A whole lot of pics . . .

Here are some of my favorites from August, September, and eary October. They are the same as ones as have posted at other sites--I just wanted to put a few here as well. For all of them, with captions, go to http://www.yorkphoto.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=176015860/a=92522627_92522627/t_=92522627

Another post to come soon . . .

Joseph gaining autonomy . . .

Joseph has now ingested something besides breast milk (and medicine). We finally started solid foods about 2 weeks ago (so Joseph was 4 1/2 months at the time). On September 26th Joseph had rice cereal (mixed with breast milk) for the first time. It was much less of a big deal for him than it was for me. Brad has been trying for months to get me to give him some food and he was right that Joseph would enjoy it. My big little man seemed very interested in the new experience and ate more than I thought he would. This past Sunday he had sweet potatoes for the first time (again at Brad's prodding) and he also seemed to enjoy these. However, neither food has so far made him sleep anymore at night as many suggested it might and as would be much appreciated. Actually, they seem to make him a bit gassy (and he is already a very gassy guy; lots in common with his dad). It’s kind of funny, but it really feels like Joseph is getting all grown-up and independent. I guess it makes sense since starting food is really the first step in weaning—a word that makes me cringe. But I have to remember that being a parent is really all about helping Joseph become his own, independent, person and getting food from a source other than mom is part of that process!

Also, big news: SOMEOME BESIDES MOM CHANGED A DIAPER!! The day before Joseph turned 5 months Debbie, Brad's mom, babysat and changed a diaper. Since Brad refuses to take part in this exciting aspect of Joseph care she was the first person other than I (since his time in the NICU that is) to have this particular privledge.

I hope everyone is doing well. Happy fall!

Recent pictures (just click on the link below)

http://smcvt.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2019621&l=f5550&id=173701513

Updates (long overdue)

• Joseph is now over 4 months old.
• At his 4 month appointment he weighed 21 pounds 12 ounces and was 27 inches long (both off the charts). He is HUGE.
• Rolling: Joseph’s new trick! First the last couple weeks he has been rolling from his stomach to his back sporadically. Last Friday he rolled from his back to the tummy for the first time and now that he has been doing this almost every time I put him on the floor since. However, he has a harder time rolling the other way, so most of the time he gets stuck on his tummy and very pissed off about it. Every once in awhile he puts the two skills together and suddenly he is moving. Yesterday I put him in the middle of the floor and all of sudden he had traveled about three feet and way by the wall. I know this is the beginning of the end for me; already I can’t really run into the other room to get something anymore. Mobility . . . yikes.
• He is very ticklish all over and being tickled is one of his favorite things. It brings out the best belly laughs.
• One of the best behaved times I have ever seen him was at the Wells big end of summer party (live music and lots of people to hold him). If he is being held and there is lots of stimulation (people, music, new things to see) he is very happy. The day we spent at the fair was another time when he did not cry once.
• I have discovered that a small brown smudge on his left thigh is not dirt but is actually a light birthmark, a lot like one I have on my tummy and call my shooting star.
• He has two very cute dimples on his cheeks (as well as dimples where all his knuckles should be).
• For those of you who haven’t seen him in person his hair is reddish (you can’t tell that much from the pictures). His first hair in back was a dark rich red, and the newer fuzz on top is lighter orangey, strawberry blonde. I am very curious to see what it finally ends up being!
• When he was born his eyes seemed almost black; they were so dark you couldn’t differentiate his pupils. However they have now transformed to a rich dark brown.
• I’ve lost all the baby weight, but not the tummy. Guess that is my pregnancy memento.
• He is good at many things. Sleeping is not one of them.
• We have used the jumper thing a few times. He doesn’t quite get the jumping idea. Instead he spins himself in circles and looks like he is dancing.
• He is working very hard on sitting up. When put in any sort of reclined seat (his car seat, swing, bouncy seat) he looks like he is doing crunch because he tries so hard to sit up.
• He also really enjoys “airplane,” standing on my tummy, and being held up high. Most of the time even if he is screaming and you try one of these games the crying suddenly turns into almost manic laughter. If this doesn’t work you know you are really in for it.
• Mom got a night out with the girls last Friday! Grandfather/Bob/my father (we can’t figure out exactly what his is going to be called) babysat very successfully for 2 ½ hours while I went to the Bobcat and Reggie’s with Crystal, Pam, and friends. Soo much fun! Father was able to get Joseph to go back to sleep when he woke up—something even I can’t do half the time.
• We’re in love. It’s like a fairytale romance (plus lots of body fluids). We could gaze into each others eyes all day long.

New pictures!

Recent pictures, all around 3 months!!
(So old and so accomplished)

He can finally play with toys!

But looking at himself in the mirror is still the most fun

He is also now a fountain of drool

Grandparents and cousins

At the fair!

Mom gets a break

How cool

Working on sitting!

Talking

We are at the "everything goes in the mouth" stage

Two old pictures I had trouble posting before (I have DSL now so nothing can stop me!)

With dad (about 2 1/2 months)

Bath time!

Pictures and rolling over!

Joseph rolled over today for the first time! How exciting! He is getting so big and grown up. He is all smiles and is starting to laugh as well. Sometimes now when we go to play groups and the like he isn't the littlest guy anymore. And seeing the really tiny ones I already feel nostalgic for when Joseph was so little . . .

10 weeks and very happy!

4th of July in Bristol (2 months old)

Cousins singing Joseph to sleep (@ 7 weeks)

5 1/2 weeks old

BIG Baby, smiles, getting out, and being a mom

Hi All!

I hope everyone is doing well and remember I would always love to hear from you—or better yet, get a visit!! Things are going well here. Joseph is growing and changing like crazy. He seems a totally different being then the helpless little guy we brought home from the hospital. He is so big I have to tell everyone how old he really is because everyone thinks he is much older. We have a pile of clothes he has grown out of and he fits into lots of 6 month clothes. Yesterday for the 4th he wore his first pair of overalls, which was so amazingly cute. However, the biggest news; the most exciting new development is definitely SMILING. Smiles, smiles, smiles. It is so great to see Joseph light up—often from just gazing at your face, which he can do for looong periods of time. Everyday seems to bring more smiles and he isn’t shy; he will smile at anyone. Also around the beginning of the month I was shocked to discover the Joseph seems to actually get bored. His favorite diversion: walking around the yard. Around and around and around. I like to say that as he has gotten older his bad moods have gotten worse and his good moods have gotten better.

Brad went back to work a couple weeks ago and that is going well—he has lots of work (actually two houses going at once). While he was home he painted the garage, the bathroom, and reseeded the lawn that was torn up, so things are looking good around here. He also put up a clothes line and made a compost pile—trying to do our part. Speaking of clothes line, I am now finally using cloth diapers when we are at home. Joseph and I are also getting much better at getting out and about. I am no longer totally freaked about him screaming when we are in public. We have now been to: Kinney’s, Shaw’s, the Shoreham Library, the Middlebury Library, the Middlebury Book Shop, Agway, the quilting shop, the Rutland Mall, a birthday party, a BBQ, NY state (Wal-Mart), McDonalds, a couple playgroups, a mom’s group, a fancy restaurant, a dinner party, strawberry picking, an infant massage class, the 4th of July in Bristol, and more. . . Pretty good hugh? Of course, as some of you have experienced, Joseph can be quite fussy, but I am learning to worry about this less. And I was actually very pleasantly surprised by how well he did at the 4th yesterday.

Everyone keeps asking me how it feels to be a mom. I never know how to answer this. It feels amazing. It feels like I am being let in on a secret; like now I can see the “miracle of life” for myself. Super cheesy I know, but it’s true. Sometimes I can’t believe I really am a mom and sometimes it feels like he has been here forever. On a practical level, sometimes it is completely overwhelming and sometimes totally invigorating. Mostly it is just amazing.

All my best,

Ruth (mom)

Link to pics

Soo, some of you are much more adept with computers than I and figured out that all you need is the link to view my photos on the york site. Here is the link:

http://www.yorkphoto.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=163869930/a=92522627_92522627/t_=92522627

Of course these are now somewhat outdated. I hope to post another batch soon!

Much love,

Ruth (and Joseph!)

The Diaper Song

Despite my complete lack of musical ability, I have taken to composing songs for Joseph and my entertainment, especially for often repeated activities. As you might expect therefore I developed my first song for diapering. Brad thinks no one is going to talk to me again after reading this, but I’m risking it . . .

This is the diaper song
We sing it all day long
‘Cause we are growing big
And we are growing strong
So we sing the diaper song
And we sing it
all
day
long

I like to poop and I like to pee
But I don’t like it on me
I go number one and I go number two
And
I might
even
get it
on you!

(Bridge)
I can spray a mile away
I can shoot my poop to the moon

SO PUT A DIAPER ON
And sing the diaper song!

Repeat. Many, many times a day.

Joseph stylin his cloth diapers

Pictures!! (on another site . . .)

So, I know that some of you are frustrated that I am a bit behind on posting pics! I finally have put a bunch on another site (which some family prefers). However, on this site you have to be invited to view the album. I sent an invitation email to many of you, but if you didn’t receive the email and want to see the pictures, just let me know. Perhaps I don’t have the correct address.

Everything continues to go well here. Tonight we are headed out for a first social visit without Brad, so we will see how that goes . . . especially since I didn't really sleep last night. Joseph decided he needed to be held all night for some reason. Let's hope this isn't a new routine. I love cuddling of course, but getting some small amount of sleep is nice too. Brad is back to work, but while he was home he managed to do all sorts of work around the house, including painting the garage and the bathroom, so things are looking good. We love to get visits from any of you who are around here and I hope everyone is doing well!

Ruth

Things I Have Learned About Joseph So Far

Hello all!

Things are going great here with our new family of three. I know I have been a bit tardy on all my electronic communication, but will continue to try and do better. I will post more pictures soon.

Here is a list of Things I Have Learned About Joseph So Far to explain a little about our life together and help you get to know him.

Warning: A lot of this has to do with body functions, which some might think is a bit gross. However, it seems that if you spend time with an infant this becomes customary.

• #1. He is just so damn cute and, as everyone says, it is crazy to know that he is mine and somehow Brad and I made him and you just have to love him to death.
• He might be an infant, but noises from both ends are certainly very grown up (i.e. screaming and farting).
• Eating and sleeping are his favorite activities, probably inherited from me. Most of the time he will sleep through the loudest noises and he will often happily drink his medicine.
• Related: he grows and grows and grows. At his one month checkup he was 11 pounds 10½ ounces.
• When he is going through a growth spurt he is perfectly capable of eating nearly constantly, including at night. Amazingly I have discovered I can function on just a few (seriously) hours of sleep.
• Even if he just peed on you, do not be deceived and think his bladder is empty and it will not happen again; it can and it often will. The amount of diapers we go through is astounding.
• Staring at himself in mirrors is another favorite activity.
• He also can communicate surprisingly well. If he is hungry he will let you know in the following ways: opening and closing his mouth, sticking his tongue out, putting as much of his hand as possible in his mouth, screaming, and if I am holding him diving toward my boob and head butting me.
• He is strong. Kicks, grasps, pushes, pulls, head butts, etc . . . are surprisingly powerful.
• If he is tired of sleeping all alone in his playyard, as he generally is by the early morning, he will effectively insist to be held and join the grownup bed.
• Pooping can be quite hard work and takes up another large chunk of his time.
• He changes and grows everyday. One day all of a sudden he was bright eyed, aware, and gazing intently in my eyes. And then he was holding his head up and turning it to look around. Every day he seems bigger, stronger, fatter, and more capable. Brad is sure he will be walking very soon.
• He certainly knows his mommy. I never thought it would happen, but in times of duress I can calm him and he responds to my voice. What an amazing feeling!

I am a mom!

He is here! Joseph Roger Bergevin (finally) arrived on May 6th 2007 at 1:34 AM weighing in at 9lbs 3ozs and 22.5 inches long. Though the labor did not go particularly well and ended in a c-section, everyone is fine and that's what matters of course. Joseph and I came home from the hospital on Thursday evening and are enjoying our time together. I hope to write more about this amazing expereince soon, but for now here are some pictures:

Still waiting . . .

Hello all,

This little guy seems to be pretty comfortable in my tummy and in no rush to leave. However, hopefully things will get going soon. If not, I am scheduled to be induced on Monday (5/7), but we are trying to avoid that . . . I guess I am going to end up being 24 when he arrives after all! So, for now, I am just hanging out enjoying spring and waiting for the big day. All my best!

At 40 weeks and thinking that baby was coming soon . . .

Last snow of the year

A week later and celebrating spring!

Wow! One big belly!

Tummy cast--of course now it is even bigger

Diapers