Boy vs. BEAST

Ryan had a doctor's appointment yesterday for one last checkup before we leave for India, and WOW, did we get a surprise! The kid is a MONSTER!

Here are his current stats:
Weight: 8 lbs, 12 oz (up 3 lbs, 1 oz since leaving the NICU 4 weeks ago)
Length: 20.5 inches (up 2 full inches since birth)

I actually had to ask the nurse to weigh him again, because I could not believe it! The doctor said he's doing very, very well for a preemie, and we are so grateful for that.
Ryan is not the teeny tiny baby he once was- our little one is already 6 weeks old! Where does the time go?!?

The kids

I have not posted many pictures of the kids lately...it's sad how much less time one has once child #2 comes along...
I did force a "cuddle session" onto the kids the other night so I could snap some shots. Catherine loved it! Ryan did not.

So I tried another tactic- I laid Ryan down on the couch and got right up in his face- I'm such a meanie! I wanted to capture his "rolls"- he's gotten so much bigger already!

Look at the difference in our color! I sure do hope he gets a LITTLE darker!

Look at that chin!

His "who, me?" look...I'm sure we'll see this one again!

Proof is in the puddin': chunka munka legs!

They are sure to be the best of friends!

The power of a woman

I love my husband. I really do. He is an honest, hard-working, loving, funny man. But having him home (for less than 24 hours, mind you), has made me realize that I possess powers that he may only dream of. I am SUPER WOMAN!

I can:
1. Shower in under 5 minutes- this includes shaving legs and pits!

2. Walk around the kitchen with an infant attached to me (literally), making dinner one-handed!

3. Listen to 3 different people talking to me at once- Mike, Catherine and Ryan!

4. Refrain from making any bodily noises for at least 5 minutes after walking in the door!

5. Get from the back door and into the car- and be driving- in under 15 minutes!

6. Sleep for 5 hours (with 2 30-minute interruptions), and still be relatively pleasant the next day!

7. Wrangle an overtired, spastic 3 1/2 year old and a screaming infant at the Sunglasses Hut while he takes his time deciding whether he looks cooler in the Maui Jims or the Oakleys, during which I occasionally call out that he looks HOT in a particular pair- JUST GET THEM ALREADY!

8. Color, draw and play "school" for at least 1 hour each day!

9. Sit through the movie "Cars" so many times, I know the lines by heart!

10. Set the table with cutlery appropriate for the meal we're about to eat!

I am SUPER WOMAN! Hear me ROAR!

In all seriousness, I love my man- and he loves me. That's what counts, right? :)

6 more days in the U.S.? I'll take it!

Our return to India has been delayed by a few days...we'll be leaving on 10 Aug now, arriving in Mumbai on 11 Aug. I'm not so unhappy about it, except for the fact that Catherine's new student orientation at the American School of Bombay (ASB) is on 12 Aug....the jet lag is going to be preeeety tough that first week. Ugh.

Things continue to go well here for us- we are taking it one day at a time, and Ryan is growing by leaps and bounds- I feel like he's HUGE now, and so chunky!

Catherine is totally in love with Ryan and is so so so so sweet to him! Here's a little video clip:

Ryan's Sip N See

Ryan made his debut into the world this past weekend at his very own Sip N See.....(for all you northerners out there, it's a post-birth shower where you "sip beverages and see the baby").

It was fantastic! I had so much fun seeing so many friends in one place at one time, and I'm go grateful to Cynthia, Rosa, Jen, Heather, Kristen and Sarah for hosting- thank you, ladies!

Ryan was well behaved for the most part, other than a 1/2-hour meltdown during which my mom had to take him to the back room to spare everyone's eardrums- that kid can get LOUD!

Thank you to everyone who came, and thank you for all the love, hugs, well-wishes and gifts you bestowed upon us!