Hey mister! Hey mister! Get your paper, here!

For as long as I can remember, my father has always sported a cap during the cooler months. Last week, while my friends and I were shopping at the mall, I found a little blue cap that reminded me so much of my father that I felt compelled to spend the $6.00 on it. I looked long and hard for a picture of Dad with his cap on and I was shocked to discover I have none. We rectified that situation when Dad stopped by today to pick Mom up. Aren't they the cutest guys in the world? Too bad Erik doesn't wear one!


This week both Sheila and Mom were up helping take care of Karl. I was recovering from gallbladder surgery and am happy to say that I am almost fully healed. I am so thankful that I have family that is willing to help out at a moments notice. Mom was wonderful with Karl and they had many deep conversations. Karl, if he could talk, would tell you all about E equalling mc^2 or about our Western consumer society. Sheila became an expert at putting Karl down for naps and learned how to make him squeal. By the end of the week both Moms were annoyed with the tunes that some of Karl's toys were playing.

Anyway, a big thank you to both mothers for helping me this week.

Tuesdays with Babies

Every Tuesday a little friend, Pace, comes to play with Karl. Pace is only three weeks younger than Karl and his parents were part of our birth class. Having Pace here for 8+ hours once a week reminds me how thankful I am that I did not have twins! Both boys take naps at the same time. One may think that is a blessing, but in fact it is a curse. Napping at the same time means fussing at the same time because they are tired and both want to be held and rocked to sleep. I can handle that, but what I can't handle is when they both wake up still cranky from their naps and want to be in my arms.

Seeing as I'm not super woman, I have had to be creative in how I keep them happy and next to me.

It kills my back, so I may rethink doing this on a weekly basis.

Karl news:

Karl's sleeping pattern is getting better and more reliable. We take pretty consistent naps and have only been waking once at night to eat. I am pretty lazy in the middle of the night and just pull Karl into bed with us. The only downside is that I wake up with a crick in my neck from sleeping in a strange position. We finally invested in a cosleeper ( one that attaches to our bed and has an open side so we can just place Karl in it without having to sit up and move him around). Last night was the first night we used it and it works like a charm! Karl was in his crib from 12-2a. I fed him at 2 (fell asleep) and woke at 3:30a when I placed him in the cosleeper. He didn't rouse again until 7a!

Karl usually goes to sleep earlier than midnight, but yesterday he joined me at church choir and ended up sleeping on one of the soprano's from 730-9...therefore giving him a second wind.

One last picture- I couldn't resist documenting how chubby Karl's little arms have gotten. :)

Stewie and Brian

"How you uh, how you comin' on that novel you're working on? Huh? Gotta a big, uh, big stack of papers there? Gotta, gotta nice litte story you're working on there? Your big novel you've been working on for 3 years? Huh? Gotta, gotta compelling protaganist? Yeah? Gotta obstacle for him to overcome? Huh? Gotta story brewing there? Working on, working on that for quite some time? Huh? Yea, talking about that 3 years ago. Been working on that the whole time? Nice little narrative? Beginning, middle, and end? Some friends become enemies, some enemies become friends? At the end your main character is richer from the experience? Yeah? Yeah? ...

No, no, you deserve some time off. "

For a cuter picture, check out my darkroom blog for my latest print.

Also, here's a picture of one of the largest Icicles evar. It's growing on our neighbor's roof, and may end up in a horror movie, or my next nightmare.

This picture doesn't really capture it's full potency, or piercing power, but it was harder to see in the full length picture because it's at least 15 feet long by now.

A dog is a boy's best friend

Charlie has grown increasingly attached to Karl. This little dog has taken to watching Karl most of the day and will barge his way into the bathroom to tell me that Karl is whining in his crib. I never seem to get through brushing my teeth without hearing little paws and whining at the bathroom door. I've also noticed that if I correct Charlie, by snapping fingers, when he is overly licking Karl he starts opening and closing his mouth and doing a half whine. It is really bizarre. Erik thinks he does it because he feels guilty for misbehaving around the baby.

Well, let's get to the point of this post. Today, as I was picking up clothes, Karl played in his activity mat while Charlie licked his favorite toy (stuffed lion). A few moments later I looked down and saw Charlie showing Karl his toy and then he gingerly placed it on the side of the activity mat...you know, in case Karl wanted to play with it. It was so so sweet. I wish I had gotten a video of it, but this snap shot will have to suffice.

Also, Karl wanted to wave hello.

Milestones!

Karl is growing so quickly. At his last doctor's appointment he weighed in at 15lbs 10oz with a height of 24 inches. He is wearing 6 month clothing and his thighs are chubbier than ever.

Last weekend, Karl and I were snowed in with my parents. While there Karl decided to try and roll over for the first time. He was pretty close, but kept a firm grasp of the blanket below him so he wouldn't flip over. I opened his hand and gave him a little push. This past Thursday, while we were volunteering at Galapagos Conservancy, I placed Karl on his belly while I went to find something. When I returned he was on his back! I had missed his first official roll over. I told Erik about it when he came home from work and he immediately placed Karl on his tummy hoping to witness the event. Karl was happy to oblige and we have a rather dark video of it as well. Take a look.

Not only is Karl rolling over, but he has started to love story time. When he's upset we can put a book in front of him and turn the pages slowly so he gets to look at all the bright colors.

And a picture of Karl with Mama :)

Rub a dub dub!

Recently, Karl has started to become more aware of what is going on during bath time. We're pretty sure he enjoys it as sometimes he'll stretch out his foot under the running faucet and squeal. Once he gets a bit older I will take him to the pool with me for a baby swim class. I think he'll have a great time.

All that excitement during bath time makes Karl a tired boy...