Peter has had an eventful September. He put on 2 pounds since his delivery and at his last check, weighed 7 lbs 7 oz. One of those pounds was gained in a mere week, thanks to the efforts of his grandparents, who were more than happy to feed him every waking minute :) He also had his first trip into the mountains, numerous dinners and lunches around town, and started finding his extremities.
GrandNan and Grandpa Ralph's visit was wonderful. 2 weeks of 4 extra hands was amazing... and I still didn't get stuff done! We have all been humbled by our experience caring for Peter, and are really impressed with single parents. A shout-out to all the single parents out there-- where do you keep your extra pair of hands? Mom and Dad were great fun to have around, with Dad noting a new neurological development or making up a new song on his mandolin every day, and Mom nearly gobbling Peter up with her cuddles, all of it accompanied by hilarous stories of me and Nick when we were kids. We also had fun with my old baby book, and had a few episodes of giggle micturation... I think Peter will escape that inheritance because he's a boy. Mom and Dad didn't just grace us with their presence, but also with presents, including an amazing Viking ship cradle and sun quilt. Peter's a lucky kid.
His personality continues to emerge, and this week has been graced by involuntary coos, squeals and smiles. He isn't quite smiling back at us yet, but he does flash the dimples frequently, mostly after being fed or when being bounced a little. We are continually amazed at the lengths we will go to for a small coo or smile... I expect it'll just get more impressively goofy as time goes on. He's found his thumb a few times and put it in his mouth, which I am trying to encourage as much as possible, since it can be exhausting to be on "pacifier patrol" when he needs extra sucking comfort but can't keep the pacifier in his mouth. As a former thumb-sucker (until age 10!), I feel a little guilty about this behavior but I've learned that parenting is all about compromises-- with yourself :)
I'm more than half-done with my maternity leave and surprisingly, I haven't gone stir-crazy yet. Peter's kept me busy with nursing and pumping and all that other fun maternal stuff, but it has also helped to have our neighbor on maternity leave at the same time. We've done a few walks together and occasionally hang out, admiring each others' kids (Alex is 4 weeks older than Peter) and trading tips, and also occasionally engaging in "grown-up talk." I think I'll be ready to go back to work at the end of October, although I'm terrified about where my Spanish will be by then... time to start reading Peter the dictionary. :)
Jason is back at work and somehow managing to complete a full day of labwork, do at least one night feeding, and spend time with me. We asked a grad student to sit Peter for an hour or so, and went on an official date which was a nice taste of life "BC" (before children)... and amazingly, we found out that we are more or less the same folks, just coated with a fine veneer of spit-up. Jason and Peter are great friends, and I often come home to find them goofing off on the couch, both looking very happy with each other. Whenever I have a rough day or am so sleepy I can hardly see straight, Jason reminds me of how lucky we are to have an amazing kiddo like Peter (this is often done using Peter as a ventriloquism dummy, a dance partner or some other theatrical prop).
I know that you're really just looking here for pictures, so I'll fulfill the need... a brief review of the past month in images-- watch Peter get fatter and fatter!
Our little monkey. This is when he weighed around 5.5 lbs.
Once a scientist, always a scientist... Peter needed Tylenol one night for a rash, but since he was so tiny he needed a pretty small dose. Jason's solution was to use a pipetman (a sucker-upper of very small amounts of liquid) to get exactly 100 ug of Tyelnol to give Peter. We have a set at home "just in case" I ever go temporarily insane and agree to let Jase have a fly lab in the basement. I'd like to think that Peter's the only kid who's ever been dosed with Tylenol via pipetman, but knowing the lab geeks we know, I'm sorry to say there are probably others.
Just in case he forgets his name. My cousin Karla made this very cool blanket for him. I love the intense inquiry on his face.
Peter and his Grandpa, with the viking-ship cradle that Grandpa Ralph designed and built exclusively for him. Shields have been designed by Uncle Nick and painted by GrandNan.
The Viking in his ship, ready to conquer new worlds.
Thank God for baby bouncers.
Peter on his special quilt made by GrandNan. Or, as the punners would say, "A Son on a Sun" (thanks, Deb!)
First time in the mountains, at Silver Lake near Brighton. This is right before GrandNan and Grandpa Ralph left, and Jase and I started our severe sleep deprivation cycle.
I think he really did like the kiss... but I expect to see this expression daily in about 12 years.
Found his thumb! This is happening more and more... often with a look of surprise!
This is the image I see at 3 am.
And this one. Damn he can be so AWAKE!
A rainbow of bums. We're doing cloth diapers and we love them... and the small tiny artist in me loves the many colors the diapers come in. This would be much, much more difficult to do in a more humid climate. Yay for Utah aridity! (never thought I'd say that).
Peter's first hike. Dry Creek Canyon is a great visual cacophany of fall colors right now, and a recent crisp day was a perfect hiking day. Unfortunately, the kid slept right through it.
Below-- various attempts at capturing the elusive smile.
Peter also had a photo shoot with a real photographer, and we have the prints back. Stay tuned for the next blog post highlighting Peter's fantastic poses-- involving live chickens!
