one month old today ...

... and somehow Henry's still not able to ham it up very well for the computer cam!

But I love you, my boysie, I love you so much. And I know your real smiles for your Mumma are only days away. I can't wait.

grandparents and growth spurts

Sam's parents, as known as Nana and Grandad, were out to visit from the Island and to meet wee Henry this past weekend and it was so nice to have them here! Nana especially got in lots of cuddle time with her newest grandbaby and we think Henry certainly got used to the sound of her voice by the end of their stay. Of course, it ended up being somewhat of a "working holiday" for them both again - as was their last 2 week stay in May at the beginning of our renovations! - as Mom cut and tailored the 6 drapery panels for our guest room bay window and Sam and his dad put down the insulation in the attic floor, making our upstairs actually warm for the first time since we moved in! I was simply trying to keep my sanity with Henry as he went through a few crazy and trying days while they were here ... sleeping very little, eating constantly, and fussing and outright wailing a good deal of the non sleeping and eating hours! Nights were really hard for me, and Sam, as Henry suddenly wouldn't sleep in his crib for more than 30 minutes so he constantly had to be nuzzled into us to sleep or a couple of times tucked into his car seat! The feeding marathons, to get him actually sleepy at night, are still lasting 2 hours if not longer and then he just twitches himself awake everytime I try to lay him down. Out of desperation I even brought him into bed with us in the early hours of the morning, putting him on my chest and laying down myself just so I could get some sleep. The lack of sleep for me actually felt like torture and coupled with his crying ... well, this Mum was crying quite often too! It's a good thing Nana and Grandad were smart and brought some earplugs with them! It sounds like he was going through quite a growth spurt and it seems to have settled down a bit in the past day or two ... he's slept in his crib again a few times, thank goodness, but I'm still using his car seat as a trusted back up plan. I'm only able to write up this blog right now, and have a shower, as Henry's curled up in his car seat on the floor of his room, sleeping now for over an hour. The things that make new Mums really happy ...

But don't let these pictures of the sleeping/cooing cherub fool you ... he's pulled quite the Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde transformation this week! He just knows when the camera's being pulled out ...

a week in the life

Sunday

Monday


Tuesday


Wednesday


Thursday


Friday


Saturday

three weeks old

a big excursion out

It was a very momentous excursion out and so I wasn't surprised that my Mum took a few pictures! This was the first time for Mum to take me out in the car without Daddy and in the stroller for the first time too. Gran and Auntie came with us and my big cousin Isla would not stop screaming for anything while we were in our car seats! I, of course, was a perfect child, and slept through everything and my Mum was so happy with me. I really like my new stroller and can't wait to go out in it again.


... tandem car seats with Cousin Isla



... shopping at the baby store where Mum used my lap for a shopping cart



... and lunch for Mum, Auntie, and Gran at the health food store.

visitors!

Henry was treated to some visitors today ... three of my friends from work who were itching for some baby lovin' time! Katrina, Brandi, and Donna came bearing gifts, coffees and banana bread in exchange for some holding Henry time. A fair trade, to be sure! As it turns out, Henry's had an extraordinarily sleepy day (not that I'm complaining!) so we got in a far bit of visiting done before he finally stirred. And after that it was all about admiring King Henry and getting in some snuggle time. He was a little sleepy charmer and I think even Katrina the Baby Hog got her fill! Thanks so much for coming over, you three, it was so good to share Henry for a bit and for me to have some 'friend time' too!

all in the family

This was a weekend of celebrating July 11th all over again ... as a family! July 11th was my Dad's last day of work with CIBC, after over 41 years of working for the bank and working for the family, but all the children were far away and scattered about then. So we planned a surprise. Thanksgiving weekend. Everyone home, together in Kelowna, and as timing would have it, with two brand new babies too! Turns out, my Dad is a wise and crafty as I am, sniffing out clues and hearing quiet words which added all up together meant something was a'brewing! But still, he didn't know when and he certainly didn't know my brother Cale was coming up from San Diego until the last minute. Surprise or not, it was more than enough that my parents had all their children home together for the weekend and that everyone got to meet and hold and love on both Isla and Henry. Thanksgiving dinner was my favourite ... looking around and everyone there. And I know that's exactly what my parents were thinking too. Perfectly perfect.



Cass, Sam, Henry, Dad, Mum, Cale, Eton, Bethany, Isla and Glen



The sisters and the cousins hanging out together.



The reason why we all came! ... Grandpa Chambers holding his new grandbabies.



And happy Gran joining in for some snuggles.



Uncle Cale traveled all the way from San Diego to meet this little girl.



Bethany, Glen and one month old Isla Rose



Henry with his girly-blanket getting some lovin' from Gran.



And Grandpa too, snuggling the boy named after his father.



Daddy Glen can't take his eyes off his girl.



While Henry sleeps in front of the fireplace.



Henry's cousin Hunter stopped by for a quick visit too, with Uncle John and Aunt Monica.


Kisses and introductions.



Willie, Melanie and Nathaniel join us for dinner, they're part of the family too!



The babies wake up in time to interrupt their parents' pie dessert delights.



All my parents ever want is everyone around the table. Happy Thanksgiving!

this morning. 8 am.

I went into Henry's room at 8am to find this little boy waiting. Wide eyed, satisfied with sleep, and just content to let the day start slowly. He is already older, bigger, and more alert at 2 weeks old now and I am starting to really love our interactions together. He's learning to feed better and I'm learning to push through and keep trying.

We are home from our Thanksgiving trip back to BC over these past 5 days. Yes, many thought we were crazy to travel with Henry so young, but he was wonderful and slept in his car seat the whole time. I have lots of pictures to share but you'll have to be patient. Just trying to get back into life here. Unpack, organize, tackle the laundry, no food in the house, dustballs everywhere, Doctor's appt this morning, and the at home Dairy Queen always on duty! Plus I feel as though I may be getting sick, so to bed I go when he does ...