for the RSV vaccine (Synagis). Since he has a heart defect and Ds, he's at higher risk for serious complications if he gets RSV (like pneumonia). We would appreciate any prayers that this gets approved!

My favorite thing about him at this age is how happy he is, as you can probably tell from these pictures. He's the happiest baby I've ever been around, seriously! He loves interacting with people, smiling, imitating sounds and mouth shapes that other people make (so far he has imitated a kissy mouth pretty well), and "talking" (baby talk)! I have a "conversation" with him almost every night that lasts almost half an hour! He especially seems to love talking to his Grandma (Elicia's mom). Something about her just brings out some super chattiness in him! It is so cute. We all love him so much.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,

for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.

Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them,

for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret;

but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 

for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says:

“Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ will give you light."

-Ephesians 5:8-14