Just a small update today: Brenden went for his 4-week checkup yesterday and clocked in at 10 pounds, 5 ounces. More than 2 pounds since birth. Every thing else is A-OK.

We also have been seeing real smiles, not those nifty gas smiles where his eyes roll in his head and he shows a healthy amount of gums. I can tell he's registering information - if I hold a bottle in front of his face at feeding time his eyes light up and he pretty much lunges for the nipple. And other than his normal "eh - eh - eh - eh" vocabulary, he emits this interesting sound once in a while that reminds me of a kitten. Not a "mew" really, but close. Guess the cats are talking to him when I'm asleep or something.