Christmas, Sleep & Smiles

"Baby's first Christmas" is a very popular phrase in our house these days. We understand that its going to be "Baby's first everything" for a while, but there is something extra special about Christmas. His Bee is making his stocking, and its going to be the first time for him to meet lots of him family (his great-grandmothers, his cousin Bailey, Uncle Luke, Aunt Melissa and Uncle Alex). So, needless to say, these are only the first Christmas-y photos for the season.

Since Owen and I are heading to Austin fairly early this month (with Kyle to meet us there later), we went ahead and got our tree last weekend so we could enjoy it for a while before we leave. He likes to look at the colored lights--big surprise!

It was cold, but Owen was a real truper. Clearly, he understands the importance of finding the right tree!

On to another topic--everyone is alwasy asking how he is sleeping. Well, at 7 weeks, we're starting to see something that sort of resembles a schedule. He actually slept from midnight until almost 6 am the other night. Of course, he didn't repeat it the next night, but the point is it's possible! Nap time during the day is very inconsistent, and pretty much non-existent in the evenings (which means he's fussy for pretty much the only time Kyle is home).

BUT, he's consistently having "happy time" in the early morning with me...he's extremely alert and smiley and has started making little coo noises that sound like "haaaa" and "gnaaa". It's great! He really locks eyes and smiles--as if he recongnizes me! I'm still working on capturing the awake intentional smile on film...and will share it as soon as I do!

Pops/Poppy/G-Stan/StanDaddy/GrandStan

My (Alison) dad came to visit last weekend--his first time to see Owen. We're still negotiating his grandfather name, mind you nothing traditional. He seems to like ones with his name in it (or he's just being difficult because he knows I don't like them)...can you imagine Owen (or any other grandchild) talking about going to visit their G-Stan, StanDaddy or GrandStan? No, I didn't think so. I suggested Pops and Kyle likes the modified Poppy (think Seinfeld). If you have another suggestion or a thought on an existing option, we're all ears! We just alternated throughout the weekend. At some point Owen will be big enough for that to get really confusing, but for now it's okay.

If Owen looks like me (say some) and I look like my dad, does Owen look like Stan?


Owen had several firsts this weekend. First trip to Whole Foods (thanks to the grandfather guy), first time to eat out (at the Loop, our favorite little local place, and very kid friendly)--(he didn't eat, we did), and first exposure to an adult in a head-stand (i.e. my dad doing yoga). My dad was really in to "teaching" Owen things...this means he would whisper "important concepts" to him, things like "you want to move to Texas", "buy low, sell high", "net present value", "Texas, Texas, Texas".

The other big first for the weekend was Owen's first tennis outing and first SMILE caught on camera!!! Perhaps he loves tennis. More likely, he likes sleeping and we happened to be at the tennis court. Either way, I think it's still adorable! And if he somehow has mad tennis skills (I'm not sure who he'd get them from) I'm sure some big tennis brand would love this photo!

Thanks Dad for a great weekend!

Week 1 and Other Adventures

Well, the big guy and I made it through our first week by ourselves! Every day (and night) was different--what seemed to work one day didn't work the next--but we're learning! Kyle had last weekend off which was great because it gave me a break and since we didn't have any company we got to just hang out the three of us.

Owen is doing great. He's sleeping for longer stretches at night and we're starting to learn (I think) what his different cries and other noises (and believe me, there are many other noises) mean. It's so great to feel like we sort of know what we're doing...at least more than the week before!

A couple of "milestones" this week: we had his first bath with NO crying. To say that he cried during all his other baths is really an understatement...we're talking shriek of the banshees. And then the other night he just decided that this bath thing isn't so bad. He maintained a pretty somber face the whole time (like he was concerned), but he didn't cry!

He's also looking around a LOT more...his eyes are bright and he loves to stare at faces and the ceiling (even above more interesting things). And this morning I think he smiled for the first time while awake and not passing gas...it was really early in the morning so I might have dreamed it, and it hasn't happened since, but I'm pretty sure that was it. I am soooo looking forward to that being a regular, repeatable occurrence!

To commemorate his first month birthday, I wanted to make hand and foot prints for a little frame/kit someone gave us. Thank goodness this stuff was water-based! It was everywhere...all over Owen, Kyle (who was holding him), and the kitchen. But we got the prints! (And to think that this episode is what preceded the cry-free bath!)

Owen and I had our first public outing together--just the two of us. We went to the grocery store!!! (Doesn't he look happy about it? Kyle said he must like grocery shopping just about as much as his mom...which means not a lot.) Luckily, he likes the baby bjorn (carrier) so hopefully this can be a regular outing!

Nothing new/big for this week (which is nice) but my (Alison's) dad ("Pops") is coming to visit for the first time this weekend so we're looking forward to that. More later...

It's E.A.S.Y. (w/ Aunt Megan)

We have had a great weekend. Kyle was off and we were lucky enough to get a visit by "Aunt" Megan. She got to be a part of our new plan, the E.A.S.Y. Plan! (Basically, we're trying some "Baby Whisperer" tricks to get Owen on an eating/sleeping routine (thank you Hogg and Blau). Not a schedule, just a routine. And boy, we can already see the difference! Life was so much more manageable and, well, easy this weekend! (We even managed to fit in a game of Settlers of Catan--yes, Megan won.) You can pray that we keep it up this week when Kyle's back at work and all the company (read: help) has gone. Pressing on...

Aunt Megan, the Baby Whisperer w/ the little man.

A walk through the park.

Ode to Grandmothers

Roses are red
Bee and Nana are the best
Owen will miss them,
and put his parents to the test!

It had to happen sometime...we've been blessed by 3+ weeks of help by Bee and Nana, but now they've both had to go home. We can't thank them enough...meals, cleaning, reassurance, diapers, baths, night shifts, advice (but not too much)...We love you two and thank you for everything!

Owen w/ Nana

Owen w/ Bee

A man of many faces

Just thought these were cute/funny and wanted to share.

Sleeping Angel Face.

Blue Steel? Study Face.

Just Checking Things Out Face.

Still waiting on a smile when he's awake and not passing gas...

breaking "the rules"

Nap time isn't supposed to happen on mommy or daddy, but sometimes he's just too cute to put down...

Trick or Treat--First Halloween!

Here we are doing a little "trick or treating" with our friends (and world's best neighbors), Anne, Terry (not pictured) and David the (world's cutest) lion. We walked up and down our little street and introduced Owen to some of his other neighbors (he slept through most of it--the lull of the baby bjorn), and David told them what a lion says: "Grrrr". Happy Halloween!