New Toys

Gumbo hasn't quite figured out that all the new toys aren't for him.



But he's willing to share.



A cute close up smile.

On Children

Vince's co-workers had their holiday party and turned it into a baby shower for Julian as well. Peggy gave us a writing from Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet. It is quite profound, and I'm going to spend a bit more time with it, but I would love to hear your thoughts too!

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said,
Speak to us of Children.
And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but see not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows set forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with his might that His arrow may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so he loves also the bow that is stable.

Visitors

Julian (and Vince and I) have had a number of visitors. We just haven't had time to blog about it, so here's a few pictures.


Godmother Bridget


Bridget with JB, Casey, and Sam


Our neighbor Nora with her baby Henry (who's 5 weeks older than JB)


JB and Grandpop (or Vince's dad)


JB and GG (Grandma Glenda - Vince's mom)

One Month Old

Our good friends Jeff and Bridget (who are Julian's godparents) have two sons, Casey (3 1/2 and my godson) and Sam (18 months). Each month during the first year of their lives, Jeff and Bridget took pictures of them in the same chair in their house with the same stuffed animal (a bear, in their cases). This way they could show the progression of their growth.

We thought that was such a great idea that we decided we would do the same with JB. Of course, we had to take our own spin on it...or at least Vince's own spin on it. So, this is the first installment of the SAME JEDI, SAME CHAIR pictures.


The long view of Julian and Yoda


"Mama, I'm bored with this...how much longer do I have to sit here?"


"I really don't want to be here!!!"


"Ok...this isn't so bad. Who is this guy next to me anyway?"

And for those of you who are interested in stats...JB was born weighing 7lbs 13oz and 19in. On his one month check-up 9lbs and 21in.

Tub Time

So until this week, we have been giving JB sponge baths. We started this, of course, so as not to hinder his umbilical cord from falling off. But then it just became the way we bathed him.



His umbilical cord has been gone for two weeks now, so we finally made the leap to a tub bath.



And actually, he liked this much more than a sponge bath. I think he stayed warmer, and it didn't take as long. He didn't cry or scream at all and mostly just looked at us with that "I don't know what I'm supposed to think of this" look. Perhaps he'll be like his mom and love a good long bath!


Heisman winner?


And a couple other photos for your viewing pleasure...


What kind of face is that?


Drama king in the making?