by the grace of God

Hey everybody! Today I turn three months old.

Mommy thinks I look kind of fat in this picture, but says I'm not quite this chunky in person. I weigh 11 lbs 10 oz without my bandages or anything. Mommy says that's really good and that she's so proud of me for eating like a big boy and gaining weight. She says it will help protect me from infection, and she says it's really important that I stay well-nourished. She says I'm doing my part. I'm fussy a lot of the time, but Mommy thinks it's because I must itch a lot, and that it's got to be hard on me coming off Morphine, a drug I've been on my whole life. We all hope to be rid of it for good in the next two weeks. I have this really cute cry, and it really sounds like I'm saying "Whaaa," and I pooch my bottom lip out and do a chin quiver. It works like a charm. I especially like to do it to my Nana. I somehow inherently know that it's her job to spoil me rotten. I'm very smart. When I'm really inconsolable, Daddy sings the Star Wars theme song, and I ALWAYS stop crying. Mommy thinks it's really weird, but she's thankful there's something that will shut me up.

When I am in a good mood, I smile a lot and use my whole body to express myself. I coo a lot at anyone who makes funny faces or noises, but I will follow Mommy and Daddy around the room with my eyes. I think they're the best. I really like sitting up on someone's chest and holding my head up really strong all by myself so I can see the world. I don't like having to lie back to take my bottle. I want to be looking around all the time. I will scream a lot if I don't get my way. They tell me I might have Mommy's strong will. Mommy is okay with it.

I don't like tummy time, but haven't given it much of a chance, so Mommy says this is something we're going to need to work on. My favorite thing is to lie on the changing table and look around. I love it there, because I get to stretch and kick my legs and arms. Except for the occasional blisters on my feet, legs, and upper arms, I'm in pretty good shape except for my face. I love, love, love to rub my cheeks, eyes, and forehead. You should see me in the morning when they release me from the torture device they call the "Miracle Blanket." I take one big, huge stretch and then go to work on my face, making up for a night spent in a straight jacket. DRIVES. MOM. CRAZY. I think that's part of the reason I like it so much.

I'm just beginning to discover the joys of peek-a-boo. Why has no one ever told me about this? Suh-weet.

I dig hanging out in my swing, but not for too long. I much prefer being held. My favorite part about the swing is watching the lights, and I could just stare at them forever. I really like to ride in the car. I also LOVE the ceiling fan in the living room and will try to bend my body backwards to see it if you are holding me and start walking away. If I do that, the big people will walk back over to the fan so I can watch it. I pretty much call the shots around here. (Muah-ha-ha!)

Like my cute outfit? I only really started wearing "real" clothes yesterday. Mommy is so excited she about pees her pants when she dresses me. So then I pee my pants instead, and she has to take that outfit right back off. But man, for that thirty seconds, she's totally pumped.


This is my blue vibrating chair my cousins Asher and Ainsley let me have. Mommy keeps hoping I will like it, but so far I'm pretty resistant. I will sit in it, however...

if I can do this...

I LOVE Baby Einstein. Baby Beethoven is my favorite, although I also like Baby Mozart. Mommy thinks classical music is pretty boring, but she's glad I like it. She's wondering when they'll come out with Baby Led Zeppelin. She thinks that would rock the house.

THIS is my favorite way to sleep:

1. Hold me. Seriously. Hold me. NOW. I SAID, "HOLD ME, DANG IT."

Now then.

2. Somehow let me get all funny and twisted over on my side.

3. Let me stretch my neck and head waaaaay back like this.

4. Let the snoring commence.

Mommy says that today is a big day for me. She says that I am only here today because God has protected me and because of this thing called prayer. I don't really understand it all, but she says someday I'll know how loved I am, and I'll understand how the whole world prayed for me. She says that God made Gabriel to be an angel, but He sent out Jonah with a message to the world. She says I'm going to have a big story to tell, and that she hopes I'll always give God the glory for my amazing journey, and that I will use it to tell other people about Jesus.

She says to tell you all thank you. From the bottom of our hearts. From the depths of our souls.

I'm here because my God is healing me, sustaining me, giving me breath. I'm here because you prayed... because you are still praying. I'm here because you love me. A stranger. A baby you haven't even met.

I'm here by the grace of God. Praise HIS name forever and forever. Hallelujah!