One Month Already!

Yesterday was Matthew's debut at the Mariposa Farmer's Market. He harvested all of the carrots, beets, turnips, mustard greens and onions. Matthew, Lyell and I all went down for the event which is a fun community gathering. The market went very well, and we gave all the leftover produce to friends at a post-market barbeque. Lyell slept for most of the time, and made a few waking appearances to stare around wide-eyed. Now we have a few weeks to wait before the squash, beans, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers come in.
Lyell has started to stay awake for longer periods of time. Mostly he just stares around and makes funny faces. A few times a day there is a hint of a smile, and we run for the camera but it's too late. We have gotten into some sort of routine... Lyell usually starts the day around 4 or 5 with a cry for his breakfast. I slowly wake up as I feed him, and when he's done I throw my clothes on as quickly as possible and get him in the stroller to maximize our walking time. The early morning hours are the coolest time here, and I love getting out right at sunrise with Lyell. He usually is pretty agreeable with this schedule, in fact the bumpier the ride the better the more he likes it. Yesterday I actually ran a mile! It was my first time running since I got pregnant, and it felt awkward and rusty at first, but soon the endorphins kicked in and I envisioned training for a marathon during the next 9 months.
When we arrive back home Lyell begins the morning cycle of fussing and nursing and sleeping a little, then fussing and nursing and back to sleep. At some point around noon he settles himself down for a longer nap, and seems to be much happier in the afternoon.
When he is awake he loves to lie on his back and flail his arms and legs about as much as possible. Matthew and I read him stories and sing him songs, and Lyell flails and stares at us.
Our outings tend to come in the evening time when it cools down a bit. The other day we went down to the river and had a sweet little beach to ourselves to watch the sunset. Tomorrow we are going on our first big outing... a weekend down in Palo Alto. Lyell may actually have to put on a long sleeve shirt, as he has never experienced a temperature below 70 degrees. Brr.... chilly Palo Alto may dip down to the low 60's!

Lyell turns 3 weeks

This is Lyell's favorite sleeping position, all swaddled up and listening to his sleep sheep play the sounds of the ocean. For those who have read the book, we can say that he is the Happiest Baby on the Block. He is also the Only Baby on the Block; so we can say it with conviction. Thus far, and I am knocking on wood as I write this, he has been a very good sleeper. I usually wake up before him at night thinking, why hasn't he woken up yet?

In this picture you can almost see his beautiful blue eyes. His dark brown hair that he had at birth is starting to lighten up a bit, but his eyes are still very blue. The best is when he stares up at me while he is nursing. His eyes seem to open very wide while he feeds, and I find myself in tears staring back at him.

Lyell and his daddy taking their afternoon rest. Matthew and Lyell do a lot of singing and swinging together as his diaper gets changed or he is walked around the garden. Lyell also gets to listen to daddy play the piano which he really likes.

Here we are on the porch, one of our favorite places during these hot summer days. Before 10am and after 6pm the porch is the perfect place to be. The cats are so curious about our new arrival, but thus far we have kept them in the garage and outside.

We continue to be enchanted every day with our baby boy. Last night we brought his swing outside as we barbequed on the patio. Lyell's eyes were wide open and he just looked around for at least an hour as the sun set and the bats came out on our property. This morning as I was walking him around the house trying to calm his fussing we passed a picture of Yosemite Valley and he stopped crying and stared for several minutes. So we are predicting that he will be a pioneering researcher in bat ecology for the National Park Service. You never know:)

Almost two weeks

Almost every mom that comes to visit us looks at Lyell and says something like, "Oh, the time goes by so fast!" After only 11 days we are feeling the same thing. The time goes by so fast. How can our little son now be laying happily in his bouncy seat looking around at his world when two short weeks ago I was waddling around the house with him inside me.
Lyell has gone on two big outings thus far... the first to Sal's Taco night in El Portal where he made his public debut at 8 days old. Yesterday we went down to the river to celebrate the 4th of July. Lyell didn't jump in quite yet, but Matthew and I got to swim and fish which was amazing. Here are a few more pictures (all with daddy, cause I'm the photographer.)