Weighing In

From his doctor's appointment today, for those keeping track:
weight- 17 lbs, 3 oz (90th percentile)
length - 26 3/4 inces (95th percentile).

This is up from his 2 month appointment where he came in at the 75th percentile in both.

In other news, Micah discovered his feet today!

4 Months and the Little Man Keeps Getting Bigger

Micah is 4 months old today - and is, of course, growing more and more into himself. He's raising his head up higher and higher, and started pushing himself back over to his back from his stomach. He is a smiler, and wakes up so happy in the morning. Lately, we've noticed him mimicing and dancing with us too. He's always chewing on his hands. And he LOVES his sister. When she gets in the car from school, he grins and laughs at her. In the evenings he watches her play and takes it all in.

He changed diaper sizes (again) recently, and is now headed toward fitting into a size up in clothes too. He is such a happy and content little boy.

A Birthday

Last week was Mark's birthday -- he turned 35! And to celebrate, first he was out of town all week, then I was out for two full days, so celebrating has lasted a full week. Naomi wanted to get Mark a present, "a toy of his own!" I really think Naomi has a gift of choosing presents - she finds such joy in that part of birthdays. She has had very clear ideas lately of what to get her friends, and it usually involves things they like to do together. So, for Mark it was a toy, "something pirate-y." So off to Terra Toys we went, and came back (after much back and forth between her and I, saying no to the $90 pirate ship and a redirection back to pirates from princessy stuff) with a cool pirate island set. They love to play Playmobil together. It was a perfect choice.

Today, we finished his cake. A Lemon-Syrup Loaf Cake topped with blackberries and whipped cream - Micah and Naomi sat on the counter and helped with the whipped cream.

Springtime + Hometime

So, here we are. For me, this is 4+months of at-home time. Naomi is settling into Big Sisterhood, Micah has discovered smiling and laughing and squeeling and watching the family, and I am cooking like a crazy-person. I was reflecting this morning, that hometime seems to flow at a different speed than outsideworld time. I mean, its taken this long for Micah to begin to develop his personality! Thankfully, springtime is here, so there are beautiful vegetables, sunny days to be in the backyard or the farmer's market. We've been eeating kale and spinach, and discovering new loves in leeks and beets. I feel like I might need to start photographing my food and posting recipes, I spend a lot of mental energy thinking about cooking.

Naomi has been exploring more than painting, when we made a hat, which she shared with her brother.

Here we are, playing in the backyard yesterday. Naomi turned on the sprinkler and directed it towards her slide. Micah enjoyed the birds.

Purple Fairy Tea Party

For Christmas, from Dot Dot, Naomi received a purple fairy tea-set. And last week, Naomi decided she wanted to invite two friends to

a tea party. She had a very specific idea of what she wanted -- and it was a success!

Micah -- 6 weeks

It is hard to believe both that it has already been six weeks since Micah was born, and that it has only been six weeks since he was born. It has seemed fast, and yet I can't imagine our life and family without him now!

Six weeks is a milestone week - he has started showing some smiles, a dimple, and seems a lot more involved and interested and interactive. While I don't know what his weight is now, he is definitely filling out his 3 month clothes, and about to move up a diaper size. We are so curious about him - who is this little guy going to be? And what will he look like?

Micah and Naomi in Action

Naomi loves her little brother. I love how Naomi asks Micah if he needs some "sister time"!

Playtime, Bathtime

More pictures of Micah and the family. Naomi loves her brother and wants to play with him.

Here is Naomi the fairy, and Micah the astronaut!!

First bath - Naomi was so excited to help out. And Micah seemed to like the water - and be a dragon.

Naomi Singing

We have had a lot of time at home together lately, with Micah's birth, and now me staying home and Naomi only going to school a couple of mornings a week. Sometimes this is what it can look like.

Welcome Micah Wesley!

Our due date was not until January 24th, so it was a surprise to welcome our new little one two and a half weeks early, on January 6th! I had been assuming he would be late, like his sister, and we'd have time to finish up all the last minute setting up and getting ready.

At 37 weeks I was diagnosed with a condition called cholestasis of pregnancy, which means that rarely for some women their liver and gall bladder don't work as well while pregnant, and it can lead to some complications for the baby. It goes away after delivery, but they like to deliver babies earlier to avoid the possible complications. So, basically it meant they wanted to induce the next day! After a good conversation with my doctor, we decided to go in that evening (the 5th) to check things out, see where I was and the baby was, and then induce in the morning.

I knew that our kiddo was healthy and okay, but I was anxious not knowing if I was ready. And what would it mean to be induced, given my goal of having a natural birth? I was also anxious to not have as long of a labor as before.

Thankfully, when I went to the hospital, I was already dialated to 3 cm - which means we were partly there already. At 9:30 Wednesday morning my doctor broke my water - and that is all it took. Mark was so supportive and encouraging, and an active participant the whole time. We walked, I got a nap, and my contractions slowly increased and got more intense through the day. At 3, we talked with my doctor about whether we needed to hurry things along, or if it was going the way it needed to. She decided to check back in with us at 5 - but we didn't that far! Things got more intense, and 45 minutes later and less than 5 minutes of pushing, I almost gave birth to Micah sitting on my yoga ball!

Naomi has welcomed Micah, and while I can see she wants more time with us, she really loves her brother.

Most everyone knows that Micah did not have a name when we went to the hospital - in fact, that was one of our concerns having to deliver early - this boy didn't have a name! Mark and I had some quiet time together in the hospital to discuss it, and consider him. We came to Micah after batting around a few options, and Mark reread the old testament book of Micah a couple of times, and remembering the themes there -- 'What does the Lord require of you? But to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.' We chose Wesley after Mark's dad and granddad.