Oh happy days

Here's hoping that Baby Chuck is finally emerging from his fussy period....

Windy City

This past weekend we visited Chicago.

We had to bundle up because it was very cold.

But, we braved the weather and saw lots of things.

Nanna also brought me a new friend. 

Christmas guests

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the lack of posts.  We're currently entertaining some guests from Down Under.  I'll remind mom to post as soon as she can.

Love,
Baby Chuck

Your love keeps them warm

When Baby Chuck was born, the nurses put a blue and white knitted hat on him.  (Seen here.)  Every baby born at our hospital receives one of these hand knit lovelies.  They're all donated by a group of kind and talented elderly ladies. 

Last week we visited a craft fair and found ourselves drawn to a display of colorful knitted hats.  The elderly lady behind the display was particularly keen to talk to us when she saw Baby Chuck snoozing in his carrier.  After a couple minutes of chatting, we found out that she was one of the ladies who knitted the hats!  I was so pleased to meet her that I asked for her photograph. 

I love that blue and white hat.  I love that these women cared enough to make and donate hats.  And I'm so happy that we got a chance to meet her and say "thank you."

Oh zzzzzs, where art thou?

Lately Baby Chuck's been pretty fussy and not sleeping well.  The poor dear is suffering from some serious skin problems and allergic reactions.  So when he finally does sleep, I do a silent dance in my head.

Sleep, glorious sleep!

Can you spot sneaky Charlie in the background?

Four boys, four times the cuteness

I typically try to post one entry a day.  But I just couldn't wait to post this entry. 

Sadly, Baby Chuck won't be able to meet the other boys in our family this Christmas.  However, I'm hopeful that one day, all four little guys will meet and play together. 

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Let's catch up

Funny sounds

Funny sounds from Pink Stripey Socks on Vimeo.

5 magical hours

Today's post is brought to you by the number 5.

Last night Baby Norris (and I) slept for 5 hours straight through the night.  Hooray!  Will this performance be repeated tonight?  We'll see....

Happy Thanksgiving

Letter to hubby

Hubby went out of town and will be back tomorrow.  Baby Chuck missed him so much that he wrote him a letter:

************************************************************************

Dear Daddy,

I miss you.  Do you like my new Harry Potter scar?  Mommy, Charlie, and I had a good day today.  I kicked Charlie, took lots of naps with mom, and made lots of dirty diapers.  I can't wait till you come home.

Love, Baby Chuck

Hi everyone

It's me, Baby Chuck.

Mom's been kind of tired lately, so I'm helping out with today's post.  Guess what's new?  I've outgrown my newborn 0-3 months clothes and now I'm wearing my 3-6 months clothes.  Mom says that I'm getting to be a big boy.  She even put me in some big boy pants today.

Uh oh.  I gotta go.  Mom's waking up and I have to sneak back into my crib before she notices I'm gone.  Bye!    

Lazy Sunday

What a lovely, lazy Sunday,

when breakfast is eaten for lunch,

and a long-awaited nap helps the afternoon to 

slip right by 

Baby Manny meets Baby Chuck

If you've been following this blog, then you already know that hubby's sister gave birth around the same time that I did.  (To see those posts, click here and here.) Last weekend Baby Chuck and Baby Manny** chatted online.  I'd like to imagine that their conversation went something like this:

Or, perhaps their conversation went something like this:

Tee hee hee.  We look forward to Skyping everyone again soon. 


** Henceforth his pseudonym will be Manny Pacquiao.

The great baby escape

This weekend Baby Chuck met hubby's aunt.    

She gave him lots of hugs and kisses and told him about the great state of Wisconsin.

Baby Chuck-  "Really?  You get that much snow?  I'd like to see that for myself."

 

"Mom, I'm all packed.  Can we visit Wisconsin?"

One day, Baby Chuck.  One day we'll trek across that big lake.

A mum's prayer

Lately I've been finding myself praying for more
more patience,
more peace,
more wisdom,
more hope,
more understanding
more strength,
more bravery,
and more love.

Because having a child is more wonderful
and more difficult than I could have ever imagined.

Faster than a fleeting smile

"Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."  ~  Mother Teresa 

 

We finally captured that sweet smile.  Hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

(To see our previous smile-capturing attempts, click here and here.) 

Baby baptism

This past Sunday, hubby and I officially became members of our local church and our pastor baptized Baby Norris. 

I wonder what that feels like?

 I can attest to the wonders of swaddling a baby.  We do it every night to Baby Norris and it helps him to sleep.  The transformation really is remarkable.  One moment he's upset, arms flailing about, bottom lip quivering and then, once swaddled, he calms down.


And the wails become whimpers.

And then...
they...
disappear (and we sigh in relief.) 

Why does swaddling work?  Why does it calm him down?  Does it remind him of being in the womb?  Or, does it prevent him from jerking himself awake?

I asked Baby Norris, but he didn't have anything to say on the matter (go figure).  So, I tried another tactic to understand the swaddling phenomenon...

and asked hubby to swaddle me for a late evening nap.

Charlie, of course, had to investigate.

Conclusions?
I still don't understand it.  Babies are weird.

I hated being swaddled.  I didn't feel secure, I felt claustrophobic.  I couldn't roll around.  I couldn't find a comfortable sleeping position. And  I most certainly could not scratch a very annoying itch on my nose.

I may be out of a job soon...

Lately hubby has been teaching Baby Norris to drink from a bottle. (Isn't this surprising?  Who knew that babies could struggle with this?)  Although most of the milk initially ended up on baby's clothing, we never gave up.  After a week of experimenting and coaxing, Baby Norris finally finished a whole ounce of milk!

Baby Norris-  "Hmm, I could get used to this..."

Baby Norris- "Dad, can we do this again?"