Tummy time with dad.

The first time we gave tummy time a go we lasted about 4 seconds before someone (Naomi) was irate. Since then things have improved. She’s going to be doing somersaults soon.

Age: 23 days

I have celebrated Mother’s Day as a dog mom in the past, but this was my first human babe Mother’s Day.

Naomi sat at our feet in her car seat at the restaurant while John and I drank our orange juice and ate our brunch- she even stayed asleep for most of the meal so we were both able to eat at the very same time rather than taking turns bouncing, cooing and eating. Booyah.

I wore the fanciest top I’ve worn in almost 2 months. I had a very special mom moment in that fancy top: Naomi woke up and was starting to squirm so I picked her up, held her close, enjoyed her silky hair against my cheek… and then she spit up all over my shoulder. She did it again about an hour later on the other shoulder (of course).  You’d think I would have learned the first time around.

I LOVE the Motherhood Posse- women everywhere we went smiled at me and wished me a Happy First Mother’s Day. Mommy War drama aside (that’s a link to a response to the Time’s “Are You Mom Enough” article), moms are SUCH a wonderful, supportive bunch. So many warm wishes, so many warm smiles… it’s beautiful, I love it.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Age: One day shy of 6 weeks

More Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day 2011

Mother’s Day 2010

Naomi is a pretty big fan of her room. Sometimes if she is freaking out I’ll set her on her change table and she’ll calm right down.

There is a shelf across from her change table, which I have decorated with books, family photos and stuffed animals. I like to tell myself that my particular brand of Baby Decor should be patented as the next Big Thing in baby-whisperer design.

In reality I think she is looking at the blank wall beside the shelf.

Either way, she’s content and cute so it’s all good.

 Age: 1 month, 2 days

Naomi’s first car ride was when she was 17 days old. We had a home birth (I’ll write up my birth story and share that with you soon) so the first time we had to bundle her up in her car seat was for a midwife appointment (up until then our midwives came to our home for our appointments).

She liked it. She had been crying and she stopped once we got going.

Yeah, car rides!

Will you please look at how big her hat is on her head? Oh my god, too funny. She rocks it.

Age: 17 days

5 days old.

They say you’re supposed to “sleep while they’re sleeping.”

5 days old. Chillin'.

That sounds reasonable enough. Except when you’re living it and that whole idea really isn’t all that reasonable at all.

6 days old. I am strategically hiding my morning mug.

Cuz when are you supposed to eat?

7 days old.

And change your clothes? And change your sheets, which have spit up all over them?

9 days old. Daddy's hand.

And go to the bathroom, and stuff?

11 days old.

And what about when one second it’s 4 o’clock in the morning and you blink and suddenly it’s 11 o’clock at night?

12 days old.

Sometimes it’s just not possible to get a nap in.

Especially when you need time to snap as many photos as possible…

John is beyond proud of his little girl. When Naomi was about 2 days old he came into the kitchen where Naomi, Mom and I were chatting:

I’m going to need our baby for a little bit.

From there he proceeded to wrap her up in several fuzzy blankets, march out the front door like a Man on a Mission and knock on each of our neighbours doors so he could show off our latest addition.

I am told the conversations went something like this:

Look! This is my baby.

I am pretty sure he had the same conversation with random strangers he met on the street.

Love it.

Age: 11 days

Naomi’s first dog walk in her second week of life.

She was walking the dogs in the womb, so we figured she may as well get started outside the womb right away.

Age: 11 days

I have an absolute crush on the North. It must be because my dad worked up around the Arctic Circle before I was born… his stories left an impression. Now I want to go up to the Territories to check it out myself.

Actually, when my dad came to see us when Naomi was born he looked at the book and said the photographs took him back to when he went up North for the first time over 30 years ago. He said they captured the light perfectly… the photography is that good. Usually when you’ve been somewhere and look at photographs they don’t quite capture it… but these do.

To the Arctic arrived when I was still pregnant so I was completely preoccupied with the baby/cub/pup stories and photographs. There is this one photograph which shows a baby caribou being chased by a mean ol’ horrid black bear. I won’t wreck it for you… actually, yes I will… the baby caribou DOES NOT DIE PEOPLE. I repeat: THE WEE INNOCENT CARIBOU IS OKAY. It’s all gonna be okay.

I just spared you a whole lot of worry, didn’t I? You’re welcome.

The movie is now in IMAX and if I can get the guts to go check it out with a newborn baby I am DEFINITELY going to check it out.

Thank you to Braided River for sending this book along!

Now, go forth and get yourself a copy of To the Arctic!  

Time to get it together, Canucks.

You’re boring my kid.

Age: 9 days

Several hours after Naomi was born with mom (holy smokes… “mom”… that’s me…):

Several hours after Naomi was born with dad:

Grandma (my mom) baked Naomi a birthday cake and we sang her “Happy Birthday.” Here she is with a very proud Grandma and Grandpa:

With proud papa:

 Getting weighed at 2 days old (she lost 4oz- she’s back up to birth weight now):

Right before her first bath:

NOT diggin’ her first bath:

Being adorable:

Every year John does an Easter Egg hunt for me. This year it was extra special because it was Naomi’s first:

At one week John, Naomi and I did our First Big Walk. We had walked around the backyard together, but this one was out in the Real World. Felt a bit surreal. And yes, I AM wearing pajama pants out in public. I accessorized with earrings and a super cute BABY though so we’re all good:

 Sucking her finger:

 Sigh.