8 weeks!

We can hardly believe that Isaac is 8 weeks old! To celebrate and commemorate this occasion.... we did a "photo shoot" at home. Jeremy and I had a good time - I think Isaac was a little tired, because he is usually more "smiley" than these pictures show. But we figured that if we waited for the perfect moment, we might never get around to it. And as Jeremy's profound Professor Fee says, "A good something is better than a perfect nothing."

Anyway, here are some pictures of our beautiful baby boy, along with some facts and memories about Isaac at this age. ENJOY!

Isaac's 2 month Statistics

Weight: 11 lbs. 1 oz. (34%)

Length: 23 3/4 inches (77%)

Head: 15.4 inches (26%)

Things we know and want to remember about Isaac at 8 weeks...
- He has very sensitive skin and gets diaper rashes all the time. Poor guy. :(
- He loves to be swaddled, but he is getting strong enough to kick out of the swaddle sometimes.
- He tolerates tummy time.
- He can roll over, but does it only occassionally. Interestingly enough, when he does decide to roll over, he always does it 3 times in a row.
- He can follow toys with his eyes horizontally, vertically, and in circular paths.
- He LOVES white noise - running water is his favorite, but he also enjoys the dryer and vacuum.
- He enjoys being in the baby bjorn (our front infant carrier) and he often takes naps there.
- He loves to pee during diaper changes and only likes in poop in a freshly clean diaper.
- He sleeps in 2-3 1/2 hour stretches at night, except this one miracle night when he slept 6 hours straight! We are anxiously waiting for that to happen again! :)
- He can't keep a binkie in his mouth, but will suck on it if you keep pushing it in.... but overall he doesn't thing that pacifiers are very cool. He definitely cannot use it to be soothed, but we are trying to work with him on that because we want him to take a pacifier SO badly.
- He has mixed feelings about bottles.
- He does not like to have his clothes changed (especially pulling the onesies over his head - that's just not fun).
- He spits up a lot.
- Jeremy is always the one to file his fingernails. He files them while Isaac is content (aka nursing) and we spend the whole time laughing. It's a funny experience because I can't stand the sound of filing nails (it's like fingernails on a chalkboard to me) but I can't get away from it... because I am nursing Isaac. So I shudder and cringe, Isaac is trying to get away from the nail file while still trying to nurse and Jeremy is trying not to file off Isaac's whole finger while laughing at the two of us. Good times.

- He is starting to really be able to hold his head up pretty well. We're impressed, we think he's pretty strong.
- He is starting to be interested in everything that is going on around him. - He does NOT like being in his car seat or going on drives.
- He started sleeping in his own crib in his own room at EXACTLY 8 weeks of age.
- He saves his best behavior and smiles for daddy - he LOVES spending time with his daddy - but if he really needs to be soothed.... mom is his woman.

- His absolute favorite thing in the world is to NURSE. He would spend all day nursing and love every moment of it! He nurses with a nipple shield, and nothing else brings such instant joy into his eyes. He often stops nursing just to look at me (nipple in mouth) and smile, as if to say "Thanks Mom". It's the best. :)
- He has the cutest sneezes! He either sneezes 4 times in a row (impressive) or he goes " Ah.... ah... ah" (gearing up for the big sneeze) and then goes "Oooooooo....." and coos instead of sneezes! He has done that since he was born, but we haven't been able to catch it on video. Instead I made Jeremy mimick it for the video camera.... but it just wasn't the same.
Well, that's our little guy. I guess we will all have to stay tuned and enjoy more adventures with him as we watch him grow!

Isaac went swimming!

Jeremy, Isaac, and I are all painfully white - not an ounce of sunlight has touched our bodies or even had the chance to try and tan us... I'm just nervous about Isaac getting burnt - so we usually stay inside, in the shade, and away from the hot sun. Anyway, Jeremy and I had the perfect chance to take Isaac swimming for the first time with some friends of ours at an indoor pool. We were excited to see his reaction to the pool, and we had a great time relaxing and swimming as a family.

While Isaac may not be the next Michael Phelps, he was a really good sport about his "swimming" debut. He didn't cry - but he kept a sort of nervous look on his face throughout the experience. Perhaps he was really concerned about the warning that no lifeguard was on duty - or maybe he was really insecure about his white body. Maybe he was self conscious because he didn't have a swim suit - only a swim diaper. Anyway, thanks to our friends Lisa and Jonathan for taking us swimming and enjoying the evening with us! We had a blast!

BYU Football Cougar Kick-off!

Football

So... anyone tht knows my husband well knows that BYU football is something worth living for, breathing for, looking forward to all year long, basking in, and most definitely counting down to. Each year as the football season draws to a close, there is much mourning in our home. We are forced to survive through the devastating dry spell until April arrives.... when Jeremy will officially start couting down to the first game of the new season. We wait anxiously through the summer months... until finally - like a breath of new life - BYU football begins again.

This year we decided to celebrate this upcoming happiness by attending the BYU Cougar Kick-off - a sort of preseason happiness to try to get the locals geared up and excited for the upcoming season (as if we need anymore excitement about it at our house).

Jeremy and Isaac at the Cougar Kick-off

At the event we had the privilege of seeing Bronco Mendenhall be in a televised interviewed about the upcoming season. At the end of the interview they opened up for questions from the crowd. Jeremy was chosen from the crowd and so he got to ask his question to Bronco in front of everyone.... we were so proud. :) He asked what Bronco expected from BYU fans at home games. Bronco gave a great response - mentioning the need for everyone to wear blue and to make lots of noise when the opposing team was on offense but to be sure to remember to be quiet when BYU is on the offense. It was great to see our fearless leader - Bronco - in person, and to hear all about the upcoming season.

Bronco during the interview

The rest of the event was filled with fun and games, food, cheerleaders, Cosmo, crowds of people, and lots of the BYU football players.

Cosmo

Sleeping Isaac - I guess we're still working on inspiring Isaac to get more excited about the football season.

Waiting in line for free Dryer's BYU Cougar Craze Ice Cream

The highlight of the night was meeting Max Hall, the BYU starting quarterback. Everyone was getting posters and t-shirts autographed by him - so we thought that we would get into the spirit of things too. We had Max sign the back of Isaac's BYU onesie. Jeremy has never been so proud. Well.. if you can't tell we are excited for BYU football to start on August 30th!

Jeremy, Max Hall, and Isaac

Jeremy and Isaac's back (aka "the autograph")

Our BYU Family

Isaac Rolled Over

At 6 weeks and 3 days of age our adorable little Isaac decided to rock our world and roll over! What a trick! We're so proud and excited to see our little blob DO something. We sure love this guy.



Anyway, here's the story...

Our Trip To California

August 6-10th we went on a California adventure. We traveled to San Luis Obispo, California - a gorgeous coastal town where both of my parents grew up. I visited the town countless times as a kid on vacation with my family and have wonderful memories of the entire area. We made the trip specifically to attend a family reunion, but we had some free time to enjoy the area on our own as well.

Our little family at Port San Luis Beach.

This is Isaac's first trip to the beach!

Instead of driving all the way to California, we decided to fly. Honestly, the trip went fairly well and wasn't too overwhelming - but I was amazed at how much stuff we had to pack - essentially it felt like we just packed everything Isaac owns. On the trip out there was only one thing that could keep Isaac quiet - so I fed him during the entire flight. But on the way back to Utah he was a more "experienced" traveler and decided to just relax and take a nap in his daddy's arms so that I could enjoy my complimentary beverage and peanuts.

Isaac's first airplane flight.

During the trip I had to the opportunity to learn how to nurse in many different places. We have pictures of me nursing at the park, next to a creek downtown, in the rental car, and just about everywhere else imaginable. It was tough for me at first, but with practice I am getting better at it.

Feeding Isaac (under a cover of course) in the airport.

By the way, have I mentioned that our little Isaac was totally stoked about going to California. He really was a good sport throughout the entire trip. Here is the little guy trying on his sweatshirt before we went on the trip to make sure that it fit. Doesn't he look so cute and grown up?

Isaac - 5 weeks old

Isaac spent most of his time during the trip in the Baby Bjorn (our front infant carrier). It worked out great and kept all of us happy. But in San Luis Obispo, it gets pretty cold at night, so when we took Isaac out in the evening we had to really bundle up.

"Pregnant" Jeremy

One of my family traditions during our trips to California is to eat out. We love it! My dad's parents always take us out to the San Luis Obispo Golf Clubhouse and we eat yummy steak and fish and salad and dessert and Shirley Temple drinks and everything else we can think of. Yum!

Our little family at the Clubhouse for dinner.

A little history lesson for us all, one of my favorite places in the world - Jamba Juice - was founded in San Luis Obispo back in 1990. To commemorate this little known fact, Jeremy and I went downtown for a cool treat. As usual, I got one of my favorites and Jeremy tried something new.

Waiting at Jamba Juice for my orange carrot juice to be squeezed.

Enjoying his Strawberry Surf Rider

Isaac and I at the creek in downtown SLO

Famous "bubblegum" alley

While on the trip I took the opportunity to "walk down memory lane" and show Isaac some of my favorite spots in San Luis. We went to the creek downtown and ate frozen yogurt (another old family tradition), window shopped, visited art stores and gazed at the artwork (a Jeremy and Kendra tradition), and walked down disgusting "bubblegum" alley. Essentially there is this alley in San Luis with gobbs and gobbs of already chewed gum stuck to the wall. Weird... and slightly disturbing.

All in all it was a wonderful trip. It was great to go back to so many old memories, beautiful California weather, and of course - the great company of family.

Visiting with Family

One of the highlights of the trip was seeing so many of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins - many of whom I hadn't seen in years. It was especially fun to introduce Isaac to my extended family.

Isaac and Grandma Chris

Grandpa Eric and Grandma Chris with our family

My mom, Grandma Chris, and Isaac

Grandmom and Grandad

The family reunion in San Luis was in honor of my Grandmom and Grandad's 50th wedding anniversary. There was a reception held in their honor. It was just amazing to see their joy and to recognize the wonderful example that they have been to each of us.

But, I have to admit. One of my favorite parts of the reunion was seeing my own immediate family. I love these people!!

My amazing sisters!

Dad and Michael - always so serious

Marla and I

Cousins! Isaac and Sarah

Best of all, since we were on vacation Jeremy was off of work and able to spend all of his time with Isaac and I. Yeah!!!

It was a great and busy trip with loads of family, fun, and food. We miss everyone already!