our sweet 3 month old jacob

I think that the biggest change that Jacob's 3rd month has brought has been his increasing interaction.  We are now treated––several times a day--to his amazing smiles, coos, and engaging nature...and each one of us falls more and more in love with him every day.  

Jacob continues to grow bigger and stronger all the time, and we are so happy with (and grateful for) his beautifully normal development and growth.  He is suddenly so big!  He's completely outgrown his newborn clothes, and now comfortably wears 3-6 (or 6-9) month clothing, and has moved up a diaper size as well.  His personality continues to emerge, and I would still describe him as incredibly sweet, loving, tolerant, and peaceful.  He is sleeping a bit better (regularly goes at least four hours between nighttime feeds and has given me the gift of longer stretches once or twice) and is awake and playful for longer during the day.  He loves being with his big siblings and seems to have a special relationship with each of them.  He is so accepting of their different personalities and the ways that they hold or try to entertain him, and he has a unique smile for each one.

And boy, does this little guy love his Daddy.  Just the sound of his voice gets Jacob quiet and looking around for his loving father.  

How I love that analogy for all of us--I want, like Jacob, to get quiet and look for my Father's voice, knowing that I am Beloved...trusting wholly in His care.

As Jacob has grown and we have (thankfully) developed a more predictable schedule, we've enjoyed some fun outings.  And so this month has been a busy one for our Jacob.

He had his first visit to a pumpkin patch

...which he seemed to rather enjoy :)

He is enjoying bath time so much now

And he did great with his first set of vaccinations when he turned 2 months old.  I, on the other hand, had managed to forget that whole immunization experience.  After having had a six year buffer since the last time one of my infants received shots, I had totally forgotten that initial shock, then the look of betrayal as the pain of the needle set in.  Heartbreaking for Mommy, only temporarily painful for Jacob.  Here he is resting peacefully afterwards:

He also enjoyed his first Halloween

...as part of a packaged deal

...which was part of an even larger package of silliness and fun.

He enjoyed a wonderful visit with my parents and sisters during his baptism weekend. And everyone loved getting to know, snuggle, hold, cuddle, play with, feed, sing to, and care for our sweet baby Jacob.

Amma's little Scrabble partner :)

I know that I say it all the time, but the days really are flying by.  It's hard to believe that we are now only two months from our planned departure to Africa.  So much planning and praying and preparing, and the time is almost here.  Just so, the lives of these beautiful kiddos are racing by before our eyes.  I'm grateful for the time we are taking, each day, to notice, to give thanks, and to love these little lives that have been entrusted to our care.

What a privilege to be parents.  What a joy.