Goodbye Pregnancy Weight

January 31

Bud and I both have some pregnancy weight to lose. Normally, we spend our summers hiking our holiday weight away, but this summer, Pregnancy + Pandemic = Extr\a Pounds. So, yesterday we spent our morning cuddling River and brainstorming our weight loss options. We still can’t get outside and exercise as much as we used to, but at least we can stop eating half a stick of butter with our scrambled eggs on the daily. So, after a bit of research and weighing our options, we signed up for Weight Watchers, and took River to the grocery store for some healthy food. Seeing as we are “geriatric” parents, we want to do everything we can to remain healthy for River and his future siblings. Wish us luck!

January 30

A Quiet Saturday Inside

What a great Saturday we had! Bud had planned to rise very early and spend the pre-sunrise hours exercising alone, as it is far too cold this weekend to venture out with River. However, his constitutional was cut short by the extreme “feels like” -4 degree temperatures, and, after Bud returned home, we enjoyed a quiet morning as a family. Bud and I drank coffee and chatted while River slept in my lap. I love how having River here has forced us to slow down after years of go, go, go. There is something so peaceful about a quiet morning in your own living room with your family. Bud captured our happy day using a new photography toy I got him for his birthday, a little lens ball that eerily reminds me of David Bowie in the The Labyrinth. Lastly, River started exercising his legs by “walking” around the apartment (really just dangling from my hands by his arm pits, but we’ve all got to start somewhere, right?) Add to this two baths and a bedtime of 8:30pm, and we were able to achieve a pretty perfect Saturday.

January 29

River is feeling Fri-YAY!

Baby Toes and Cuddles

28 January 2021
Is there anything cuter than little baby toes? Or anything sweeter than little baby cuddles?

Happy Morning

27 January 2021
Today River woke up and seemed to say, “Mama, can we go see if Daddy hasn’t left for work yet?”
So I said, “Ok, River. We can see!”
And lucky for us, Daddy was still cleaning the snow off the car! River was so happy to get to go and and give his Dad one last cuddle before he left for work!

Make It

Mama’s Best Birthday

January 26

Birthdays are a weird thing. Why do we celebrate them? Is it because we have survived another year? Is it a convenient opportunity to give accolades to every person once a year? I did some Googling and found that it goes back to a pagan tradition of warding off opportunistic evil spirits that may use this day of change for their nefarious purposes. Whatever the reason, I am grateful that we do celebrate them. I am grateful for the time spent with my favorite people these past couple of days, for my father and Odile coming to take part in a birthday feast planned by Bud. I’m grateful my mother came to cook Bud and me dinner on my birthday. I’m grateful for the beautiful gifts I received that remind me what loving, thoughtful family I have. And I’m grateful that this year, Bud and I have our own little precious gift to cuddle on this and every day. I think my 38th year is going to be one of my best yet!

River’s Photo Shoot

January 25

Sunday, Daddy gave Mommy a new lens for her birthday. Monday, River was a good sport and was willing to be an adorable model for Mommy’s photo shoots!

Pass the Rock!

January 24

River is learning to be a little football fan (and to fit his whole fist in his mouth)! Go Buccaneers! (Or as Dada calls them, Patriots South!)

Mama Goes to the Salon (and worries unnecessarily)

January 23

Today was a day I was dreading all week. Today, I had a hair appointment. Just a quick cut. But I was so nervous to leave River. Usually if I leave, it’s for a quick run to the post office, and even that makes me anxious.

All through my appointment I was worried. What if he won’t take the bottle I left? What if he needs me? What if he cries? As I was leaving the salon, I saw that I had a text message from Bud which included the video below. Needless to say, I actually enjoyed my drive home. I had no reason to worry. Why should I? He was with his Daddy!

As a side note, not only was River happily sleeping while I was gone, but Bud managed to clean the entire apartment! I think I need to go to the salon more often!

Grandparents

January 22
There are only a few special bonds we create over a lifetime. One of the most precious is that between grandparent and grandchild. Grandparents love their grandchildren, but moreso, grandchildren love their grandparents. Although River is too young to really understand the special relationship he will create with his Memere, Pepere, Pop Pop, Nana, Grandma, Grandpa, and Oma, I know he already feels safe and adored in their arms.

.

There just isn’t much to report some days. River, if you are reading this in the future, know the following:

We loved you every single minute of the day today (as we have done every day you’ve been with us).
I (Dada) couldn’t stop thinking of you while I worked today. Seeing other youngsters learn will always be a reminder of the place you are in in life at the moment: where everything is new, and even little things, like touching different objects or seeing your parent’s smile, represent monumental moments of growth and understanding.
One of Dada’s favorite moments of any day was pulling into the driveway this afternoon, just home from work, and seeing you and Momma heading to the trash can. It was freezing cold outside, but you were warm and safe in Momma’s arms (and by the cute little jacket she dressed you in). It was the best sight. I didn’t have to wait to haul in my teaching accoutrements from car to house to see you. You were right there smiling at me as I rolled down the window of the car to say hello.
You spent most of the afternoon today as a very hungry boy, a little cranky to take your much needed nap, but lovable and cuddly nevertheless.
The best part of my day though was when you sat in my lap and rocked with me. It was a silent ten minutes, but you cuddled into my arms and just sat looking around. It meant a lot to me.
We love you, little man!

21 January 2021

River here!

January 20

River here! Today I had a pretty good day. Three great things happened. First, I heard Mommy and Daddy talking yesterday about how it was weird that I hadn’t been pooping every day, so I decided to poop five times today to make them happy! This is a record this month. Plus, I saved the grand finale for the fifth poop, and now I get a bath with Daddy. Hooray! This makes me happy because I miss Daddy while he’s at work. Second, I’ve been practicing a new skill- holding a toy and bringing it to my mouth. I didn’t think this was that big a deal, but for some reason, it made Mommy cry. And last, my fave cousin Hillarie sent me the most fashionable beanie! Now I look like a true New Englander! Thanks, Hill!

January 19

It’s amazing how much smaller

the world seems with you in it.

And how days seem to both

speed up and slow down at the same time.

It’s so beautiful the way your smile

warms your daddy’s face

And how perfectly your little body

fits against mine.

Monday, 18 January 2021

River had a great day today characterized by the following:

Some really long periods of napping (which he is doing right now on Dada’s lap as he types)
The production of two more whopping poops (seriously, this makes us so happy as it means we have a healthy baby on our hands)
Cuddling in the baby carrier as Mom and Dad walked six miles
A long visit with Pop Pop and Baxter

Did I mention the temperatures were in the upper 40s as well? Honestly though, as nice as the weather has been as of late for our walks with little baby River, I do hope we get more classic New England winters in the coming years: I want River to experience what makes the Northeast so special: the distinctively cold and white winters.

Thanks again, Pop Pop for giving River so much love and attention today!

Football and Poops!

Yay! I am happy to report that River finally pooped again! He had been on a defecation hiatus of sorts over the past four days, and his lack of a proper diaper change had become something we eagerly awaited.

Yes, we know those sorts of runs without a poop are nothing to get down in the dumps about, but it’s still worrisome to newbies.

Maybe worrying is just something we are prone to doing, or maybe it’s just the nature of the job itself? Perhaps these worries really stem from having to dutifully count our little one’s daily poops and pees for two months (a habit we have not broke). Regardless, it was a very good Sunday. River, you made us laugh a lot today. We are blessed to have you, little man!

Cutest part of today? I woke to River, some 12-weeks old, smiling, babbling, and batting his arms and legs towards my face, in an effort to wake me up. It was really something to see, as Aly and I were once again shown how much growing up this boy has been doing these past days and weeks. He is not the same little black-haired infant we brought home from the hospital back on October 27. Best part of that little episode? Aly was able to capture the whole thing on video via her iPhone. :)

17 January 2021

Day one of our long weekend was a success!

Check out the pics posted below. They really speak for themselves. The only things missing in the photos? How about River’s daily bath, watching the NFL Playoffs, getting River to nap on the couch, River staring lovingly at his parents (weird and cute), tummy time and other moments of play, and our meal periods.

River’s good attitude and smile made today a special one for Aly and me. We are so in love with this little baby. He is so both of us in ways that are obvious and subtle.

16 January 2021

15 January 2021

We’re about to start a long weekend, and it couldn’t come any sooner. Dada misses hanging with his boy! You had a good day today, Riv! Yes, you didn’t nap much, but you were quite playful, showed off your ever growing motor skills, smiled back to us lots with your beautiful little grin, and made us feel loved with your nuzzling. You are too cute!

Days with River. Nothing beats them. We played, we fed, we changed, we loved, we cradled, and we snuggled. Now it’s time for sleep. That was our day with the Riv Kid.

14 January 2021

13 January 2021

Hi everyone! Dada here! River asked me to post an update about all the growing up he is doing lately. Where do we begin? For starters, River had a great morning and afternoon hanging with Mom while Dada taught remotely. Growing up is tough work for a little baby like Rivulet! Did I mention how it can be equally challenging for confident mothers like Aly? Case in point: River and Mommy went on what should have been a nice and uneventful walk around the block to get some fresh air. Unfortunately, the trip had some freaky moments, with Aly and Riv being followed by some sketchy-looking stray dog for part of the time. Yes, Aly was prepared, and she readied the bear spray as a just-in-case, but luckily, she never had to use it. River also didn’t sleep much today by way of napping, but he drooled a lot, cried a little, and drank enough milk for three babies. Once home, Dada got to help River numerous times with his endless flatulence movements by holding his little leggies up; Riv pushed and pushed, trying to expel his stinkiness, and found many gratifying moments of success. After some play with some colorful contrasty lights, it was off to bed for our little love bug.

It was a great day to be parents overall. River, day by day, is becoming more and more talkative with his vocalizations and grins. The boy has a beautiful smile.

We are so proud!

January 12

Since River arrived, I have learned some things about myself. I always thought happiness was found in excitement and novel experiences. I thought it was found at the top of a mountain or on a plane to Europe. I never imagined I would be the kind of adult who would find contentment making nonsense noises with an infant or joy watching her baby learn to hit the mobile toys on his own. I never thought my life would feel perfect just watching my baby sleep on my husband’s lap. Does this mean that I mean to eschew all forms of adventure in the future. Of course not! In fact, I am so eager to share these experiences with River one day. But it just means that I learned that there are more layers to myself than I knew existed. And I kind of love them.

January 11

Mama here. River and I just experienced our first week alone together during the day while Daddy returned to work. Let me be honest. I was SO nervous about Bud going back to work. Up until this point, everything was a tag-team deal. Blow out? I hand Bud wipes and hold River’s legs up while Bud does the cleaning. Feeding? Bud brings me food and drinks while River is attached to me for hours. Naps? Bud rocks River to sleep while I take a shower and brush my teeth. How could I possibly do all these things on my own? Well, just like every other mama or daddy throughout history, I figured it out, and River, asleep on my lap, seems to think I know what I’m doing. So we’ll let him keep thinking that. And I’ll keep figuring it out.

10 January 2021

Today was a busy one, even though we only accomplished a walk, grocery shopping, a bath, and the usual activities associated with raising an 11-week old baby. Seriously, life is much more about small victories when it comes to rearing an infant child. It seems obvious to us now as experienced parents, but 8-weeks ago, this reality was a challenging one to come to terms with: for the longest time, we just felt lazy everyday, asking ourselves over and over again, “Where did the time go?”.

I am sitting here, writing all of this with the worst stomach ache. For that reason alone, I’m going to keep this entry short and sweet. It was a wonderful New England day today. The sun was shining, and the winds were not blustering. Temps meandered were in the upper 30s for most of the day. Most importantly, River was up for a 3-mile walk, which gave Mommy and Dada time to get in some exercise. Of course after the walk, Rivulet went into his usual afternoon feeding frenzy, but it was good being able to hang with him before his cluster feeding began. He is quite the hungry boy.

We love you so, so much, Little River.

—Dada

We love lazy Saturdays. Especially after a long week adjusting to the new routine of Dada being at work. Unfortunately, today was not as lazy as we would’ve liked due to the chores we had to catch up on, but we had some nice moments of being stationary with the Riv Kid. Speaking of work, Dada got word today that next week will be full remote like last week. This is due to the rising Coronavirus cases in the city of Taunton where I work.

All in all, it was a good Saturday. We cleaned a little, watched a some playoff football (this was the first NFL game watched this season!), and spent the majority of our time cuddling River. We say to ourselves every single day the following: how lucky we are to end up with a sweetheart of a child like River, who is so patient, so nice, so chill, and so cooperative with two noob parents.

Thank you for being so understanding, River. We love you, Little One!

Friday Fun Day

We survived our first week of Dada heading back to work! River adjusted well to the changes to his daily routine, Momma took full control over giving our Pumpkin everything he needs from exercise to food to love, and we managed to brave some frigid walks to boot.

There are opportunities and love everywhere in life: you just have to be willing to keep your heart and eyes open to such possibilities.

Riv had another blowout today. I’m beginning to wonder if this isn’t just his silly way of reminding us that he wants a daily bath added to the schedule.

We love you so much, River!

8 January 2021

River had a big day today! From walks with Mom around the block (3 times!), to a post-blowout bath with Dada, to hanging with his grandparents, River was the star of the show today. We couldn’t be more proud of our little Rivulet. He is handling the New England winters like a true and hearty New Englander. Mom and Dad are so proud of all that you are becoming, little one!

7 January 2021

6 January 2021

CLUSTER FEEDING

Today was another one of those days that occur from time-to-time. No matter what we did, River had only one thing he had to do today: feed, feed, feed, feed, feed. Oh, did I mention his need to feed? :)

He is such a good boy. He played during the few moments he wasn’t endlessly feeding, went for a walk with Momma while Dada worked, had a nice warm bath, and cuddled with his parents.

Let’s hope River is back to his old self come tomorrow.

5 January 2021

This is what life is like now: Dada goes to work, while River, at least until April, gets to spend quality time at home in the sweet care of Momma. Lucky for River, Momma is quite the caring mother.

Little ones need their moms far more than they do their dads at this age. It’s just the nature of things.

At least I get little moments like this to break up the day. In case it’s not obvious, being able to send River little video messages in between classes.

Today was a typical cold New England day in January. It lightly snowed for a bit, with none of the flakes sticking much. I worked, came home to briefly see River and Aly, drove to Fairhaven for my daily run (I’m slow and out of shape, but that will change in no time, right?), and enjoyed dinner with my beautiful family. Aly cooked us some sweet potatoes, along with fresh salads and some leftover enchilada soup from yesterday’s feast. Oh, and our family tent finally arrived in the mail. We had the outer tarp portion already, but Hyperlite Mountain Gear gave us a wicked deal and sent us the inner portion of it as well.

River + Aly + backpacking = HAPPINESS

Scroll down to view pictures taken today.

4 January 2021

I went back to work today. I normally LOVE work. Right now though I love River a little more. It was a tough day.

Aly and River on the other hand got some more intimate bonding time together today with me out of the house. River is beginning to learn how to nap on his own, and Aly made us some amazing salads and enchilada soup from scratch. Both were absolutely delicious.

I ran a pathetic two miles today after work. I feel like I should mention that. I don’t know why. Maybe just to serve as a reminder of some truths I am starting to realize:

I need to have more than TWO hours of sleep if I am going to attempt any form of exercise after a long day at work.
Running in below freezing temps is fun. Seriously. I love it. Warming up is a challenge, but the running itself: absolutely better to run in the cold than in the cool or warm.
Maintaining exercise is going to be a challenge with how busy life is at the moment. Can I keep up my resolutions and my goals? Joe Rogan says it’s all about momentum. The question is, will I be the one to stop the momentum I also put into motion? Time will tell …

I’m tired, and I’m far too old to be running off of two hours of sleep. I need to get ready for bed. River, I love you, pal. You’re in a good home.

Below are some pictures of my day. Some of the images capture what classrooms look like with the current pandemic underway.

A NEW FIRST FOR RIVER

3 January 2021

Dada here. Today was a great day overall. For a Sunday, it was a relatively low key affair; Aly and I gave River the usual routine of love, meals, and playtime; we compiled a grocery list for the week; River napped and napped and napped; we ate leftover Mills chicken noodle soup from yesterday; and I ran my first 5k of the new year (in a rainy finish).

Oh, yeah. River also had his first complete breakdown at home today. It took 10 weeks for the inevitable to finally happen. One would have guessed that getting his first round of vaccinations would have solicited such a response, right?

It happened around 5pm, and overtook Aly and I like wildfire. It was bound to happen, really, right? Babies learn there are limits to things we feel and experience in life, and painfully, adults have to enforce, guide, and soothe our little ones through such difficult learning moments.

The impetus for such a tantrum? I had to deny him his mother’s breast in exchange for a bottle. Yup. That was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. Sure, for many weeks now, River accepted bottles during the rare occasions we gave one to him, regardless of whether or not there was breast milk or formula in them; this might be a good time to mention that we had to go the formula route for a bit, two weeks to be exact, while waiting for that precious liquid gold to arrive in the abundance needed to nourish a growing youngling. Anyways, River didn’t just cry or moan about the sudden change in dinner plans: he wept and wailed and continued to completely lose his mind as one minute turned into ten minutes. Afterwards, with repeated attempts to soothe his satiety with encouragement to find refuge in the bottle, and through more bouts of pitchy shrieking, River collapsed into my arms and rested himself on my shoulder. As he buried his sorrows forcefully into my body, it was hard not to be able to do more to help my little man through this quirky rough patch. For Aly, a mother, it was even harder to bear, given the fact that she had just nursed Rivulet for a full meal period to that point in time.

What did I learn today? Nothing can prepare a father for the moment they hear their son (or daughter) cry uncontrollably, with real tears and a reddened face to boot. I guess we’re all just growing up right now, and I don’t just mean River. Life is not a journey with a destination, but it is an experience of learning and growing.

I love you little Rivulet.

— Dada

“The best teacher is experience and not through someone's distorted point of view.”

— Jack Kerouac, On the Road

A day of exercise, cuddles, pooping, and soup

2 January 2021

Dad here. I’m tired. Very tired. I am supposed to keep up with my resolutions for the new year, and one of those is to maintain this website for our own memories. Technically speaking I already messed that intention up. I am posting this update at 12:31am on January 3, NOT January 2. Nevertheless, here is what we did today (er, yesterday) with our little River boy:

(There are pictures below of what I was able to capture of Momma and Rivulet)

— Dada

Lots of cuddles
Baby massages
Body exercises for little River, as well as for Momma and Dada at the Fairhaven Bike Path.
Aly made an amazing dinner of sweet potatoes and chicken noodle soup, while Bud did some home maintenance. The meal was amazing. Seriously. If you haven’t had Mills Chicken Soup yet, you’re missing out. It’s a staple in our household.
River spent one hour rejecting a bottle. He used to love eating, regardless of the format. As of late, his preference has strongly been breast or nothing.
River pooped twice today. For those of you that aren’t parents yet, you may not know that babies, as they move from the newborn stages to the infant stages of growing up, tend to poo less. While that is normal, obsessive parents (like Dada) like to see their little ones defecate with more regularity.