Bright eyes

Today Egan was looking over my shoulder through the window outside. I could tell that he was seeing something new today, that he was seeing further or with more definition than ever before. I watched as he stared in awe, his little hand gently petting my arm. I wondered what he saw--was it the pine trees bending in the strong wind, the leaves fluttering on aspen trees, the occasional leave falling through the sky, the clouds moving through the sky. Likely it was the dynamic shadows of the first wintery day - with sun, sky, bright clouds, strong wind. It was so inspiring to experience that with him. He was so fascinated with what seems every day to us now, leaves, shadows, trees, grass...I appreciated the opportunity to look outside with him.

I reflected on how calm he is. I used to describe Elena as an observer. I now think that might be slightly incorrect. Elena is actually analyzing things - where does this fit in? How do these things compare? How does this relate to me? She has done this always; she has an intense curiosity. Egan, however, seems to reflect on and just experience things while he observes. He has a calm curiosity. (at least for now!)

4 weeks!

Our 'little guy' is now four weeks old. He is getting so much stronger in the neck and can now turn his head from side to side (occasionally) when laying down. He likes to look out the front windows as well as will respond to the urgent, 'look at me, I'm your big sister!' of Elena. Egan now has defined awake and alert times. He gets over stimulated and has learned to find comfort in the sling...and in the paci. Yes, unlike his sister who rejected them in anger, he likes to 'mellow out on the patsy' as Jake says. He doesn't need it to be calm. In fact, when he is calm he doesn't want it at all. But when he's been awake for a while and is over stimulated, he likes to suck on it. In other exciting rubber nipple news - he takes a bottle! Elena basically never took a bottle so this is a huge relief! I've been pumping a little and was gone for a few hours on Friday when he took his first bottle. Then on Monday, Mom took me shopping and he had another bottle. Egan is still just a little sweety and cuddle bug. He likes his baths (for the most part). Really the only time he gets very angry is during about 50% of the diaper changes; but the other 50% he is so calm and loves to hang out on the changing pad looking at things. He is sleeping pretty well at night. Obviously he is still nursing a lot - usually 3-4 times between 10 and 7. Usually he goes right back to sleep. Around 3am we get nervous about the absorbent capacity of the diaper and Jake changes him and that usually causes anger and then an awake period.

Elena likes to call him 'little pinto bean' - I'm not sure where she got it, but it's cute and sticking.

It is still amazing to me how quickly these days are passing. He already seems so old and big to me, yet people are amazed at how little he is. We know this precious time will be gone before we know it. We are just trying to spend as much time cuddling him and watching him sleep as possible. It's such a sacred time.

Gram arrives!

and we survived our first week alone. The house was messy but everyone was fed and dressed and bathed reasonably frequently. I think that can be defined as successful with a 3 week old baby and a 4.5 year old 'new' big sister.





But the big news is that Gram arrived. Elena ran out to meet her and brought her in to 'wash her hands' and then meet Egan. Gram has taken on the role of shopper in chief and supreme declutter-er and duster. She even took Elena on her daycare trip to the pumpkin patch (bonus points!).

Two weeks plus some

I meant to do a two week update, but it's hard to find time when there is a soft little newborn head to nuzzle and cuddle.

Last Wednesday at two weeks Egan went back for a quick weight check - up to 7 lb 2oz. So he's doing very well with the eating part. He is already acting and looking older. His face has started to fill out, he's getting a bit of a double chin to cover up that 'yertle the turtle' neck he came out with. He is still sleeping in big chunks (yeah!) but has started to increase his awake and alert time. Unlike his sister, he likes to be put down and look at patterns. (elena has happy to look at patterns, but refused to be put down.) His neck is getting much stronger and he will now push off your shoulder. Elena was born being able to do this, so Egan is working his way up. It's also obvious that he is generally more aware of his surroundings. In the evening he will be awake and alert and then get overstimulated and have a hard time calming down.

Personally, I'm feeling really well. I can't say if it was the lack of pitocin/antibiotics/IV fluids this birth, how much easier nursing is, Egan's more mellow personality regarding sleeping, or the speed of his arrival, but I feel very well. So well, in fact, it can be hard to remember to take it easy. Then of course I pay later. Jake is doing well - he up at work three days a week and 'working from home' on Mondays and Fridays. Elena is holding strong - moving through the adjustment not so much with grace as with determination.

Jake's mom, Dinny, left yesterday. So we are on our own for this week until my mom arrives. Last night as we had to worry about actually putting dinner on the table we came to appreciate even more her help. On the other hand, it was sort of nice to have our family of 4 together for the first time at home. We all managed to eat mac-n-cheese. (egan enjoyed it some hours later heavily processed) and the dishes got done. So we'll call it a success.

How's the older sister doing?

Everyone has been asking, how is Elena doing?

Right now I'm watching her 'play photographer' with poppa and Egan; posing the two of them while she takes photos.

She is doing pretty well. The first few days were good, even though very crazy. Then when we got home, it was a little tough, we didn't really have a routine at home and there was a new baby. Meals happened at funny times, she was getting used to Egan's occasional night crying, and all the nursing time.

Now things are better, but she still sometimes has her tough times (which she had before, so we can't really say it is much different).

For the most part, she loves to love on Egan. She likes to help pet his arm during diaper changes, hold him on the boppy, give him 'arm hugs,' help hold his hand during nursing, give him kisses and cuddles. She likes us to all sing him songs and she reads him stories. Egan, for his part, is still working on focusing his eyes, but likes it when Elena is around and will stare at her and listen to her rambling (until he gets hungry again).

These boots

On Friday a sad thing happened - Elena tried to put on her pink cowboy boots and they would not fit. She has worn a pair of these boots for over three years. They have carried her all over Utrecht, Vienna, England and the US. I tried to find them in bigger sizes, but they only go up to toddler, and this is the largest size. So, it's the end of an era. I knew it was coming, but hard to take none-the-less, since I think of these boots as a huge part of her image.

Thanks for the wonderful memories....


It isn't possible to 'replace' the pink cowboy boots. But now she has 'euro' boots.

Keep your chin up

Like Father, Like Son:


A 1 week old chin
A 1668 week old chin.
A cleft chin, timeless.

1 Week Old

As always, time passes so quickly with a snuggly little newborn in the house.


Egan at one week old.


Egan had his one week appointment today. He is up a few ounces to 6lb 7oz. Almost bigger than his sister at birth. Everything looks great. He is such a mellow baby - much opposite to his dramatic arrival and to his sister's infant days. He is very calm and predictable. He sleeps well, although is still a bit nocturnal. The most amazing thing is how easy a sleeper he is. I always thought that people who talked about being able to put babies down and have them sleep unattended were lying. Elena had to be in constant contact with a person to be relaxed, let alone sleep. Egan, however, is happy to sleep snuggled up with you, or in the moses basket, or in the car seat. Jake and I were at first worried something was wrong with him!

Egan's had a few important firsts -

First time in sling


First bath (out of the hospital) - poor photos due to small bathroom and preschooler 'assistant'


First mail (from Grandma Joan and Grandpa Dwaine, of course!)