Winter's Thaw

I've been total slacker on blogging. We've been too busy playing with family but I promise to return soon with lots of awesome photos. (I got a new camera for my birthday. :)

In the mean time, here is a video from our walk today.

Damon's Photo Shoot

I really love the brand-new, tiny baby phase and and wanted to document it before it passed. Damon is 3 weeks old in these photos. I had similar portraits taken at Kiddie Candid of Bex when he was 2 weeks old. I really wanted a photo of his tiny new little body all curled up and cozy but ended up paying a small fortune for a package that I didn't really want. The worst part was that I didn't even get the shots that I really wanted and I don't have any digital copies of the photos they did take. I decided to do it myself this time so that I could have full control of the poses and pictures. I borrowed a fancy camera from a friend of mine and set up my own little studio in the living room. I think they turned out pretty well. What do you think?

This is the shot that I really wanted. It wasn't too hard to get him to curl up on the snuggly blanket. He seemed pretty happy there.

Damon John Wulff

I was very nervous about labor with this pregnancy. My last (and only) experience with Bex was pretty tough. Sometimes the knowledge that comes with experience is not a good thing. I shouldn't have worried. Damon was born on October 19th after only 10 minutes of pushing. I was actually making jokes in between contractions. I should have known then that he was going the be the easiest baby on earth to raise.

He has the sweetest, most serene nature. He is content to be held or to be left alone. The only time he even makes a peep is when he is hungry and even then its not much more than a whine. He is a good eater and has a healthy appetite. We have had absolutely no trouble nursing and he's been putting on weight quickly. He sleeps, and sleeps, and sleeps when he is not eating. I have to remind myself to pay attention to him because he never demands it.

He has giant hands and feet for a little baby, something I attribute to my Dad (and his dad too, Grandpa Bill). I'm pretty sure that he is going to outgrow his big brother in no time at all. That is probably a good thing because Bex seems to have a fair amount of animosity towards his little brother. He's had a tough time adjusting to our new family dynamic which isn't totally focused on him. I'm trying everything I can think of to get the two of them to be friends and if you have any good advice for me, I'd love to hear it.

I see a lot of similarities between Damon and his big brother, but they definitely have their own distinct looks too. I see a lot more of the Allen/McCloy side in Damon. Bex is all Wulff. Another big difference between the two boys is that Damon doesn't spit up half of his milk each time he nurses. That little characteristic is inherited from the Allen side and Bex definitely got it. He was a little fountain for a good 6 months. I would carry towels around with me everywhere in an attempt to mop up the flow. It was mostly useless and eventually I just got used to smelling like sour milk. It's a huge relief to have a baby that keeps his milk in his tummy.

He is not even 3 weeks old yet and I already feel like he is growing up too fast. He is such a wonderful baby boy and I am enjoying every moment I have with him. So far I'd describe his personality as calm, serious, and curious. I'm excited to get to know him better and better as he grows up.
Damon John Wulff

October 19, 2010

8lbs 2oz, 21 inches

Pumpkin Patch

We went with some friends to visit a pumpkin patch out in Virginia. Friends thought I was abit crazy to make the 2 hour drive at 39 weeks pregnant, but it was so nice to get out of the city. I'd forgotten how good it feels to have so much open space around you.

Beckett was so intrigued by everything we came across. He literally ran from one thing to the next. They had a pile of dried corn that he had fun playing in. Mostly he wanted to throw handfuls of corn out the window.

They had a little "cow-train" that was pulled by a tractor (He LOVES tractors!). We thought he would freak out when strapped him in there and the train pulled him away, but he was totally excited about it and just chilled in his cow, while Ry and I watched him, ready to run to his rescue is he decided to bail.

Here are Bex and Daddu posing with the pumpkins. I didn't realize that a bunch of pumpkins could be so much fun to a toddler. We'll have to take another trip out to the pumpkin patch before the season is over.

This is Beckett with his little friend Jordyn. We spend a lot of time playing with her. They get along famously and totally get each other's humor. They usually greet each other with a high-pitched squeal and then giggle endlessly. Its so much fun to see them play together.

Beckett's first thought when he saw the big round pumpkins lined up on the bench...

Monkey Love

Beckett aquired this lemur-monkey at a dinner party we were invited to recently. He was the only kid there and he found the monkey in corner and carried it around all night. Our hosts were kind enough to give it to him when we left, insisting that they had been looking for the right home for this stuffed animal for years. Well, Beckett continues to carry it around, snuggle with it, wear it around his neck, sit on it, and take it for drives (see video below). It's about the same size as he is and makes a great pal. Thanks Bill & Fran!

Summer in Silver Spring

Despite the super-hot and humid temperatures we've had, we've managed to get out and play quite a bit this summer. We discovered this awesome park (thanks to a tip from one of our neighbors) that has a mini-train and a merry-go-round, plus lots of fun hills, playgrounds and shade. We've gone back several times in the past couple of weeks.Beckett and Ry in front of the Mini-Train or "Toot" as Bex says. He loves trains and gets so excited to ride this each and every time we go to the park. It's really fun. It meanders through the forest, over bridges and through tunnels. We even saw a family of deer the first time we went. Such a great activity for our little family.

Bex loves to get on the merry-go-round and is always pretty chill as the music plays and the horse goes up and down. Getting him OFF the thing is more of a trick. I think he'd stay on all day if we'd let him.

We've spent many hot afternoons playing in this water fountain. It's only a short walk from our house and he loves to splash with the other kids. On this particular occasion we had gone out to dinner and were listening to one of the bands that play there each weekend. We hadn't anticipated swimming, so we just stripped him down to his diaper and let him have at it. He had a ball.

Our pool has been a total life-saver in this heat. Bex and I go a LOT. He loves the water and is very good at kicking and blowing bubbles. I dunk him each time we go and even though he doesn't seem to love it, he always closes his mouth and holds his breath and shakes off the water as soon as he comes up. I think he'll be a water guy like his mom and dad.

We tried to go to a water park for the 4th of July. Everyone else had the same idea as us and the park was overflowing with people. We ended up sitting by a lake and playing on the hills waiting for them to allow us in. It was a fun day despite the fact that we never actually got to swim.

This video shows Beckett enjoying his first ice cream cone. He LOVED it! Big surprise. :)

We've had a great summer!

San Diego Fun

We had a great time with the Wulffs in San Diego. We went to the Comic Con (pics to be added soon). Played at Mission Bay and visited the sea creatures at Sea World.Here is the Wulff Gang getting ready to watch the whales do their thing. Notice how dry we are.

Our seats were at the very top of the Splash Zone, but that didn't seem to make a difference. We got totally soaked. Beckett didn't enjoy it at all. For the rest of us, once we got past the initial shock of being drenched by cold water, it felt pretty good. It was a hot, hot day!

I have to admit that is is very awe inspiring to see the whales up close and personal. I know, I know- they should be out in the wild but it's hard to underestimate the impact that these whales and dolphins have on people who don't have the opportunity to see them in nature. (Not that I would ever endorse capturing wild animals and putting them in aquariums.)

There was a speaker playing music and Bex started dancing. There is nothing like a dancing one-year-old to get all the adults around to stop what they are doing and join in . He really likes to shake his groove thang!

Beckett watching the dolphins with Pops and Mimi. Looks like Bex has found a pretty comfy traveling chair in Pop's arms. We had such a fun time at San Diego. I can't wait to get back to California again.