Fri., May 28 (9 Weeks Old!)

This has been quite a week! Last Friday (May 22), Mark graduated from Boston College Law School! We had quite a few family members up here to celebrate...Grandma and Grandpa Andersen, Meema (Grandma McD), Uncle Erik, Aunt Robyn, Cousin Elliot, Jessica and Anthony! Grandma A, Grandpa A and Meema were all here for the actual graduation on Friday (and the dinner that followed at the Ashmont Grill in Dorchester). The rest of the gang arrived Saturday morning to celebrate yet again with a big BBQ party at our house. It was SO hot during Friday's graduation. We got to BC a little early to get a parking space and enjoy some lunch. Mark then headed off with his class to line up while the rest of us headed over to find a good spot to sit. Meema found a perfect spot in the shade - and thank goodness because I don't think Brady would have been able to make it all the way through the graduation in that sun! He was a champ and ended up Loving the cold bottled milk I brought with me (he usually Hates cold breast milk). Bernanke was the guest speaker at the BC Law graduation...but Brady really wasn't interested. In fact, he slept for the majority of it and only woke up a few times to eat and play with Meema and Grandpa. That (Friday) night, Brady had a new personal sleep record... 8 hours and 45 min of sleep in a row before waking (followed by another 3 hours). I guess that was his way of congratulating his Daddy. :)

Saturday, we enjoyed a BBQ at our place and Brady was able to spend time with Aunt Robyn, Uncle Erik and Cousin Elliot. Elliot had his first bottle the day before and Grandpa A was so excited to be able to feed both of his grandsons on this trip! Brady and Elliot went out to brunch with the family on Sunday (Masa in the South End - yum!). Both babies ended up being very good...although Brady insisted on eating for the majority of the brunch. We didn't have a bottle readily available (the milk was still frozen) so I ate while he was eating...that nursing poncho I bought ended up being a great purchase! In other news, we found out that Brady just LOVES mylar balloons. I bought Mark 6 big balloons for his graduation BBQ (Brady and I made a quick dash to the Stop 'N Shop at 7am Saturday morning) and Brady hasn't stopped smiling at them since. He especially loves the giant mylar froggy and the goldfish.

In terms of new developments, Brady has started to really be able to hold (and shake) his little phone rattle on his own. He has become Very smiley. His social smile is now out in full force. He has also become very vocal and likes to coo, oooh and ahh...and Loves when you mimic his sounds (he'll actually get a huge smile on his face). He also makes this funny hacking noise and cracks up when I mimic that one. He has giggled a couple of times but it hasn't become regular quite yet. As for following objects, he has a much greater interest in his mobile (it makes him smile now and he loves to stare at it - that was last week's development), his swing, his Kick 'N Play (he kicks now and loves when his movement shakes the hanging toys) and balloons.

I'm sad that I'll have to go back to work on June 9. For someone who used to be very Type A, I shocked myself when I realized I'd jump at the opportunity to stay home a little longer. In fact, I already extended my leave by a week. But I need to remind myself that I'm blessed to have two jobs I love...one at Wells and one as a Mommy!