Our sweet baby boy!

Week 6
Derek continues to explore his world and make observations. We are beginning to see more of Derek's personality come out. He is strong willed and has a great smile! His eyes light up when he is happy. We love to listen to all the noises he makes. Our favorite noises are the cooing when he is playing the "gym" and the sweet sounds when he is asleep. This week was the final week of the Tour de France. Derek and I have watched it for the past 3 weeks. I have told him about the different riders, rules, and strategies of the Tour. Maybe he'll be a cyclist when he gets older. This week Matt went to a conference in Washington D.C., so for three days it was just Derek and me. It was challenging to watch him by myself for that time and I have no idea how single moms survive. I could not wait for Matt to come home and for us to be a family of three again. Derek also Skyped with his grandparents in Boston! They could not believe how big he has gotten.

SMILE!!!
Derek has begun to smile when he recognizes us or when he is happy. It is the cutest thing.

He continues to strengthen his neck muscles as he spends time on his stomach.

Derek continues to love tracking the sports balls on his mobile that hang over changing table. This week he began to smile, gurgle and coo as he watches them go round and round.

Derek and I have been having weekly playdates with my friends Janet (and her 2 boys) and Ellen (and her son). It is so fun to get together with other moms.

Bryce and Derek

Caleb (Janet's son) loves Derek and comments "Baby Derek is so cute. I love baby Derek.
It is so sweet.

Here are some other random cute pics from this week.

Look at my muscles.

Before Derek was born, Matt and I went on hikes most Sunday mornings. We decided to continue this family tradition once Derek was born. This week was Derek's second hike, along Skyline Road in an area called Windy Hill. Here are a few pictures from the hike. He does great in the Ergo!

Week 5

The many faces of Derek.

Derek and I walked to Stanford and had lunch with dad.

Derek had his 1 month doctor's appointment. He weighed - 9 lbs 2 oz and was 21.5 inches long. These were Matt's exact measurements when he was born. I am grateful that Derek was not 9 lbs at birth, although since I had a c-section I guess it would not have mattered. When Derek left the hospital he was 6 lbs 3 oz, so in a 1 month he gained about 3 lbs.

Just about ready to show us a smile.

Tracking the birds on the mobile on the swing. Looking at himself in the mirror too.

Below is my dad's rattle when he was a baby. My grandmother saved it for me hoping to give it to me at my baby shower. Sadly, my grandmother passed away January 2009, a year and half, before Derek was born. This note and rattle were given to me the weekend of her funeral. They are now displayed in Derek's room. Grammy would have loved Derek!! I miss you Gram.

Derek is fitting much better into his car seat. We raised the straps up to the next hole this week.

"Mom, I don't like my hair styled this way. It's just too messy."

Derek has outgrown the Newborn clothes. Here he is sporting a 3 month onesie.
So cute! I love the monkey on the back!

Derek has been loving his new "gym."

Enjoying some tummy time.

Matt calls this Derek's sunbathing pose.
Matt and I went out on a date and Ralph and Sue eagerly volunteered to babysit. They were Derek's first non-family babysitters. We were so grateful.

Week 4
This week my parents left and Matt and I were officially on our own. We were so grateful for the time that we had family with us. It was such a blessing. It is hard to believe that Derek is already 4 weeks old. He is changing and growing each day. We love him so much and are having such a great time getting to know his personality.

Here are few things that have changed this week.
- Derek is beginning to grow out of his newborn clothes with his really long torso. (I wonder who he gets that from.)
- He continues to work on holding up his head. Whenever we try to burp him he picks his head up and looks all around. He really likes to look at the painting on the wall in our living room.
- Derek loves to track the different sports balls on the mobile above his changing table. Sometimes he hits them with his hand, but he is not doing it on purpose just yet. It's just a random arm movement.
- Derek likes the swing and bouncer much more. He is now able to spend about 15 minutes in them. He likes to track the animals that rotate above the swing.
- He loves to listen to our voices as we read to him.
- He enjoys bath time and does not cry.

Our sweet baby boy!

Buman family of three!
Here are my parents with their first grandchild.

Pops feeding Derek a bottle.

Proud grandparents - Pops and TL!
An afternoon nap
Taking after his mama and loving the Nalgene.
Wearing the sweater that my Great Aunt Flo-Flo made for Derek.
We love our Ergo baby carrier. Here is Matt getting work done while Derek sleeps.
Here is Matt proudly holding this lamp, which was his when he was a baby. He unpacked all of the boxes in our storage closets to find it. Now the lamp is being used in Derek's nursery.
Celebrated Derek's 4 week old birthday with our first family hike.

New Car
As if a new baby was not enough excitement in the Buman family, Matt and I just purchased our first new car - a Honda CRV! I have only had 2 cars in my life so far and they have both been Toyota Camrys that were bought from my Great Aunts. We have had this car since 2001 when it was given to me as a college graduation present. This Camry has been so good to us and we are sad to part with it. It has 192,000 miles and a LOT of character. This car has lived in Utah, Michigan, Massachusetts, Florida, and California. (Not to mention its been across the country from MA to UT from MA to FL and FL to CA.)

Here is our new family car, a Honda CRV! We are so excited about it and all the adventures we will have with it.