A Family Affair

Manning was quite the party animal this weekend at an Easter lunch hosted by his great aunt and uncle, Kathy and Herman. You could find him easily, just by looking for the mob. Granny, Nikki, and "G" are showing him some love in the photo above.

Jeremy was able to  hang out with Manning a bit at the party.

Cousins Katie and Elizabeth and their families met Manning for the first time.

There was a lot of great food, but Manning opted to bring his own lunch, and then spill it all down the front of his outfit.

Granny enjoyed spending time with Manning, and he was as calm as he had been all day while in her arms.

Manning's Big Week

 Manning has had a pretty big week this week. He lost is belly-button, had his first bath, logged some time at the Pour House, made several outings, and met his grandfather (my dad) for the first time.

Dad visited for a couple of hours on Saturday.

As you can probably tell, he is growing like a weed.

Any of you who know Jane probably remember the incredible energy she maintains. Having Manning in the house has been a game-changer with her. She has become much more calm, and is very careful to protect him. She sleeps in the guest bed in the nursery, and if he moves, she moves. 

Every day with Manning is an adventure, and Ana and I are glad to be along for the ride. He is definitely something special.

Mister Maturity

This week was a big one. I worked a couple of days from the office for the first time in over a month, leaving Ana and Manning home on their own. And they did a great job, with no issues.

 

Manning continues to mature at a very rapid rate. He is sleeping mostly through the night (he made it from 11:30 p.m. until 6 a.m. on Friday night!), and is developing facial expressions that are blowing me away continuously.

On Saturday, my Mom and Grandmother were kind enough to come and stay with Manning for a couple of hours so that Ana and I could go to lunch. It was our first excursion out of the house together without the baby, and it was great. This also marked Manning's introduction to Granny. Boyd is Manning's first name, and it was the name of my Grandfather, Granny's husband, so she was especially excited about his arrival. Sometimes I see expressions in Manning that remind me of Papa, particularly in his cheeks.

It has been an amazing ride so far, and Manning is stepping up.

One Week Down

It's hard to believe it has been over a week since we brought Manning home to James Island. We have had one activity per day over the last couple of days, like a trip to Target or to the Post Office, and he has done great. Tonight we will go see some friends play music at the Pour House, a place where he should feel very comfortable. His dad sure does.

He is a great baby, and is very agreeable and has only been fussy between 8 and 9 p.m. Otherwise, he is quiet, and like most babies, enjoys a good meal and a nap. He is really adjusting to music very well, and we spend a couple of hours a day in my office listening to iTunes. He generally naps, but I can't help but think that he is absorbing every note. 

Jeremy and his fiancée Nicole came to visit on Saturday, and we spent a great deal of time on the deck enjoying the spring weather. The timing is perfect for Manning's arrival, since we can get outside and avoid cabin fever. He is apparently a very good planner (like his Mom!)

He's a Growing Boy

Manning continues to grow bigger, stronger, and more handsome by the day. This is his pensive look.

 The boy is long, that is for sure, and his legs and arms are constantly stretching and reaching. I am hoping for college hoops followed by a legendary - and lucrative - career in the NBA. We'll see ...

Magic Tricks

Nurse Underbite has really been dazzling us with her magic tricks, including this one, in which she makes Manning's head disappear.

Please note: No infants were harmed in the making of this photo.