oh and there are others kids here too.

Quest for baby mittens.

The other day I got out of the house for the first time in my very sick week on a quest for some mittens for our boy who seems to have inherited my poor circulation and also some other items to keep him warm and snuggled as the temperature drops.

We drove to Woodstock to use the gift certificate Harriet and Louise gave me for Noushka (boutique baby store) and the certificate for the Kids resell ship Chelle gave me. Fun to shop when you don't have to pay. The boutique had some beautiful things but even with my generous certificate--we were looking in the sock/booty price range (really wanted the red lederhosen), found some cool stripey socks and boiled wool booties and then scored a nearly new LL.Bean snow suit (fleece lined) at the resell shop. I could tell from the old logo that it was at least 15 years old but doesn't look used at all. Then I found him a nice fleecy striped suit he can wear now. Score for the boy.

But no mittens...all I can find are the little cotton ones meant to keep them from mauling their faces. Those will do for now but they come off so easily. Mittens for babies--any suggestions?

His first trip to the Diner.

We love a good breakfast at our local diner--cinnamon french toast is sooooooo good. This was our first trip with the boy.

3 months with our boy.

3 months old. He's filling out more and more but he's not a big boy--his parents aren't very big people. He is probably just about 10 lbs these days. However, he is long and fits perfectly into 3 month clothes length wise but doesn't really fill them out. He is eating well, sleeping well, and showing more of a variety of emotions. The other morning I woke up to him laughing as Mike played with him. He has found his hands and can bring him much entertainment especially when he tries to eat both of them simultaneously. He belches like a man and I mean, these are louder than burps I have heard out of Mike. yep. He has my poor circulation in his hands and feet--and I really do need to find him little mitts or something to wear sometimes as it is getting cooler here each day it seems. The first things most people mention are 1) his complexion 2) his eyes and add to that lovely long eyelashes and this is one good looking kid.

The latest way to love our kid.

Now he can be apart of our work meetings.

Is he giving me a dirty look?

I have seen plenty of pictures of kids in the "Bumbo" but it is one of the cutest sights to see your little 3 month old kid sitting upright in what looks like there own little armchair--as exemplified in the ridiculous number of pictures I took of him today. Hey, there is 1 great-grandma, 3 grandparents, 3 aunties, an uncle, and many many close friends and family who don't get to spend any time with this little fella so pictures need to fill the void. He seems pretty content to hang out in it while we go about the day but I spend a lot of time sitting next to him because he just looks so stinkin' cute.

9 lbs 11 ounces and lots of smiles.

We had a check up this last week and he was 9 lbs. 11 ounces and 23 and a quarter inches long. He seems long to me and fits into 3 month clothes length wise but everything is pretty baggy on him. It isn't until I look back at pictures that I see how much he has grown. He can spend up to an hour on the floor on the little mat playing with the little dangling jingly toys that he sort of bats at with his arms. This comes in handy in the mornings when he is ready to be awake but I can't see straight. I am still getting used to how tired I am all the time.

That little hat was so big on him at 3 days and now its tight.
amazing to see them grow.

This is what happens when...

you make a full baby fly (this was not the first time)

Home.

Driving to the airport--Mexico in the background. We didn't make it over
the border on this trip.

The champion fly boy with his wings
(check out those nostrils)

Mike pretty much has him whenever he can.

Happy boys.

My little traveler boy.
No, I did not mean to coordinate our outfits.

We made it home from New Mexico and Autumn has begun--brisk evenings and mornings. It is lovely. Here we go. The little man was an amazing flyer which hopefully bodes well for our 12 hour flight to New Zealand in December. People were surprised when they looked behind them and saw a little baby because he barely even made a peep the whole 4 hour flight.

It is so nice to be back with Mike so he and his boy can spend some time together. I have already promised him that we will not go away (without him) for a very long time. That was hard but I am glad I got to spend some time with my Aunt Bev and see my sister and my other Aunts. The cross country drive was without incident and beautiful. Mom and I both love to drive so it was fun making our way across the many diverse landscapes.It was great to see Dad and spend some days with him in their lovely house in New Mexico (their dessert back garden is beautiful) but back home and it is time for me to get back to work in the Inn. I feel like the haze of new parenthood has worn off and I am fully into the swing of constant fatigue but better able to function--I even made homemade lentil soup tonight. That's right, I am getting back to life.

For Mike.

This has been the coolest development during the trip--smiles and laughs. For you Mike.

Big Red and the little man.

More reunion and the drive home.

I just cruised the town of Deming looking for an open wireless signal and found some!

Uncle Scott and Aunt Bonnie analyzing Marissa's bread on a stick--
it was quite the process, serious business apparently.


Riley giving it a go and Aunt Janet and Aunt Bonnie looking close--
Uncle Scott kinda looks smug there doesn't he?

Reunion fatigue

Saying goodbyes and about to get on the road for the last leg
to New Mexico.


The Colorado River enters into Glen Canyon


Our sweet ride


Over the shoulder in Utah


Love the arm


Dad met us on his motorcycle for Mexican and he and mom
road the last hour home together.
WE MADE IT Vermont to New Mexico '09!