This is the end of week 3 for our new nanny share, and it's going great! Sylvan is having so much fun with his new friends Desmond and Nosisa (the nanny). Desmond is two months older, so Sylvan is getting to see what physical things are coming up next - pushing up, beginning to crawl, etc. He's already a chatter box and Nosisa has been wonderful at encouraging him to talk - no shy guy here. Of course, we don't know what he's saying yet, but that will come in time. At four months old our boy is almost 15 pounds and over 25 inches long/tall. He's over 50th percentile on both metrics, so he's "catching up" from his small birth size, when he wasn't even on the charts. He'll be full Cook/Spearman size in no time!

We can't believe how fast the last three months have flown by! Sylvan continues to amaze and amuse us. He's interacting more and more each day, making eye contact and seeking us out. We have figured out how to make him laugh, though sometimes his laughter is spontaneous and we aren't sure what he's laughing at, which makes it all the funnier. There's nothing more joyful than his little laugh! We are both back at work now, but still have a little more time with Sylvan at home. This week he is hanging out with his Nana from Texas, and next week he'll be running around with Mer and GPa from Charlotte. In both cases it's fun bonding time for everyone, and we are grateful for the gradual transitions. Now if we could just get him to sleep through the night...

...than baby smiles and giggles! Courtney went back to work today, feeling a little disembodied - like a limb was missing - but glad for a very warm welcome back at the office. And Jim and Sylvan had a grand old time! Makes the work transition so much easier.

Amazing how fast a month has passed since our last post - our sweet Sylvan has continued to grow and thrive and make us smile. At 2 and a half months he is almost 12 pounds and 22 inches long. That's almost triple his birth weight! He is awake more and more, beginning to be more interactive - smiles that melt your heart! - and "talks" to us all the time. And we hate to brag, but he hardly ever cries... We can't wait to see what happens next, each day is different and new. And the pace is about to pick up! Courtney goes back to work on Monday, January 5th, though Sylvan will be at home with family for a little longer. Jim will be staying with him for 2 weeks, then grandmoms/grandad will descend to keep an eye on him until we start a nanny share with a local family in February. Looking back, it's been an amazing year - a new job for Courtney, renovated (almost) house, and amazing new addition to our family. We are so fortunate and grateful for the amazing friends and family who have helped and supported us along the way. Thank you all, and happy new year!

Sylvan enjoyed his first Thanksgiving! We dressed him up like a turkey and took him a short distance north, for a lovely lunch with Jim's cousins near Baltimore. He took a nice nap on the couch while the adults resisted tryptophan (turkey) induced versions of the same. He has also been getting out a bit,  meeting dear friends who are excited for his arrival. We went to church for the first time last week and have visited (or had visits from) big and little friends all around town. And he's growing so fast! At his last doctor's appointment he was over 7 pounds and 21 inches long/tall. He's finally on the charts for weight and is 25% percentile in height. Still a small guy, but getting bigger. And beginning to make eye contact and smile. We have not managed to get him to smile on demand and aren't convinced there's not another bodily function involved when it happens, but it is absolutely heart-melting when it happens.

Sylvan has begun to engage with the broader Spearman/Cook family clans! Yesterday he met his Richmond family - Aunts Jessica and Noell and his big cousin Elliot, who is one year older. Elliot was delighted and fascinated by his younger cousin, and can't wait to tell him all about the world of board books, wooden blocks, and solid food. We were also thrilled to welcome into the world another cousin yesterday, Samuel Coleman Cook, born to Erin and Seth in Dallas. These three guys will have so much fun when they are older! In the meantime their parents are a little tired... Sylvan continues to thrive and grow (though still has a little way to go for his new coat to fit - see photo). We continue to be grateful for his happy disposition, cute gurgly sounds, occasional billy goat cry, and good appetite.

The first week and a half at home with Sylvan have been fantastic! We are tired, of course, but beginning to get to know him and learn how to take care of him. Many thanks to both of our moms and dad for their help in navigating this new territory! A few observations and things we've learned so far: - Premature babies don't cry much, though ours is beginning to find his lungs. When he does cry he sounds a little like a billy goat. - The Commodores (particularly Night Shift) and Bach's Cello Suites are both great soothing music. - Bill Waterson's inspiration for Calvin's facial expressions MUST have been a newborn child. We may have a miniature Calvin on our hands!

Sylvan James Spearman made his first appearance at 6:06 am. And what an arrival it was! He was almost 4 weeks early and emerged in a hurry due to his momma's high blood pressure. Sylvan was perfectly formed in all respects (or so his parents think), except for his digestive system, so he spent his first 12 days at Sibley Memorial Hospital and then Georgetown University Hospital, in the NICU. Turns out Sylvan's tummy just needed a little more time to develop. The doctors and nurses at both hospitals were amazing - so attentive and thoughtful and skilled.  We've decided he was really at the spa, with all the attention and care that he received. Nevertheless we were delighted to bring him home and begin to figure out our new normal. We are also so so so grateful for all the thoughts and prayers from friends and family. The outpouring of love and support has been amazing, thank you!!!