Pop and Wyatt

Our hat project continues.  As explained in another post, we took Pop-and-Levi photographs, documenting Levi's growth with hats each month during his first year of life.  Now we are doing it on a yearly basis.  And what about Wyatt?  We debated how to set it up--all three of them together, or one each?  For Wyatt's first hat photograph with his Pop, we decided to do it with just the two of them.  For the next 11 months, we aren't sure.  But let me just enjoy this one, for now.

8/52, 3/52: Hands and Profiles

"A portrait of my oldest once a week, every week in 2014."
8/52

"A portrait of my youngest once a week, every week in 2014."
3/52

Levi: Still rosy-cheeked from his nap and clutching his little animals, Levi ventured a look outside.  We attempted to coax him into coming out to build a snowman, but he stood his ground.  He was excited just watching the babysitter add some prunes and a carrot to create a face for the snowman.  The light fell on his face in such a soft way.  "Need a snow girl," he said, still sleepy and completely oblivious to the fact that his mama could not take her eyes off him.

Wyatt: He slumbers most of the time, waking only to feed or to look about for a few wide-eyed minutes, looking absolutely astounded at the world around him.  Wyatt is still a slender newborn, although his legs are gaining strength (oh, those little kicks that sometimes propel him away from my body).  He has outgrown most of his newborn clothes.  I keep dressing him in this wonderful fleece cardigan because it's one of the few new clothes that he can claim as his own, not a hand-me-down.

7/52, 2/52

"A portrait of my oldest once a week, every week in 2014."
7/52

"A portrait of my youngest, once a week, every week in 2014."
2/52

Levi:  The second week of being a family of four has seen some challenges.  Levi misses his mama terribly.  I know that Levi will understand, eventually, that we will rediscover our balance and rhythm as a family.  He is growing more independent each day, simultaneously enjoying and bemoaning his status as a big brother.  Levi told me that I needed to move the book I am reading aloud so Wyatt could see it too.  Yet he needs his mama more than ever and tells me that too, frequently through words and actions.  I have never been more frustrated with Levi yet I love him more fiercely than ever.

Wyatt:  Yesterday my mother pointed out his symmetrical features and his asymmetrical ears.  Each day is a day of discovery--I have learned that Wyatt can be soothed by seeing his brother's face.  He fixates on Levi once Levi moves into his view.  It is so different the second time around--I have a glimpse of grandparents' ease around babies.  I can stop and smell the roses this baby.  I am relishing this lovely new stage of life.  Wyatt smells so good and whoever holds him finds it very hard to let go.

Mama's Stomach Broke: Wyatt Che's Birth Story

Photo Credit: Joanne Scott

The best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray.  --Robert Burns

I bought a delicate, tissue-thin kaftan (okay, a glorified muumuu) specifically for the day of the birth.  I had an idea of what the birth would look like:

6/52, 1/52

"A portrait of my son, once a week, every week in 2014."
6/52

"A portrait of my son, once a week, every week in 2014."
1/52

 Two children, two boys, two sons, two loves.

Levi woke up an hour before Wyatt was born, so he became witness to the birth.  Ever since then, he asks, "Where baby?" whenever he wakes up.  Levi has stepped into his new role of big brother with grace, with patience and with amazing resilience.  We are so proud of him.

Wyatt is a sleepy and voracious newborn.  We take turns gazing at him, wondering the same thing: who are you?  Each day we learn a little bit more about this brand new human being.  I look forward to witnessing him grow and prosper with his brother.  Douglas said to me, "I feel full."  I nodded.  I, too, feel so full of awe, of love, of family.  It's a lovely feeling.

5/52

"A portrait of my son once a week, every week, in 2014."
5/52

Levi and Pop.  We began this hat photo project when Levi hit the first month mark of his life, and took photos each month (missing a month here and there) with the same hat.  When Levi turned one, we agreed to continue doing this every year around his birthday for as long as possible.  This may be the last photo of just Levi and his Pop, with the new baby coming any day now.

My Sister and The Hungry Dog

Borrowed from Cristin Carole via Facebook.
I'm 13, Cristin is 21.  She often took me to bars for photo booth snapshots.

I have three sisters that span two families and two generations.  My oldest sister could easily be the mother of my youngest sister.  In fact I could also be the mother of my youngest sister.  My oldest sister is not related in any way to my two younger sisters; people may call my sisters half-sisters.  But that makes no sense to me at all.  They are my sisters, through and through, wholly.