Oh, the Places You'll Go!: July 2010

This Friday Trafton will be 6 weeks old - amazing how time flies! It has been such a wonderful summer so far, being that the three of us can be together with no work for awhile. We have had some wonderful times being home around the house, traveling to see family and friends, and having family and friends come over to see us. Here are some pictures from the last few weeks. It is amazing how new little things occur with Trafton almost every day to show that he is growing. He has outgrown his first batch of clothes (all the newborn outfits with feet, the rest of the newborn items still fit for now) and outgrown the sleep positioner that he loved to be in so much when we first brought him home. He is still sleeping in the bassinet in our bedroom, but seems to be filling that up more than he did before as well. We have been transitioning him into heis crib in his bedroom for naptimes so that he gets used to it before he sleeps all night in there.

Daniel's father came out to see us for Father's Day and he and Daniel planted three rhododendrons in celebration of Trafton's birth. Trafton and I watched from the patio and our neighbor JoAnne came by with some diapers for us. Trafton and I relaxed on the patio while the guys planted.

On July 2nd we went to the OATS (Out Among the Stars) bluegrass festival in Benton. It was an experience for sure! We have been going to festivals for many years, but this time was certainly different as we learned a little bit about festival-ing with a baby! First, it took FOR-ever to pack the car with all the necessary baby items for a day/evening out. Then, we had to sit REALLY far away from the speakers (we are used to looking for the best place to hear the music . . .) and then, we had to sit kind of far away from, well, everyone else at the festival, because Trafton was pretty fussy, of course. Spending 8+ hours outside at a music festival was a new experience for him and one of the only things that seemed to soothe him was being ridden around in his fancy "Cadillac" travel system. Trafton did finally fall asleep during the last set from the Steep Canyon Rangers (the most exciting band for us to see - we LOVE them!) and Daniel and I were able to dance with him in our arms. In all, it was a really wonderful time as a family with our friends. (We have really great childless friends who didn't mind sitting in our far away spot and doing the festival family-style with us!)

"T" for Tigger . . . or for Trafton :)

It got pretty cool as night fell.

Tara!

Steep Canyon Rangers!

Friends and former Life Skills co-workers Donna and Christine came by for a visit.

My mom and Aunt Lo came up from Maryland for the day and brought my little cousins Morgan and Logan with them. Morgan was fascinated by Trafton and her brother Logan spent his time putting together a bouncy seat that one of my dad's coworkers sent up as a gift. Thanks, Logan! (I started putting it together, realized it was more complicated that I thought and put it down, and Logan took the project on.)

More visitors! Lisa came by and brought all sorts of fun toys to Trafton that we have been playing with ever since! Thanks, Lisa!

Brett and Morgan came over to visit. They got to hear Trafton exercise his lungs quite a bit, but here was one quick quiet moment from their visit :)

Trafton's umbilical cord finally fell of about two weeks ago, so we have been able to bathe him in his fun bathtub. As you can see, he really enjoys it :)

Daniel's brother, Michael, and his fiance, Courtney, recently purchased a beautiful home in New Jersey. They have a pool in the back and here Trafton is with Pappy Beyer and Aunt Melissa on the patio by the pool.