Oldie but Goodie

From Day 4...He still snorts.

9 Weeks and Counting

This week Loic has begun to notice toys...he no longer just stares at contrasting colors, lights, and faces, he's loving his mobile too. It is facinating to watch his brain and body develop.

On Thursday we went to Loic's 2 month doctor appointment. Turns out we have a long and lean boy. Who woulda guessed we'd get the lanky kid? I know, it's early on and he's got lots of time to get chunky and fall behind on height...He's two feet tall (70th percentile) and 12 lbs (50th p.) and that translates to 18th percentile for weight at his height, if you know what I mean.

I've also noticed that he's really getting used to us and our routines. Bedtime is a snap, currently. Oops, did I just jinx it?

Diaper Baby Cute

We do a lot of photo shoots on the green chairs. We do get out of the house, quite a bit, really...

Loic's First Bottle

I didn't expect him to suck it down so quickly. He figured out it was mom's milk and slurp, it was gone. We laughed as we watched and it was so cute, nothing says baby like a milk bottle, but I was also sad realizing that I could be replaced, at least nutritianally. And I felt happy, bottles=mommy's freedom to do yoga, see friends, run errands, etc, without the little lion!

Soon they won't need help to play

Hi Paul. Hi Loic.

Loic Likes the Garden

Rafer and I spent some quality time in the garden last weekend, fertilizing raised beds and building simple hoop houses. We got some good work done while Loic enjoyed the sounds of birds and the cool breeze on his cheeks. We're really hoping that this boy enjoys the outdoors as much as we do. For now he doesn't have a choice. Don't know why this post is underlined...

Loic's Smile Is Getting Bigger

What Could Be Cuter?

Loic with his good friend Mila.

Loic and Josef Hanging Out

Loic and Josef, our exchange student engage in parallel play, each with their favorite toys...

Baby's First Bath

Loic's first bath was a success. Since then, he's not liked the wetness, or something.

The Holy Grail

Easter Sunday

Loic was on fire for his Easter debut. He charmed the early partiers, slept on Rafer for most of the meal time and then had fun on the bleachers with Adri, Adam, Helen and Grandma (and me, of course). We watched the gang play softball. I gave that game up years ago and it was nice to have a rock solid excuse not to play. Usually I feign injury.

The Young Steve McQueen

This guy will be a great Big Brother!

Loic's New Hat

Baby Carrying

We've been trying all the various carriers. Ergo is our standard. I'm saving the Moby for when Loic's neck is completely steady and strong(soon, soon I think). But here we are trying it out. It was great but I had to hold his head the whole time. Not such a onerous task to hold a sweet head like his.

Good Times (well-feed and well-rested)

Sleep Today

Before we left the hospital, every doctor asked us where baby Loic was going to sleep. "We have a co-sleeper!" we told them all, with a bit of pride. I knew that that is today's choice among professionals. "Great." they said, every one of them. Until the pediatrician who was checking us out of the hospital, she "admitted" to sleeping with her baby in the bed. And she told us how to do it safely, make sure the baby doesn't get smothered in blankets or fall off the bed, or ever worse, between the bed and the wall. And, of course, if anyone in the bed has been drinking, or has taken Nyquil, that person should not sleep in the family bed with the babe. Well, like I said, we had a co-sleeper so we were not going to be sleep with Loic.

And we didn't for about three weeks. At that time Loic discovered the joys of the family bed. Wow, it is much cozier. Boob is close by, mommy is warm and daddy is there too when you need him. Loic stopped sleeping well in the cosleeper and we all started sleeping GREAT in the bed, all together. So we did, and we do.

Of course, I started to miss the freedom to sleep in whatever pose is most comfy (insteed of the pose that I took to get Loic to sleep, curled up close to him), I also missed reading before bed, and I did not like those horrible moments in the middle of the night when I was sure that Loic was under the covers, unable to breath.

So now, we do both...I put Loic to bed in his crib and then I sneak to my bed, infant free for grown up bedtime, to read and strech out. But I also get to wake up in the morning, a warm and adorable baby snuggled up to me.

Grandma's Help

My mom's been coming over every week to help out and spend time with us. She's done everything from sweep floors and calm a crying baby to buying diapers and oats. I am lucky to have her nearby, she's lucky too, I think, to have Loic nearby. Growing up in the same town with your grandma/grandkids is pretty special I think.

We are parents!

I look tired. It was morning. Mornings are nice around here ever since we got the espresso machine. And, when we got the primo grinder they became really nice.

Loic and Rafer are fond of strength training on daddy's chest. Loic bobs his head, pushes up on his legs, and inches his arms toward daddy's face. It's a full body workout.

Young life

We were hoping that this vibrating chair would be Loic's spot when we wanted a hands free dinner, or shower, or quick clean up around the house...darn.

This was before the smiles came on. And before he got his first bout of acne. Such a small guy.

Cone Head

Check out the cone head!

Rafer and I were planning a home birth. We had a skilled midwife, a labor tub, candles for atmosphere, and a mattress in the living room. But after many hours of laboring at home, I ended up at Group Health for an epidural and pitocin after my cervix stopped dialating. I expected labor to be long and hard. I was well prepared for that. But, I wasn't able to stop my body from clenching up tight.

Loic was transverse, his head was putting pressure on my rear (that's a big head, see) and in response, after 15+ hours of that pressure, my pelvis was in lock down. I couldn't sit without protecting those parts with clenched butt muscles and hamstrings. Once I became aware of that (it took a while), I realized that the midwife's choice to go to the hospital was probably wise.

We had a great experience at Group Health. We had a large corner room with a big eastern facing window (I watched the sunrise between pushes), lovely nurses and calm midwives and doctors. And lots of help and good advise with new baby stuff. I was sad to not deliver Loic at home but not sad to deliver him in the hospital.

Bonding.

This picture was taking shortly after Loic was put on my chest. Because there was myconium in the sac, Loic was taken away to the other side of the room to be examined by a team of doctors as soon as they cut the cord. They spent 20 minutes checking his breathing, etc. Then they decided that he need to be taken away for one-on-one monitoring, it seemed he was not able to clear his chest. I asked if I could hold him before he was taken away. I was dying to get my hands on my boy. She promptly gave me the little guy and he looked into my eyes and I think we said to eachother, "I'm so happy you're mine." Well, that's what I was saying...

Bloggin'?

I am going to try this. Don't know if my packed schedule of nursing, being slept on, managing the tears and encouraging the smiles and coos allows for much time to type with two hands. BUT, the sun is coming out (I feel better already) and Loic is settling into the Ergo, or is he? Loic is one day shy of 7 weeks so I have some catching up to do...I'll start by posting some of my favorite pictures from these precious first weeks.