11 weeks

dear van,

well, you're 11w2d old now, and you're growing fast. you're still having a ton of issues with your tummy, and it's making us so sad for you. i am taking you to see a specialist next month. in the mean time, your regular doc has put you on some new meds that help a little. i keep waiting for the miracle cure. i don't think it's coming.

you are getting to be such a big boy! you are still not crazy about tummy time, but you lift your head/neck/chest to look around...mostly to find where we've gone and to figure out why we haven't rescued you yet. you have begun "talking" more...you make some really exuberant coos and squeals. you just recently found both your tongue and your hands. you stick your tongue out a lot...often in response to us sticking ours out at you. also, you like to chew on your little fists. you've begun drooling....i think your tiny little teeth buds might be sending you some messages. i hope teething is easier/faster for you than it was for your sissy.

speaking of sissy.....wow do you love her! there are days where your tummy just hurts so bad that you can't smile much. well, unless sissy's around...then you follow her all around with your eyes and turning your head, and you grin whenever you catch sight of her face. right now, this is my favorite part of being your mommy. well, that and kissing you, holding you, snuggling you, hugging you, and smelling you (most of the time :-).

we just bought you a bumbo chair so that you can sit up sometimes. i'm starting to get really worried that learning all these cool baby tricks will be so much harder for you since you don't get a lot of play time in between extended meal times and short nap times. b/c of your tummy issues, it sometimes takes you an hour and a half to drink your milk. after that, you fuss and then crash out for about 30 minutes, and then the cycle repeats. there isn't much time for play in there. i've started trying to delay your meals and put you down for tummy time or on your exercise mat or in your crib to look at your mobile (which you LOOOOOOVVVVVEEE)...this usually makes you pretty mad, but it gives you more play time than you were originally getting.

i wish i had a magic wand, buddy. i would wave your pain away and make all your days sunny and fun. i hope the doctor you're going to see in a couple weeks has said magic wand (or pill or potion or whatever).

i love you more than words can ever express, buddy!
-mommy