He’s been smiling up a storm in his little baby gym this morning. Here’s a glimpse:
Cute overload!
All posts by timewellspent
Almost 6 weeks old …
Joe is getting so big and so grown-up! He’s starting to really smile now, though only occasionally, and he talks to himself throughout the day. (Mostly “Ahooo” and “Gmmmm.”)
Yesterday we went to a picnic hosted by the Richmond Mommies, a local group that has been a big help to me as I learn this whole parenthood thing. Joe wore what we’ve come to call his Cuba outfit — doesn’t he look like he just needs a cigar and a mojito to complete the look?
His new favorite thing at nap time is to listen to the waterfall soother my “Aint Naincy” sent him. It plays rainforest sound effects and a nice little lullabye. I’m tempted to keep it on my nightstand, but I can’t take it away from him.
I’m eager for him to start smiling more regularly so I can get lots of gummy grin photos. Stay tuned!
Joehawk
Patrick does this to Joe’s hair every night after his bath:
This afternoon I told Joe he was a month old. I explained all about what months are, and how many there are in a year, and how after 11 more of these we’ll let him have cake and maybe a little party. He didn’t seem all that interested, but he listened politely.
Today in the mail we got a Peanut Shell sling that I ordered last week. Joe seems to really like it! I wore him all over the house today while I tidied up, and then again when the four of us went for a walk around the neighborhood.
I can’t believe tomorrow is Friday already! This week has flown by. I have no idea what we’re doing this weekend, but I bet there will be lots of photos.
Four weeks old!
I can’t believe it’s been four weeks since Joe was born! It seems like just a few days ago.
Joe is currently celebrating with a nice nap, but earlier this morning he spent some time kicking his feet and looking around in the little “baby gym” our friend Lisa got for him:
We spent the weekend at my parents’ house for Independence Day. Joe got to meet his Uncle Rich and his two cousins, and he was such a good baby. He likes when there are new faces and things to look at.
Patrick and I slept in the guest room, and Joe took the office across the hall. That’s the cradle I slept in when I was a baby:
He just gets cuter and smarter and BIGGER every day!
Joe's First Road Trip!
Yesterday the three of us drove up to Manassas to pick up Patrick’s new car (new to us, anyway). It’s a cute little white Scion xA! (With a Russian flag on the back, courtesy of the previous owners. I’m sure that’s soon to be replaced with a Geneseo sticker.)
Anyway, we were worried that 5+ hours on the road would be a problem for Joe. He loves being in the car, but if he slept the whole way we’d surely be in for trouble at night when he was supposed to be sleeping.
But he traveled like a champ! He slept the whole way there, then woke up but stayed calm long enough for us to wolf down a Panera dinner, and then was calm and alert the whole way home. What a good boy!
He still sleeps like nobody’s business (5-6 hours on the first night home — I was afraid to check on him after all that quiet!), but getting there has gotten to be more of a struggle. We’re trying to establish a routine — bathtime, jammies, etc. — to let him wind down, but sometimes he just wants to be up until 11:30. And sometimes he wants to spend that time screaming for no apparent reason. Patrick has started driving him around at night when he can’t settle down. By exit 61, he’s usually out. I hope we don’t have to do that until he’s in high school.
Tomorrow we’re headed to Fayetteville for the Fourth of July. We’ve skipped the Fort Bragg festivities for the past few years, what with all the little ones in the family now. (Those cannons are probably the reason I can’t hear a thing now. What?) So, until they’re all old enough to appreciate field artillery, we’ll just spend the Fourth relaxing at my folks’ house. Joe hasn’t even met his uncle or cousins yet, and my dad hasn’t seen him since he was just a few hours old. He’s already so different!
Picture day!
I’m surprised he wasn’t offered a modeling contract right there on the spot.
An Anniversary
Five years ago today, Patrick and I went on our first real date. We had beer and calamari at Huske Hardware House. Patrick swears I told him that very day that I wanted to have children in the next few years. Who knew that five years later we’d have one together?
This past weekend, Joe got to meet his Grandpa Mike and Grandma Mary, who came down from New York just to see him. He was on his best behavior and slept most of the time. When he did fuss, Mary showed us her patented over-the-leg trick, which calmed him right down. We’ve been doing that ever since.
We’re going to attempt to have his portrait made tomorrow. In the meantime, we continue photographing his every move at home. Here he is relaxing in the guest bed:
Such a serious face!
Joe's First Checkup
Today a nurse practitioner confirmed what I had already suspected: Joe is a perfect baby.
Patrick has to go back to work today, so my mom is in town helping us get through the days without him. He’s such an easy baby, though — he sleeps for good long stretches, and when he does cry it’s because of something that’s easy to figure out and fix: hunger, messy diaper, whatever.
The first night home with him was rough, though. I was nervous about every little thing and too keyed up to sleep even when he was sleeping. My sister spent a night with us over the weekend and forced me to go to bed as soon as she arrived. I have to remember, if I’m ever in a position to help a new mom out, what a gift that is. Getting enough sleep makes everything better.
This weekend, Patrick’s folks are coming from NY to meet their first grandchild. I’m looking forward to introducing him to them. He’s so much cuter in person than in his photos. Hard to imagine, I know!
Here’s something cool: This peace lily in our dining room bloomed on the day Joe was born. We’re plant-sitting it for our friends Alecia and Matthew, who dropped it off on their way to Boston at Christmas.
We’ve uploaded a few new photos of Joe on the Flickr account. Videos are coming soon!
Finally!
Joseph VanderClute Tremblay arrived at 4:14 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10. He weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces, and was 20 inches long. He’s handsome and sweet-natured and already a genius.
Here’s how I feel today:
More later — I’ve got a baby to snuggle!
This is getting really old …
Thanks for the update, BabyCenter, but my 2-week-old baby HASN’T COME OUT YET!
Since Thursday evening, I have been experiencing prodromal labor, which is mostly contractions that don’t get longer or closer together but can go on for days. They sure feel like the real thing, but they just aren’t. We were up late timing them on Thursday night, until they just stopped. And then last night from 3 to 5 a.m. I was tiptoeing around the house wondering what time I should wake Patrick and tell him (I’m glad I didn’t; they stopped as soon as birds started chirping outside).
The good news is that all these false alarms are supposed to be accomplishing something, in terms of dilation and all that — so there may be less work to do when I’m really in pain.
I’ve been a bit of a recluse all weekend (more than usual, I mean!) while waiting for the real deal to get going. That’s partly because it’s about 100 degrees outside, and partly because when we went to dinner Friday night, a man in the parking lot OPENLY POINTED AND LAUGHED at me. I know I’m big and round, but dang. Wait until you get in the car before you start making fun!
Tomorrow, Joe and I have a 2:00 appointment for the same ultrasound/non-stress test routine as the past two weeks. I am really hoping to miss that appointment because of real labor, but it doesn’t look hopeful right now.
Sorry to keep everyone in suspense … he’ll be worth the wait!
Joe Tremblay 