A quiet day today ...

Pierce had some good time with Grandma Maggy today so Jon and Amy could go shopping. Here are a couple of photos of our relaxing day and a video showing our "active" sleeper.

It's a little early in Pierce's career for a "Greatest Hits" package ...

... but due to popular request here we go.


The first thumb sucking.


Bath time.

Finally getting around to opening his Christmas stocking.

Chilling on Mom's lap.

All is quiet on New Year's Day

Pierce enjoyed his first New Year's Eve party. (Really, what's not to like about pizza, playing with trains and calling it a wrap by 9:30 p.m.?)

The Dillons stopped by ...

... and Maguire was excited to ring in the new year. Activites today include napping ...

... and meeting Chris (Uncle Cool).

Working the Room

Visits from family continue and Pierce is figuring out how to "work the room". He has found that going with the "cuddly baby" approach really pays dividends ... it allows him to do what he does best, look cute and sleep.

Grandma and Grandpa Houston both got some nice cuddle time ...

... and he even got Uncle Eric in on the act!

Yep, it's pretty good to be a baby.

Everybody have fun tonight ... everybody Wang Chung tonight

Pierce had his first party last night. After a rough Christmas everyone was ready for a better Friday and we got it. Taking him off the vitamins was the right thing to do and our perfect, happy, healthy boy returned. (Here he is resting up for the big night.)

Not only did Uncle Mateo and Auntie Em stop by, but Jon's cousin Ellen, her husband Keith and Grandma Maggy made a visit too.

All went well, but the little guy got pretty tired towards the end of the night and it took awhile to calm him down and get him to sleep.

Chrismissed

Pierce's first Christmas started out pretty darn well with the family nestled in front of the Yule Log on WGN. But, it is now 10:30 p.m. and we haven't had lunch or touched a present. In fact, the past 12 hours have been no fun for any of us. In response to Pierce's behavior, our nervousness and an odd lump we found on his chest Amy and I spoke with our friends at the NICU, our pediatrician and ended up visiting the Mercy Hospital emergency room today.

To make a long story short everything is fine. All day, Pierce was shreaking like he was in pain, couldn't be consoled and the lump was freaking us out. Given his history we were worrying ourselves sick so we made some calls and got in the car. The doctor was concerned and said we did the right thing by going in (which made us feel better) so he had blood and urine samples tested and a complete going over by a doctor with good results. We suspect the vitamins we have been adding to his milk over the past couple of days aren't sitting well with him, and he has a hormone-induced lump that should go away in short order. The blood work will be cultured and we will know in 48 hours if he has anything but the CRP test came back at 0.

Our little guy was a champ at the hospital and did much better than mom and dad. He's finally quiet, resting and comfortable.

Merry Christmas to all ...

Oh there's no place like home for the holidays ...

It's official ... Pierce is home! We got him dressed at the hospital ...



... snapped a family photo ...



... put him in his car seat ...



... and off we went.

Upon our arrival home, Pierce got a quick tour ...



... was introduced to the couch by Dad ...



... then had a meltdown.

(There is always a transition period with a new roommate.)