We're entering week 6?!?!!?

It's hard to believe Sam is five weeks old, and at the same time, it feels like this has been going on forever. He's growing and changing constantly, which keeps us confused and on our toes. He is a delight and a challenge. The last few days he had spaced his feedings out to every 3 hours, but last night he was back to every 2. Entering the 6 week growth spurt, perhaps? Since my last few months of pregnancy I got up every 2 hours through the night to tinkle, I haven't really had a problem getting up to feed the little man (especially if I make sure I get a few naps in the day). We've kept him in our room so I usually wake up right before he needs attention. Sometimes I start nursing him before he's awake enough to know he's really hungry. This is good for me. It means I don't have to pull myself from the depths of deep sleep and wake up enough to not drop him. Unfortunately, Trey doesn't sync with our sleeps cycles, so when Sam screams through his nighttime diaper change, Dad wakes up to remember that God has blessed him with a new means of sanctification!Sometimes he really likes his swing. Sometimes he'll be happier in the swing than when we're holding him, which really surprised me. Of course, the swing does make a nice, rhythmic clicking noise and it has this great warning label on the side that Sam seems to enjoy reading.
One of Sam's infamous yawns. Longies are courtesy of April and Ella Duvall. They aren't all the way down to his feet, so they are kinda like those long shorts that kids like to wear.
Workin' his arms. He's pretty good at that. He heard that his Uncle Nate said he needed more exercise, so he started working on his arms. He can kick pretty hard, too. Trey was supervising some tummy time this morning, and Sam put his feet down and pushed his little tushy up into the air. Thankfully he can't push up with his arms yet, or Mommy would pass out from grief.
This is how he asks us to change his diaper if he doesn't feel like waiting for us to find out. We generally check him every ten minutes unless he's sleeping. And sometimes we do have to change him every ten minutes. Thankfully in the daylight, he doesn't scream during diaper changes. Unless he's hungry. Then he thinks we're doing things out of order, so he lets us know.

And just so you know, I wasn't sitting there taking pictures of my baby crying. He just made that face, I was in the midst of taking pictures, so I snapped it and promptly put the camera down and picked the baby up.

In other news, my sister is flying in to San Antonio today to come up and spend a few days with us. She wanted to come help and even left her precious son, Pearce, who is just over a year old, with his grandparents so that she could come help me. Such a sweet sister! I am thankful for her.

It's raining

This is the second time it's rained since Sam was born. It's really more like a thunderstorm. I hope we get lots of rain. I don't know how long it would have to pour like this for us to get out of our water deficit from the drought, but praise God for every drop we get!

We have yet to catch Sam's sweet little newborn smile. It is precious, and he does it a lot when he's on his way to sleep (of course, I think that's when all newborns do them). He has smiled a few times while awake and alert. I try to enjoy these moments and not listen to Uncle Jim's voice in my head which says, Oh, that's just gas.

The other thing Sam seems to have figured out is that his dad has figured out what his "I need a dry diaper" cry sounds like. We've noticed that now when Sam has a dirty diaper, he will look around the room to see if his dad is there. If he is, he'll look at him steadily for a while before he starts his "change me!" fuss.

I got him dressed all cute for church. Unfortunately, he was too hot, and we had to take it off. Maybe once the cold weather gets here I can keep him dressed all cute.

Changes

This is Sam's current favorite cuddle for falling asleep. It works well with both Dad and Mom, and makes both of us feel like a million (or more) dollars.I told Trey I couldn't imagine Sam without hair. Well, it's looking like I won't have to worry about imagining:
My baby has a retreating hairline!

he's a hot little body

that's why he's usually naked in his pictures. Sometimes he feels a bit cool and I'll put a shirt on him, but usually he gets all sweaty and red if I put clothes on him.
This was Sunday when I got him all dressed to go to church. Unfortunately, he didn't want ME to get dressed, so we ended up not going.
Sam loves cuddle time with his daddy!
His little blocked tear duct has cleared up, and we're waiting to see what color his eyes will be. They are still mostly newborn blue, but are lightening a bit in the center. I say they look grey in the center; Trey says they look yellow. (Side note: Trey's eyes are blue and yellow in the center. I'm not insinuating anything.)
See that fat little tummy! I always try not to notice that my skin looks green or yellow next to his. Should I be jealous of my son's complexion?
Gotta love that sweet little face! He hasn't been using his smile muscles as much since he's discovered he can look around and see different things. He looks serious most of his awake time now.

Here are some of the latest

These were actually taken a few days ago. Today I noticed that he is focusing his eyes better. You can tell he is really looking at something, and he doesn't go cross-eyed as often. It's amazing how fast he learns! He's also been eating and sleeping a lot today. Maybe a growth spurt!

Some of my favorites

Of course, he looks different now. I'll have to take some more pictures. Don't worry, Grandma. His cheeks are plumping up quite nicely now.