Snow Day!

Our little snow angel

Meeting Santa

Charlie meets the man in red and insists that he has been a good boy over the past four weeks and that he thinks we need to get a tree

So papa takes us out to "Three Guidos" where we pick out a special tree...

A Charlie Tree

A tree for Charlie

4 weeks old

Here is a family portrait of sorts

Mama gets ready to take  Charlie out for a walk 

A young Alfalfa gets a sponge bath

Lazy Sunday

Papa is now taking weekends off from work, so he joined us on Charlie time... Nothing but snuggles and kisses (in between naps and diaper changes)

Learning all there is to know about plastic hanging fish.

This is a face Charlie makes right before he is about to "you know what".

This is the face he makes right after.

Mes Boys

The men in my life. 

Clea the bird has seemed strangely uninterested in Charlie, so he isn't getting a photo.

Mind you, Tuica could care less about Charlie's arrival too. He has sniffed him once. That's it.

Two Weeks Old

Here is proud "Pepe" Dubreuil and his first Grandchild

Storytime with The Barnyard Dance

I'm really stuck on figuring out what exactly this expression means. "Look what I made!" or "This is the sweet thing that has caused me to forget to shower again today" or "I just woke up mid feed and don't remember how I got here".

I think he's got my double chin.

This spoiling thing is something that Charlie could get used to. Too bad Grandpa lives in Montreal.

Adjusting

Things are getting easier already. Charlie is on a great feeding schedule that has allowed us to sleep for one three hour block at night!!  I still wake up thinking that I am nursing though. I look down and the comforter has somehow morphed into my son. I try to pick him up and bring him back to his room and realize that he is nothing but down feathers... The other night I awoke and turned to Sean, cradled his head like I was going to nurse him. Thankfully the stubble fully woke me as I grasped the last strand of reality before falling back to sleep. Sean and I have had some pretty hilarious semi-conscious 4am conversations with each other too. I only wish we could have a video tape of the randomness to watch the next day.  This parenting thing can get pretty nutty.

Oh and I think I managed to fix all the typos from my first entry. Man what being up for three days can do to one's grammar.

We are trying to get out a little more now that I am less sore and sleeping better. Here is Charlie all wrapped up in white.  Our elderly Italian neighbour started knitting for him back in April. This kid will not be getting cold this winter.

This is what he looks like after a good feed. Drunk on mama's milk.

He loves his Daddy indeed. Charlie took his first bath (with mom) and was totally nonplussed about it.  I had momentarily forgotten that he swam around in water for 41 weeks!

One more trip to the Dairy Queen.

Sean is slowly going back to work. He does some hours here at home and others at the office. Charlie missed him and so we paid him a visit down the hall.  Could a coffee break get any better?

You know you're sleep deprived when...

Sean: In preparing a roast chicken for dinner he rinsed it, dried and then rocked it. 

Alexa: Hoping to get her act together decided to wear her contact lenses. Took the first one out of the container and applied it to her nipple.

Grandma Nurmi visits from TO

Oh how we miss Grandma!  She was an absolute life saver this past 4 days. She was cleaning, cooking, changing Charlie, helping me nurse and in general providing us with a lot of emotional support. It was really hard to see her go. We have to wait until August to see her again...  Charlie loves her and will miss her voice and soft kisses!!

Out on our first walk as a family today.  We may have gone a bit too far, but the fresh air was much needed! Charlie will be ONE WEEK tomorrow morning. 

The midwives weighed Charlie today and he has put on some weight.  He is eating a lot! I know I should be happy, but I don't want to see him grow up... I want him to stay small!!!  He is so sweet...

Our Angel 

Can't Keep From Staring

Here we are, getting to know one another
And finding ourselves very fascinated

The Afterglow

The midwives made our bed and brought us breakfast. Ecstasy!

IT TAKES A VILLAGE...
Shannon, Carli, Lisa, Alison and so much love and patience

He has arrived!

Papa gets some skin on skin time with Charlie

But before that we have some much deserved relaxing family time...

Labour

This is a shot of Sean holding the mirror and watching the first appearance of his son! I am on the birthing stool.

Pushing...

Back when I could rest between contractions. This is Carli, the divine doula!