Thankful

Baby Braveheart

Biking With SJ

Monday Grocery Run

NC State Fair

Cruisin’

Five Months of Fatherhood

Samuel is now past the 5 month mark and our lives are settling into a routine, which has been really great. I am taking care of Samuel in the mornings, until around noon so that Bec can work and then we switch off. So far it’s been going well, and besides having to coordinate our schedules when something comes up that I have to do in the AM or vice versa for Bec, I see no reason we won’t be able to keep it up.

One of the great joys I’ve experienced spending mornings with my son is how much I’ve understood the Gospel in a new and deeper way. I look at him and admire his face, all his different little expressions. I think pretty much anything he does is amazing. I feel like I can relate much better to the love that our Father in heaven feels toward each of his children. Samuel has no clue about the love we feel toward him or the things that Bec and I do for him to take care of him, and yet that doesn’t make a difference for me. In fact, my love for him grows deeper every day, even when his poo leaks onto my pants or he pukes down my back (for the fifth time).

Another thing that’s been sinking in for me is the reality that Jesus was a little, tiny, helpless baby that cried and giggled and crapped his diaper and peed on Mary. He was a real, vulnerable creature that grew up to be the man I read about and worship. It’s pretty awesome to think about that while staring at Samuel’s little feet, while feeling his softer-than-anything-I’ve-ever-felt-before skin, or while hearing him rip a good one in his diaper.

It’s been hard finding regular time with God each day in prayer and meditation on His word (I’m definitely not a very disciplined person), but my mornings with SJ have made up for that, at least in the short term, by keeping my heart soft and the praises flowing. We usually have concert time, where I play my guitar and singing for Samuel, which he loves (which is obvious from the mesmerized stare on his face). Its been great practice for me and renewed my desire to finally learn some new songs. So far I’ve been learning some Radiohead songs which has been fun (Karma Police, and starting on Paranoid Android).

I am grateful for God’s hand in my life right now and the joy that comes with being a dad. I am grateful for the love He has for me, even when I don’t realize it or appreciate it, or even when I reject it. This is a sweet time for us as a family, both of us being able to work from home most days and getting to soak up and enjoy our ridiculously sweet and adorable child. I am grateful for it.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted pics or given any updates on him (hint: if you want to see more regular photos, find me on Facebook where that’s pretty much all you’ll get!), so here’s the rundown on Samuel’s changes in the last few months:

• Baptized on April 4, Easter Sunday
• Consistently slept through the night (7-8 hrs) at 8 weeks old
• Traveled to Merlefest, Charleston, New Bern, Blowing Rock and Boone!
• Rolled over from back to front at 4 months old (but has forgotten how to roll back over)
• At 4 months, weighed in at 16 lbs, 12 oz, exactly double his birthweight
• Found his voice with lots of yelling and screeching
• Started on solid food at 5 months old (rice cereal for now)
• Now eating only 4 times a day

Samuel Weeks Four and Five

Life is getting a bit busier (that’s a sarcastic understatement if you didn’t guess!) as I’ve been getting back to work shooting a few events and a wedding along with family visiting this week for Samuel’s baptism on Easter Sunday. My dad and his wife, Pina, are visiting from Mexico this week along with my sister, some uncles and Rebecca’s parents. Here are the latest photos up to today.

P.S. I discovered recently a friend from college just had twins a few months before SJ was born and Rebecca and I have gotten a kick out of reading her blog, And Baby Makes Four (how does she find time to blog, I do not know).

Samuel Comes Alive

Since the last update at the end of the first week, Samuel has woken up! The sleepiness newborns go through the first two weeks has worn off, giving us a glimpse into his developing personality.  Samuel’s also been packing on the ounces. Up from 7lbs. 7oz. at his lowest point, he’s now at 9lbs. 12oz. and not showing signs of any slowing down (he’s gaining about 2 oz. a day!). He’ll be one month old on Monday, which is hard to believe, although life feels like it’s finally developing some sort of routine. His feedings are pretty regularly three hours apart and we’ve somewhat figured out how to console him when he cries for reasons beyond hunger. Thanks to lots of friendly feedback from my facebook profile, we had quite a few tricks in the hat to try out, as well some interesting ones, like CSPAN?!  As of now, SJ calms down best to bouncing with us on the exercise ball and to the dustbuster on high! We also use the radio in between stations. He doesn’t like the pacifier, though, which is fine with us but makes soothing him harder.

As SJ has come alive, we’ve observed a few things about him that endear us to love him even more! We feel our hearts ever-growing with love for this tiny bundle of blessing and extreme cuteness. I mean, he makes even explosive diarrhea cute! So here’s a few observations and a couple statistics that you might find interesting:

• SJ Likes: bath time, being swaddled (in his Kiddopotamus), chest time with Dad (this is Dad’s absolute favorite too!), worship songs from the Powerhouse sung by Mom and/or Dad, rides in the stroller around the neighborhood, rides in the car.
• SJ Does Not Like: waiting for milk, pacifiers, nap time during the day.
• Number of Diapers Used Since Birth: about 200.  At almost $0.25 a piece, that adds up quick!  We’re planning on switching to cloth diapers around 3-4 months (Bec found a good deal on Craigslist).
• SJ Noises: As he squirms and kicks (he throws a mean jab) he makes little grunts that sound a lot like a billygoat.

Finally, Pippy and Champ have adjusted pretty well to having some major competition around the house.  Pippy likes to loiter around outside the nursery, but took a good two weeks before venturing in to officially check out the scene. Champ sniffs curiously at Samuel, but feels free to roam about the nursery, usually perching on the back of the nursing chair.  He’s been kicked out a few times for being annoying – no big surprise there.  Check out some photos of the cats first meeting SJ as well as others taken since the last update.

9 Months in 10 Seconds

A photo a day of Bec’s pregnant belly.