One month old!

Cassian turned one month old this past Tuesday - can you believe it?!?

We are starting to get to know his moods and faces. We laugh hysterically at his "I'm hungry face", which consists of him opening his mouth in an "O" shape and frantically moving it from side to side. This is also called "rooting", and while we know it means he's about 3 seconds away from freaking out with hunger, it's also one of the cutest things we've ever seen.

This is his post-bath chill face.













Cass hated his first couple of baths, but he's getting used to them now and is mostly calm for bath time. About a week ago I gave Cass a bath solo for the first time and it was terrifying! But eventually we got the hang of it, and bath time has become my favorite ritual with our little one.

Cass has a bouncy chair that he just LOVES! (Thank you Uncle Pete and Aunt Linda!)












We have also recently discovered that he absolutely loves to listen to music. When he's being a fussy little man and all else fails, a little live music (courtesy of Dad and his acoustic guitar) is a sure fix. He was equally transfixed by Uncle Kyle and his guitar when he and Grandmom Esposti visited a couple of weeks ago. We definitely have a little music lover on our hands!

I leave you with pictures of little feet...












and furry ears :)

The Announcement Post - finally :)

Yes, it took quite awhile to update the blog! But with Facebook, Cam's website and the iPhone, who needs the baby blog? LOL. So, the long-awaited announcement blog posting is here!

Our blizzard baby, Cassian Paul, was born on Saturday December 19th at 9:09 PM, weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. Cass was born during the worst blizzard to hit the DC area in over 25 years. We received 20 inches of snow, and our hospital staff were snowed in for three days! Way to make an entrance kiddo :)

We are so blessed to have a healthy, happy, beautiful new son. My Mom and Cameron's Mom were present for the labor (3 days!) and delivery of their grandson. I can't thank you both enough for your support and encouragement during labor. It was the most demanding thing I have ever done, and I couldn't have succeeded without you and Cameron by my side.

Everyone tells you that having a baby will change you in ways that you can't even imagine. At the time, even when pregnant, you listen and take note, but a small part of you also thinks..."that's the corniest thing I've ever heard". And yet...it's all true. The immediate surge of pure love you feel for your child; the moment you realize you'd do anything to protect him; the way you feel like a superhero because you're "Mom" or "Dad"; the increased intensity of every emotion in the human spectrum...all of these things happen, and we have been forever changed. We are so excited to share our lives with Cassian...2010 is going to be the best year yet!

With Mama, just a few minutes old.












Getting the Apgar Test












The morning after...snuggling in bed.












BIG yawn.

Looooong time, not post

I will apologize in advance that there are no pictures today! I'll get some up sooner than later, promise, promise.

All is progressing well in baby world. I am now 36 weeks along and at last count measured over 48" around the belly. That's right my friends - I'm wider than a child is tall. We have been having periodic ultrasounds to monitor baby and as of two weeks ago he measured 5.5 pounds. My doctor has also proclaimed that I'm "all-baby, all-belly", so we're gearing up for a big boy! I will be full-term (37 weeks) next Sunday, and I can feeeeeeeeeel it. I'm now having regular braxton-hicks contractions, and so getting a bit of a preview of labor. Although, I'm not sure who's more terrified of labor, me or Cameron. He gets quite pale every time we bring it up :)

A few weeks ago we had a beautiful, fantastic baby shower with tons of loved ones in New Jersey. Baby Cass was inundated with toys, clothes, swaddlers, books, blankets and loads more goodies that we're sure to use to death upon his arrival. Cameron and I are so very, very lucky to be loved by so many wonderful people. We had a GREAT time and were thrilled to see everyone! Thank you all again for your love, support and generosity. We are truly blessed with the best friends and family the world could possibly bestow.

This week's projects include finalizing pre-admission for the hospital (Innova Fairfax, a GREAT facility!), installing the car seat and packing bags for the hospital. Cameron put together our beautiful crib a few weeks ago, while I stocked the nursery with receiving blankets galore and packed Cass's dresser with teeny, tiny outfits. Grandpa Esposti has purchased enough wipes to last through Armageddon, and word on the street has it that he is planning to buy Costco out of diapers as well. It seems as though we are armed and prepared for baby's arrival!

It's now just a matter of playing the waiting game. I'm seeing the doctor weekly now, and will try and chime in with an update later in the week as to what she thinks regarding timing. We're (not surprisingly) hoping he comes juuuust a little early. We can hardly believe that he's almost here...just a few more weeks and we shall graduate into the world of "parenthood"...and we can't hardly wait :)

All our love,
Dan and Cam

What's Bigger - the Pumpkin or the Belly?

Yesterday Cam and I went apple-pickin' and pumpkin-picturin' at Marker Miller Orchards in Winchester, VA (about 1.5 hours from Arlington in the Shenandoah Valley). We hadn't been on a day-adventure in quite awhile, so it was really nice to get out of Arlington.

We picked apples:

Meanwhile, Rocco had a great time rolling around in the grass - AND the horse crap. By

the time we noticed precisely why he looked as happy as a pig in shit, we realized it was because he actually WAS a pig in shit. Our noses did NOT thank us on the way home!

He's lucky he's so darn cute :)

Baby is getting bigger every day, as evidenced by his size in comparison to a pumpkin. This week's Baby Center email (which always compares baby to some type of food) estimated Cass to be the size of a medium butternut squash at about 15" and 2.5 pounds. However Dr. Day said today at my 29 week appointment that he's measuring a bit large - so, we'll stick with the pumpkin comparison.

Cam captured a picture of a praying mantis on a pumpkin (how's that for alliteration??)

Other fun facts to be aware of:

- I am officially in the third trimester. We're in the home stretch. Woo-hoo!!

-Grandma Esposti visited last weekend and we bought a crib. Cass officially has a place to sleep! Daddy's task this week will be to put it together.

-Speaking of Dad, he's got a fancy-schmancy new website, which can be found here. Check out the adorable pictures of our good friends' daughter, Addie Silvestro, as well as some kiddos that Cameron knows through work friends - Vivienne and James - under the "Lifestyle Photography" portfolio. You can also view some awesome pictures of Uncle Sean's band Hull under the Band Portraits section. Let us know what you think! BTW, Cameron Whitman Photography is also officially an LLC in the state of Virginia, so says LegalZoom. Sweet.

Pregger Pics Re-worked

So me being me. I've reworked these images to something more dramatic. Please enjoy.

-C

Beeeeeeelly Pics!

'Nuff said :)

Cam took these several weeks ago (around 23 weeks?) and has been hoarding them for his own viewing pleasure ;) I'm a little bigger now, but...you get the idea. They're a little dark and stormy...the next round will be more cheerful, promise.

Rembering 9/11

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty." - JFK

September 11, 2001. Never forget.