Cooing and Playing at 6 weeks old

With Frankie and his Mommy getting ready to head to New Mexico in a few days, Grandma decided to see if she could figure out how to use the "movie" function on her digital camera. We are quite pleased with the results, and know when we're missing Frankie's coos and smiles, we'll be really glad to have this!

Mother's Day Memories

Sharing the day with Frankie and his Mommy, Esperanza, was the highlight of Mother's Day this year. Frankie treated his Mommy to a long nap, and while she slept, he entertained Grandpa and Grandma for over an hour with charming laughs, smiles, and silly faces.

These shoes were made for walkin'

All dressed up and ready for his first shopping trip with Mommy and Grandma, Frankie looked pretty grown up already. This was only his second time to wear shoes. The amazing outcome of the shopping trip was that, contrary to the 2 hours max we expected to get, Frankie hung in there for almost 5 hours!! Grandpa was home having withdrawal pangs from his little grandson. And Mommy got to update her wardrobe for the summer before we were home again. Yea, Frankie!

First Bath

To say that Frankie's response to his first bath was a bit "tepid" would be an understatement. He is just not fond of being undressed, fussed with, and dressed again. Hopefully, with age and experience, he'll gain the wisdom that bath-time can be fun time. But so far, it appears he'd rather do anything but wash. Maybe that's just a "boy thing"?!!

Snuggling with Grandpa

Two Weeks "Old" Already!

To celebrate being two weeks old, Frankie decided to get rid of his umbilical cord stump yesterday. This was cause for rejoicing, too, because now he graduates to a tub bath, which will probably be sometime today. He hasn't been very pleased with the sponge bath experience, so we're hoping that sitting in nice warm water will be more fun for the little guy.

On the 12th Day of Frankie....

"It's 1:30 in the afternoon, and the bed's not even made," said Grandpa to Grandma with a smile today. Nope, it wasn't made and nobody really cared. And for that matter, the breakfast dishes hadn't been done for very long, either. However, we had each cuddled with our sleeping sweetie for at least an hour. And Grandma had already changed 3 poopy diapers, as well as taken a number of new photos of the "star of our show."

Speaking of poopy diapers reminds me. Yesterday, Frankie really took Grandma off-guard. Just as she was reaching for his clean diaper, he decided to send out a squirt, arcing across the changing table. Grandma was quick though--she got the new diaper placed right over the tiny source of the geyser, only to discover that Frankie was also having an explosive--unshielded--bowel movement! Poop went spraying everywhere--on his shirt, his little socks, the pad, even the wall. Not to worry, though. Grandma just laughed and cleaned up the little guy, and then the mess. Pleased that everything was under control, Grandma gave Frankie to his Mom for some nourishment and went off to breakfast--only to discover when she sat down at the table, that poop had landed on the hem of her shirt and down the front of her pants, too. Joke's on you, Grandma!

How Fast He Grows!!

Already our little "peanut," has gained a full pound and a half!! He had a quick visit to the doctor's office yesterday to check out something in his eye (which turned out to be a little infection due to still-developing tear ducts, nothing serious). The first order of business is to weigh-in, of course, and we were astonished to learn he has reached 7 pounds 5 ounces! Of course, Esperanza has been feeding him so often, we shouldn't have been surprised. He's definitely having a growth spurt. Grandpa keeps telling him to "slow down," but he's only kidding--just wants to "make the moment last."

Grandma's Inspiration

Last night, as we cuddled in the rocker in the quiet of the night, Frankie stirred something creative in Grandma. The next thing we knew, we had a new lullaby of our very own. These are the words that came slipping out of Grandma's heart:

Lullaby for Frankie--

and newborns everywhere

You, you are my sunshine.

You, you are my bright star.

You, you are my heart-song.

You, you are my joy.

No matter where you travel,

No matter where you are

You'll always hold my heart now--

You'll always have my love.

You, you are the morning.

You, you are the dawn's light.

You, you are the springtime.

You, you are new life.

No matter where you travel,

No matter where you are

You'll always hold my heart now--

You'll always have my love.

You, you are the future.

You, you are the seed of hope.

You, you are the promise.

You, you are the dream.

No matter where you travel,

No matter where you are

You'll always hold my heart now--

You'll always have my love.

One Week Old Tonight!!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words--so no words except the ones we

sang tonight: "Happy

Birthday, Frankie!"

Almost One Week Old!

How hard

to believe that less than a week ago we had no idea how this little man would look or sound, no idea how totally in love we would all be with everything about him--his button nose, his almond eyes, his silky black hair already perfectly coiffed, his sweet little mouth and great big yawns! Not to mention his tiny, but long, fingers and toes.

His first two nights home, he challenged us all to a contest of endurance. He apparently disliked something about being put into his crib, so whenever Esperanza finished feeding him and tried to put him down he would wake and cry. This went on about every 20 minutes or so, because he was eating that often. So, Grandma and Grandpa took turns holding him between feedings so that he would sleep, and Mom could, too! Grandpa said his two shifts (of 2 and 3 hours each) were some of the most delightful moments he's ever experienced. Grandma was thrilled to sing lullabies ad infinitum, and even began making up some after the umpteenth chorus of "Too-ra-loo-ra" and "Hush, Little Baby."

On the third night at home, Frankie seemed to settle into a bit of a routine with Mom. He would nurse about every 2 hours, and then let her put him in his crib beside her bed while he continued to sleep. This worked much better for everyone--the adults have caught up on their sleep and Frankie seems to be figuring out his nights and days. He has begun to have a kind of alert play-time in the middle of the afternoon, and again in early evening when he coos and smiles and entertains just by being who he is!

First Doctor Visit and Shopping Trip

Frankie was a real hit at the doctor's office today! Everyone was clamoring to see him. One nurse, whose daughter was in Esperanza's class all the way through school, had opted for the morning off (rather than the afternoon) because she knew that we would be bringing Frankie in for the first time and she wanted to meet him.

The great news from the doctor was that in just under 5 days, Frankie has already put on 5 ounces, making him now 6 pounds 2 ounces. We weren't totally surprised with this news, however, since the little guy has made nursing a very frequent part of his day and night--sometimes feeding as frequently as every 15-30 minutes!

After his appointment, we took him upstairs to the lab for his third blood draw, checking on his bilirubin level--he's a little bit jaundiced, but we know this is not uncommon and the doctor is not expecting it to be a problem for him. He just wanted to keep tabs on it. Just as on the previous two days, when the technician poked Frankie's little heel for the blood draw, he squawked briefly and then settled down immediately. The technician, a mother of two, is quite charmed by our little grandson.

Frankie was doing so well after all this, that Esperanza and Grandma decided to try taking him to Target for a few things his mom was needing. He seemed totally oblivious to being put into the bottom of the shopping cart, still in his car seat, and travelling through the aisles. Someday, that oblivion will turn to fascination and, perhaps, even pleading. But today, he was the picture of peace and contentment.

Beautiful Boy!

We just can't help ourselves. Everything he does is cute and photogenic! Here,we share a few of our favorites taken in the past 2 days, but if you want to see more, go to our albums on picasa.com. The address is: http://picasaweb.google.com/carylmqt.

Our Daughter, the Mother

What a joy to witness the transformation of our daughter into a loving, conscientious, cooing Mother! Her attentiveness to little Frankie; her soft voice reading to him; her patience with his sometimes endless need to nurse; and her eagerness to learn all she can about his care and nurturing; all are wonderful to see. Experiencing our daughter as Frankie's mom is a very special blessing, equal to the blessing of Frankie himself. We are very proud of Frankie's Mom, our daughter!

Heading Home

On Monday, April 20, Frankie's anticipated due-date, he was already decked out in a blue sleeper and heading home. Francis Robert Bournique-Trujillo (pronounced "true-HE-oh") had arrived two days "early," weighing 5 pounds 13 ounces, and measuring 18 inches long. Esperanza spent a long, hard day laboring to bring him to birth. She went into the hospital at 5:15 a.m. and had to wait until 8:55 p.m. to meet him. She was overheard saying, as she cuddled him for the first time, "It was the worst pain ever--but you were worth it!" Grandma and Grandpa were very relieved that Mom's ordeal was finally over, and ecstatic that this beautiful child was finally here!

Born in the U. P.!

Even if it's April, being born in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan--the U.P.--means that you could arrive home to scenes like these on your homecoming day. This was the view out our front and back windows April 20, the day we brought little Frankie home. And this was only the beginning of the storm. It continued throughout the day and all day again today. Some parts of the county received 15 inches of snow! Around here, it looks more like 8. Only 3 days earlier, Grandma and Grandpa had broken out their sandals when the temperature hit 73 for the first time this season.

Being born in the U.P. and arriving home in a spring snowstorm makes Frankie a bona fide "Yooper", you betcha!

This will be his birthday!!

At 2:00 a.m. Esperanza called to us from her room. We got up and began timing contractions. By 4:30, they were coming quite frequently, but irregularly. Sometimes they were 2 minutes apart, other times 6 or 7 minutes. Within 30 minutes, she had had 8 contractions (the doctor had told us on Friday to go to the hospital if she had 10-12 contractions within an hour!) So, we checked with the doctor on call and then came to the hospital. When we arrived here at 5:15, Esperanza was dilated to "4" and by 7:30, she had gotten to "6." The pain was pretty rough and her doctor said that sometimes happens when the labor is fast. Since Esperanza wanted some help coping with the pain, the doctor ordered an "interthecal" medication which is apparently also known as a spinal block. Now, Esperanza is finally getting a little relief and a little rest. Grandpa and Grandma are very tired but also very excited. We expect to be meeting and cuddling this little guy before the day is over. Happy Birthday, Frankie!

He's "working on it!"

The doctor says Esperanza has now dilated to "2" but the little guy is still a bit high. She's continued having contractions, but they are still relatively far apart at this point. It's a beautiful spring day here, perhaps our warmest yet. It would be a lovely day for a birth (but then, a birth day makes any day lovely!!)

Today was the original due date Esperanza was given last fall, but it was changed later to the 20th. We're betting he's planning on making one of those "deadlines"--but we all know that he'll come when he's ready, and no sooner. We're working at being patient and nonchalant, all the while tempering our excitement. Esperanza seems to be doing the best at that--she's napping in between contractions.

Something's Happening!

Grandma-to-be has just put on her "Mom" hat again. It's 4:30 in the morning. Esperanza awakened us at 3:00 saying she was having contractions. I got up and sat with her, timing them for about an hour. I was amazed: They were exactly 10 minutes apart. It got to the point that I could be looking at the clock and predict that she would have another contraction. Sure enough--at the 10 minute marker, she would tell me another one was starting!

"According to the book," we are also supposed to keep track of how long the contractions last and whether they are getting "stronger." Each contraction was definitely getting longer--they started out about a minute in length and the last one we timed was nearly 3 minutes. But Esperanza says they are not getting stronger and she is able to sleep (more like "doze") in between each one.

Mom, on the other hand, cannot sleep. So, I have collected some things we'd be taking to the hospital (e.g. the camera!) and plan to check on Esperanza again in a little while. Since I seem to be trying to contain excitement, I doubt I'd sleep right now anyway. It seems a good time to make note of this experience of what the books call "pre-labor."

Esperanza has a doctor's appointment at 10:15 this morning, so we should learn a bit more about the stage of her labor then--if we're not already at the hospital!

Sweet song conjures images of days ahead

This YouTube video we found the other day makes us all the more eager for the fun and sweetness of the days ahead. Esperanza imagines her little son will look a bit like the boy in the video. We like the words, and the melody is much like a lullaby. The song is "Beautiful Boy" sung here by Celine Dion, but originally by John Lennon.

For all you Grandmothers out there

Today's mail brought greetings from Ellie, a friend who goes all the way back to high school days. Ellie has been the grandmother of a little boy for almost 2 years. She sent the following sweet reflection, written by a third grader. Since we have no "baby" news to report, I thought I'd share this. Those of you who are grandmothers (or "man grandmothers") will probably find it especially sweet:

What Grandmas Are Made Of

A Grandmother is a lady who has no children of her own.

She likes other people's little girls and boys, and they love her.

A Grandfather is a man grandmother.

Grandmothers shouldn't have to do anything except be there.

They're old, so they shouldn't play hard or run.

It is enough if they drive us to the store where the pretend horse is, and

have lots of dimes ready.

If they take us for walks, they should slow down going past things like

pretty flowers or caterpillars.

They should never say "hurry up."

Usually they are fat but not too fat to tie your shoes.

They wear glasses and funny underwear.

They can take their teeth and gums off sometimes.

It is better if they don't play cards, except with us.

They don't have to be smart, only answer questions like

"How come we can't see God?" and "Where does the wind come from?"

They don't talk baby talk like visitors do, because

it is too hard to understand.

When they read to us, they don't skip parts, or mind if it is the same story over again.

Everybody should try to have one, because

Grandmothers are the only ones who have got the time.

"Man Grandmothers" have the time, too, of course! Thanks for this, Ellie; it's advice from a third-grader well-taken.

Shower in a Box #3!

Get those Bournique Aunts together, and you never know what will happen, but it's usually fun! Today, we were the lucky recipients of their planning when Esperanza received their "baby shower in a box!" Along with some cute and useful baby gifts, there were greeting cards with loving wishes, Hershey's kisses wrapped in blue, and gift cards for some shopping later. What a fun way to "shower" Esperanza with their love and support from a distance. They even found a way to include Aunt Bunny, with a darling book about a bunny that came with its own finger puppet.

This was Esperanza's third "shower in a box," since her Risen aunts also shipped gifts, greetings and gift cards a few weeks ago. In addition, cousin Lesley sent 2 boxes (one from her Mom's house), of clothes and other items her two little guys no longer need. The thoughtfulness and love expressed in these packages is like receiving boxes full of love and hugs. This little one is well-loved already.

Reflecting on "Grand"

"Grand." Last spring at this time, we were readying for a trip west, to visit Esperanza in Colorado, and then on to the GRAND Canyon--a canyon we never saw. Yet, before the month of May was over, we were feeling a "grand canyon" in our hearts which were grieving the losses of our sister, Bunny, and our Mom, Ginny--"Grand"ma to 29!

The summer progressed, and we traveled the shore of Lake Superior, the "grand"est of the Great Lakes. Not long after arriving home, Esperanza learned, while visiting us in Marquette, that she was carrying the child who will soon bestow upon us the titles, "Grand"ma and "Grand"pa. Shortly after learning this news, Bob remarked that he had not expected to ever be blessed with this experience--one we're being told is one of the "grandest" of all!

Exciting news at 37 Weeks

The doctor says today that Esperanza is dilated to "1" and a little more. Then, the doctor adds, "You can go into labor at "2." Oh, my! We knew that pre-labor changes were happening, but somehow this announcement makes it seem even more real--and very near. We all feel the excitement intensifying. Each day we wonder, "Will this be our baby's/grandbaby's birth-day?"

Ever since seeing this amazing ultrasound image about a month ago, we have been eagerly anticipating meeting this little guy (who, Bob has declared, "has Esperanza's nose!") His due date is April 20--less than 2 weeks from today!