One of the great perks of being an Amazon Prime member is the chance to select a free Kindle book to read each month. It introduces members to authors they may never have heard of and this month I choose the book “Wreckage” by Emily Bleeker whose name was unfamiliar to me. I was intrigued by the novel which was billed as the novel of a plane crash survivor and her fellow survivor, both of whom have lied extensively about the truth and whom a reporter is ruthlessly trying to understand and expose. 
Month: April 2018
William is Twenty Four Weeks Old
Every Monday since October 23rd has been a bit more special now as it’s a time to reflect on William’s birth and how much he is growing and changing. I get a lot of comments on him including how big he’s getting and what a happy baby he is, which he truly is most of the time.
Table Volunteering at Church with William
One of the things I love about my church is the many opportunities to volunteer. Even as a busy new mom, I’ve found ways to continue to volunteer. The Outreach committee needed a volunteer today to man the Crop Walk sign up station at the after service social hour. After confirming that I could do so with William with me (as the nursery was closed at that time), I signed up. I’d joked that depending on his needs I might have to use only one hand for part of the time and that’s what happened.
Sometimes William sleeps right through church service in the nursery. Other times he’s very alert and engaged in playing with the staff. When he’s like this Matt and I sometimes refer to him by the nickname Wide Awake Bear.
I had thought perhaps he would sleep this time, yet he didn’t even take a small nap. Instead he happily played with his ball and engaged with the teachers and other boy there.
So the nursery was staffed today by the B set of teachers, ladies who are unable to stay later after service, I had to sneak out of church before the last hymn and pick up William and his things. I was glad I had practiced with the Baby Bjorn at the baby shower the day before. He happily was close to me while we talked to people about signing up for the walk or making an open donation to the charity.
William enjoyed being approached by many people. Since he’s in nursery for most services from beginning to end, he got to hang out with people he has rarely seen, or in some cases hadn’t met.
Even with him there, I was still able to take in three donation checks and get one walker signed up. It would have been easier had I been alone, yet, it was definitely more fun for me and him for him to be there.
~ Danielle
Outdoor Baby Shower for Our Neighbors
Today Matt, William and I went to the first outdoor baby shower we’d ever been to for our upstairs neighbors, Todd and Yuka. It’s been fun seeing Yuka’s bump grow over the last few months. As the guests knew their baby in utero is a boy, many people wore blue to shower including Matt and I, and even William started out with an outfit with blue stripes in it though we had to change him to another one midway through the party.
Hand Drum Piano – Product Review
William’s Godmother, Kristi, and I chat on Facebook a lot about him. One thing we discussed at length was music and how I to raise our son as someone who enjoys playing an instrument like her son, Tyler does (he plays drums and guitar). I had told her how hard it was to not buy him a drum set as so far I’d only seen ones for older kids. Two days later this Hand Drum Piano arrived from her and Tyler.
Inside were actual two separate toys allowing a child to play on an instrument with drums and piano keys as well as a separate xylophone. As William would readily put any of this in his mouth, we haven’t given him the xylophone or striker.
William was given this toy at Easter. We all discovered how much fun it was having this toy light up and make all sorts of sounds including notes, full songs and animal noises. Someone joked we’d be sorry we put batteries in it and turned it on.
William was able to enjoy it as a quiet toy as well, very quickly figuring out just what he was to do with it.
At daycare he enjoyed playing it and soon the other older boys came over also to see this amazing toy.
The toy can stimulate a child’s imagination for long periods of time. It’s designed for children aged 6 months to 3 years and it (and the xylophone) seems quite durable so they can use them all that time. I look forward to William enjoying and getting even more out of this toy as he gets older and can learn and process more.
Rating – five baby booties out of five
~ Danielle
Watching SF Giants Home Opener at Home with Candy and Matt
Every year Matt watches the San Francisco Giants home opener at our place, having a small party often with ballpark type food and guests. Today was that day and William was all set to watch wearing his Giant’s home game jersey.
William looks so much like his dad in this photo. They look great in their matching jerseys and Matt shared his hat with him as well.
Though he has no idea what he’s watching, William intently watched the screen.
Though I had to work, Candy was able to come and watch with them.
William has started trying to give hugs and kisses which is so adorable.
Dad and son look so relaxed for this selfie.
I’m not sure what has his attention in this photo.
It’s obvious William was mesmerized by the game and will be a huge fan of it someday.
This year’s food was hot links. They had enough for the two of them (with William not eating solids yet, of course) and for us to have for dinner as well.
Baseball has no defined time schedule, so one game can go on for many hours and even extra innings. While this game did not, William fell asleep midway through the game.
Even though the Giants lost, it was still a great day for everyone.
~ Danielle
William’s Five Month Photo Shoot
One of my favorite things to blog is William’s monthly photo shoots. As usual he did his own thing throughout, and I had fun capturing some attempts at posing. This month’s theme was toys for night time. The colors of the toys matched the card and his outfit so well. I had originally planned on a second outfit, and decided partway through to keep just the one.
Toot, Toot, Boom! – Book Review
Children’s books are full of ways to entice the child to look at the pages such as contrasting colors and shapes. I was delighted I’d have the chance to introduce William to a book with sounds entitled, “Toot, Toot, Boom!” The book is one of a press and listen series to help children be an active participant.
The book was one I received as part of his monthly Bluum subrscription. As these items and were to be part of his Easter basket, it was fortuitous that it arrived when it did, the same month he was to receive the musical toy, a Hand Drum Piano from his Godmother and Godbrother that I will review on Friday.
One important aspect about toys and books that make noise for babies is knowing how hard you have to push on things to get a sound. Additionally, some have on/off switches whereas others are always on (assuming batteries are installed if applicable). This one does require batteries and does thus have an on/off switch.
Inside the pages high contrast drawings show musical instruments with animals playing them. Each musical instrument is described by words suggesting what the sound is. Then tabs to the right allow the sound itself to be heard. At first I thought there would be alliteration with the type of animal and instrument having the same letter as both have P as their first letter.
However, the next page had a bear playing the trumpet instead of a tiger (which shows up later in the book). At this point I was pressing the tabs hard and in different spots and having little luck.
This colorful tiger is especially engaging. I think children will definitely enjoy the visuals in the book. Yet, still you have to press very hard to get any sounds.
My guess is either, the batteries in the book are worn out a bit, or the toy is meant to not be especially loud. Yet the book, billed as being for all ages, should in my opinion, make loud sounds especially as it’s supposed to engage young readers.
William did like the book, yet he, and other kids would like it better if the sounds were more easily heard. With an on/off switch, there really is no reason it couldn’t make loud sounds all the time.
Rating – three baby booties out of five
~ Danielle
William is 23 Weeks Old
Every week William amazes me with how much more active and engaged with his surroundings he is becoming. I’ve been telling people for a long time that he wants so much to crawl, to stand to walk, that I just sense his determination even though his body isn’t there yet.
Jason’s Party and Easter Preparation
Matt has been friends with Jason since they were young kids. He has great parties at his house which are attended by many adults and his twin boys who are now 6. When we arrived I showed William a Jack in the Box, and he seemed rather nonchalant about it, even after a few tries.
Over 40 First Time Mom 