A Saturday Morning Chuckle...

This is a pretty amazing rendition of "Hey Jude"... With some added flair! Enjoy!

Cousins, Cousins, Cousins!

Starting with a visit from Willa Rose on the 4th of July- and then a week in Cape Hatteras, NC with Dave's family - it was a week of Cousin Mania for Christian Alexander! We got lots of great shots of him enjoying all of the fun --

Celebrating our 2nd anniversary WHILE Vacationing with a 2 month old was a whole new experience! We spent a lot of time in the house, but it was very relaxing. Dave has Lyme Disease and couldn't be in the sun, so the beach times were few and usually at dusk. But between the hot tub, pool, and jacuzzi, and with no real schedule to keep, we managed to have a blast!

I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Weeks 7 and 8

I'm in love with my child! Every little thing he does seems extraordinarily amazing! He likes to be wrapped in a fluffy soft blanket before he can settle down for sleepy time. It's like magic-- it settles him immediately-- (almost) every time. (we're still trying to get the peaceful sleepy time thing down...)
He seems to be thinking about serious things much of the time, yet he smiles when you catch his gaze. He likes to have something secure, like a blanket or even an article of clothing, to hold onto when his diaper's being changed. He's just started reaching for things, and becoming captivated by faces-- even faces on toys and stuffed animals.
Dozens of firsts-- and each one seems worthy of recognition! Now I understand why parents get so excited when they're kids sit up by themselves, roll over for the first time, and take their first steps. . . not to mention their first words-- it's all so remarkable that these things just "happen"-- right on schedule. And while they may just be details to anyone else, they are more than precious to me. I love taking it all in-- and enjoying each and every moment as they quickly fade into sweet memories...

6 Whole Weeks

We have loved every (well almost every) minute of our new life these past 6 weeks! There have been a few rough spots here and there-- usually having to do with not being able to get the little guy to settle down for naps-- ok, and some painful moments of learning how to nurse! But overall, this miraculous little blessing that has bombarded our hearts and lives is the most cherished gift we've ever been given! I am astonished this week at how much I love him more and more each day. I find myself forgoing meals while he's awake, just to watch him. I just can't seem to pull myself away. Just one more smile-- one more coo-- then I'll eat. But then I just want one more! I didn't know how addictive he'd be! For me to skip out on food is unheard of! (don't worry, i'm not forgoing altogether...)
We've started the process of helping him go to sleep on his own (he can't be walked around in the Ergo carrier {the best invention EVER--thanks Amy!} till he's 18... although listening to him scream his head off in his crib for 10 minutes rips my heart out every time! If there were a way to carry him till he's 18 without doing serious damage, I'd sign up in a second!)
i remember a friend telling me while i was pregnant how she wasn't prepared for how her baby's cries would "go right through her". i wasn't sure what that meant-- until now. it takes everything in me to go against my maternal fibers that yearn to run and comfort him. the urge is so strong, i sometimes have to leave the house.
but at the moment, i have a (peacefully) sleeping baby-- which has not been the case when walking him to sleep in the Ergo. As soon as we'd put him down, he'd wake up... hence the lack of blogging for the past 6 weeks. To actually be able to eat a meal or fold laundry or sit here and type is a breath of fresh air.
Yet this first step of helping the boy become independent is a bittersweet one! I guess it only becomes more and more so as the years progress. That's what makes every moment one i don't want to miss... even for a meal.

First Fathers' Day

Christian celebrated his Daddy today. He started the morning by giving him a crayon-written note and a clue for his present-- Dave had to look under the crib to find the gift. It was a hammock to hang in the back yard, so they can have some major Father/Son Bonding time over the next few years!
This afternoon, we celebrated Poppy and Grampie too-- Poppy got 2 infant life jackets for his 2 new grandbabies to use at Indian Lake this summer (and next)...
Grampie got to HOLD Christian as his present! :)
We took a little photo shoot of Father/Son look-alike shots-- as Christian sported his "just like Daddy" outfit...
He of course was the main event-- keeping us all enraptured by his spontaneous smiles and coos...
Happy Fathers' Day!

Happy 1 Month Birthday!

Last night we celebrated Christian's First Month in the World! June 6th-- it's amazing what the 1 month mark brings with it--

He had his first real interactive social smile-- and Mommy caught it on film!

Cousins Meredith, Josh, and Natalie were visiting and Josh got down low, close to Christian's face and smiled -- and a moment later, Christian smiled back-- all wide-mouthed and happy!

It was a sweet moment.

He's also started babbling a little bit-- and it is awesome to see the beginning of language forming on his lips...

He is so alert, and focusing on anything that crosses his path-- as all of these things begin to work together, his personality is beginning to take shape.

What a mystery! And how much more another month will bring!!!

Week 4 (already!!)

We can hardly believe it's been 4 weeks since that beautiful night when our baby joined us in this world. We are still pretty tired, but so thankful for the awe and joy that each day brings. We are looking forward to the smiles that are supposedly around the corner-- as it is hard to tell when the little guy is truly happy-- though we accept any contented moment as a gift from God! He is eating well and sleeping (somewhat) well-- and his first month's doctor visit is on friday-- where we're confident he'll weigh in at a significantly higher poundage than his birthweight, though you wouldn't no it by looking at the pictures of his little chicken legs! He is starting to really focus more on our faces, and it makes for great picture-taking! Enjoy the slideshow of week 4! Time is already going so fast-- before we know it, he'll be off to college, right?!