quiet time

It's rare that I find myself unable to sleep, but tonight is one of those nights. I always try to see the positive side of any situation, so instead of tossing and turning and worrying what the lack of sleep will lead to...I am going to use this precious quiet just to reflect.

I find it amazing how quick time is flying since Champ's arrival. Yesterday marked 4 weeks that he has been part of our lives. Small changes are occuring daily. When he came home, all of his clothes seemed so big, and now everything seems to fit. I am already questioning how much longer he will be wearing his current wardrobe. His diapers are even getting snug. I do truely enjoy each day and eagerly look forward to the things he will learn and how much he has yet to teach me.

So many things seem to have occured in the last week. Jeff and I have been venturing out quite a bit. We have returned to working out and running. Yes, Champ had his first trip in the jogging stroller (the BOB) and slept through the whole thing. Another first this week, was his first hair cut. In true Courville fashion, his head full of hair required a bit of a trim to keep the hair off of his ears and his collar. There is not any noticable change, but I couldn't have my child looking unkempt for his baptism.

Speaking of baptism, things are progressing on that front. I found a baptismal gown with the help of his Maw maw this past week. I am also finalizing invitations, party plans and, in general, logistics for the weekend. It's amazing how much I look forward to seeing my child pass through a mile stone such as this.

Well I hear it is time for another feeding so I must run.

Anna

Geaux Tigers!

Yesterday Champ reminded us that we would be enjoying LSU football NEXT WEEK! I think his exact words were "Waaaaaaaaaa! Geaux Tigers!"

Also, here's a tip for all you parents of newborn Tigers. You will probably need more than one LSU outfit for the little one. Champ is already expressing his pickiness about which Tiger get up he likes best. He can't talk yet, so he just peed or other things on the first couple of LSU outfits we chose. Apparently the grey one was the winner, it stayed dry and free of foreign colors all day!

We had a great weekend. Anna and I got to workout with Randy on Saturday, and we both got runs in today. This was a pretty big step to things getting a bit like a stable routine. However as much as we enjoyed this, Champ has slept most of today. I'm sure that will mean that I won't get much sleep tonight. In any case, Anna and I have been taking things day by day and all has been pretty well so far.

-jeff

it's friday, again

This week has been fairly quiet. Champ and I have spent most of the week at home. I had planned an outing yesterday, but tropical storm Erin, cancelled our plans. We just stayed home and stayed dry. Champ has ventured out of the house a couple of times. He went to mass and lunch on Sunday then he joined Jeff and I on a walk through the neighborhood and to Walgreens. I have to admit we are just settling into our routine here at home and it is nice. Tomorrow will be my first return to working out and I hope to return to running soon.

Keep us in your prayers as Hurricane Dean enters the gulf. I don't really want to evacuate with a newborn.

anna

he's his father

So far the only thing Champ has that remotely resembles me, is his ears. Everything else on his body, head to toe, is Jeff.

Today was our first check-in with the pediatrician. In two weeks he has grown 7/8" and weighs almost a pound more. He is 20-7/8" and 8lbs 1oz. The only thing I told Jeff was I am really glad he came 10 days early. The doctor was most impressed as most infants are just reaching birth weight at 2 weeks. Not our over acheiver. So for all who might be concerned, he is really healthy. Jeff was known to be a chunk as and infant and todler. I am hoping Champ doesn't try and keep up.

He continues to eat and sleep well. We also know all the discharge is going well with plenty of dirty diapers. He continues to confrim everything with his uncanny ability to tinkle everytime his diaper is removed. Oh well, just more laundry...

he's adorable, but i'm partial

This has been a busy week. Jeff has returned to work and my parents have been in town to help ease the transition. I have to say that Champ has been wonderful as an infant. He has remained true to form and continues to wet everything as soon as his diaper is off. We have gone through numerous clothing changes as well as changing pads changes. I think it is all in his effort to protest the most difficult time of his day. We typically change his diaper as he's waking up to make sure he is wide awake for food. He does not cry with a dirty diaper, but attempt to change it and he screams.

Tomorrow we will go to his first pediatrician visit. I can't wait to see how much he has grown in the last two weeks.

I am doing well and all of my clothes are fitting again. My stomach still has a long way to go to regain its previous shape, but the daily improvements keep my spirits up. I am getting a bit stir crazy and can't wait to return to running and working out. Hopefully next week everything will fall into place and Champ and I will make our first visit to the gym.

Attached are some portaits of Champ at 1 week. Today I ordered the birth announcements so hopefully those will be in the mail in the next couple of weeks. Keep a lookout in your mailboxes. If anyone is interested in a print of any of the portaits, please let me know and I will send a print. Images downloaded off of the blog are not at a tremendous resolution.

Here's the little guy...

baby race, first heat down...

I wanted to post this pic of Champ and his Uncle Beau after his Aunt's very subtle request.

Let me explain the title of this post. When Anna and I got married, Beau made a bold proclamation during his rehearsal dinner toast. Impatiently waiting for a niece or nephew he said "the baby race is on." Of course Christopher (Anna's older brother) jestfully waived his white napkin to concede Beau's race. Well, Anna and I took it serious and after a blistering race pace (not really), Champ has arrived to complete the first heat after a little over 6 yrs of marriage.

Now I have a burning question, after Beau so boldy threw down the gauntlet years ago. Will Uncle Beau try to win heat #2 of the race??? I suppose only time will tell. -jeff

the learning curve - steep but fun

As a new father, Champ has been teaching me all kinds of new things, a few of the notables below...

1. If a Dad ever tells me his son has never peed on him, I would tell him he has not been helping his wife near enough. It has only been 4 days; he has gotten me multiple times, the wall in his nursery once, and almost got his picture of Jesus next to the changing table. Anna and I had to draw the line at Jesus, so we employed a new strategically placed washcloth technique that has worked so far.

2. No doubt the enemies of babies and parents everywhere are gas, hunger, being too cold, being too hot, etc...

3. Champ has a vast language of one word "waaaaaaaaaa!" I have learned that this one word can mean many different things:

-"dad, I'm really hungry!"

-"what are you doing?, I'm not hungry, help me get rid of this gas!"

-"don't take my diaper off, it's cold!"

-"okay, this time i've got some gas and i'm hungry. you've got some work to do!"

-"just listen to me for a minute, i've got to work this one out on my own"

The list goes on and on... Anna and I are very blessed though, because he has such a sweet nature. Once you crack the code of his subtle language by noticing the addition things like of a furrowed brow or a very serious look, you can give him the milk or pat on the back he needs. After he gets this he turns into an angelic little sack of potatoes that would sleep through a freight train going by his crib.

So despite a few bouts with gas bubbles, Champ has earned his name in every way. - jeff