The Art of Being Presentable

This is how Owen says "hello".

One of the biggest travesties in the world of newborn for me is that when they and you are finally feeling up to venturing from the house the inevitable happens: Baby acne.

And there's nothing you can do about it.

I'm praying this bout quickly runs its course.

Regardless, I spend almost all of my day kissing these fat little cheeks and smelling that baby smell that I can't get enough of.

And when I'm not doing that or meeting the requests of 3 dependent children, I am chasing my oldest two demanding kisses and loves from them.

Owen quickly learned that he had to go straight from sleep to escalated cry in this house. Otherwise, the screaming of two small children would debunk a quiet whimper.

Owen turned the grand One Month Old this past Monday.

I gathered up my circus sideshow and took all 3 kids to the doctor's yesterday for his check-up.

Obviously, Owen took offense to my references that he was my lightweight: He put on a solid 2 pounds in 2 weeks.

Of course, he still is my lightest at One Month, but he is a respectable 10 1/2 pounds.

Other glories of the One Month mark? He started sleeping 8 hours a night this week.

Granted, now that I have publicly announced it, he will stop, I am sure.

He is a happy baby. This photo was taken on his actual One Month mark.

Jane and Elliot continue to be enamoured with their baby brother, despite the fact that a lot of our day is spent at home as I nurse my little piggy every hour and a half to two hours.

Jane will tell anyone who listens that her baby brother likes to hold her hair and chew on her. She L.O.V.E.S. this little boy and spends nearly every minute of her day asking to hold him.

And, as he gets older, Owen is more awake and interactive.

He began interacting with me on the small scale of smiles and faces this week. Last night I even got a small coo out of him.

He has adorable little dimples, but the one photo I have of the dimples is blurry and he looks like he has the stink eye.

And because I haven't forgotten that I have two other children:

Oddly enough, as these photos prove, all my children are dressed and hair done (even Elliot with his pretty-pretty) every single morning. Do you notice zero photos of Mommy? That's because I am not dressed and ready every morning.

I spend the 20 free minutes I have between feeding, dressing, cleaning and providing entertainment with deciding whether I want to eat or shower.

Sadly, eating typically wins. Except when I smell really bad.

P.S. Despite the fact that I just told you I shower only on the occasional basis these days, that second photo -- the one of Owen screaming? -- I want to clarify something: That hairy leg is NOT mine. It is Lane's.

P.P.S. Can you see that small profile of me and a baby on the side bar? That's Elliot. Can you see how much he looks like Owen? Am I crazy?