Another Boating Adventure

Daddy throwing a tantrum

Uncle Eric and Nicholas...what a cute smile!
Loungin' on the beach towel
Nicholas is the flag holder (in-training)

Yesterday Nicholas went on the Columbia River again. This time he was awake for the last hour of the trip. He got to watch daddy wakeboard and loved looking at the water splashing up on the sides of the boat. He also liked resting on a big comfy towel while mommy and Aunt Jami chatted. It was so nice to be on the water where the temperature was 10 degrees cooler than the land! What a fun day!

Nicholas is one month old today

Daddy showing Nicholas the Columbia River...open your eyes baby!
Safely secured in his car seat
Watching Daddy wakeboard...look at the air Jeff got off the wake!

Today Nicholas is one month old! To celebrate his 1 month birthday we went on the Malibu Wakesetter with Daddy, Uncle Eric, Eric's friend Lilia, and Aunt Jami. Nicholas loved the boat so much that he slept the entire time...even through Uncle Eric's hip-hop music. Daddy dipped Nicholas' toes into the Columbia River, which Nicholas didn't like too much-the water is still too cold!

Jeff celebrates his first Father's Day!

Little Nicholas and his 2-year-old friend, Tanner. Tanner was thrilled to hold Nicholas last Saturday when we went to his house for dinner.
Jeff's solution to skyrocketing gas prices...I called it vintage...until I found out it was built in 1979 (and I was born in 1980), therefore, not so vintage!
Mommy and Nicholas at the Father's Day BBQ at my folks' place. What a beautiful afternoon!
Our family of three in the backyard.
My brother, Eric, Jeff holding Nicholas, and my dad...such handsome fellas!

For Jeff's first Father's Day Nicholas and I found a poem that we thought was perfect for him:

For My Daddy

"Walk a little slower Daddy,"
said a child so small,
"I'm following in your footsteps
and I don't want to fall.

Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they're hard to see;
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.

Someday when I'm all grown up,
You're what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who'll want to follow me.

And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true,
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you."

Jeff loved the poem and the khaki shorts Nicholas picked out for him. It was a great Father's Day!

A few more pictures of Nicholas

Nicholas loves to ride in his stroller. It makes taking him out-and-about much easier!
Burping and rocking baby Nick after his feeding
Isn't he?!

Yesterday my second grade students presented me with this beautiful quilt they made for Nicholas and I. Each student colored an animal...they even colored one for Nicholas-a lion, which is ironic because I call him my "cub." Nicholas enjoyed playing on it today!
Eyes wide open
First stroller trip...the baby slept the entire time
Snuggling on the cozy couch

Look at that footprint! He is going to be tall like his dad!

3 weeks old

Nicholas is starting to like bath time a little more...no crying, just a wrinkly forehead similar to Walter Matheau!
Nicholas loves his swing! The reflection of the mirror gave him shiny looking beard in this picture
He's not sleeping in his crib at night yet, but he loves to nap there during the day
A special week long visit with Auntie Lyndsey made Nicholas so tired...that Lynney loves to keep us busy!
Cuddled up next to Auntie...just doing what he does best!

Wow! Nicholas is three weeks old already! He went to the doctor on Monday for a weight check because he was 8 lbs 8 oz at birth and then he lost some weight so Dr. Thompson wanted to make sure he is eating enough. Well, he weighed in at a whopping 9 lbs 2 oz which made both mommy and Dr. Thompson very happy. Nicholas and mommy enjoyed a visit from mommy's best friend, Lyndsey, who flew to Washington from California. Lyndsey fell in love with Nicholas and a hard time going home at the week's end...good thing she has her hubby at home waiting for her! Tomorrow baby Nick and I are going to say good-bye to my second grade students. Mommy is excited to see them again and Nicholas is looking forward to meeting them for the first time.

Newborn Photo Shoot

Last Wednesday a friend of mine from high school, Jenifer Johnston, came over to our house and took several photos of baby Nicholas. Modeling starts early in this family! She did such a wonderful job that I had to post some pictures to share. If you like her photography and want to see more, visit her website: www.polkadotphotography.net. My favorite is the one of Nicholas smiling...he smiles once or twice a day and I was so happy she captured it!

Look, Mom...I can hold on to my binkie all by myself!
This is my surprised face...that red light that blinks before the flash comes, always gets my attention!
Just lounging in my bouncer seat while mom gets ready for the day
Making cooing noises because I'm so happy
Sleeping on my boppy with mommy

We can hardly believe Nicholas is already 11 days old! Time really does fly by! Nicholas is holding his head up for short periods of time on his own and has already smiled quite a few times. Everyone who comes to visit has commented on what a happy, content baby he is. Jeff and I are really loving being parents. We've been out of the house a few times this week: on Thursday Nicholas and I went to the Vancouver Mall to pick up a few things. I straped Nicholas into his BabyBjorn carrier and he slept the whole time. On Friday night we went over to Kris and Jami's (Nicholas' uncle and aunt) house and played Rock Star on the X Box and Nicholas slept right through our three hour session...he's quite the groupie! Little Nick is looking forward to a visit from Auntie Lyndsey (my best friend) who's flying in from California on Tuesday night. I have been telling him all about her and he can hardly wait to finally meet her!

Loving every minute with Nicholas

These first 5 days have gone by so fast! We have enjoyed many vistors and many home-made meals this week. On Sunday Nicholas' friend Aubree stopped by for a visit with her parents, Rod and Catie, who are college friends of mine. Nicholas is enjoying long, leisurely naps with mom and sleeps several hours before waking up for feedings each night. Jeff and I love watching Nicholas grow and are so happy that he's such a good eater! We have gone over to Grammy and Grandpa Hargrave's house a couple of times this week for dinner and you can see that even Grandpa likes to take naps with Nicholas. I am so happy that our dog, Jake, has taken such a liking to Nicholas...they get along great and Jake seems to be happy that Nicholas is around. He follows Nicholas everywhere he goes!

The newest addition to the Gustafson family has arrived!

Nicholas Alan arrived on May 20, 2008 at 8:22am after 24 hours of labor. He was a big boy, weighing in at 8 pounds 8 ounces. Words cannot describe how much we love our baby boy! He is a very happy baby and loves to cuddle with his mommy and daddy.

1 week left

Baby Nicholas is due to arrive in exactly seven days! Jeff and I are very anxious and very excited to meet our son! Yesterday we put the car seat in the Pathfinder (that was quite an experience). I think new parents need explicit instructions for all the gadgets and toys a baby needs-especially car seats! Hopefully we will be able to get our little guy into the seat when we leave the hospital!

Tomorrow is my last day at work before I go on maternity leave. I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand I am so excited to be able to sleep in and relax during the day and to spend lots of one-on-one time with Nicholas when he arrives, on the other hand I will miss my students tremendously. I have had such a fun year teaching 2nd grade. Also, because I will not be returning to PCA next year, I will miss all of the teachers and families that I have gotten to know in the last five years I have worked there. I have made some truly wonderful friendships and I have some fond memories of my time there. I have been blessed to work in an environment with such spirited, kind hearted individuals who I will miss dearly. Hopefully the future holds great career opportunities for me while allowing me to spend more time with my family.

I went to my doctor appointment this afternoon and not much has changed. I am still two centimeters dilated and 60 percent effaced, but the baby has dropped into position and is no longer at -1, but 0. Also, I lost 2 pounds, which actually made me really happy...even though I can't really tell, it makes me feel like a bit less of a whale! I do feel better knowing that if Nicholas doesn't arrive by his due date I will be induced one week later on May 29th, so he will for sure be a May baby.