WANTED

For peeing on mommy and being unlawfully cute.

A New Chapter

We said goodbye today to Whitney, Andrew, and Liam. They are headed to Florida to start again. I'm so glad their family will be back together under the same roof and that Andrew has some friends ready and waiting, but I admit I still wish things had gone differently, and that the whole family could have stayed here.

I'm sad for Jack that he won't grow up in close proximity to his cousins the way we thought he would. I'm sad for me! I am trying to focus on being so thankful for the time we did get to spend so near to each other and for the blessing of getting to know my nephews even better. It really was just that, a blessing.

We don't know what is in store, but I hope that we can find ways to keep the cousins close.

I'm excited for all the great stuff that will be happening soon for their family - Andrew starting kindergarten! I just wish I was close enough to experience it with them.


We love you all and we will miss you so much.

Happy Birthday, Papa B.

first nap together

jack's first bath

birthday lunch today at five guys


From two of your biggest fans - Wifey and Son. We love you very much and we appreciate all that you do for us.

Six weeks or so...

Jack, you're a big boy. Today you weighed 12 lbs 4 oz and were 23 1/4 inches long. You're in the 90th percentile for height and weight. Good thing you're proportionate! Your head measures in the 94th percentile. I hope you use that big brain for something fantastic.

We're still getting to know each other. You smile at me and talk, talk, talk. The pediatrician commented on how vocal you already are. I think we may have a little motormouth on our hands. You come by it honestly, dear son, and I hope it doesn't get you in trouble in school. When I read Dr. Suess to you, sometimes you just take over. I let you read for a bit. Don't worry, you'll get the rhythm down soon.

Your darker baby hair has been receding and in its place is pretty, pale blond fuzz. You'll be a towhead like I was. Right now it still looks a bit like a mullet, but I love you just the same.

You're growing out of your clothes. I admit that I teared up a little yesterday, looking at you in my favorite blue onesie, how it's s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d to capacity over your long frame. I don't want you to stop growing but, baby, I haven't caught up yet. Where is my newborn? I'm still astounded by the responsibility - you REALLY need me. But I'm already getting a glimpse of the day when you won't. Ah! Now I'm the one getting ahead of myself.

You're still a good baby with a penchant for grunting the night away. I'm glad you're sleeping, but Jack, could you swap your quiet daytime snoozes with your fitful nighttime slumber? Thanks. Mama appreciates it. No matter how desperate I might feel at any given morning moment, you smile and I know that's how I'm surviving. I want the best for you, always, and smiling back - even when I might want to cry - is what I'll do.

You're the first person I've dared to love more than myself. My love for you is big and mighty and capable of amazing things. I'm so grateful to be your mom.

Now, show me your muscles. There you go...



photos courtesy of Gram

Hello there.

Tummy saver

Jack has a little digestive trouble. My friend Julie suggested a rice sock, so here's what I whipped up:



Ingredients:

- One unmatched, stretched-out husband sock
- One cup expired sushi rice from back of cabinet
- Two drops lavender oil
- One orange heart for good measure

Heat for 30 seconds and wrap between layers of a burrito swaddle. Magic.

More to come

Extended Family

Jack has had a few more visitors. Uncle Cliff came by on his way to a mission trip with my dad and said hello. He admonished me to "mind the fontanels" when I gave Jack a bath :). Uncle Cliff will become a Grandpa himself this winter.

Jack's great-grandmother, GG, came to meet Jack on her way from Kentucky to Florida. Wow, these two hit it off. They talked and talked and Jack grinned and cooed. What a moment! It blessed me to witness it.


Things are still pretty inconsistent here, but for the most part Jack is a relaxed, good baby. He loves his nightly bath and seems to calm down whenever I put him on his changing table. He loves to ride in the car and has been a good traveler so far as we've ventured out into the world. He has several happy, alert periods each day, and catching one of these is good for the soul. He's a loud kid. He found his voice very, very early and makes a hundred different noises a day - grunting, sighing, cooing, squealing. He seems to have found his ear piercing cry now, too, but luckily he only cries until mama figures out what's the matter.

He's cool. Really cool.

One month

Hippie Baby

Today, Jack's friend Jaime came for an introduction and a farewell. Jaime is leaving for a two-year teaching gig in Thailand soon. We will miss her, but we are so excited for the opportunity she has and for the bold leap she is taking. In honor of her visit, Jack wore the cute t-shirt she got for him before he was born. It's hard to believe it already fits.

Thank you, Jaime, for lunch and for snuggle time with Jack. It will be like meeting a whole new kid next time you see him, but we look forward to that day.



We're getting closer to a night/day routine around here. Jack has been sleeping very well in the night time hours but had a little detour last night. Well, he was sleeping, but I wasn't. He was grunting and moaning all night. He's still such a good, laid back baby - I'll cut him some slack. We are using cloth diapers at home and disposable when we are out in the world. When Jack is a little bit bigger I will try the cute pocket diapers we got and see how that goes. We save a lot of money avoiding disposable since Jack is going through 10-20 diapers a day right now. Holy Moly. I feel better not tossing all those diapers, too.

Jack has started sleeping with his eyes open. I'll admit it freaks his mama out a little bit. I can literally watch him dreaming. It's kind of neat, but I usually softly stroke is forehead to get him to close his lids.

He's growing a lot - so much so that I'm tempted to get a scale. But not that tempted. :)

Oh yeah...he's still cute, even with his little baby zits.

The Littlest Patriots

Jack had a great Fourth of July at Gram's house. Sure, he slept most of the time, but he got to hang out with his cousins and he passed a milestone! His umbilical cord stump finally fell off. Now he can have a real bath!

He has been sleeping better for the last two nights. I weighed him in my arms on a home scale and he seems to be at least 11 pounds. He's grown a lot in length especially. His newborn onesies are too short.

Andrew and Liam love their cousin "Baby Jack." Andrew is fond of whispering to Jack and gently patting him. He's been great around the baby. Liam is less interested, but still sweet!

John was very sick last week and into the weekend but he's on the mend. We hated to quarantine daddy, but we did what we must. Luckily Jack and I have stayed well.

A special lady...

Happy Birthday, Gram!