West Update

West is now 25 days old. Yesterday, Noelle said "in a few days he will be a month old. 12 more months like this and he is a year old, this is going to go fast."  This reminds me of Ernie Thompson and his famous 72 inch ruler object lesson where Ernie showed how much time we have left on life given that 72 years of life is the average (although this has probably changed with technology and medicine).  Time does go by fast and we need to make the most of each day.  Every time I come home from work I look at West and I can tell each day that he looks different, older, heavier.  And in fact, he is heavier. When at birth he weighed 3.475 kg, now he is 4.5 kg.

He is sleeping two four hour stints each night, which is glorious as Noelle is able to get some good rest between feedings.  And now what you have been waiting for...more pictures  :)

Noelle putting West in the sling.

 Grandma West playing with West before she made the journey back to Alaska

 Nate pretending he is carrying West...but really its just a chicken puppet.

 Uncle Josh holding West for the first time.

 Josh and Riley with the lil guy

 Daddy sleeps while West listens to his irregular heartbeat :)

 Daddy and West nap time

 Immigration photo photoshoot

 Immigration photo photoshoot #2

 Uncle Jonathan and Nathan holding West poolside

 Auntie Kim holding West, Kim does a great job of calming him down when he is fussy

Cupcakes for Joy's birthday celebration. Thanks Fisher family

West has visitors and a photo shoot

Noelle and I are surely blessed with great friends and family.  We have had many visitors come by the house to meet West.  Below are some of their pictures. Also below is West's Saturday afternoon photo shoot.

1 Week Birthday

West is now 7 days old!!!! This week has been a new learning experience  :)  for all 3 of us.  West has slept really well at times and during a couple of the nights he decided that midnight to 4am was not a time that mom and/or dad should be sleeping.  However, he has gained weight, looks to have grown enough, and every time I look at him he seems to have changed (I know, I know...get used to it right?).  Today was an eventful day. We went back to the hospital to complete West's registration of birth, this was a long and eventful process in and of itself; but the end result is leaving the hospital with a Singapore birth certificate and an immigration form "Welcome to Singapore" that we filled in for West.  We also went to the Kodak store and were able to his passport picture.  Noelle's parents have been here for the birth of baby West and have been a huge help. The following pictures are a short account of this week. From the immigration form to the passport photo attempts (The US Government required the picture to be on a white sheet with no hands obstructing the picture and with eyes open...this was not an easy task).

First day at his new home!

West came home to our apartment on Friday February 4th at 1pm.  He settled into his new bed and slept a lot. He had one visitor, Helen, who came by at 4 with some lovely roses for Noelle and greetings to West.  He was the typical eat, feed and pee kid until 9pm when his parents went to take an hour nap and Grandma and Grandpa got the experience of his first non meconium poop, his first poop since 4am that same day (Thanks mom and dad) :-D West slept well through the night and Noelle got up to feed him as needed.

Saturday February 5th was a day of visitors and adventure and no shortage of diaper changes.  He is starting to eat more and Noelle and I are grateful that he is able to eat for a longer period of time before falling asleep.

Here are some pictures from the last two days.

West's First Car Ride

Helen visits with West. West will surely now enter a life of politics. Too bad he can never run for president :(  Well, maybe that's not so bad.

 Grandpa West with little West. Doesn't Noelle look great?

 Like Grandfather like Grandson!

 West's first bath...he did not really enjoy this kitchen sink time.

 B-E-A-U-TIFUL eyes! We finally got to see them today

 West still not sure what to think after bath time.

 West strikes a pose

 And another one

 David and Ana taking care of our son

 West's first Hong Bao. Thanks Eilers

Aunt Alicia telling West about how James Naismith created the game of basketball. Next week comes the story of how Larry Brown helped Kansas University win the title in 88