The Banks Family: 12 Weeks Old

Hi there! Time for a much overdue update!
Dakota turned 12 weeks old on 9/2/09!! Seriously time flies! WOW!
We are all so impressed with our little man! He is an absolute joy! We thank God every day for our precious son, especially since we came so close to losing him immediately after birth.
Dakota just had his 5th & final Physical Therapy session for his head. His PT thinks it head will continue to smooth and round out on its own now.
Dakota has had a lot going on. 1st of all he is now just 13 pounds! At his last doctor check up, he was at 75% for height and 50% for weight. I have noticed he is growing out of some of his 0-3 month clothes, as he is getting too tall for them.
His personality is starting to show itself a bit. So far he seems to be a real sweetie, he is laid back and calm most of the time. Dakota is a total cuddle bug and he loves to be with people. He doesn't have to be the center of attention, but just loves to be near & able to see someone. He is very good at letting his likes and dislikes be known as well. When he doesn't like something he kicks and fusses and whips his arms around, it is super cute.
He has met new friends: Caleb, Cale & Brenton and saw "old" friends: Linden, Caden & Hudson again, what fun!
He has discovered his feet and more recently his hands/fists (He is very impressed with his fist!), he likes to look at himself in the mirror, loves playing with mom, dad & Aunt Emmy, and he is very good at tracking with his eyes. Speaking of, his eyes are definitely turning brown. For a while they were just dark with no real color, but now they are a nice dark brown and it appears they are not done changing/darkening yet.
Dakota LOVES to talk to us, oh my goodness.....He ooohs, coohs, lahs, mahs, goohs, gaaas and says very long "words" and sounds. One funny thing is that when we talk to him, often he waits until we are done and then makes a sound or one of his long words, and then we say something back to him and he answers back again! Amazing, isn't he?!?! We are surely impressed!
Dakota does NOT like Tummy Time. He sees no point in that when someone should obviously be holding him. His neck is quite strong and he can hold it up for some time now, but he does still need neck support.
He also does NOT like being scared. Aunt Emmy seems to think it is fun to startle him and daddy & I have both scared him on accident and he throws his arms up and screams his head off, until he gets hugs, kisses, and more hugs from his mama! When he is scared, no one but mama will appease him.
Despite the fact that Aunt Emmy likes to scare him, Dakota loves his Aunt! He really likes when she plays with him and all the fun noises she makes for him.
Back to his hands, Dakota is now grabbing at his toys and hits at the ones that make noise or play music! Dakota totally LOVES music!
He likes getting his diaper changed, which is a good sign, if you ask me, maybe we'll have a "clean" little boy! I can hope, right?!?
Dakota also likes taking walks and looking at trees and the leaves on the trees.
Another funny thing is on Wednesday, I was holding Dakota and he started crying an odd cry (he has 5 typical cries that I know what they mean, but this cry was different) and I looked down at him and he had a fist full of his own hair in his left hand that he was yanking on and ouch that hurt so he was crying and yanking and couldn't figure out what or why his head hurt, lol! Silly boy!
Finally, Dakota gives the BEST smiles ever! He smiles when he recognizes us and when he wants to flirt with his favorite Nurse Jenny, and when we play! It is SO cute when he flashes that giant toothless smile and soft eyes at us!
Here is Dakota on 9/2/09-12 weeks old and absolutely adorable! (Check out his outfit, it is the only 1 we have that says "I love Mommy" and it is my favorite! He'll be wearing it until he is busting out of the seems, lol!)