Mis-Take

In order to get the above family photo for the blog header, we had to to get through these 2 disasters first:

We were in Banff today, and the sky was so bright I just COULDN'T open my eyes for the photo. Warren thought I was being mellow-dramatic. Talk about being insensitive to my burning retnas!

In the end, sunglasses were our only option.

Caption This #2

A Letter To Rhys: 2 Months Old

Dear Rhys,

This is a special letter to highlight some of the things I want to make sure I remember, as I'm learning quickly that this time with you is fleeting, and before I know it you'll go away to college, meet a nice girl, and never call.

You started smiling (the real 'social' smile that the books talk about) at 6 weeks. This, I'm told is quite early. Your dad & I believe you are very advanced for your age. Your Nana Cronin believes you are a 'Happy Soul'. People who come to visit you might not agree since you squirm & fuss sometimes when others are around. But your dad and I fuss & squirm when others are around too, so you come by it honestly.

Some of the nicknames we call you are:

Buster Brown, Baba Smooch, Baba, Dr.Jekyl, Mr. Hyde, The Hulk (you won't like him when he's angry...) and The Beast (when you wake up...The Beast Awakes!). Most of these names are in jest, because you are truly a very good baby.

When you have massive spit-up episode, your dad & I holler out "It's a massacre!".

Things I adore about your babyness:

1) Your soft fluffy hair after bath time.

2) The way you look in sleepers or 'Jimjams'.

3) Your baby-cellulite.

4) Your sweet little 'O' mouth.

5) Your chubby-cheek profile when you are nursing (and when you look up at me and smile when you are nursing - Yowsa, that's a doozy!!!).

6) The impossibly soft skin on the bottom of your feet.

Some milestones that we've noticed:

1) The smiling thing.

2) The strength you continue gain in your neck (your were born very strong & squirmy!)

3) You are just starting to attempt to control your arms & hands. You have managed to hit toys that dangle nearby with a focus that makes it seem somewhat intentional.

4) You have discovered your fists and enjoy sucking on them from time to time. We anxiously await the moment you discover your fingers!

5)You have outgrown the 'Double Swaddle' that we perfected. You have graduated to the Miracle Blanket for night time, and the Sleep Sack for daytime. You kicked your feet out of the Miracle Blanket last night, so you may soon graduate to the giant muslin blanket...

6) September 11 was your first night in your own room in the crib. You have officially graduated from the bassinet beside our bed at 8 weeks and 3 days old. Your dad & I both had a deeper sleep (we know this because we both had dreams for the first time in months). Your little night time grunts were no longer waking us all the time.

7) We've eaten out at East Side Mario's 4 times with you, 2 of those times were with other people. You were a Rockstar every single time.

9) The longest you have slept at night, without interruption, so far is 9 and a half hours.

One thing that is completely unique to YOU:

1) The 'Rhys-Hawk' hairdo. Business in the front, party in the back.

You & Papa on your 2-month anniversary:

Love you lots,
xoxx Mom

Caption This...

What is Mister Rhys thinking in these photos? Leave your guess in the comments!

1)


2)

Stunner

(Photos taken by Keri at Big Picture Photography...you know, while she was just 'playing around' with her camera in Shawna's backyard...can we say TALENTED?)

Made for Walkin'

Rhys wore his first pair of shoes yesterday. Wow...they grow up so fast.


To the nay-sayers out there - this is a GENUINE social smile, solicited by Gramma Patsy...:-)

More Visitors

My friend Crystal, up all the way from Phoenix Arizona. I've known her since 'I was born' :-)

(Spittle marks on Rhys' shirt curtesy of a good ole burping. I told him to put on a clean outfit for the photo, but he ignored me. Takes after his father).



The magnificent Troy, who brought us flowers, lasagna, salad and non-alcoholic beer. Hola!

Hef

Our very own mini-Hugh Hefner...lounging in his Froggy smoking jacking...er...bath robe.

(Editor's note: I realise the photos are blurry, but I still think the cuteness comes through, don't you agree?).

A Day at the Park

HERITAGE PARK that is.

Yes, yesterday our little family went to Heritage Park. Before Rhys was born we used to think it was odd to see young parents pushing a stroller with a tiny little infant at places like the zoo etc. We'd think 'What's the point? That kid is too young to enjoy this place." Now we realise it's fully 100% for the parents. It's something to do. Something other than walking to the mall. And it's outside. With other people. Plus we took notes on what to do better when Rhys is old enough to enjoy it.

1) Bring WATER (lots!).
2) Bring a bagged lunch ($17 for two bottles of water and two ham sandwich buns is not very economical).
3) Bring some cash, because the candy store doesn't take debit.
4) Wear comfy shoes, not flip flops.

We took some photos, which ironically look like they could have been taken in any park in Calgary. You'd never know we paid $40 admission by looking at these photos.

Warren unloading our precious cargo from the stroller:


Father & Son:

Feeding time, with my oh-so-stylish 'Hooter Hider'.

I love it when he makes that little mouth face:

A smile perhaps? :

The view through Rhys' eyes:

Photo Booth #4

Make-up, brushed hair & cup of joe brought to you by: The Fabulous Erin Kelly!

She's the one who sold us the uber-awesome Rainforest Swing :-)

Photo Booth #3

Yesterday evening, Mr. Rhys was being very serious.

So here's our Serious Pose:

Here's me trying to lighten the mood:

Wild Child

Look out!

Rhys has a Wild Side.

(Image courtesy of my ridiculous co-worker, John)

Baby Class

Photos from our last Baby Class...

All the new Babes:


Oddly enough, the only picture we currently have of the three of us together:

"Bizarro World" Warren & Amanda (Warren thought this couple looked like us):

8 Boys & 5 Girls in total:

Papa Cronin

It's about time Warren was featured in an update.

We are currently adopting the terms Mama and Papa, in lieu of Mommy and Daddy. I don't know, maybe we think it sounds more British?

Anyways...some photos of Papa Cronin.

Proud Papa on Birth Day:


Smiling down at his son:

That awkward 'first cuddle' right after birth:

Rhys is thinking: "Papa, you've told that joke a hundred times already...":

Ahh, the comforting grip of Papa's finger...:

Rhys is thinking: "Sheesh, what time is it? I'm BUSHED!":

Papa's turn to feed:

Late night snuggle in those early days:

One Month Already

For a long, long time - ever since Warren & I started talking seriously about getting pregnant - we would dream about one day having a baby boy named Rhys. Sure, there were discussions on how his name would be spelled, since there are so many variations on that name, but that was always the name of our future son.

And now he's here. He's been here for a month. We can kiss him, coddle him, soothe him and dream big things for him.

Life is SO awesome.

Rhys, you are truly the little man of our dreams. You are MAGIC.

Hush Little Baby

I was looking through the photos on my camera, and noticed a large amount of photos of Rhys snoozing.

This is one of my faves.

New Mom Milestone

Today I conquered a big milestone. One that frightened me, but that I knew I wanted to try sooner than later so that I could see it wasn't as big of a deal as I was making it out to be.

I ate out at a restaurant. And nursed Rhys at the table. It wasn't McDonald's, either, or Denny's for that matter. It was East Side Mario's!

Small potatoes to the veteran parents out there, but BIG potatoes to me!

Photo Booth #2

Working Man

Discussion with Rhys this morning...

Amanda: Hey Rhys. Your Social Insurance Number came in the mail yesterday.

Rhys: That's cool and all, mom, but I don't know what that means.

Amanda: Well, sweetheart, it means you can get a JOB now. You know...earn your keep around here.

Rhys: Yah right, mom. I can't even hold my head up yet. Plus, I don't think McDonald's will hire someone who still poops their pants 10-15 times a day.

Photo Booth

Hangin' with Rhys this morning, taken with the Mac Photo Booth.