look what I found

Tyler's newest toys? ... His feet! He just found them yesterday when he noticed the funny-looking objects moving all by themselves.

who's this furry person

Tyler is really taking notice of Daisy lately. Yesterday while Grammy Jo was babysitting, she put Tyler in the Bumbo on the floor. All of a sudden he was on Daisy's level and they were really checking each other out! And then this morning I put Tyler down on the bed next to Daddy and Daisy. Tyler began to reach out to hold Daisy's paw. And in turn Daisy sniffed his forehead. So cute!

all smiles

Tyler has been nothing but nonstop smiles. (ok, so maybe he cries ever so slightly but even those are so calm) When he is really excited he giggles, squeezes his shoulders up to his ears, raises his fists in the air and lets out a SQUEAL! We have yet to catch most of them on film (memory card?) because he stops as soon as he sees the flash. Hence the 19 shots in a row of him just sitting in a carseat.


He loves to sit up so he can see all of the action and has now learned to kick his legs out and throw his head back so he can see behind him. He still gets very bored with tummy time but has learned to push up with his arms and pull his legs up under himself. Though he gets frustrated quickly when his view is limited to the floor and begs to be moved to his back or to a seated position. We've put him in the bumbo and he seems to like the independence of his own seat but has such strong stomach muscles that he can arch his back to nearly get out. He'll be on the move sooner than we can imagine. Ah!

our valentine

This has been a big week for the Campbell family. Tyler started daycare (he'll be going 3 days a week) and I returned to work from maternity leave. And of course most of us on the East coast have been buried in ice, which caused many closings. So Tyler's first day at Miss Debbie's house was shortened abruptly when my work closed. Tyler was still able to meet the other kids at daycare and show off his Valentine outfit! (What a heart breaker?!) He was a big hit with the other kids. They LOVE Tyler because he always giggles and smiles at them. TYLER the SMILER!

3 months

Yesterday Tyler turned three months old! I can hardly believe it. He's changed, learned and developed so rapidly that I can't imagine the little person he will be in another three months.

As I write now Tyler is sleeping peacefully curled against my chest with his head tucked below my chin. This is pure heaven.

Tomorrow I will return to the office after a long and wonderful maternity leave. I have mixed emotions. A small part of me is excited to return to my work designing and a normal routine. But a much larger part of me will miss my son every minute that I'm away. We have a bond that is so magical. When he cries or calls out from his crib in the morning because he is ready to start the day (and be fed!) he stops as soon as he sees me. His face immediately turns to the biggest smile and he raises his arms above his head and squirms in delight. Magical.

I know that he'll have no problems going to daycare three days a week (I will work from home on Mondays and Alex will on Wednesdays). In fact we found a child care provider, named Debbie, who works from her home in Columbia and she is fantastic. Tyler will really enjoy himself so it's me that I'm most worried about. But I've decided to look at it as though Tyler gets to go on a field trip three times a week which will be great for his development and socialization. And hopefully returning to work will do the same for me. Wish us luck in our next big transition.

Enjoy these photos of Tyler from his 3-month birthday!

reaching

Two days ago Tyler reached for his first toy! He gladly holds onto fingers and toys when put near his own hand. But while playing on Simon's activity mat he ventured for the red cardinal. May be genetic; Alex reaches for Red Robin as often as possible.

in da crib

So like Tyler's pacifier, his crib seemed to be a passing fancy. But since Tyler has been sleeping so well (through the night since a week before he turned 2 months -- 7-10 hours a night) we decided to try moving him back to his own room (again)! He had been sleeping in the gently rocking swing. Then we let him sleep in the swing but without it rocking. And now he's spent each night of the last five days sleeping in his crib with no troubles. So it's been a smooth transition and we're all very happy!

kickin' the kid

Tyler is usually a social butterfly when we take him to parties and gatherings. But he had a little bit of trouble at the SuperBowl party at our friends', Jamie and Phil, house. Our little guy didn't quite get that the yelling and bass from the TV were good things. But he did manage to take some naps in the laundry room off of the basement party area where it was a little quieter and only those getting drinks were passing by his carseat. When Jamie's brother came out of the laundry area announcing that the kid had been kicked, Alex panicked rushing to Tyler's side. Soon Alex realized what his daddy ears heard as the "kid has been kicked" was actually the "KEG has been kicked." This is how we know we're getting old!

blowing bubbles and snoozing

Tyler has figured out how to make bubbles with his mouth. He loves to keep a small grouping of them on his lips for safekeeping. :)

I'm watching my little sweetie now while he sleeps in his large swing located in our bedroom. He sleeps there most nights preferring the papasan-shaped seat to the large open crib. Last night I put him to bed there without turning the swing on. He slept contently for 7 hours and then got a little fussy while his daddy was getting ready for work. I turned the swing on low and now he's still asleep 3 hours later! I'm going to go wake my sleepy boy now because 10 hours is enough. Oh, speak of the devil; I spy some small eyes looking my way!

look at me

This was the last time he fit into this newborn sleeper. Hard to believe that his cousins bought it for him during their Thanksgiving visit because the 0-3 months sleepers were too big!

So do you think he should model? :) He obvisously knows how to strike a pose.

Tyler loves a good cuddle especially while in the glider with his mommy or daddy.

young blue eyes

Tyler has the prettiest blue eyes that seem to be getting lighter by the day. And I cannot believe how long this boy's eyelashes are!

superman

Alex gets his daily workout by doing bench presses of a mini superman look-alike. Tyler loves the view!

visiting Aunt Joy

Joy loves babies so much that when driving in the car with Tyler and me, she likes to sit in the backseat to stare at Tyler. During a recent visit we got some great pictures of the dashing young man.

buds

Tyler loves to hang out with his buddy Simon, who is six weeks his junior.

grins and giggles

Tyler is all about the giggles lately. He is just such a happy baby and loves to show it.

first snow

Yesterday Alex, Tyler and I went to Babies 'R Us to get some essentials (and some not-so-essential but adorable outfits). Tyler was on his best behavior and was all giggles when we ran into friend Kyra at the store. And Mommy and Daddy were having so much fun that we spent nearly two hours in the store. When we finally left the store we came out to a complete surprise -- it was snowing!! [pretty bizarre considering it was nearly 70 degrees last week] Tyler was asleep but quickly awakened as snowflakes landed on his cheek. He looked around with the most curious look, like "what is this white stuff?"

mama's boy

Just in the past few days Tyler has really grown a serious attachment to me. Of course he's always loved his mama, but now at times he can't stand when I'm out of sight. I will still be in the same room but will walk behind him and he flips out! Ugh, when the time comes, leaving him at daycare is going to be very difficult.

two months

Tyler is already two months old! I can hardly believe it. We visited the doctor yesterday for his regular two-month checkup. Our boy now weighs 11 pounds 14 ounces. This is the 50th percentile meaning that he is exactly average size for his age. A vast improvement from being below the 10th percentile at 3 weeks. So Tyler got off to a slow start but is perfectly healthy and notably giggly and happy!

And thankfully I'm happy to report that his sleeping through the night seems to be a trend rather than a fleeting moment. After getting tuckered out after the Gators win on Monday night and sleeping 7.5 hours, he's followed it up each night with 6.5, 9 and 7.5 hours respectively! Go Tyler!

go gators

While I was at stamp club on Monday night, my boys watched the National Championship for college football. And of course the Florida Gators dominated. Go Gators!

hallelujah...sleep at last

Or at least for one night anyways. Tyler went to sleep at 12:30 am and did not wake up until 8 am!! What a wondeful gift from my son. Now the question is whether this was a one-time thing or a new trend. Let's hope for the latter.