Eric William, 3 Weeks Old

Eric turned three weeks old yesterday!

Mr. Serious regards the camera after his bath.

He is still sleeping quite a bit, with more and more wakeful periods in the morning and late afternoon. He loves, loves, loves to be held...but not just held: he loves to be upright as much as possible, and I often see him working on controlling his neck.

He is such a mellow baby and rarely cries. I usually hear him starting to wake up at night and am generally able to meet his needs before he starts crying. Every once in awhile, he exercises his lungs, but even so I find his cries to be pretty mild. Katie is capable of making much more of a racket. :-)

Eric sleeps well in his bassinette, but he does wake up if he gets cold or if he makes a diaper. Katie never really cared about her mussed diapers and wouldn't fuss over it and/or could sleep through it---but Eric really does seem to care. He prefers to be clean and dry. He also sleeps better, it seems, when he has on socks or feetie pajamas--I think his feet get cold otherwise.

When we eat at night, I love his little eyes peeping up at me when I take him out of his bassinette and change him. He seems to like to find my face, and he loves to nestle with me. He is my Little Buddy.

He shows some signs of tracking, but not too much yet. I have a music box that is a glass ball filled with glittery "snow" and which plays "Music of the Night." Yesterday I was showing it to him and his eyes were totally transfixed on it. I wound it several times, and he appeared to be studying it intently. He probably found the tune familiar, as I regularly sing songs from "Phantom of the Opera."

Because he loves to be upright to see the world, he enjoys hanging out in my Baby Bjorn carrier. I wear him on my front, and I am not sure what I would do without it. He likes to be in it when I am cooking with Katie.

I love my family so, so much. I don't think it gets any happier than having my husband and two children with me everyday. I feel pretty lucky, actually.

McGaugh Family Movie Night #2

This week our McGaugh Family Movie Night fell on Saturday---which I declared a "total fun day" with no real chores (other than picking up toys and doing dishes) or worries. Every once in awhile, I believe, we need to treat ordinary days as if they are actually holidays.

We stayed in our jammies for a long time, made Katie's favorite breakfast (orange rolls, eggs, and bacon), read books, played with water and kitchen implements outside, and rested. Bill watched the kiddos while I took a nap---my first nap since Eric's birth. That was a wonderful treat. After my nap, I took a late walk with Katie and Eric to a nearby park. Katie and I climbed all over the play structure, looked for intriguing items in the grass, and held footraces. Eric snoozed. Katie loved our park time and got some great exercise.

Home again, we made our angel food cake for our movie dessert and cooked our pizzas. For MFMN #2 we chose E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial. Classic. Katie really enjoyed it, and she found parts of the film extremely emotional. Spielberg's heart-wrenching moments resonated with her. She did not want E.T. to return to his planet. For the past two days, she has been pretending to be E.T.

Up next for MFMN #3: The Princess Bride. Also a classic...and one of my favorites. We seem to be in the 1980s family movie genre... The challenge is definitely to find something all of us can enjoy together. I have several films on my Netflix queue, including Rosa's suggestion of The Neverending Story. Part of the fun for Katie and for me is planning all week for our movie night. We plan the movie and we plan the dinner. It's a special time when we look forward to all four of us cuddling next to one another on the couch. I think it is important, as we establish new patterns as a family of four, that many of those new patterns are something Katie looks forward to experiencing. She has had to give up (or learn to postpone or shift the time of) some of the routines that she and I had together for so long, so I want to show her how new traditions with all four of us are even more special. As I was telling her on Saturday, our "total fun day": anyone can make any day magic or full of fun at any time. We have to create our own exciting moments, our own wonder. We can choose by our own mindset and actions to make any day feel special or extraordinary, or as magical as a holiday.

I am already excited for next weekend!

Eric Meets Uncle David and Aunt Ashley

On Friday, Eric met his Uncle David and Aunt Ashley:

I remember so clearly the first time Uncle David met Katie. He was on Thanksgiving Break during his last year at Berkeley. How fast time goes...

Eric Meets Nana

Eric shared time with Nana Mitchell this morning!

I am fortunate beyond measure that two of my grandparents are still living and that I am able to experience this phase of my life with them. I miss terribly the people in my family we have lost who will never know either of my children, especially Uncle Eric and Grandpa Mitchell. Perhaps the most bittersweet loss is Grandpa Don, only in that his death in May 2008 marked a divide between my two children: with Katie he shared a small part of life, but with Eric he will not. The fact that he is gone is made new again when I realize how old my daughter is---and how she met him when she was hardly more than Eric's age.

We are thankful, though, for the time we have remaining with those we love so much:

Nana holds Eric, one of her two great-grandsons.

Great-grandchildren---a special moment.

It is all part of building a family history, and a sense of family loyalty and love. I wish we could have these times forever...


We have had a great week in other respects, as well. One of my girlfriends organized a pool day at her house on Tuesday, and the kiddos and I had a very peaceful and relaxing afternoon with her as well as a handful of other mommies and children. Eric snoozed on a shaded couch most of the time, and so I was able to play with Katie---we practiced some swimming and jumping and it was a beautiful thing just to hold her and play in the water as we had been doing so often right before Eric's birth. When Eric had wakeful moments, I held him by the water's edge while Katie played on a large shallow step. It all worked out really well, and we had a perfect time. I was grateful that my friend planned this for all of us!

Other than that, we've been adjusting to new routines and I am keeping my perspective regarding this transitory time of little sleep. Last night was rough...but I remember that everything has a season, and that I need to savor every second of Eric's infancy. I know from experience now that in just a few months I will look back on these nights with longing. I remember so many cozy nights with Katie in the months after she was first born: we nursed on the couch by our Christmas tree. I'll never forget those moments with her. In fact, the night before taking the tree down after Christmas, I stood near it with her and looked with intent and told myself, "Remember this sight. Remember this. Remember what it feels like to hold her in this magic glow." And I do... So each night now I am attempting to "look with intent" at: Venus outside Eric's window, at his little eyes peering up at me in the darkened room, at the moonlight around us in the playroom, at everything. It is not ever easy to be sleepless...but I know what two gifts I have been given, and sleep will come one day.

As far as negotiating other parts of life, I am beginning to get a handle on what baby gear we need and when. Eric seems to love his Bjorn baby carrier (he loves to be upright), and that works well for my mobility around Katie's gymnastics class. I tried a sling with Katie, but long before they were recalled, I had immense trepidation about putting her in there: she always seemed to be in danger of suffocating. I only used the sling twice for that reason. We are able to leave Eric in his car seat carrier for the market.... and we used the double stroller yesterday at the mall. Each destination is different right now. Aspects of transporting two children are easier than I thought they would be...but sometimes getting them both in the car along with myself is the biggest challenge right now. It takes a couple of hours to be ready for the day, with breakfast too...and some days I forget to eat. I am actually fitting back into at least one pair of non-maternity jeans, so being busy has its advantages!

Being a mommy to two children under three is definitely an adventure, but one that is gift... I am grateful everyday.

Ballet Shoes, Bath, and Gnocchi

It has been a beautiful day, albeit one on little sleep! We have had much to celebrate.

Katie and I rolled gnocchi for dinner and made some more pesto from the basil in our garden.

Katie is using the gnocchi roller for the first time.

We also made a meatloaf for Daddy's dinner.

Also, Eric had his first "big boy" submersion bath tonight, as his umbilical cord is now all the way off and his belly button is healed. I can't believe we are already past the wash cloth bath phase---Eric's infancy is going WAY too quickly.

Post-bath, wrapped in his hooded towel.

Scrubbing Eric's back.

Eric enjoys his bath!

Also: Katie picked out her first pair of ballet shoes at the dance store this morning, as she has a ballet class starting next week. When we got home, she spent several hours dancing around the house in them. Her excitement was so sweet.

This has to be a shorter post, because our meatloaf is almost done! Goodnight everyone!

Lovelies

Some lovelies this week:


* Katie June in front of our garden:

We have tomatoes growing and the corn is getting tall!

* Outdoor time:

Here, Katie was singing songs from The Sound of Music.

* McGaugh Family Movie Night---we are starting a new tradition on certain Fridays with our kiddos. Our first movie night, held last night, included vanilla pudding, grilled cheese sandwiches, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. All four of us cuddle together and talk about what we are watching. I need more movie recs---something we all can enjoy. Please leave a comment if you have ideas...

* A visit from a friend on Thursday (and she brought a yummy dinner)!

* Eric's second check-up: he has gained a pound and an 1.75 inches! All of his lab work came back great and he is thriving.

* Taking Eric to meet Great-Grandpa Yoder:

We are so lucky that two of Eric's great-grandparents are still with us and able to share time with us. We were also going to visit Nana this week, but she has a cold. Nana is our priority next week, and after that, I need to take Eric to touch the Valley Center land (the land of his other great-grandpa) before it is sold. I am glad it is still under our ownership at a time when both of my children can touch it and be part of it. My focus is on giving Eric a sense of his history, and to document it, even though right now he is hardly aware of it. Connecting a child to his larger family is essential, I think. Bill has also been working on a family history project...and spent most of his summer on it. We want to give our children context and family.

* Reading, dancing, and singing with the kiddos

* The Byrds' Turn, Turn, Turn: I learned that was one of Uncle Eric's favorite songs, too. It turns out that would have been a good first song for our Eric as well. I think I will just play it often for both children, since it captures my philosophy fairly well. There is a time for everything, and we must recognize that balance.

* Scrapbooking

* Family breakfast: waffles today!

* Games with Katie: Hi-Ho-Cherry-Oh, Candy Land, and Chutes and Ladders. During a family game of Chutes and Ladders with all four of us, Eric managed to win when he was barely a week old---not too bad!

* Nighttime cuddles with Little Buddy and also with my Pumpkin

* These are good times, even when I am tired... Our children are gifts.

Love, Told Through Pictures

This has been a beautiful week with my two children and beloved husband. Bill is back at work, but having two comes a little more naturally to me now that I have had one. Eric is sleeping well so far and though we are all making adjustments in routine, I am finding the transition to be going quite well. My greatest challenge is balancing time between both children---I think I could do better, but so far so good.

Eric had his first well-baby check-up last week and will have another this week.

Katie is a perfect big sister: she helps me with everything (giving baths, grabbing blankies, talking with Eric, holding Eric). Their bond will be forever, and I am so glad the two of them have each other. When time takes Bill and I away from this earth, I want to think of them together...having a sibling means that you will never really be lonely, at least that is how I always have felt. I can already see Eric responding to Katie's voice. I know they will love each other so much.

So, here are some pictures from the last week. They are not in order, but with two children and just a bit of free time to spare this evening, I cannot be too picky. :-)

Our life:

Eric William McGaugh, one week old on August 15, 2010

Very much in love with him....

Katie helps to feed Eric. What a great Big Sis! (As a sidenote, I love how strong yet gentle Bill's fingers are in this picture. He epitomizes what I hope Eric becomes as a man: resolute yet also tender).

What do we do when both kiddos wake up super early (like before Daddy leaves for work)? We read all snuggly in bed and then have a dance party to Cat Steven's "Teaser and the Firecat" album.

Early last week, we went for our first walk in the double stroller.

Eric is all bundled up and ready to leave from the hospital. He is using the same blanket that I used to take Katie home. I will always keep that blanket in my hope chest, a treasured item.

I love my Eric.

Meeting Daddy.

Meeting Katie.

Cuddling and reading to my two children.

Catching some sun and doing some art.

Nurse Katie performs an examination. Oh, the privilege and fun of being the older one!

Our hands.

Dappled with sun and ready for sleep.

I am savoring every second. It all goes much too fast.

Thank you to all of our visitors this past week! You have made life delightful, and you have made Eric feel welcome to our family.