Weston is 3 months!

Well, Wes is now 3 months old.  He is just a bundle of laughs!  As our September blog will show, September has been a really busy (some say hectic) period of time for the Cook / Weis clan.  Through all of the comings / goings, location changes and time zones changes - Wes remains a happy, funny, sleepy baby boy.  Elliot continues to love him dearly and seems to be getting better at anticipating his needs.  She informs us quite insistently that "Wes needs his NuK!" or "Wes has a poopy butt."  A delay in attending to his needs (real or imagined) and Elliot is VERY disappointed in the quality of the parenting.  The only challenge is how much Wes HATES the car.  As soon as you click him into the car seat, he LOSES HIS MIND!!!!! It takes a heroic effort from mom to help him keep his business together.  We are very hopeful that this phase will pass soon....

Wes is growing well.  He has started to reach out with two hands to grasp things and is using his toes to bat at dangling objects.  Perhaps most excitingly - he is smiling, laughing, cooing and singing along with us during afternoon dance parties.  He smile easily and broadly at his family and, after warming up, pretty much anyone else.  His head control is remarkable and his core strength is improving - thanks to "standing" with support from Dad.    

His curiosity has grown as well.  He often will get fussy because he can't see enough of the world and, when you turn him to face out, he is enamored with all the trees, leaves and colors.  He has also discovered his mouth and his hands - often putting his own hand in his mouth in its entirety and grabbing your hand to try and do the same.  The downside of this new skill is that he is REALLY good a pulling your hair and tearing necklaces off.  

Weston likes:

- snuggling with mom  (and sometimes dad)

- bouncing while looking at the world 

- sleeping for long periods of time at night

- staring at trees and the grass

- grabbing things and pulling them into his mouth

- snuggling with grandmas

Weston doesn't like:

- THE CAR (lots of screaming)

- having a wet or dirty diaper

- getting smacked in the face by his sister

- being cold

- eating formula (gives him gas)

New Developments

- getting his hands into his mouth

- grasping and pulling objects towards him

- frequent social smile 

- laughs (if you are really funny)

- lots of cooing!

- sings along to Moana with Elliot

August 2017 Shenanigans: Washington Exploration

Mac finished fellowship and we really took advantage of our last month in Washington, off work, as a family.  We officially are unemployed with 2 kids and 2 days, and as of the end of the month....homeless.  Not where I imagined I would be 5 years ago.  But, it feels great to have the time together.  The month was full of adventures and travel.  Mac and I both enjoyed getting lots of outdoor and hiking time in.  Weston and Elliot are naturals in the outdoors!  Elliot herself is a good little hiker both in and out of the backpack.

At the beginning of the month we were able to take a few days to go camping with our good friends on San Juan Island.  We were a little intimidated by camping with a 7 week old but it was actually really fun and worked well!  The camp site was beautiful, Elliot loved the blackberry bush right next door.  We enjoyed the beaches and scenery of San Juan island and we got to spend some time with our friends the Lori and Richard with their son Tristan.

Next it was off to Mt. Rainier National Park with all kids and dogs in tow.  There was a bit of smoke from the BC forest fires but that didn't slow us down.  The first day we did a lovely alpine lake hike just outside the park and the next day we left the dogs behind to hike in the Paradise area of the NP, and its name held true!  Amazing alpine meadows, Mt Rainier views, and wildflowers.  

We were lucky to be able to travel back to Maine to visit Cook's camp for a week.  Aunt Kate's baby shower was a highlight, as well as fishing of the doc.  Elliot caught 4 fish within 10 minutes and was wondering what the big deal was.  At one point Elliot fell asleep on a kayak ride with Grandma Cook, the lake had lulled her to sleep.  She also went on her first canoe ride with mom and dad.  Lots of amazing time with the family!

We laid low in Seattle for a few days but then did one last big trip up to Mt Baker Wilderness.  We hiked the Skyline Divide trail and up by Artist Point which were exceptional views looking at Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan.  At one point I lost Mac's wallet and we got super lucky that someone turned it in!  

Our time in Washington had come to close and it was moving time at the end of the month.  Everything got boxed up and packed off to Portland.  Elliot thought it was a blast to run around the storage unit or "box" until the movers got there.  Now there isn't room for 1 more box.  

Now we are officially homeless with all our belongings in storage! The house hunt continues!

Paradise Mt Rainier

Fishing with dad and Uncle Ryan

Lake Serene

Skyline divide trail

Sibling love

Elli reading to her little brother.

That smile!

Packing day

I wasn't too much help with the movers.