Lesson 32: Tiling the Powder Room

Nathan did the majority of the tiling in the powder room upstairs by himself, so he's the one who learned the most from this part of the house building process. I think he did a great job!

Loungin' in the Bumbo

At two months old, Jack sits in his Bumbo for the first time!

The Good Life

Yesterday at church, Jack and I sat between Nathan's cousins, Nina and Zoe. While I cradled him in my arms, Nina played with Jack's toes on one side of me and Zoe stroked his soft, fuzzy hair on the other side. It wasn't long before a vacant look clouded Jack's eyes and they slowly began to drift shut. Then, a wide, sleepy smile crawled across his face. In that moment, life was pretty good for the little guy!

Jon & Meagan Visit

Nathan and Jonathan became friends when they were six years old. Jonathan's son, Brady, was born on April 9. Jack was born April 22. (Ironically, Jack was due before Brady!) They met for the first time on Sunday, their first Father's Day...

I think Brady's onesie explains it all... cuteness overload!!

Co-Sleeping

Prior to Jack's birth Nathan and I decided that we would not share a bed with our son. I know there are many wonderful parents who successfully co-sleep, and I can even agree that it could be special bonding time to share your space in bed with your baby, but no matter how many ways I thought around it (and no matter how many infant care class leaders sung it's praises), I just couldn't get comfortable with the thought of my baby so vulnerable while I am in a prolonged state of oblivion.

Of course, since his arrival I have come to find that Jack sleeps better when he is on me. Much better. And for much longer. This means that hours are spent on the couch with Jack curled snugly on top of me while my neck is craned awkwardly to one side and my arm is growing tingly, then numb, in an effort to stay absolutely still so he remains comfortable. Meanwhile I am getting less sleep than ever before, and that couch is feeling mighty comfy....

My point is, it can be hard to stay awake. And, if I fall asleep then I have just done the one thing that (right now) scares me the most... I have shared sleeping space with my infant son. So far, I have managed to keep myself awake... except once.

I awoke early (very early) in the morning one day during the 2nd or 3rd week of Jack's life. After feeding, he was still fussy, so I pulled him close and allowed him to get comfortable right on top of me. Where was I? Laying in bed. And wouldn't you know it, I dozed off. When I woke up about an hour later, Nathan was still in the bed with us but he had stayed awake, keeping a close eye on us. "You and Jack needed that time together," he said, by way of explanation. "And I just wanted to make sure everybody stayed safe."

Feeling a little sheepish, and very much relieved, I thanked Nathan for staying awake and keeping an eye on us.

Despite being "guarded" by Nathan, that experience made me nervous enough that I haven't fallen asleep with Jack again.

And boy, does this parenting thing take teamwork!

Nathan & Jack on Father's Day

The Happy Smiles (& Wild Hair) of Baby Jack

Tiling the Master Bathroom

Garden of the Gods

Jack and I met Erin and Ben at Garden of the Gods this morning and had a lovely time walking through the park.

As you can see, Jack was captivated by the beauty around him!

I have taken walks with Jack since he has been born, but this was definitely my first workout since having a baby. I guess I didn't realize how many hills there were at Garden of the Gods until I was pushing a heavy stroller with an 11 pound baby up and down them!

The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman

For generations, the women in the Sparrow family have awoken the morning of their thirteenth birthday to find they have a special gift. One Sparrow daughter could no longer feel any pain, another could sniff out a lie, Jenny could see others' dreams. When Jenny's daughter, Stella, wakes up the morning of her thirteenth birthday she finds that she has the unusual gift of seeing how other people will die. When this ability results in the arrest of her father (for murder), Stella and Jenny flee to her estranged grandmother's home, Cake House, where Stella learns about the family from which she comes.

Alice Hoffman was a favorite author of mine years ago and it was fun to revisit one of her novels. I enjoyed this book. The story was well-told, the writing wonderful. I liked the magical element which, if I remember correctly, is included in many of her books. But, to be honest, I feel that I cannot do this book justice in my review. For me, The Probable Future had the huge disadvantage of being the book I was reading when I gave birth to my first child. As a result, some of the reading momentum was lost as it was put aside for periods of time while I was in the hospital and caring for my son. While the book was good, the story line and characters were not strong enough to pull me back after these short lapses of reading with a concrete memory of everything that had happened. Maybe this is one book I should pull out again later...

You Just Never Know...

At our house, we like coffee. A lot.

Not only does it taste good, but there's just something about the smell of coffee and the mere act of lounging on the couch with a cuppa joe and a good book (or, in Nathan's case, his iPod). Nothing beats it.

We tend to buy whole bean coffee and grind it ourselves each day. This means that almost every morning in the Gillis household the loud grating sound of the coffee beans being pulverized into a powder echoes through our home. The apartment we are currently staying in is fairly small so this sound can be heard throughout all the rooms (and probably by unhappy neighbors, as well).

Interestingly enough, the harsh sound of the coffee grinder breaking the silence of the apartment does not always wake up baby Jack.

The other day Jack was asleep in the living area quite close to the coffee grinder in the kitchen as Nathan was preparing to grind coffee beans. It had taken awhile for Jack to fall asleep, so I was a little nervous that the sound of the coffee grinding might wake him up. Settling down next to him, I prepared for the worst, making myself available to quickly comfort Jack should the sound startle him out of his peaceful slumber.

With a cringe from me and both our eyes on baby Jack, Nathan pushed the button to start the grinding...

Jack barely twitched!

Breathing sighs of relief, Nathan continued making the coffee and I opened my book.

A minute later, I felt a tickle in my nose. Then...

"Achooo!" I sneezed.

Jack, startled, flung his arms and legs into the air. Immediately, his eyes scrunched together, his mouth opened wide and...

"WAAAAA!!!" his piercingly loud cry could be heard around the block.

There's just no knowing!

Jackson and His Mommy

Jackson and I love to read together. Our favorite books right now are I Like it When..., Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?, and Zoo's Who? We also love to play games. We play So Big, Peek-a-Boo, and Head Bumper (otherwise known as Gully Gully!).

Jackson and His Daddy

Jackson loves it when his daddy sings to him and keeps him moving! Nathan is terrific at bouncing, jiggling, rocking, and pacing with baby Jack (although this picture shows one of the more rare still moments they shared).

Challenging Myself

As I have considered my blog lately, I have come to a surprising realization... I am bored with it.

Don't get me wrong, pictures of my son do not bore me, and neither do pictures of times with friends and family, or pictures of the progress on our house. But, the problem is just that- it's all pictures these days. Perhaps because pictures are easy and quick, and I know pictures (especially of Jack) will be well-received by family, I have fallen back on primarily just posting those.

When I think about what I want my blog to be, and what I want to be able to look back on later, pictures are definitely a must-have. However, what I used to love about my blog (and why I allowed it to take the place of scrapbooking) was that I had found a way to record my life in pictures and words, rather than pictures alone. But, just like with scrapbooking, I have become lazy with the writing and feel disappointed in myself.

So, I am challenging myself to write more on the blog. I am nervous for a couple of reasons, not the least of which is that my life right now consists primarily of being a mom. Writing about my mommy experiences and decisions will inevitably expose me to the judgment of others, which I have already found to be one of the most difficult parts of being a parent. Also, many of you readers out there have been parents for a while. This could mean that my parental experiences may seem like old news to you. Despite these reservations, I am going to try sharing more on the blog in the hopes that I will find more satisfaction with the record I am creating of my life.

As we finish the house, as I return to work and Nathan becomes a stay-at-home dad, as I keep trying to read, and as I maintain relationships with friends and family who are important to me, hopefully the blog will reflect all my experiences- in pictures and words.

June Brunch Bunch

So many beautiful boys at brunch bunch this month....!

erin, elias, lisa, tyler, jessica, philip, marika, jack, liz, benjamin
(not pictured- liam, who was running around out of sight!)

Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are in....





...and sanded...

Chattering & Smiling

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a busy, busy Memorial Day weekend that included two graduation parties, two BBQs, and one birthday party. From Friday evening to Monday evening, we were on the move... and Jack wasn't fazed a bit by our busy schedule! What a trooper! Here are some highlights...

Raquel's Surprise Birthday Party
On Saturday evening, her husband and sister-in-law (see below) surprised Raquel with a great party for her, um... 25th ;)... birthday!!

Family BBQJack got to meet a lot of new family members at Grandma Sue's barbecue on Sunday!

Liz's Graduation PartyOn Monday, we headed to Boulder to celebrate Liz's graduation. It was a beautiful day outside and the outdoor set-up was ideal!

(final picture was taken by Joel and swiped off facebook by me)

What a great weekend!