two babies

For Christmas, Trevor, Todd, Penny, and I went to Pennsylvania to visit Todd's family (whew...14 hours each way in the car with a baby!) Judy enjoyed her role as a grandma and held Trevor whenever possible; Rick carried around and bonded with Penny, the other "baby." Needless to say, both our "babies" had a good trip. This week we're leaving on a cruise with the Bocks. Trevor is quite the world traveler at 3.5 months :)

joy to the world

A jolly young man, Trevor declared, "let there be joy to the world" as he sat dressed in his Christmas outfit beneath the tree. He in turn was filled with glee.

mama's boy

Here is a pic of Trevor and I getting ready for a Christmas party. As much as I miss "my old life" it is nice to be with Tre so much and to develop a strong maternal bond with him - the other stuff will come later.

rub-a-dub-dub

Rub-a-dub-dub, Trevor's in the tub. Bathtime with Tre is one of my favorite daily routines. He loves to kick his legs and splash water everywhere. We put the plastic tub over the kitchen sink, and he has taken quite the liking to Amy's Sacksteder's black & white print that is on the wall over the sink - he crooks his head to look at it during bathtime. What can I say? He gets his artistic taste from his mom :)

trevy the snowman

Trevy the snowman is a happy, jolly little man who will be celebrating three months on Friday, December 16!

exer-saucer

Trevor isn't quite old enough for the exer-saucer (in terms of head/neck support), but he's enjoying it backwards with his weight propped up against the higher backend of the chair. He loves to play with the gadgets and spin around using his feet. Here he is saying good-bye to Dad and showing his early morning glee (Trevor does not like sleeping in as much as I do!).

working out

Todd and I call Trevor's learning time with his floor mat activity center "working out" because he gets so physically involved. He enjoys watching a flashing Baby Einstein star and kicking his feet in time with the music. He also likes putting the lady bug (pictured here) in his mouth, especially the knotted legs. This of course leads to torrents of drool, which in the realm of baby fluids, I prefer to spit-up and other unmentionables.

friends

On Friday night, Trevor got together with his friend Evelyn (5 months). They had a great time conversing and holding hands. Evie even cried in empathy when Tre was fussy from his immunization shots. Neither one wanted to drift off to sleep for fear they might miss something.

gobble, gobble

Trevor and I ventured to Michigan via Amtrak to visit my family for an extended 1.5 week stay. It was a nice diversion from the everyday routine, and I appreciated the extra hands/help. Todd joined us for the Thanksgiving holiday. Although he did not eat the free range, organic turkey that I had (mmm...), Tre did manage to fill out quite nicely over the trip. He now has a bonafide second chin and dimples where you would normally see knuckles. He is pictured here with Aunt Erin before her wisdom teeth extraction/nightmare.

what's so funny?

Apparently, Trevor has some inside joke. He keeps laughing all of the time. I never knew rattles could be so exciting. Maybe it's just our faces. . .

little sultan

Lately, Trevor has been insisting that we carry him around everywhere. Of course, we understand the need to be held and the excitement of looking at new things/places; yet, he does seem like an impatient little sultan whom we placate by providing continual transportation. We just need a little turban hat.

regarding penny

Penny has been acutely aware of Trevor since his arrival - responding to him with a mixture of curiousity and jealousy. Tre is just starting to regard Penny and to make eye contact with her googly eyes. Neither of them have really mastered the art of looking you straight in the eyes - Trevor's eyes still cross at times (though we are confident this will work itself out; if not, he has a grandpa in the right field!) and we have accepted that Penny's eyes will never be quite right.

i'm a sweet pea

Happy Halloween 2005

Love,
Trevor

daddy time

In the evenings, Todd and Trevor like to chill and snuggle on the futon. Dad likes the coos and squeals that Tre makes as he "fake sleeps" (amazing how he suddenly wakes up if you try to put him in the crib!) in order to cuddle.

mobile

Trevor has discovered the mobile on his changing table and watches transfixed for about 10 minutes. Because he is a collicky baby, this offers a much needed distraction so that I can grab a shower or something to eat. We were so excited about the changing table mobile, we bought another one for the crib hoping to extend that 10 minutes of quiet to 20.

big boy bath

Yeah! No more umbilical cord! Trevor had his first big boy bath last night and seemed to enjoy it much more than the sponge baths. We love how he looks like a "little man" in the bathrobe as well as the smiles, which finally aren't just related to gas :)

hungry caterpillar gone awry

We love Eric Carter's book, "The Hungry Caterpillar" so Grandma Linda knitted this caterpillar blanket and Trevor is donning a caterpillar outfit (which he wore for all of 5 minutes before soaking with spit-up!). I'm not sure Tre is convinced that the giant caterpillar is a friendly one; he seems prepared for a sudden attack. . . perhaps "hungry" is a rather frightening adjective.

a visit from the pittsburgh rental units

Grandpa Rick and Grandma Judy paid a visit this weekend. The T-Man is their first grandchild. Don't they look proud?

Chubster

Erin and I have always agreed that a portly baby is preferable to an undersized one (aka skeletor). While this picture looks exaggerated because of his stance/clothing, it proves Trevor is well on his way to our definition of health and ultimate cuteness.

the miraculous swing

When my cousin Erica lent us her baby swing, we had no idea how invaluable it would become. Motion (the car, going on a walk, or being in the swing) soothes Trevor and puts him to sleep. Sometimes, the swing is our saving grace for a moment of sanity after much fussing and crying. It also allows us to eat dinner, pick-up, or catch a quick catnap - of course the music option leaves us with "The Farmer in the Dell" playing over and over in our heads.

doing laundry

I've tried to resist posing little Tre in unnatural positions/locations, but it is ever so hard when he is so very miniature. Here he is in a laundry basket at 2.5 weeks old (weighing 8-9 pounds).

smiles?

While we realize that his smiles are likely unrelated to us at this point, it is still nice to pretend.

its the end of the world as I know it....

and I don't feel fine. As much as we'd like to pretend that Trevor is happy 24/7, the more peaceful moments depicted on this blog site are interspersed with screaming sessions (mostly digestion related). Here he is on my lap late at night trying to work things out.

beaming with pride

Jen's parents came for a visit last week; both were ecstatic about seeing their first grandchild. Grandma Linda was a huge help around the house doing laundry, cleaning, and cooking. Grandpa Tom can't wait to spoil Trevor. Neither grandparent was ready to say goodbye when it came time to go back to Michigan.

easy living

The baby papasan chair is one of Trevor's favorite places to chill - it comes complete with vibrations and music. It is too bad they don't make larger ones for Mom and Dad

feed me

Trevor has no problems signaling when he is ready to eat!

mommy and me

I am still in shock that I am somebody's mom. Parts of the role feel natural; others will take some adjustment - such as the 3-4 hours of sleep each night.

clowning around

Yo yo, homey. Get down with the G-funk.

contemplation

Trevor's inability to control his arms and hands leads to some interesting poses. Sometimes his hands look as if they are flashing gang signs; other times, he seems in deep thought pondering the mysteries of the universe.

bath time

I love my bath. I hate my bath. Trevor can't quite decide. We are giving him sponge baths until his umbilical cord falls off. There is nothing quite like the smell of a freshly bathed newborn.

celebrity

Check out 4 Trevor pictures taken by Blessing Hospital and posted on their website. Click on Next/Previous picture to scroll through.

home at last

Fast asleep in his own crib, Trevor has temporary control over his hand reflexes. There's no place like home (minus the ruby red slippers).

leaving the hospital

All decked out in spiffy new threads for the occasion. Big man in a little green suit.

the proud new parents

From Todd and Jen to Dad and Mom

trevor at hospital

Our little breakfast burrito...

here at last

Trevor James was born at 9:15 AM on 9/16/2005. He weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long.

waiting patiently

Mom is way ready for the arrival of little one, whose movements are now less extreme due to restricted space. I'd think baby is also way ready to leave such cramped quarters.

Our new bed arrived the other day. The increased elevation makes it easier for mom to get up for those hundreds of bathroom visits during the night.