Gideon at 1 month

Gideon Arthur is officially one month old today! He came for a visit yesterday. We’ve been gone for ten days so I haven’t seen him in two weeks. When last I saw him, he was just barely opening his eyes to peek at the world, far more content to keep them closed, sleep and hang out with mommie. Not so yesterday, he was alert most of the time, content to sit on a lap with a face to look at and look he did. He let his little eyes roam all over the room taking in everything around him without a peep.

On first meeting yesterday, he sported a full-face smile for Grandma and then again for Grandpa. How they put their whole face into it, I don’t know, but it was very cute. Baby G is awake and ready to get to know his world. He let both of us hold him to our heart’s content. He has a lot of reddish hair, more than his brothers at this age. He’s grown and gotten heavier in two weeks. He looks more like a full-fledged infant and less like a little burrito.

His brothers seem to easily embrace their new family member. Lewis was in three months of denial when Evander was born, but now having a brother is a normal part of life. Evander frequently comes over to give his baby a kiss. The very first thing Evander did upon arriving yesterday was go straight to the bookshelf for “book-ahs” which he loves. He had Grandpa on the couch reading before Heather even got settled in. Evander’s language skills are increasing rapidly. He loves all kinds of books, long and short. He sat and listened to regular bedtime story length books yesterday. I think he has “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” memorized.

Meanwhile, Lewis headed straight for the new books shaped like bulldozer, fire truck and dump truck to play with and read. He had out all the heavy equipment toys and was excavating first thing. Later in the day, I took the boys across the street where a real back hoe had arrived and let them check it out. We even stopped to ask the workmen what they were doing. Evander is repeating, “Ex-ca-va-tor, Ex-ca-va-tor.” Lewis knows more about equipment than I’ll ever know. After lunch while little brother naps, Lewis and Grandpa watch Bob the Builder and Mighty Machines together. Well, I suspect that Granpa naps and Lewis watches.

About six, Heather straps in three little guys in her mini-van. Tired Lewis cries because he’s had no nap and “wants to sit by the baby.” He’s only three, even though he’s the big brother. It’s been a good day at Grandma and Grandpa’s House.

Lewis has tried to play every instrument we’ve put in his hands and has been especially in love with guitar and ukulele (he says “ooh – koo – ay -lee”).

The other day Kathy taught him a C chord on his own special instrument and today he tried out C7  with the song “I’ve Been Workin’ on thew Railroad”.

He sings with so much heart–It’s so cute!

We all made it more or less out of the woods by Christmas Eve to enjoy a quiet meal together with some activities and games. It was great except we had to cancel invitations for some of the guys in our community group to join the family while our yellow flag of flu quarantine flew. Better safe than sorry though– trust me, this was a bad one.

Christmas Day we again stayed in sharing the moments together including traditional Dutch Babies breakfast, assorted Norwegian mostly raw salmon and herring tasties, a few cookies and lots of games and Christmas music.

The babies have all gone home now. It’s a bit quieter and we miss them all!

My Heart Update

When our snow hit followed by the 3 day flu, my walks pretty much went on hold. We have snow everywhere outside. Unfortunately, I am not well equipped for trekking through that stuff much these days. Instead I’ve gone out for measured periods of light snow shoveling workouts instead. I figured if it was broken up into checks across hours and days, it would be a safe activity.

I’m still here and haven’t had to resort to taking a nitro tablets or anything, so success.

I’m actually feeling better and better.

Hopefully the snow will be washed away in a day or two so walks can resume.