Atticus at Four Months Old

We're just loving being with our little sweetheart everyday. He is growing so fast! At four months old he:

• Weighs 17 1/2 pounds (85th percentile)
• Is 26 1/2 inches long (90th percentile)
• Has a head circumference in the 75th percentile--I can't remember the measurement
• Is finally enjoying tummy time
  
• Giggles at the silliest things, especially at bedtime
• Likes wearing his hair in a fauxhawk
• Nearly always has his tongue hanging out
• Likes splashing his hands in the pool and in the bathtub
• Loves to talk about politics and quantum physics

More photos of Atticus

With Mommy and his cousins at Kyle's birthday party

With Daddy at the swimming pool

Mr. Bright Eyes--when he's supposed to be going to bed

In his adorable overalls

20 Years Ago...

We got this idea from Nikki.

20 Years Ago:
Kirsten I was five years old. I had just finished preschool with my then best friend Billy. One of our favorite games was to pretend we were getting married. I'd carry flowers from the yard and we'd walk "down the aisle" over and over again. I think the whole ceremony was just walking.
James I was six years old. I was starting first grade with Mrs. Bigler. We did math worksheets in her class in which the answers were clues to color-by-number drawings. I had no problem with the math, but when I scribbled on the drawings to move on to the next math question, I got in trouble for sloppy art and had to redo them.

10 Years Ago:
Kirsten I was fifteen. I was about to start high school. I tried out for and made it on to Cloggers West, the best darn clogging team ever. I was also in the choir, on the soccer team, and on the lookout for more extracurricular activities.
James At sixteen I had long hair. I had just discovered the band The Aquabats and was starting to love ska music.

5 Years Ago:
Kirsten I had just finished my second year of college at the University of Utah. I was moving into a house across from campus with some friends. I was volunteering a lot and loving it. I was working as a medical assistant and had a passion for the field of medicine. I was deciding that I wanted to go to medical school.
James I was 21. I was just home from my mission. I was starting my major in Computer Engineering. I was happy to be home, but I missed Japan.


3 Years Ago:
Kirsten I was falling in love with James. Well, I had already fallen in love with him. I had a crush on him for two years before we got together (right after we met when he got back from his mission). We were spending as much time together as we could that summer.
James I was dating Kirsten. I was in love with the love of my life and was getting ready to propose to her. I couldn't wait to be married to her for eternity. I was just about to start my first programming job, proving I was responsible enough to marry.

1 Year Ago:
Kirsten I had just finished my first year of medical school. I aced it--except for Immunology, which I just barely passed. I was doing research with mice in a pediatric nephrology lab. I had just found out I was pregnant, which was about to change my life forever.
James We were expecting our first child. We had bought our first home. We were so in love and we were so busy remodeling.

So Far This Year:
Kirsten I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. I decided to give up my big dream to be a doctor for a new dream. I got to see my son smile and giggle and watch my best friend become a wonderful father.
James I met the cutest boy ever, Atticus. And I enjoyed my job as a Software Engineer.

Yesterday:
Kirsten I visited my parents. They love when I (well really Atticus) come to visit. I took our darn car in to the shop for another expensive car repair.
James I worked. That makes up the bulk of most of my days now. I also played with my son and went grocery shopping.

Today:
Kirsten I played with my son. I helped him take a nap. I cleaned our condo. I posted this blog.
James I worked. And we're going to the park later tonight.

Tomorrow:
Kirsten I will go pick up our car from the shop. I will do more housework. I will play with my baby and see him smile again.
James I will work, and I'll practice with my awesome band, The Upstarts.

Atticus at Three Months Old

Whew! We made it through our second photo shoot with the professional photographer without any peeing incidents. When she did the naked shots she first put down a doubled-over bathmat and a blanket on her platform before she let Atticus anywhere near it. Plus she left the picking him up to us this time.

We're enjoying every minute with Atticus. He's growing up so fast! At three months old he:

• Weighs about 16 pounds (90^th percentile)
• Prefers a sitting up position, though it's still a challenge for him to hold up his big old head
  
• Smiles a lot and giggles sometimes
• Squeals with delight occasionally
• Bats at and grabs onto toys
• Loves being outside
• Pretty much hates tummy time
• Loves stories, nursery rhymes, and songs
  

Oh no! Not crinkled wrapping paper!

We had a wonderful Father's Day yesterday. We are very grateful for our dads and for the wonderful daddy James is.

In the morning Atticus made James breakfast in bed, and after we ate he gave him some presents (fun camping gear). Atticus enjoyed it--except for the wrapping paper. For some reason he found that rather distressing. Here's a clip of me torturing him with it. Don't worry, I only did it for about 40 seconds.

Chubby baby bathtime

Atty's New Skill

For Atticus chewing on hands just isn't enough

My Sundays or Why New Moms Sometimes Avoid Leaving the House

Atticus is a really good baby. But even good babies cry. A lot. And Atticus hates church (except for when people are singing). If Sacrament Meeting was entirely comprised of hymn-singing, he would love church. Since there is only a little singing and a lot of talking, Atticus screams and cries often at church.

We end up spending much of Sacrament Meeting standing in the lobby bouncing/rocking Atticus while trying to get him to suck on a pacifier (usually he just licks it like a Popsicle and drools all over our Sunday best). Last Sunday was particularly challenging. James and I took turns bringing our baby out into the lobby during the service. He'd just scream when we were in the chapel, then I'd take him out and he'd be happy and calm. I'd hang out in the lobby for a bit and then bring him back in. Minutes later more screaming. So James would take a turn. And so on.

While we were in the chapel, a man on the row in front of us tried to entertain Atticus by wiggling his fingers at him—to no avail. The last time that man sat in front of us and Atticus fussed during church, the man turned to me after the meeting and said, “Is your baby sick or something?” That's why we're trying to confine most of the screaming to the lobby.

When the service finally ended I gathered up my various baby items. By the time we're finished trying to entertain our child through a whole meeting, the bench we sit on looks like Babies R Us after a tornado. A woman wearing a yellow jacket (we'll call her Yellow Jacket) approached me. We had a brief conversation.

Yellow Jacket: (pointing to Atticus) “Is he yours?”

Me: (thinking: well, he is the baby you've watched me schlep in and out of the chapel for the past hour.) “Yes.”

YJ: “And you're already expecting another baby?!”

Me: “Um, no.”

YJ: “Oh I'm sorry, you just look pregnant.”

Me: (thinking: I could burst into tears right now if this conversation goes any further, and also thinking: if I were far along enough in another pregnancy to show right now, I would have gotten pregnant before Atticus was even born.) “Yes, that's still the weight I gained with this baby.”

YJ: “Oh, good luck losing that.”

The good news is that even after days like that, I get to come home and be with this little sweetheart. It is totally worth it.

He's a Talker!

Atticus's first words include: hi, monkey, uh-oh,
okay, and I love you.