Abby gives Betsy a bottle (sporting her new Dora the Explorer shoes!)
Nate snoozes through a second playdate with cute Rosie! Nate: 5 weeks old. Rosie: 5 weeks and 3 days.
Nate finds himself in Abby's lap again . . . Big Sister is getting braver with handling the babe.
Abigail's expression after Mommy had to remind her about holding Nate around his tummy not his head. Abby thinks babies should be a little sturdier . . . like her dolls are for instance.
Abby's starting to have fun. Nate is wondering what he's gotten himself into....
Much bathtime fun lately chez nous. Here, Abigail gives her doll a sink bath while Mommy gets ready to give Nate a bath. Abby gets to help wash Nate's hair sometimes. This is VERY exciting for all involved.
And last night we had our happiest Abby bath in recent memory. Some blog readers know that Abigail has been on a hairwashing strike for some time . . . at dinner she'll often announce "Don't wash my hair tonight" and usually Papa and Mama feel the same way given how difficult and tantrum-filled things have tended to get when we do force the hairwashing. But last night Abby asked for her bath hat and didn't look back. She even washed herself with a washcloth:
Armpit scrub.
And because Abby finds photos of people she knows blinking so hysterical . . . this one's for her:
So far Abigail has been slow to warm up to the idea of touching her little brother (something we should probably be thankful for...). We occasionally ask her if she wants to hold him and the answer is always "no" .... until recently!
True to her chatty self, Abigail narrated the whole experience..... "Abigail is holding Nate"
Some big sisterly words of wisdom, letting Nate know how things work around here.
Sibling snuggles.
"Hmmm maybe being a big sister is going to be okay after all..."
Checking each other out.
So many new adventures that we are all having....life as four!
He may just be a baby blob still, but he's a cute blob! And 3 weeks old today! Nate keeps busy eating, sleeping, pooping, fussing, trying out new facial expressions, and trying to control his tiny arms and legs. Just trying to get living outside of the womb figured out people...the life of an infant.
Major milestone: first playdate! With baby Rosalind. Nate and Rosie shared a due date, and Rosie beat him to the punch arriving 3 days earlier. It's fun to have a friend just your age!
Poor Nathaniel is wondering why his mommy set him down on the cold floor when he was so cozy and warm sleeping in her arms. The photo opportunity calls....
Just to keep things exciting and transition-filled, Abigail started at preschool a little over a week after brother Nathaniel's arrival..... Here she is riding to the first day of school.
Tentative explorer in the Bluebirds classroom, munching on a pretend apple in the play kitchen. Since that first day we have been met with many sad rounds of "I don't like school. I want to stay home." each morning, and tearful goodbyes when we drop her off. Things are considerably sunnier when we pick her up and she usually says "I like my school. I had fun today" . . . these are schizophrenic times here in our little household.
But today, a major breakthrough: tear-free morning and drop off! Fingers crossed that the rest of the morning went well too!
Some members of our family are getting lots of z's. Sometimes in large chunks even! Nate surprised us by sleeping through the night from about 10pm - 5:30am earlier this week. There has not been a repeat performance since then, but we can always hope!
Big sis Abby is warming up to "my baby" - and was heard saying "I love you Nate" the other day. She takes great pleasure in showing him things, picking out socks for him to wear, watching him get his diaper changed, and asking if Nate is "chowing down".
Abigail insisted on keeping her hat like this when it was breezy out so it wouldn't blow off of her head.....
Abigail and Nathaniel's new stroller . . . A sits up top and N lies down below. Everyone wins.
Papa and Nate share some snuggles on a chilly morning - we love fall weather.
But it isn't fully fall yet! We went to the pool with Auntie Clare and Ann & Sean! Abigail didn't get her swimsuit on, but did have lots of fun exploring and playing with Clare.
Also at the pool, Nate cuddles with Ann.
Nathaniel's first tummy time. He's a strong little fella and has been holding his head up since day 1. Tummy time was a hit and seconds after this picture was taken Nate flipped himself onto his back. Mommy was impressed. Abigail didn't think that was a very noteworthy trick.
Tummy time was taking place at the same moment as Uncle Dan was defending his PhD dissertation in Minnesota! Congratulations Dr. Dan (and Dr. Anna who already finished her defense)!! We are all proud of cousin / nephew Walter's talented parents!
