Growing a Smile

They say that newborns smiling in their sleep is a natural, unconscious survival mechanism. The theory is that it endures their caretakers to them so that they are fed, held and loved. Interesting theory... I don't need a sleeping smile to help me with that, but, man, it sure is cute!

15 days old... The Sleeping Smile
Gavin's sweet "survival smile"  aka the "gas smile."

I wrote in Gavin's first month letter that I felt he was on the verge of a social smile.
On March 21st (4 weeks, 6 days old), while Gavin was happily hanging out with Preston and Gracie, I captured this...

Five days later, while I was leaving a voicemail (a serious voicemail, mind you), I squealed with joy mid-message as Gavin looked at me, bright-eyed and grinned. 
It was my first true, full-face, purposeful smile from him. 
When I told John that evening, he informed me that he'd gotten one that morning as well.

Then, today, it happened. The, "Grab the camera, he's going to put on a show" kind of smile. 
He went from looking at me like this...

To looking at me like this...

And this...

And, that, my friends, is how you grow a smile.
Stay tuned for a lifetime more of these!