Bellingham and Babysitting (Weeks 9 and 10)

Ra and TJ took a trip to Bellingham for Grandpa Migo's traditional birthday. (He's more excited about celebrating his "new heart re-birthday" in September.) TJ got a lot of quality time with Aunt Wendy and Cousins Chelsea and Julia. We are certain that they will be great babysitters very soon.


Julia and Chelsea practicing their ace babysitting skills with TJ.


The other thing we've been getting a lot in recent weeks is a really happy dawn baby. He's active, alert and very happy in the dim light of the early morning. Ra has been telling me about it for a while, but since I'm usually off to work before it happens, I haven't enjoyed the pleasure until Easter weekend. The big payoff came Saturday morning when TJ and I had our first "conversation". Sure, it was all jibberish, but he really enjoyed the back and forth of him making noises and me repeating what he "said". Lots of smiles are on their way, and I'm excited about the increase in interaction.


I am thinking about smiling, but I'm not giving up the goods yet.


Okay, fine. I'm happy. I know it and now you do too.


After a long weekend in Bellingham, Mociute Vince came down to Portland to babysit on Thursday and Friday while Ra was in class for work. This was the first extended time with TJ and Ra separated, and everything went really well. Bottle feeding went fine, and Vince got some practice with pacifiers, bjorn and stroller.


TJ joins us at the table for our fancy grown-up solid-food dinner.


JT and TJ practice making faces and smiling at the goofiness of it all.


Coming next: Easter Sunday brunch was a great excuse to get pictures of TJ in his fancy tennis and yachting argyle outfit. We also captured a series of family photos that are sure to be instant classics.

Catchup

A bit after posting last time, I realized that we neglected to share some fun milestones. Around week 8, TJ had a few upgrades. He went from size 1 to size 2 diapers. We removed the newborn insert from his car seat and moved the shoulder straps up one notch. On the downside, he has outgrown some of his (our) favorite clothes including the cold weather brown reindeer outfit (which has now been replaced by a white bear suit that's pretty much just as fun... pictured below). Our little guy is growing, and his 14 pound weigh-in at the doctor today confirmed that he's heading in the right direction.

That's all cool stuff, but we're really excited about the first video clip collection that we've put together. These are a few highlights from TJ's first week home back in January. Enjoy!

Bumbo and Bacon (weeks 7 and 8)

It's been kind of a light week for pictures, but I'm close to having some short video clips to share. We are definitely getting social smiles, so they will be the capstone goodness of the first few installments. Until then, here are two fun bits...

Although the swing is very popular, we wanted to try a solution for TJ hanging out with us when we're working in the kitchen. He finally seems big enough to sit in the Bumbo chair, but his slouching is a clear indication that there are some size and body control boundaries between him and expert use of his first upright sitting furniture.

JT and TJ with Bumbo.



TJ isn't quite sure if this is a good thing, but he's willing to give it a try.

Joe and Jenny hosted their annual Bacon Party. This was TJ's first party outing, so he ditched those squaresville onesies for a schweet shirt and pants combo (with dinosaur! and socks that have alligators that say "CHOMP"!!!) He was clearly the life of the party, catching the attention of the hottest babes in the room. No hearts were broken, but some were bent.

Yeah, that's right. Shirt and pants. And dinosaur. How you like me now?



Babies love bacon.
(Kinda.)

(Not really.)

(So much to learn, baby.)

Marching! (Weeks 5 and 6)

"Sometimes TJ freaks me out.

He's just sitting there staring at me,
and I think he's thinking deep thoughts and may be judging me."
- Raminta
(this morning when hanging with TJ in bed)

Yes, folks, this is what happens when one spends most days alone with an infant. Thankfully, she has more regular company lately, as our neighbor Dorothy is on maternity leave, so they are starting to go on walks together to maintain their sanity.


...and now back to your normally scheduled series of cute sleeping baby photos:



The reindeer outfit has been our standby for cool weather outings, but we're starting to push the limits of its carrying capacity. Rigid upright posture is not something TJ can maintain outside of this suit.



Friday included the first use of the Baby Bjorn carrier.
The sling, although simpler and quicker, just wasn't cutting it anymore for TJ or JT.
Although neither of us looks especially excited in this shot, it was good times at the park.



We pause for a quick family photo between chucking the ball for our pups.



After our escapades at Fernhill Park, MJ and Gen brought over dinner before breaking into TJ's first game night session. He had some serious challenges navigating the resource market, but he and Ra pulled off the unexpected win.



...coming soon: video clips!
We started editing some stuff today and should have stuff to share soon.
Oh joy.

Week Four

The biggest development in the last week has been that TJ clearly sets his gaze on faces as we come close to him. We still aren't getting any obvious reaction, but he's watching us.


Ra and TJ enjoy some Olympics.
(TJ prefers short track speed skating.)

Relaxed napping and sucking.

Striped cuteness

Week Three

Shiv's first week back at work was also the first week that we didn't have family in town helping us with TJ. We are lucky that he's been an easy baby, as we're definitely getting good at running the checklist of his needs when he starts to complain...

wet or dirty diaper?
hungry?
need to burp or fart?
want to bounce!


Ra peeks around TJ


Palming a baby is good for the biceps.


Tiny finger alert!


Mid-day crash yields single-baby pileup.


TJ did not cooperate with our cute visions of a sleeping naked baby photo shoot.

Week Two

This second week had a number of significant milestones:

1. Sucking our own thumb
2. First successful bottle feeding
3. Sleeping ~3 hours between nighttime feedings.
4. Transitioning to cloth diapers during the daytime.
5. Several trips to the park, using the sling and stroller.


Sara gets some quality cuddle time.


TJ takes Aunt Rasa for some sunning.


TJ sunning and playing with his hands.


Ready to head out on our first errands.


Reindeer TJ in a sling on a hunt for cloth diapers with his dad.


OMG TINY FINGERS!!!


TJ's cubbies are all arranged and ready for action!


The boppy pillow is a popular sleeping spot.


Sara and TJ bounce a bit during the last quarter of the Super Bowl.