Welcome to the World, Woodrow!

September 16, 2014 ~ Crystle ~ 5 Comments

Our baby boy is here! Woodrow Paul was born Monday September 8th, at 8:04 AM, weighing in at 8 lbs 1.5 ounces and 18.5″ long.

Even though he’s only a week old, life before he arrived is difficult to recall. That may be due in part to sleep deprivation, but that’s okay. Our chubby-cheeked boy is perfect and we’re so happy to be home with him.

I’m recovering well from surgery, and Margot is adjusting to her role as big sister beautifully. She had extra special attention from her grandma CeCe who flew in to help us out while we were bringing Woody into the world. Even the dog is taking the change in stride.

Isaac’s paternity leave ends this week, then I officially begin life at home with two kids. There’s a lot of trepidation on my end at this prospect, but I’m sure the adjustment won’t be as difficult as I envision (I tend to be a worst-case-scenario worrier). My house will undoubtedly take on a new level of disorder, lazy crock pot meals will nourish us, and the dog will likely go un-walked. I value order highly, but I know it needs to take a backseat to the bigger picture shift at hand. Sorry in advance to my visitors, and while it is very tempting, please don’t write your name in the dust.

More portraits to come soon.

Margot + Bananas

August 10, 2013August 10, 2013 ~ Crystle ~ 3 Comments

Margot - Five Months | Yea Yea Pueblo

We couldn’t ask for more when it comes to our baby girl. Margot is healthy, easy-going, and beautiful. She’s hitting all her baby milestones rather early and our job as parents has been as smooth as silk. At her four month appointment, her pediatrician approved a slowly-integrated menu of solids, a welcome change.

Margot - Five Months Old | Yea Yea Pueblo

Margot - Five Months | Yea Yea Pueblo

While I was still pregnant, my sister-in-law Anna and her fiancè Jonathan were gracious enough to gift us the Baby Bullet to help our transition into solids further down the line. It sat on the shelf until this glorious day when Margot was finally ready to sample solids.

Of course I was there with my Canon, ready to document the auspicious occasion.

We pureèd bananas with water and hoped for the best, and the best it was. Margot absolutely loved her soupy bananas, and grabbed for more any time the spoon was in her reach. It was adorably messy and incredibly time consuming.

Bottles feed her much quicker, but we all seem to enjoy the novelty of a new phase.
Margot - Five Months | Yea Yea Pueblo

To bring her into the world was amazing enough, but to see her eventually initiate tummy time on her own and unsteadily hold her head up by herself–that was inconceivable! Now she can sit up and eat semi-solids. We are but quieted wallflowers. Our Margot is growing up in a flash and there is nothing we can do to reel it in. Her teeth are coming in! She loves bananas! She loves Radiohead lullabies! She giggles and crawls after our elderly Beagle, Yango. With every new day of life she becomes more animated.

Is there anything else to do but resign ourselves to the inevitability of growth? But I suppose, as she grows, we do too. Vicariously and metaphorically.

Margot - Five Months | Yea Yea Pueblo

We were lucky enough

Four Months Later

July 22, 2013July 22, 2013 ~ Crystle ~ 8 Comments

Here we are, four months after bringing Margot into the world, and we’re still adjusting to the new family dynamic. As soon as we find our groove, Margot changes…and off the balance is thrown.

She’s learning how to crawl.

She brings her knees to her belly, then face-plants onto her quilt on the floor, unable to push her chest up and forward at the same time. She screams in frustration, then rolls over in exhaustion. This carries on until the frustration escalates into a tantrum, or she distracts herself with toys. Right now it’s the former. Don’t let the charming photos fool you, this sweet baby has regular meltdowns, too.

Lucky for us, she’s sleeping through the night, waking only once at around 5 am for a bottle and a diaper change before sleeping in until 8. It’s been a nice advancement in the baby game.

Her personality is beginning to shine through, too. Margot is effervescent in the mornings, clingy in the afternoons and playful in the evenings. Getting work done around the house isn’t always possible, but I’ve been told that’s to be expected.

While Margot attempts to crawl around — usually trying to chase after the dog, Isaac and I have been planning our move to Fairbanks. We’re still debating whether or not we want to buy a house or live on base.

It’s almost impossible to structure a plan around living in a land of such extremes. Many people we run into here in the Pacific Northwest have had some experience up there. Their opinions vary greatly, which muddies the water even further.

We’ll be leaving Washington in seven weeks, just before Margot turns 6 months old. Her first winter ever will be in Alaska. It should make for an interesting first Christmas, and at least an awesome Christmas card.

Until then, we’ll get used to our temporary routine and savor our last season in Olympia.