Big daddy

Braden is 12 days old. He sleeps much of the time (except between midnight and 3 am, during this time he screams). I worry about pretty much everything he does... as well as everything he doesn't do. I have read a lot of material during the pregnancy and over the last few days. However, I still have so many questions that go unaswered. I feel pretty confident that I'll do ok as a father, it's all of the stuff that I can't control that worry me. I'm not too excited about going back to work, I'd much rather stay home and watch my son grow, but we have to keep paying the bills.

In just 12 days I have already seen changes in him. He is more alert every day. He makes a lot better eye contact now. He'll lay and stare at your face for 15 min sometimes. He can lift up his head and look around when he's on his belly (although only briefly before he plants his face into whatever he's laying on). He makes more faces than he used to and can smile (though people say it's just gas). The sleep sacrifice has been well worth the entertainment value of living with a newborn.

We took him to get his picture taken last Friday.

ANTI-Ad: JCPenney portrait studio...not the best.

Anyway, it was fun to take him out to the mall and walk around. He did well. It seems that Graco puts some kind of tranquilizer in the fabric of their car seats because Braden falls asleep pretty much as soon as you put him into it. I've included a few more pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Praise God.