His first 6 weeks

   Over the last 6 weeks mine and M's world, house, and hearts have been flipped upside-down and inside-out.  In other words, having a baby changes your life!  It is true what everyone says about motherhood being a tough job, but being oh so rewarding... I am truly loving my new role!  It is obvious that M is too. 
   Baby J is changing already.  He went from 6lbs. 8 oz. down to 5lb.s 15 oz. when we left the hospital.  Then it took him 3 weeks to get back up to his birth weight.  He is having no trouble packing on the pounds now!  At 6 weeks old he now weighs 8lbs. 14oz.  His cheeks are filling out, his belly is rounding out, and he has a little double chin!  Nearly 9 lbs of pure adorableness! 
   Yesterday I had to pack up quite a few of his newborn outfits and bring out the 0-3 months ones, it was bittersweet.  I know he is still my tiny, newborn, baby, boy who curls up in a ball on my shoulder; but with every size of clothes he goes up a little part of my heart knows that time is just going to keep zooming by and before I know it he will be walking... talking... starting kindergarten... graduating college!
   Baby J's big blue (for now at least) eyes are always alert when he is awake.  He is looking around, taking everything in.  Doctors and nurses have commented on his intense alertness for a newborn... I like think it means he is a genius!  He has recently figured out that his vocal chords can make noises besides cries and he gets pretty "talkative" from time to time.  I wonder who he gets that from?  :)  He is also in the process of figuring out where his mouth is located.  When he is holding on to our fingers he guides them toward his mouth for a quick suck, but when no milk comes out he losses interest.  I am sure all parents are amazed by their babies and we are no different.  Watching him grow, change, and learn fascinates us to no end.
                                                    

                                          1 day old                                            6 weeks old

   This is when having a blog is handy; because you don't annoy friends by going on and on about what your baby is doing, but the people who are interested can read it! 

5 Generations

I am pretty sure we have all asked ourselves this question at one time or another...

Why do we wait for tragedy to strike before families (and old friends) make the effort to all get together?  Everyone putting their busy, daily schedules on hold for some quality time with the people who truly matter most.  Between spouses, routines, jobs, children, money, and priorities it's easy to make an excuse for missing out on opportunities.  Then someone is taken away.  A loved one passes on, and whether it is an expected death or one that takes the world by surprise it's heart wrenching and we are never prepared to deal with the loss.  The silver lining to such losses are the remaining people in that group all gather in the deceased's honor.  While memorializing the loved one who has passed, old bonds are renewed and strengthen and new memories of togetherness are created.  Relationships grow deeper as we hold each other up through the difficult time.

I feel strongly in my heart that without the deplorable loss of Joe David the 5 generations would not have gathered in one place at the same time.  A small blessing in a sad time.