The sweetest, naked-est baby

Luke and his Daddy

Despite Daddy's grumblings he cooperated and we got some very sweet pictures. Chris kept telling me he needed to get a shower. I didn't understand why. (I think he was watching a baseball game and didn't want to be interrupted) So, I asked him how he was going to look different? I mean he didn't have to re-apply makeup. And the picture isn't scratch-n-sniff. As long as there aren't streaks of dirt showing it is okay. I think it just seems proper to get cleaned up to have your picture taken. Well not at my studio!

Little Mama and Big Daddy

The big thing around the Tyree house these days is "who gets to hold the baby?" Wish Luke liked it as much as Anna and Jaden do...

Luke is one month old

It's hard to believe that a whole month has passed by already. Time sure does fly when you are sleep deprived and busy changing diapers, nursing a baby, chasing a toddler, keeping a 5-year-old entertained, doing loads and loads of laundry, running errands... But, the truth be told I wouldn't trade it for the world! I love new baby sounds, smells, and cuddles. Those little squeaks and grunts melt my heart. In my opinion they don't last long enough. Luke went to the doctor today for his check up and he has gained 2.5 pounds and grew 3 inches in just three weeks! See, what I mean? He now weighs 10 pounds 7 ounces (50th-75th percentile) and is 23 inches long (95th percentile). I am tickled that he is doing well. It's always a worry for me - is he getting enough to eat? am I doing a good job taking care of him? I'm sure I'll worry till the day he leaves for college. But in reality it probably won't stop then either. That's just parf of being a parent.

This has been an interesting week. My plan was to spend the week just nursing the baby and getting rest since Chris was off. I tried but the plan has to be adjusted. Jaden came down with a runny nose on Saturday and had a little fever on Sunday. I thought it was just a little bit of allergies and it would clear up but it didn't. His nose just poured yucky stuff for days. He was so miserable despite our best efforts to keep him comfortable with decongestant and ibuprofen. He was like an extra appendage to Chris. Thank goodness he was here to carry him around because I don't know how I would have managed. He just wanted to be held. Plus, Jaden didn't sleep well most nights. Everyone was exhaused! I took him to the doctor on Wednesday to have him checked out. It turned out that he has a bacterial upper respiratory infection and impetigo (which is contagious!). One of us has had to tend to Luke while other tended to Jaden. Anna was good about going back and forth between whoever was free. She was also wonderful at occuping herself with her Barbies, coloring, and working on her handwriting. She has also been doing a good job sounding out words and learning to read. She is working hard. We are very proud of her.

A few more sleeping baby pictures...

Surprise! A few awake baby pictures... there has to be a first time for everything.

(He makes some funny faces but they are precious!)

An afternoon nap & another photo opp.

Luke is 4 weeks old today

I love this picture because he is starting to look "fat". I mean that in a very good way. :)

You may be wondering - "Just how many pictures of a sleeping baby can one Mom take?" To be fair, he doesn't do much else - at least not much I can photograph! He's just so cute and I know that I will blink and he will be all grown up so I want to take as many as I can! It's just easy to take these pictures right now. Although it is getting challenging to think of different things to do. I usually take them by myself so I'm limited. I also don't have that many props and lighting, etc. I am still hoping to get some pictures with Chris this week while he's off but it just hasn't worked out yet. Timing is everything and those moments are harder to come by the more people that you have to factor in. Getting Chris free means Anna needs to be occupied and Jaden asleep then, Luke has to be asleep to or at least cooperative and since I'm not a professional photographer it's got to be a day with good light... You can see what I mean.

This is one of my favorites because it will always remind me of one of Luke's favorite things. Just about from the time we brought him home I've been able to relax him to sleep or comfort him by running my hand over his little head. It's so sweet to watch his eyes softly close and feel his delicate hair. I love these moments.

The blanket in this picture was the same one that I used in Jaden's newborn picture. It was a gift from a friend of Chris' in WV. I like that there are connections I can capture in photographs between my kids.

Tooting my own horn!

I am soo excited to report that I made it through my first week all by myself with all three kids! I've been pretty spoiled the last few weeks. My mom came down a few days before Luke was born and stayed for two weeks. Then, my Aunt and Uncle came down a few days before my mom left and stayed for 10 days. I didn't have to cook or clean or do laundry or change dirty toddler diapers! I am very lucky (and believe me, I realize it!) to have such wonderful family. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!
I was very nervous about going from having so much help and lots of company to being alone with all of the responsibility. I thought it might be a difficult adjustment - especially with a very active toddler and and newborn who gets up all through the night. We all made it through with flying colors. I managed to get myself clean every morning (a major feat for me), get Anna to school on time, keep everyone fed, diapered, and napped, registered Anna for kindergarten (and they even made me come back two days in a row - double the effort!), AND took Jaden to Kindermusic class with Luke in the Baby Bjorn (still had to sit on the floor with Jaden in my lap and carry him when we did things standing up - he shows me no mercy). Somehow I also managed to cook supper a few nights and kept the house in some semblance of an order (don't ask me how). I know that doesn't sound like much but at this time in my life its a really big deal. Now I will be rewarded with the company of my husband for a whole week!!!

Big Sister Anna

I have to say that I am very proud of my little Anna. She has taken to being a 'big sister' pretty well considering how much of a change it's been in her life. Now, that's not saying that she can't be a little stinker at times - especially when it comes to Jaden. She is very aware that she is bigger than him and smarter than him...for now. I have to watch because she is quick to take things she wants from him in the blink of an eye - toys, books, popsicles. Jaden may be little but he sure has a powerful cry/scream. He generally doesn't just roll over when she takes advantage of him - he lets someone know!

As for Luke, she is much more confident in her baby handling skills this time. She tries to pick him up by herself and wants to hold him walking. She actually does very well but I'm still a cautious mother hen. At least this time I've realized that he's much sturdier than I used to think babies were and he can handle it. With that being said, I would not take my chances where Jaden is involved. He's the sweetest little boy but he's a bit of a bull in a china shop. He wants to kiss Luke over and over. I think the kiss ratio is at least 20+:1 for the rest of us. But he's quick to get up and try to jump on the bed if Luke is lying there or try to crawl over him to get to a toy before his sister. Protecting Luke from Jaden is definitely one of my top priorities after nursing and pumping!

Luke's first bath

My little Luke was born with a very interesting umbilical cord. There were actually two branches. One branch formed the umbilical cord that was attached to me and the other was about 2-3 inches or so long but stopped. Also, the one that connected us only had two vessels instead of three. Sometimes this can be an indication of kidney problems but the doctor said Luke was fine. Needless to say, it was a little bulky (and not very pretty) and I had actually been looking forward to it falling off. Well, that finally happened today! So, we were able to give Luke his first "real" bath. He did really well. I thought it might be a little more stimulating rather than relaxing since the whole "fam" had to be in on it. Anna and Jaden were close by getting into things they usually aren't allowed to since Chris and I were occupied and bickering, of course. But, he seemed to enjoy himself. He was very alert, he just looked around - no crying. Afterwards he smelled so yummy! I have two favorite baby smells - that special smell that only breastfed babies have and newly bathed babies. They're just so delicious!!!

Happy Easter!

Somehow we managed to get a picture of everyone looking somewhat pleasant. Jaden had tears streaming down his face and Anna was pouting and giving everyone "mean looks". After much threatening we got some cooperation. It's a good thing too because they all looked so cute in their color-coordinated clothes!
Luke and Uncle Richie
Luke in his Easter outfit. His little onesie says "just hatched".

The reason behind the name "Weston"

We have named our newest little one "Lukas Weston Tyree". Some folks have wondered where we came up with the name "Weston". When I tell you it will seem obvious to some of the people who have known Chris and I for a while - especially if they are from West Virginia. You see, I met Chris when I was on internship during my last semester of graduate school. We both worked at the state psychiatric hospital in Weston, WV. As we were discussing potential names we wanted to pick something that was special to us. We tried to think if a family name but the names we had to choose from had either been taken already, we're sort of "out-of-date", or were just too unusual for our taste. Then, one of us mentioned "Weston". We thought it was appropriate since "it all started and ends with Weston".

Easter egg hunt

The Easter Bunny stopped by our house a day early and left Easter eggs and little presents around the backyard for the kids to find. They had so much fun looking for the eggs. Some had candy and some had money!! He also left some books, games, and toys.

Making Easter eggs

Kissing bandit - Jaden loves to give Luke kisses! It's funny - he tries so hard to kiss him on the lips. Luke wiggles around but Jaden doesn't give up. He does that with other people too. When he tries to give someone a kiss they sometimes try to turn their cheek toward him. That just won't fly with him - he's got to plant one on you right on the mouth!



I think Anna has made Easter eggs with Grandma every year that she has been actually interested in making them. It's been a nice tradition - I hope we'll be able to keep it up! This year Aunt Megan got in on the action. She and Anna came up with some really creative eggs.

Making the traditional bunny cakes

Every year my grandmother would make special bunny cakes for Easter. My mom and Aunt Clarice have continued the tradition. Anna really looks forward to making the bunny cakes. Somehow they seem even more delicious when she helps!Then when it comes to eating them she wants to eat the head first then the butt - I'm not sure what that says about her...

A little visit to Galveston

Today we took a ride to Galveston, TX to see the beach and get something to eat. For an added treat, after supper we took a ride around town in a horse and carriage. We learned a little about the great flood of 1900. It was pretty neat. By the time we made it down to the beach it was chilly. That didn't stop Anna from getting her feet wet in the water!