Flutterbug Redux!

Audrey's Debut

With Bryan away at a Volleyball tournament this afternoon, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to weasel my way into his blog and publish a post!

First, and I've been waiting a long time for this, I'm publicly endorsing a baby product. As if consumer culture hasn't already infiltrated every other media, now it's in a private baby blog. But this product is important. This product could even be described, without embellishment, as life changing. I implore you...buy it for friends, children, grandchildren, adolescents who might engage in activities that leave them with level of consciousness similar to an infant...
Sean has been completely and utterly transfixed. His eyes dilate in attraction. In fact, I'm pretty sure, over and beyond breastmilk, that the Flutterbug is his first love.

Flutterbug's siren song--a dainty, though not annoying, music box piece--only scratches the surface of his multitudinous charms. His true beauty lies in his wholly round, basketball orange face replete with enormous googly eyes, blue beetle antennae, and inconceivably, freckles. Though he's missing half of a smile and only sports one eyebrow, his unique face sucks babies in like little lambs to the slaughter. Once entranced, Flutterbug hypnotizes with his gently turning, little beetle wings. Splashed with bright and highly contrasting prints, the Flutterbug's spell is sealed by the primary color ribbons that flick with every revolution. Sean has peed on these very ribbons and they have lost not a whit of power. The Flutterbug is invincible.

Sean is waking up from a nap in my lap so I will have to leave for now. In other news from the neighborhood...we have new neighbors both above and below us, neither of which Bryan is too keen about. He is convinced that the observant Muslims moving in are probably linked to Al Qaeda, and he believes the basement neighbors are infiltrating the complex with unsavory characters. In fact, our Polish friend from across the hall had his car broken into the other night and his GPS stolen. On a positive note Bryan's arch nemesis, the neighbor across the street infamous for stealing our parking spots with his enormous black SUV (The Deathstar), has inexplicably disappeared. This, in tandem with the good golf weather, has I believe increased Bryan's happiness tenfold.

Video of Sean

Grandpa Bob and Grandma Beckie Visit from the Land of 10,000 Lakes

As I mentioned previously, Grandpa Bob and Grandma Beckie visited from Minnesota a couple weekends ago. It was a beautiful weekend to visit as the temperatures reached the 80's and the Highland Park magnolias and cherry trees were in full bloom. On Friday we went for a walk through the park and enjoyed the blooming trees on display.

On Saturday Grandpa and Papa played golf in the afternoon while Grandma and Audrey took Sean for a stroll along Park Ave and got some Abbott's custard. Saturday evening we grilled out before the rain came and the happy grandparents spent some quality time with Sean.

Sunday morning Grandpa and Papa again played golf while Beckie babysat Sean allowing Audrey to run some errands. Beckie was SO HAPPY to hold and hug Sean that she offered to babysit Sean anytime...LOL. We'll fly you out Beckie the next time we need a babysitter :)

In other news, Papa Bryan took both golf matches over the weekend, going up 2-0 in the 2009 Perkins Cup. Will Grandpa Bob take a few matches over the 4th of July on his home course in Minnesota? Will Bryan ever stop the "squirts" on his chipping? Will Bryan defend his 2008 title? Stay tuned...

Happy Mother's Day

Audrey had a great first Mother's Day. Before Mother's Day even started she received many flowers from Grandpa George and from Papa. The actual day started off great as Mommy got to sleep in until 10am. Then we went out to breakfast at the Southwedge Diner, where Sean was awesome until we were finally seated. He became fussy for awhile before finally falling asleep allowing Mommy and Papa to eat their omelet and Southwedge Skillet ( a layer of homefries, topped with scrambled eggs, sausage gravy and cheddar cheese. So good). After breakfast we went to the Public Market to buy flowers for Grandma Donna (we got her a hanging white begonia) and then to Wegmans to buy a fruit tart for dessert that evening. While in the Wegmans patesserie Audrey spotted some heart-shaped cookies with Mom written on them. She treated herself to a Mom cookie for Mother's Day and devoured it before we even reached the checkout ;)



After Wegmans we went home to nap before heading to Grandma Donna's and Grandpa Tom's for dinner. Sean was the star of the Mother's Day dinner in his little blue striped Polo outfit which matched Papa's shirt. Everyone took turns holding Sean and playing with him. Happy Mother's Day to Grandmas Donna, Brenda and Beckie!

A Smiling Sean

Here is the first pic of Sean smiling! He's been smiling for a couple weeks now but it's incredibly difficult to get a shot of him in the act. Not because he doesn't smile a lot but because it's so fleeting and Papa doesn't have his camera at the ready!

Below are pictures of Sean in his bouncy chair. He digs the chair and its "calming vibrations" but he really likes the snail hanging from the handle/arch. He tries to reach out and touch the snail but only gets it sometimes. Given his proclivity for pumping his arms it won't be long before he's reaching out and boxing the snail. "Winner by TKO in the third round and still the Fisher Price super babyweight champion, Sean 'Milk Monster' Perkins!"

The Three Fosters

Robert Foster Perkins, Bryan Foster Perkins and Sean Foster Perkins enjoying a beautiful spring day in Highland Park. Grandpa Bob and Grandma Beckie flew in from Minnesota to visit Sean for the first time last weekend. They picked an excellent weekend to visit as the temperatures reached the mid-80's! More pics and a write up of the weekend to come soon!

Sean's Hands

Sean has discovered his hands. He likes to make a fist and move it back and forth and watch it. He also likes to chew on his fists and hit himself on either his forehead or his mouth.




In other news, Sean has a new nickname to add to the list: Babykins

An Active Sean

Sean is officially an "Active Baby". It's true, Audrey looked it up. According to "What to Expect in the First Year" an active baby has the following attributes:

1. Kicks out of a swaddle
2. Sleeps less than most babies
3. Very alert, interested in the world around him
4. Becomes restless when feeding
5. Dressing and diapering sessions become wrestling matches.

While Sean doesn't meet all of the criteria all of the time, he certainly does meet most of them most of the time. He is notorious for punching his arms and kicking his legs out of even the tightest swaddle. He most certainly doesn't sleep a lot or for long stretches. His favorite move when having his diaper changed is to straighten out his legs and push them together, making it a challenge to get the new diaper on. It's quite funny actually.

Lastly, Sean is very alert and interested in everything around him. He is interested in people and focuses on those around him. He can be entertained for hours by the Flutterbug (aka Baby Crack). He is always holding up his head, looking from side to side, taking in our faces and listening to our voices. He is constantly pumping his arms and legs, making fists with his hands and cooing. It is awesome to watch.

While it can be a challenge at times to have a baby that doesn't sleep all that much I am certainly not complaining. Well, maybe a little, like when I don't have time to brush my teeth because Sean is awake from 5:30am to Noon and wants to ride the sleep shoulder the entire time. But it's truly amazing and a blessing to have a baby this young be this alert and active, cooing at you and smiling. He's interacting with us, which more than makes up for the zillion laps Papa has walked with Sean through the living room and kitchen. Who knows, maybe Sean really is Super Baby ;)

Easter Sunday

Sean went to church for the first time ever this past Sunday. (Lots of "firsts" on this blog. Weird how that works). Mommy and Papa took him to Blessed Sacrament on the corner of Monroe and Rutgers, the same church where he will be baptized in a couple of months. Sean made a good first impression on the faithful congregation by going into fuss bucket mode only once during the service. Hopefully he'll maintain his track record at church with another good showing at his baptism.

After church Sean was still being a good boy so Papa and Mommy took him along to the South Wedge Diner for one of their favorite pastimes, eating a greasy spoon breakfast in the afternoon. Sean continued to bat 1.000 on Easter Sunday and maintained his good behavior the entire time.

Later that afternoon the trio traveled to Fairport for Easter dinner with Grandpa and Grandma Dinse. Grandpa and Bryan watched Phil and Tiger make an exciting yet ultimately disappointing charge in the Masters while Sean and Mommy napped downstairs and upstairs respectively. After a traditional and delicious Easter dinner of Ham and mashed potatoes Mommy and Papa took Sean home for some much needed rest after a long and eventful day.

Nicknames for Sean

1. Turtle
2. Milk Monster
3. Snorty McGee
4. Fuss Bucket
5. Piglet
6. Super Baby (Hi Heather!)

Grandma Acker Comes to Visit

Sean had another visitor this week as Grandma Acker came up from Florida to visit her first grandchild. She spent many hours holding, burping, walking and changing Sean. She also asked him if he was going to talk to her. We all know Sean is Super Baby (hi Heather!) but we have to wait a few months for that Grandma.

Last Saturday Grandma Acker, Sean and Sean's parents traveled to Honeoye Lake to visit the Murphys. Grandma, Mom, and Mrs. Murhpy got pedicures while Guy and Papa drank beer on the porch and soaked up the sunshine on one of the first truly beautiful days of the year.

On Sunday Sean made his first trip to Wegmans. His eyes were wide as can be when he first entered the store and he never stopped looking around. It may have been ambitious to head to the Pittsford Wegmans on a Sunday afternoon with little Sean in tow, but he was a trooper and lasted about 45 minutes before being overwhelmed by the sights, sounds, and smells. Mommy took Sean to the car to calm him down while Grandma and Papa finished the shopping. Sean was truly the star of the visit to Wegmans, garnerning much attention and compliments from fellow shoppers.

Watching Basketball with Dad

Sean's First Trip to the Public Market

Today is another beautiful day in Rochester, mid-40's with lots of sunshine. Sean must be good luck as this is the most pleasant March in recent memory. The weather provided the perfect occasion to take Sean to the Public Market for the first time. It was a bit windy when we arrived but Sean proved to be quite the trooper, hardly complaining and enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of the market (except for the fish monger, he didn't like the smell of that).



Mommy and Papa picked up some fruits (oranges, plums and grapes) and veggies (salt potatoes and asparagus) as well as a nice swordfish steak. After a quick trip to the bathroom for a diaper change, Sean made his way over to Juan and Maria's Empanada stand so Mommy and Papa (mostly Papa) could enjoy a couple empanadas. Then there was the requisite taking of pictures to mark the event and we were off.

Things Sean Doesn't Know Differently

1. Syracuse always beats UConn.
2. Occasionally the Orange require more than the regulation 40 minutes to beat their opponents.
3. It's always sunny in Rochester in March.

This was Sean's first week in the world and what an eventful week it was. First there was the minor detail of him being born in the early, early hours of Sunday, March 8. After what seemed to be an interminable 4 days in the hospital, Mom and Papa were allowed to take Sean home and leave the uncomfortable confines of Room3-1619 behind. Even though hospital chairs fold down into a flat surface resembling a bed they were not meant to be slept on for more than one night.

After a couple days of getting used to a new home and being up at all hours of the night, Sean received his first visitors. Grandpa George and Grandma Terry flew in from Durham, NC to spend some quality time with their first grandchild. The weekend was filled with much college basketball, napping on Grandpa's chest in the afternoon and a lovely stroll through Highland Park.

Mom and Papa are looking forward to Sean's second week in the world, and are hoping he continues, and even extends, his three hour sleeps at night.

On behalf of his parents, Sean would like to thank Grandma Donna for being a tremendous support and resource during this first week. Without her timely food deliveries and excellent advice, Mommy and Papa would've been lost and hungry. Thank you!

Open Eyes!