Fun with Cousins

These pictures are a month old (hence the postpartum chub and grease--please ignore!) and we just got them online:

Our Family Photographer

Our wedding photographer, Brittany Blando, is one of my favorite people EVER. Let me tell you why:

1) When we first met, I told her I wanted Jessica Simpson's wedding day style and she told me, "But you're so much prettier than Jessica Simpson!" (I don't really need to list the next five reasons, do I?)

2) We had so much fun talking about my wedding, taking engagement photos, and getting to know each other in 2007.

3) She went out of her way to be there for much longer than scheduled on my wedding day, endeared herself to all our family and friends, and took spectacular photos.

4) She created our hilarious Us Weekly signature board and our gorgeous wedding album.

5) She was excited to come over and take pictures of me at the end of my pregnancy with Will, and we chatted for hours during the photo shoot.

6) She just sent me this picture from that shoot, and I can't stop staring at the belly and then the baby in my lap and thinking "This used to be that?" Amazing.

Will and the Tale of the Two-Month Checkup

Will was so excited to go to his pediatrician's office today for his two-month checkup:

This is a cell phone picture...could you tell?!

Little did he know he would be getting his vaccination shots--only two of them, though, and he cried for just a minute before calming down and napping a bit on the car ride home.

What else did we find out about our little man? Well, he is 13 lbs, 4 oz, and 23 1/4 inches long, which puts him squarely in the 75th percentile for both height and weight. My aching shoulders could have told you that without even putting him on the scale!

Will's cold has finally cleared up, his 6-hour stretch at night is apparently a common plateau for young babies, and there's absolutely no reflux to speak of. Yay!

Dave stayed home today to hold William's (or my) hand during the shots and to tackle some household chores with me, so I'm off to take advantage of having an extra set of hands around here.

Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AUNT JEAN (one day late)! Will can't wait to see you and give you belated birthday kisses over Christmas. :-)

Date Nights

Back when Dave and I were only talking about having babies (for, like, 3.2 seconds before we then had one, I know--patience has never been my strong suit), we agreed that we would absolutely make sure to have a date night every week because it was important to keep our relationship strong, blah blah blah.

OK, so it is important to keep our relationship strong, but date nights require a few things that can't always be finagled, for instance:

• a baby who is not sick and thus destined to get sicker or give someone else his cold
• a mom who is equally not sick
• a dad who doesn't get stuck in meetings and then holiday traffic every night of the week
• free baby-sitting for the strapped-for-cash among us
• the will to do something "for fun" when the baby's not with us as opposed to the urge to get our tasks on the to-do list done fast, hurry, faster, we've only got an hour left, now the timer's down to 0:59:55, will you please fix the stupid changing table already?

...and so on. But the stars have been aligned the last few nights, and we have managed a date night to see Four Christmases while my parents baby-sat, a night out with Lauren for me, a brothers-in-law date to see the new Bond movie for Dave and Ben, and tonight Dave is out with Christian to cheer on the Celts. Whew! I don't know how long we can keep it up, but it's fun to have a bit of a social life again for as long as it lasts.

Happy December, everyone.

Milestones

Dear WP,

At nine weeks old, you have made great strides! (Not literally, although you're definitely trying.) You just found out that your fingers will fit in your mouth this week, and you've been comforting yourself with them ever since. You had a bit of a fitful sleep week, but in the past few days you're back to a long stretch at night and some catnaps during the day. Hopefully you'll settle into a more consistent schedule in a few weeks.

You love: staring at lights, especially the dining room chandelier-style fixture; watching kids, especially your cousin Joe, while they talk and play; being carried around; sitting in your swing and watching the mobile with a puzzled frown on your face; playing "modified Peekaboo" and watching our faces swivel around and smile at you; eating in your sleep; being wrapped up in a SwaddleMe blanket; lying on your back and smiling at people while they bicycle your legs and tickle you; me singing Christmas carols, especially "Sleigh Ride," while I kiss your belly; hanging out with your family and conking out from all the chatter around you; loud music or static on the car radio.

You do not love but will tolerate: being placed in your bouncy seat (maybe you know your mom is trying to steal a hands-free moment); the Baby Bjorn (you probably want to face out, which you'll be big enough to do soon enough); sleeping in your crib; your pacifier; walks in strollers and rides in the car (you used to fall asleep doing these activities, but not anymore!); getting burped.

You decidedly hate: being changed, especially with that diaper rash you've had for a few days; getting your nose suctioned and saline drops in your nostrils; becoming overtired and unable to sleep; getting startled by loud noises.

Your personality is so much bigger these days, and with each day it grows exponentially. You lock eyes with us and make cooing or whimpering noises, and sometimes you try to force crocodile tears even though you can't help smiling back at our grinning faces. That's when I know we brought the right baby home from the hospital. :-)

Lots of love,
Mom & Dad

Fat-urday

It always means trouble when you go to Judy and Marilyn's for brunch. Today, we ate (against our better judgment) homemade quiche, apple cake, brioche, coffee cake and other various treats. Needless to say, that postpartum diet is still on hiatus.

While we stuffed ourselves, our family members took care of the baby. Dave and I decided we pretty much have it made.

Two Months Young

On September 30, we brought Will home from the hospital. Mostly, he just liked to sleep on his dad.

Two months later, this kid is a real person! Well, almost:

(Dave didn't let me post the video of Will smiling and laughing because he--Dave--sounded "too goofy." When I figure out how to edit these videos, I'll post them here.)