Spring has sprung!

The flowers are blooming and it's gorgeous up here! The whole family is really enjoying the sunshine and warmer weather. Lots of afternoons on the deck and strolls around the block. Tate recently had his 8 week check-up and immunizations (harder for Mom than for Tate), and although he's tiny for his age, he's growing & developing well. He turns 1o weeks old tomorrow! Hard to believe. Kenny has been busy working as a basic EMT with Curtis Ambulance and still puts in a couple days a week with Sara Lee. More classes in the fall for advanced EMT training. I am not overjoyed about returning to work at the end of the month, but we were encouraged today by a visit to the wonderful daycare we've found for Tate. They seem to really care for the kids and provide a great learning/social environment. Here are a few more photos and videos from the last couple of weeks:

Tate chilling in his car seat:

Another snuggle on the couch:

Tate is an expert napper:

Getting really excited about being tickled:

Showing off his baby-blues:

Tate still looks pretty teeny weeny next to Daddy:

Mom's lap is the perfect place to nap:

You'd think he'd be uncomfortable like this, but apparently not:

I love his little penguin outfit, probably the last time he'll ever wear it ;(

Good thing he has a cousin on the way to share his outgrown clothes with!!!

The first video is Tate waking up this morning, full of smiles for Daddy:

Here Tate is on his play mat, batting his favorite dangly toy, the penguin. Reaching out for objects is new for Tate in the last couple of weeks:

Happy Earth Day to everyone! Go hug a tree ;)

Meredith

Smile!

Hope you all have been enjoying the beautiful spring weather!!! It's been wonderful here in Madison; Tate, Zoey and I love our daily ventures around the neighborhood. Tate is now 7 weeks old!!! How time flies. Here are more photos from recent weeks:

Zoey does not like it when Tate cries and tries to help out with her "calming" presence or a few licks to his face (much to Mom & Dad's dismay):

Tate rocking out his new Baby Legs (these are apparently all the rage right now). They're still a bit big:

This Baby Bjorn has been a lifesaver! Now all I have to do is put Tate in it and he instantly calms down and soon drifts off for a nap. Thanks Aunt Corry and Uncle Dave!

Tate loves the mohawk look:

HI MOM!!! I cannot get over his scrawny little arms and legs, too cute!

Snuggling is Tate's favorite pastime:

"You might think I'm sleeping, but I've always got one eye open, Mom..." (sorry this is underlined, sometimes the blog gets a mind of its own)

Apparently Tate prefers to sleep leaning to his right... his neck is always wrenched over in his carseat and Bjorn, not matter how many times Mom tries to straighten him out:

At 6 weeks we switched Tate over to cloth diapers. At first I was really intimidated by the thought of it, but we went to this awesome diaper store and once we looked at the various cloth "systems", we saw how easy it was and how much money we'd save not buying disposable diapers. Plus we feel better about not filling up the landfills ;) Some of you were curious about it so I posted a couple photos. In this first one, you can see the cute outer shell that has adjustable button snaps so it will grow with Tate (up to 35 lbs!). You just snap in a clean cloth insert each time you change him. They have either nice velcro straps or more button snaps to fasten them in place instead of the sticky tabs disposable diapers have.

Here's the cool diaper sprayer Kenny and his dad installed on the toilet to spray down the really poopy ones before washing them:

This video catches a couple smiles and Tate "talking" to Mommy:

Best wishes and God Bless you all in this Easter season ;)

Meredith

First big trip to visit family!

Tate's first big trip to visit our families in Woodstock and Downers Grove was a success (much to his parents' relief)! Below are some cute pics of Zoey and Tate on the drive down. We are still amazed at how much Zoey loves her new little brother; for those of you who know her, she's a tad bit hyper and we worried she'd be a little too much for Tate to handle. But she's proven to be a great doggy mama and is very protective and attentive to him. One day she ran into the nursery when Tate started crying and stood by his crib wagging her tail and whimpering until I could get there and pick him up.

Tate met his Great-Grandma Tomiko last week for the first time! She was very excited to meet him and proclaimed in Japanese that he has a big nose ;)

Tate also met his Great-Grandie last weekend! So many new faces to learn and new adventures!

Last, but not least, Tate met his auntie Kristy, who gave him this adorable dinosaur outfit:

Hope this post finds you all well and anticipating the arrival of spring! The snow has finally begun to melt here in Madison and we can actually take Tater on a walk!

Take care,

Meredith

And.... more photos!

I know you all were anxiously awaiting more photos, and who am I to disappoint?

Zoey wanted to get in on the snuggling...

Such tiny hands!

Mimi is a great snuggler, too:

So is Papa:

Being so darn cute is exhausting:

Fuzzy hair after a bath:

Lovin' his bouncy seat:

Tate's homage to Granddad & Papa:

Tate's reaction to the movie "Observe & Report"; I agree, Tate, I agree... it was awful:

See ya later alligators!!!

More visitors!

Last weekend Mimi and Papa (Kenny's parents) came to visit Tate, along with my sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, and nieces. Mimi got some good snuggle time in with Tate:

Autumn gives her little cousin a thumbs-up, such a great future babysitter!

Here's another great scrunchy face, of which he has so many...

He's a big fan of his swing:

Sleepy baby, sleepy mommy...

Last, but not least, Zoey throws all sense of tentativeness around Tate out the window, or maybe just when pistachios are involved... she got right up into his personal space to beg for some nuts. Look at those crazy eyes in the second pic checkin' out the pistachios... I think she also likes the smell of his diapers... gross.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

XOXO~

Meredith

Hi all! Thought you might enjoy some more photos from the last few days. Tate is now eating like a champ and reassuring his mommy and daddy by gaining weight and becoming less jaundiced. He's almost 2 weeks old!!! Grandma and Granddad White came up last weekend to spend some time with their new grandson, and let mommy and daddy sleep a little and even catch a movie together for Valentine's Day! What a treat!

Snuggling close after his bath:

Passed out, a.k.a. milk drunk:

He loves napping on daddy's tummy:

I love his arms in this one...

Alert and watchful during dinner:

Like Granddad like grandson:

Debuting his gifts from Aunt Becky:

Have a great weekend everyone!

Meredith