Much to be thankful for.....

....especially thankful for our little guy. Here are two videos taken late last week....


http://www.danielledworak.blogspot.com/

(these videos are taken with our regular camera's video feature....with this one, I realize I need to keep our camera turned horizontal....will keep that in mind in the future!)

6 weeks old

This picture was taking last week....now little JVD 2 is 6 weeks old today. So let me take a little time to tell you a little bit about our Joseph Valentine Dworak II....

Little Joseph has a feisty, determined personality....he definitely tells us what he thinks....if he likes something or dislikes something, trust me, you will know! But he also LOVES to cuddle and snuggle and be held for long periods of time. He is a little snuggle bunny who is equally sweet as he is feisty. We love our little boy! He already is lifting and holding his little head up....kick his legs up....loves to play with his hands together....is just beginning to smile. He has a veracious appetite - I have a feeling I will be forever be telling him to "slow down" at the dinner table. In the last week or so, he has definitely become more alert and just LOVES to look at everything around him for long periods of time. He is taking in the world around him and especially loves to look at lights and ceiling fans. Makes me think we should take a field trip to Home Depot! :)

One question we get a lot is "What are you going to call him?" Joe, Joey, Joseph?!?! Well, let me tell you....JVD 2 has many different names depending on the day...

I like referring him as JVD 2 on blogs and facebook because I refer to his Dad as JVD....seems only fitting. But JVD and I have coined quite a few nicknames depending on the circumstances....

"Mr. Grumps or Captain Grumpers" when he is especially cranky.

"Mr. Toots" - self-explanatory

"the saddest boy in the whole world" - when he is crying after being put to bed

"Cuddle Bunny" - when he is his most cuddly self

"Little Guy" or "Baby" - Baby is my default because I called him Baby in utero

"J-man" or J-dawg" - for his oh so cool and suave moments

"Hey Buddy" or "Oh Friend" - when we are trying to soothe him

Others have taken to calling him "J2" or "Deuce" and there are a myriad of other names people have taken to calling him....I tend to call him "Little Joseph" a lot....mostly because as I get to know him, he definitely is a little Joseph! He is both a little version of his Dad not to mention he often looks like an old soul....like a little old man at times - especially when he is particularly upset with something- which happens many many times during the day. I mean, during his most cranky moments he reminds us of Andy Rooney on 60 minutes during his complaint-filled monologue and in his most sedate moments he has such a serious contemplative look about him - (which I know will shift once he begins to voluntarily smile and laugh ). So though Joseph may sound so formal to some, at 6 weeks old it just somehow fits his personality....Little Joseph is one of my preferred nomenclatures.....

Aside from Joseph, after 6 weeks of getting to know him, the name we tossed around and have landed on calling him or referring to him most often in public settings will be "J.D." I like J.D. because it has the J for Joseph....but D can stand for both Dworak OR Danielle. Personally? I like having a little bit of me in the name....having carried him for 37 weeks and endured labor and delivery, thank you very much!

J.D. Dworak is a solid name for someone who is proving to be a pretty solid little man. :) We have enjoyed getting to know Joseph Valentine Dworak II in the last 6 weeks and cannot wait to see what the next weeks, months and years will hold!

one month and one day old....

Our little guy is one month one day old. Here is a video! www.danielledworak.blogspot.com