7 weeks

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7 weeks

Now that we live in the age of the iPhone and crazed social media, I have to remind myself to pull out the big camera and take “real” pictures of my children. Brandon and I wrote out a list of goals for 2014 and one of mine is to master Lightroom and thereby hone my photography skills. There is no better subject than your own baby.

Noah is seven weeks old!!! It’s trite but true that time is fleeting. Clear as day I can recall almost every minute of Noah’s labor and birth, so to look at him here before me already filling out and changing is mind-blowing. He’s up to 9 lbs and catching up fast to where William was at this age.

His personality is starting to emerge despite the colic and reflux that set in right at the six-week mark. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I am clearly only able to produce colicky babies…This time around though it’s far less jarring and we have figured out how to effectively tag-team the situation – especially when it’s hours and hours of crying. In those moments I am truly thankful that Brandon is my partner.

Noah has completed our family in a way I did not know it needed completing. In the moments when William is stroking Noah’s feet or rubbing his head, I feel overwhelming gratitude. Gratitude that they will have one another, but also gratitude that I actually made these two little ones and have the pleasure of raising them and guiding them. In the moments when things really are hard, it’s that feeling that always pushes me through.

Noah has proven an excellent partner in my photography practice. In the moments when he is clearly not in pain or crying, he is the calmest, most serene baby. Peaceful.

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More From William’s First Trip to the Beach

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Beach trip, Sand, Sandston, VA Beach

Trying out walking on sand

Getting his sea legs.

We return unscathed.

Tasting sand.

He’s already begun to torment his little brother.

12 Months

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12 months, sticker project

William is now 12 months old which means our monthly sticker project has come to an end. It’s been a lot of fun each month comparing not only his growth but the level with which we have to fight him to wear the sticker and to cooperate with the camera. For this particular photo he insisted on holding the camera brush.

He had his one-year appointment yesterday and now weighs in at 21 lbs 10 oz and 21 in 10 cm. He grew a good  2 1/4 inches since his 9 month appointment.

I think we are really starting to embrace this summer together as a family of three. It’s truly a whirlwind thought to think that our time as three will be such a small blip in our memory of William’s early years. It feels like we have been on a roller-coaster ride the last year that is only going to get more crazy and wild for the next few years. I, for one, am excited at the prospect of just how crazy it’s about to be. I have full confidence that William is going to embrace being a big brother and a helper – if nothing else, I don’t forsee him having any problem letting a younger sibling know their place. ;)

Out in the country

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11 months old

Last weekend we went to my family reunion out in the country. It ended up being the perfect spot for some candid photographs of William. Our sweet baby is a month shy of a year old and I still cannot believe it.

Nine Months

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Baby, nine months

William turned nine months this past Monday. He is certainly at a point where he is keeping us on our toes. He is always on the move and interested in what piece of furniture he can try to climb up next. While he is extremely vocal, he is still not interested in my daily attempts to have him say “Mama.” Mostly he is interested in vocalizing his discontent if I do not feed him fast enough or if I move outside his line of vision. His temper and lack of patience perfectly mirrors his mother. I know Brandon is pleased.

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Baby, photography, son

Swinging and Playing

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parenting, park, son

First Easter

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Easter, son

Easter is exhausting…

Half a year

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Baby, new parents, parenting, six months old, son

Here we are at six months. This photograph required some serious wrangling. William is no longer the passive baby who will lie flat on his back while I snap 30 pictures. This go round he was pulling at the sticker, reaching for toys and rolling from front to back to front. After many unsuccessful attempts at the “normal” picture, I realized it made the most sense to just let him be on his stomach. These days, as he is navigating the exciting world of learning to crawl, he is more agreeable when able to make a move. And so my little baby starts to be not such a little baby anymore.

I won’t bore you with the familiar rants of how my baby is growing up and how time is passing so quickly. I will tell you that every day I am more in awe of this little person growing right in front of me. His personality has really come to surface and he is many of the beautiful things of his parents and many of the infuriating. As his godmother and my best friend so eloquently put it, “He is SASSY like his parents.” It’s true. This child lets you know exactly what he wants when he wants it. Lately, he has been letting us know in no uncertain terms that he does not want to go to sleep at the bedtime we have selected. You can walk him from the darkness of his bedroom to the light of the hallway and his crying will turn off and on like a switch. And temper. Oh, my boy has a temper. Sometimes when I’m playing with him or just watching him, I can so clearly see what type of little boy he will be. He is spirited, hilarious, stubborn and smart. He will keep us on our toes at every turn and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Four Months

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Baby, Four Months, photography, son

William had his four-month check-up this week. He weighed in at 13 lbs 8 ounces and 25 inches long. He is in the 15% for weight and 40% for height. So many people, including his daycare teachers, comment on what a big baby he is for his age. I can only assume it’s because he is so alert. That and those big blue eyes.

We’ve now officially reached the point in time where we can take his monthly pictures without a binky and without any fuss. This makes his camera toting mother and father most happy.