Truly, madly, deeply

Having a child with someone has allowed me to experience another level of love with/for my partner. I'm not very poetic with words but I do think I show him what I mean. Of course I loved Steve before we had B but this is another kind of love, much deeper. I have this overwhelming sense of love, protection, and respect for him as my partner and as a father. These feelings shake me to my core. I want B to grow up knowing that he has two parents who are madly in love and have undying respect for each other. No matter where life takes us, these emotions will remain unbroken.

Always give love.

In the moment…in the now

Such a happy babe

At 5 weeks, B weighed in at roughly 13lbs (Chubba Bay-Bay is right). According to the 'experts', that's quite the weight gain from birth for a breastfed babe (7lbs/13oz). I use the term 'experts' loosely - what do they really know besides the textbook stuff? All babies are different and everyone has their own advice, techniques, and reports of what your baby should be doing at certain stages. I did, however, look it up just because I was curious after some comments from people telling me 'how big he is' or hearing that looks to be weeks (and sometimes months) ahead of his size. He's just a happy, healthy, growing boy!
We're happy to report that he is wearing through his clothes - and fast! He's just about grown out of his 3-6mos sized clothes and working up to the 6mos. We love getting to know him more and more each day. We joke and say he's tripled in size in a matter of hours. B loves the outdoors. He enjoys long walks in the Bjorn with us (the weather has been nice and we have been able to get him out everyday). He loves the big trees and stares at them with such intensity perhaps envisioning himself climbing its branches. The big trees boasting the streets throughout midtown is one of the many reasons I love where we live (and the fact that we can leap off our doorstep and walk to any restaurant, shop, coffee house, etc). He's usually awake for 15-20min at the beginning of our walks and then tuckers out for the remainder or until we stop. We go to the park, the pool, the farmer's market, coffee shops, etc. Some days, he gets bored being at home so we try to get him out as much as possible. Being outside is an immediate fix at times when he's a little grumpy which is fine by me! This week, B has discovered the sound of his voice. Making 'ooohhhs' and 'ahhhs', mixing those with gurgles, grunts, and lots of smiles. We've been talking along with him imitating each other by sounding off the 'ooohhhs' and 'ahhs' - it's so exciting when he mimics us too! We clap and sing 'hooray' or 'yay' - he'll smile and on occasion look at us like we're crazy. We love it! We also have started baby signing for 'hungry' and 'all done'. We hope to stick with it and be able to communicate in the months to come. He has discovered the use of his fingers. He enjoys shoving them in his mouth, drooling all over them, and if not fingers, mom's shoulder tastes pretty good too. He loves watching his Artsee Smartsee dvd that Jenna, Micah, and Jax got for him. It plays classical music while flashing shapes and colors on the screen as well as a vocabulary section. He just stares and stares at it. All in all, those are his latest updates. He's such a good baby (I know all mothers say that but really HE IS). Life with him is amazing. Watching him see the world for the first time and has given me a chance to see the world in a second light. Really slowing down, taking time to appreciate the trees, the flowers, walking, playing in the water, sitting in a park, watching the world go by and be grateful for this very moment we're in. There's so much I want to show him and for now, I enjoy this moment as he is asleep in my lap after feeding as I type, pause, stare at his peacefulness, type, pause, and kiss his sweet face. I love you little man.

One of my favorite Jack Johnson lyrics form the song Inaudible Melodies:

slow down everyone
you're moving too fast
frames can't catch you when
you're moving like that

Pool time

First mini train ride with Uncle Rob

Strolling midtown

Farmer's Market at Cesar Chavez with my girls

6 weeks today

First Houseboat Trip

Last Thursday we packed our bags and headed up to Lake Shasta for a weekend houseboat trip with some lovely friends. This trip included some 'Bennett firsts' as well as celebrating Jaxon's 1st birthday:
First Weekend Getaway
First Houseboat Trip
First Boat Ride
First Swim in the Lake
First Game of Catan (more like sitting back and watching us adults play)

First boat ride - 4 weeks old

We arrived at about 4:30pm that afternoon. Jenna picked us up at the dock in the ski boat. We slipped Bennett into a life jacket, threw on his sun hat (thanks, Jaxon) and headed out on the lake. The first night Bennett slept 6.5 hours for the first time which was really exciting for mom (I woke that morning feeling like a new woman!). Friday, Bennett took his first dip in the lake. At first he wasn't too sure about it. We  captured some photos until he was over it. He passed right out after his 'long swim'. The remainder of the weekend went by too fast. He enjoyed himself, meeting new friends, taking first birthday advice, learning how to nap in the lake from Jax, and looks forward to the next houseboat trip - requesting that it be longer.

First swim in the lake with dad

Wishing Jaxon a Happy 1st Birthday!

Jaxon shows Bennett how to successfully nap in the lake