Duke Surrounded With Love From Family & Friends

Duke is now 5 weeks old and becoming more observant and learning that he has hands & feet!  Duke is sharing stories with mom & dad through his baby language of googles, gogles, and ahhhs ;)  Duke's neck is getting stronger each day with turning his head to take it all in.  Duke also loves to kick his feet and by the looks of it will be an active little boy as he grows.
This last week Duke went on his first trip up to Grandma & Grandpa Schmitt's house to see lots of family and friends.  Duke did great and enjoyed several play moments with Grandpa who got him to smile quite often.  (It was a competition who could get him to smile the most between Aunt Chelse and Grandpa)
Here are some photos from last week as we enjoyed some time with family & friends.

Aunt Chelse was doing tummy time with Duke and almost got him to roll over!!

Aunt Chelse with Duke and the amazing piggy bank she painted for him!

Mom & Grandpa playing with Duke and watching him kick his legs

Grandpa trying to wake Duke up yet again!

Duke can sleep in any position, Grandpa just let him lay on the table pretty much at Great Grandma's house.

Future play dates will take place with these little ones during our Father's Day camp weekend!

Playing with Grandpa & Great Grandma Schmitt

Trying to measure Duke to see how much he has grown!  Mom has noticed that clothes are getting a little on the small side for him.  Hopefully he is taking Dad's height ;)

Spending the night with mom's high school friends.

Duke loves to sit on the couch and look around.  Duke loves sitting in this position while mom reads him stories.

Mom and Aunt Chelse

All bundled up for the Minnesota cold, and Duke is not moving!

Onie and Duke

Mom, Dad and Duke - Love him!

4 Generations!  Great Grandma Schmitt, Grandpa Schmit with mom and Duke

Cousin Emerson holding Duke - she would not let him go :)

The whole family!!

Grandpa yet again helping Duke sleep in another comfortable position.

Aunt Chelse enjoying her last cuddle time before she has to head back to AZ.  :(

Duke enjoying some play time in the morning with mom!

Dad doing story time with Duke and enjoying some of Duke's smile before bed time.

Duke is One Month!!

Mom & Dad cannot believe their little guy is one month!  Wow has he grown and already becoming his own little person.  Mom will post monthly photos his first year to watch how he will grow in the coming months.  Can't wait to compare month one to twelve months old!

More Love During Week 3!

More milestones filled with smiles from Duke, family and friends!!

Duke taking his first bottle bottle!  Time to bond with Dad.

Aunt Chelse getting to hold you for the first time!  She was sooo excited and you slept through it all.

More visitors - Lisa and Caden (Mom's high school girlfriend)

Everyone all cuddled around you :)  Grandpa and Aunt Chelse were great at getting to to smile!

Taking the pacifier for the first time

Grandma Schmitt and Duke

Your first bath in your own big boy tub.

We are all working hard on getting you clean, even Jet wanted in.

Loving bath time.

Dad playing a trick on mom with pulling her pants down while she is changing you.  Dad was sure celebrating but payback will be coming!

Aunt Chlese building a bear for Duke!

Testing the bear you will cuddle with.

Grandpa and Chelse washing him clean for you to use.

The end results!

Just relaxing!

Clipping my nails for the first time!

Holding my nuk all by myself.

Your first trip to the mall and in your stroller - many more to come ;)

Week 3 Milestones

Week 3 was a busy week for Duke!  Duke is striding forward with strength with holding his head up, kicking his legs, and punching his arms.  Duke loves to look around while mom burps him along with sitting on the couch he loves to look at all the bright lights!  Duke also has some leg strength going on.  He loves to kick his legs so he is pretty much standing while getting burped,  he is kicking mom's stomach but that's ok as he gets his daily exercise.  He also loves to work his legs while mom & dad change his diaper which creates obstacles for mom and dad!  Future soccer star in the making or well he be a kicker for a football team?!?!?
Duke also broke out his precious smile this week.  Many smiles come while being burped and sleeping - must be the release of his gas ;)  But he has also struck a few smiles while looking at mom & dad - melts their hearts!
Duke has also started to interact with mom and dad.  He enjoys starting to make foreign words that mom & dad can't understand yet but they know he is trying to say something - hopefully Momma!  Momma also found his ticklish spots - stomach, inner thigh and his feet!  She loves to tickle him while he eats and again while changing that diaper. 
Duke and Mom also did a lot of reading.  No favorite book yet but he loves gazing at the pictures (even thought he can't make them out yet) and listening to mom's voice!
Duke was busy this week!  He got to see dad hard at work along with visiting mom's co-workers.  Duke also had many visitors - Molly (Mom's best gal pal from college in Mankato), and Aunt Liz who brought some special cousins Makenna, and Carter who broke in all of Duke's toys!

Duke loves his book that talks to him - it is story that is pre-recorder.

Loving play time on the floor

I love to sit on the couch and look around

I still love my baths, they get me very sleepy

Duke vs. Jet

Our visitors!  Cousins Makenna and Carter breaking in Duke's toys and Aunt Liz enjoying some cuddle time with Duke.