Nitch the brick

The most common thing people say when they hold Nicholas for the first time:

"Woah, he's a big little guy, isn't he?" or "Wow, he's a hefty one!"

He's our little brick :)

I think he's the same size as Jane (his cousin, born about a month before him), but somehow feels ten pounds heavier. I'm so glad I have a healthy, robust baby, but at the same time it's a little disconcerting how big he's getting! Sometimes I swear he grows between feedings--- I feed him, put him down for a nap and by the time I come back to get him, he looks bigger!

It's like that book about the goldfish that keeps growing and growing. The pet store owner warns the little boy not to feed him more than "just a pinch" of fish food...or else. But the kid thinks the fish looks hungry all the time so he feeds him the whole jar of food. Then the poor fish grows until he can't even fit in the swimming pool! Remember?

I went in search of huge goldfish pictures to demonstrate idea of small things becoming too big too fast, and I found this amazing little slideshow of some of the world's fattest pets. Check it out. (You have to scroll to the bottom of the article)

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/04/17/tipping-the-scales-goldie-the-giant-goldfish-weighs-more-than-2lb-115875-20385413/

Blessing

We had a joint baby blessing "event" with Missy and Derek this weekend! We blessed both Nicholas and Jane so that our family would only need to make one trip. It turned out great---a lot more people than I think either family originally intended, but it worked out really well. I'm glad I got to hear both blessings--- unfortunately, I was one of the few because Mando blessed Nicholas in Spanish so most of my family couldn't understand it. But everyone could feel the special spirit that was there.

I love baby blessings because it's like opening a present--- you get to hear a little bit about their future and potential and sometimes even a little about their past and the role they played before they came here.

All in all, it was great to see the family (on both sides) and see Nick and Jane in their cute little outfits together :)


You can't really see it too well in this picture, but after the blessing (which he fussed through), Nick fell asleep in my arms. Unfortunately, his little outfit was bunched up around his armpits which meant that it pulled up at the crotch and gave him a HUGE wedgie :) I've seen baby wedgies before, and they're pretty funny, but this was a monster wedgie. It made him look like he had an adult size bum :)

The best time of day

Bedtime is the best time of the day. Not only because I can finally get something done around the house, but also because of the ritual that I have come to cherish--nursing Nicholas to sleep. It doesn't matter what happens during the day or how frustrated we both get during waking hours because at night I get to hold him in my arms, watch his little eyes dart from my eyes, to my mouth, and back again and feel his body relax against mine.

I use this time to whisper apologies to him for losing my patience or tell him how much I love him. Sometimes I like to write letters to him in my head.
"Dear Nicholas,
I remember when you were only a few months old and I would hold you in my arms every night before you went to bed. What I remember most about the first three months of your life is how happy you were---you were always quick to smile and laugh. Every morning I got to come into your room (after a blessed full-night's sleep because you started sleeping 10-12 hours when you were only 3 months old) and you'd be laying in your crib gurgling and cooing to yourself. As soon as I said your name, your eyes would light up and your arms would start flailing around as you looked for my face. The instant you saw me, you started smiling and laughing---moving your arms and legs in the way that says "Pick me up, Mom!! Pick me up!" Even when you were sick, you were always able to smile and play with me. I loved that."

Other times I just watch him sleep and marvel that Mando and I created this little guy in my arms. When he sleeps I can see his face age ten years, it seems, and I can see the valiant young man that he will become. Often times I feel, quite distinctly, that he has many guardian angels watching over him. Many people on the other side of the veil are helping him out all the time. I think he had a lot of friends before he came down here, and it was a little difficult for him to come and leave them behind. But he gets to see them from time to time as he dreams... that's why sometimes he smiles with his eyes even when they're closed.

I love the feeling of his trust and love for me. He is completely vulnerable sleeping in my arms, but he knows and trusts that it is a safe place to rest his head. Mother's body warmth and smell= safety and love.

I love that nursing can calm him down no matter how worked up he gets. Even if Mando got him laughing so hard that he can no longer control his arms and legs and he starts hitting himself in the face--- all I have to do is latch him on and watch as his breathing slows and his heart rate drops. (Of course, those are the nights that take a little longer, but surrender is inevitable :))

I especially love how he shows his emotions as he nurses--- holding on to my finger with his eyes shut tight when he's a little stressed out or over-stimulated, grasping onto my breast with both hands and staring straight ahead when he's really, really hungry, looking into my eyes and simply suckling when he's not feeling well, or (my favorite) moving his arm around and around like the arm of a windmill--touching my skin, my shirt, my hand, my face..touch, touch, touch---when he's curious and exploring.

Yes, bedtime is a magical time, and not just because I get "me" time. Bedtime is my favorite time to be with my son.

The Favorite Aunt

Is it her multiple personalities? Is it the various accents and dialects? Is it because she's so pretty? Is it because she looks close enough to all of us that they think, "wait...is this Mom?" Why do all of our kids worship her?
Katie-the favorite aunt- has struck again! Nicholas has only seen her a few times, but he already laughs harder with her than he ever has with me and Mando :) What are our children going to do when she has her own kids and can't play with the nieces and nephews as much??

This isn't a very good picture, but look at his face! He was squealing with delight.

Here's the video: