Today we went to the funeral of a young girl who recently succumbed to her fight with cancer. I want you to know it’s ok to be sad, it’s ok to be angry; these emotions are in us for a reason. We never got to know Julia, her likes and dislikes, as well as her parents and brother did, but it is ok for us to mourn her loss and cry along side them. We are sad for all the connections with others that could have been and now will not. We are angry because her death does not feel fair.

In contrast, we can also feel reassured that, when our lives come to a halt, no matter how long we have been on this earth, no matter how many or few connections we have made,  others will stand along side our families to mourn with them. This is called community.

Julia was part of our community, specifically our church community. In this age of high-tech gizmo’s, facebook, and texting, community: the physical, emotional, and spiritual connection between people, should not be overlooked.

To connect with a person is to invest yourself in them. Invest both wisely, and with great abandon, dig deep, but love broadly.

Grandma Carol is headed home today.  It was truly great that she was here.  She helped hold things together while you were in the hospital. She was here at just the right time.  The whole hospital thing made her visit go awful fast. Next time we will see her you will have doubled in size! You’ll be a big boy!  We’ll have to make sure to take lots of pictures, otherwise we (mom and dad) will be in trouble.

Hold still here comes the Flash!

Today Grandma, Mom, Dad, and you went on a long car ride.  The longest you have ever been on. We went from home in Ames, IA to La Cross, WI to meet your Great Grand Parents and Great Uncles and Second Cousins.  You were very sleepy or quiet alert the whole way.  Mom sat in the back so she could keep and eye on you.  Dad drove, and Grandma played co-pilot.  It was great to see a lot of Grandma’s family before we moved.

The drive gave us a little practice for the move.

For those who want the most up to date news on Alonzo’s condition please see the Hospital 2012 link on the right.  It has the same password as the galleries.

There is nothing better than Smiles. For several reasons:
1. They are a clear indication that things are going well.
2. Try to be angry and smile.  Just by forcing yourself to smile for awhile you disposition will change.
3. Its another way that you communicate with us.  I love seeing you begin to figure out your facial expressions (beyond pissed off and asleep :P).

I got my first smile from you yesterday.  Maybe it was a fluke, maybe not.  I don’t think so.  You were happy, fed, clean, and doing leg squats on my lap looking at me.  Then you smiled, Amazing.

Keep the positive reinforcement coming please!

So today Dad went back to work and you got to have some quality time with mom.  Hopefully you were nice and let her nap, she still has the overnight shift as well.  Mom’s mom aka the Paparazzi arrives tonight.  Grandma Carol will be sure to give you all the attention you require and then some :-). While she entertains, Mom and I will do some more packing.

You have been duly warned 😛

Its a beautiful thing when we know naps will occur and how long they will likely last because that means mommy gets one too.  You and I both enjoy a well rested Mommy. So far we have identified two major nap times. One hour after your morning feeding and two and a half hours after your afternoon feeding.  The latter nap is a sacred thing.  I do not dare wake either of you.

Thankfully you sleep soundly at night too.

Today was your first visit to the doctor’s office.  Hard for me to believe that you are already 2 weeks old.  While I know that means you are still very young, it also means that I am starting to know you. I am figuring you out, understanding your schedule and needs.

Mom and I were worried about your weight because you lost so much in the hospital, but you are nearly back to your birth weight. This made us happy even though it means we will still have to wake you up in the middle of the night to feed you more.

Keep eating, growing, and stick to that flipping schedule!

I look to the burp during feeding as kind a “at-a-boy”  that I am doing things right.  A nice deep burp with auditory substance (not physical substance!) means all is well. Whats great is the physical way you relax once that bubble has come out.  Its nice to know that there is a simple way I can make the situation all better.  Sometimes I can’t get a burp out of you immediately. So I put you down, you fuss and cry out and then BURP.

All is usually then calm.  Remember calm, and contentment, they are not always so easy to find.