8 weeks- I can't possibly capture everything but....

[Reed at 8 weeks]

It's been a few weeks since I've written an update and I'm not sure I remember it all, which is a good reminder of how fast life is flying by. Yes, Reed is still a little baby, but he seems like a new person from the time we brought him home from the hospital. He is much less fragile (and we are much more confident in our handling him), he is smiling all the time, he coos and purrs and "talks" when he is responded to. He likes standing and flying in the air, which also shows his new found head control. He seems more aware of everything around him and slightly more sensitive to being over stimulated. He turns his head away and closes his eyes and "fussy talks" or cries a little. However, if we recognize it and help him find a place with less stimulation he calms down and often can recenter himself.

As for activities in his life, there have been many in the past few weeks. We had our first big house party for friends and family to celebrate Reed (and all the other babies in our lives) and to wish me a happy 31st birthday. It was a gorgeous hot Berkeley day and the yard turned into a playful scene. We ordered a dozen pizzas and Billy and friends made salads and wonderful homemade pies - including my favorite lemon meringue . Reed was a superstar all afternoon sleeping, nursing, and charming people all around.

[Fabulous pies for my birthday party]

The following week we had family in town including my dad John and my grandparents as well as Billy's grandparents. Four generations on both sides of the family! Everyone came to meet Reed of course, and we appreciated the chance to hear old and new stories and spend some quality time with our elders. Reed and his grandpa had a few days to get to know each other and by the second day it appeared that Reed may have recognized him and seemed happy to see him again. Neither John nor I expected to see how quickly and strongly the bond formed between them, it was pretty sweet.

[Bonding with grandpa John]

I have always been very close to my Nana and Bompa Walton so to have them come out from Minnesota to meet Reed at 2 months old meant the world to me.

[Charming his great-grand Nana]

Reed also had some great quality time with Grandma Darlene and Grandpa Bill on Billy's side of the family. Reed slept on his great-grandparents' laps while they told fun old stories of life growing up in Illinois. We feel so lucky to have two sets of grandparents not only still with us, but able to travel and share in this time with us.

[Four generations in our living room!]
Back left: John Walton, Scotty (Nana), Sherry, Grandma Darlene, Paul
Front left: John Sr. (Bompa), Me & Reed, Billy, Grandpa Bill