Lucky number 7....

Talin, fitting right in amongst Forrest's favorite toys...

 Our little newborn is 7 weeks old! The 6 week milestone slipped by, not by myself, but for all of you I just couldn't find the time to post about it. I even weighed little Talin on the meat scale for the big 6 week milestone and "poof" here we are at 7 weeks! Talin at 7 weeks is a full fledged cutie baby. I love this stage, when they are more wide eyed that a newborn, but still don't quite have the head or body control to be a bigger baby yet. This little guy is 10 lbs 5 oz. and still a strong eater. He's had a few fussy days or hours, but for the most part is still our easy going little guy.  He's taken pumped bottles of breast milk like a champ with dad in preparation for the dreaded going back to work milestone and is sleeping okay at night. He just transitioned out of the bassinet that is a family heirloom on my dad's side to a cradle that I slept in when I was a baby! He almost always ends up in bed with us though in the wee hours of the morning as he just plain sleeps better and I get lazy in the 3-5am time when I am SO wanting an extra few hours and he seems ready to get up and start the day...especially with these long summer days! He is a cuddler and seems to always migrate to me in bed, nuzzling right up to my armpit or some other not so sweet smelling body part...funny guy!

 Little Talin's hand eye coordination is getting better as he tries to bat toys, or actually smiles when he is able to touch something with his still crazy spastic hands and feet.

 And, still blue eyes for this boy! As my maternity leave winds down I am so enjoying my family and my time off. I'm loving Talin to pieces as I think I'm appreciating these little baby times more watching Forrest and how much of a "big boy" he seems to be all of the sudden. Too soon I'm going to have two crazy Fulton boys running around and these sweet baby days will be over....

Amazing Family....

 To have 4 generations under one roof, enjoying each other, for an entire 4 days! I feel so blessed and happy to have had the opportunity to have my grandparents and my dad down last weekend. Thank you family for making this amazing trip work. You drove miles and miles to see our little family and it means so much to us!

Talin and his beautiful Great Grandma Sheila

My grandparents, enjoying breakfast

Talin and his Great Grandpa Gerald

Grandpa and his two Grandsons

My little 5 week old Monkey...

Time is flying by here with Talin. This will be short and sweet and I'll save the verbage for the 6 week milestone.
Isn't he a cutie!!!

A fish story...

My dad happened to be lucky, ( and brave?) enough to accompany Alex down to Burnt Ranch, his epic salmon fishing spot here on the Trinity River. The water is VERY high this year so this makes fishing a REAL adventure to say the least. My dad didn't get a fish, but did get to document a fish fight that ended with Alex getting a bit wet....

Alex hooks a big one and well into the fight the salmon runs downriver leaving Alex to chase him on the rugged bank...

The fight goes on...

No more room to follow the salmon downriver....the battle ensues...

Trying to hang on as the fish runs, trying NOT to get spooled.

It comes down to getting in...49 degree water....

Alex, knee deep. Notice the fish tail in the middle of the picture...

SUCCESS!!!

And the salmon arrive....as do the grandparents!

We're having a blast here, hanging with not just my dad, Forrest's and Talin's grandpa but also my Grandpa and Grandma, making that our kids GREAT grandparents, all under one roof! My hubby took the afternoon to fish and look what he got! Two giant salmon! Forrest and his great grandpa were all about the fish as witnessed by the photos.
And this was Talin's first look at the great salmon we are so familiar with.

This was Alex's first fish since having Talin, and first salmon of the year. We're a happy family here in the woods!

 And, of course, not to leave out Great Grandma and Talin, cozying up in our beautiful weather here today....

4 weeks with my little baby T

 4weeks have flow by, yet it already seems ages ago that little Talin came into this world! He is still fairly mellow by nature, though has had days of seemingly endless feeding sessions as he puts on his baby fat. He is nearly 9 lbs and has shown his little smile to his Dad as of yesterday! He loves to be held and seems to love his baths. He is not the biggest fan of the swing as his big brother was, though recently will at least tolerate it for awhile.
We have nick named this little guy "guinea pig" for the cute little grunts and squeaks he makes and the soft downy "fur" he still carries. It fits him well! Forrest was "lamprey" for his voracious suck...I think  I'd rather have a guinea pig the second time around!

 And this is how we roll with two kids! We've already ventured out on a few walks and adventures with the two kiddies. I'm overall feeling well carrying the load though my back definitely feels how weak my abs still must be...in due time I suppose...

And in the cards for the next few days....?
sleep...
sun...
and hopefully more sleep...:-)

Feeling the love...

As I write this I have bubbling water cooking up some spinach linguini, homemade pasta sauce reheating on the stove, and garlic bread in the oven...the extent of my cooking as the pasta sauce is actually my neighbors Lori and Ed's homemade speciale, and all was delivered in a basket yesterday along with some very cute baby and toddler gifts! This is just one example of the love and support for baby Talin that we have felt. Just to mention some of the meals we have eaten lately thanks to our great neighbors and friends...
*yummy fresh halibut fish tacos from great friends Andy and Shelby...
*pulled pork that made a TON of great lunch sandwiches from neighbors Jerry and Karen
*great frozen lasagna from sister Megan and Shelby!
*corned beef and cabage delivered in a crock-pot from neighbors Dick and Lori
*a great chicken casserole from the same person as who made the above meal...
*fabulous chicken burrito makings from two nurses at the hospital PLUS great sand toys for Forrest!
*sushi gift certificate and a frozen strawberry pie from friend Jess!
And this is just SOME of the meals we have recieved. I hear a rumor more are coming which is absolutely amazing considering where we live. To have meals show up at your doorstep when you are 50 miles from any big town seems like a feat in itself!
Baby gifts for our little boy #2 have also been streaming in, eveything from his own super beautiful home made baby blanket to cute puzzles, books, and toys from Forrest we are certainly feeling the love here at home! This all means so much. Having a baby is such an exciting and exhausting time all at once and the personal touch of a gift or meal or just a note really makes it all perfect!
Thank you all!