Sunday with color

Aren't these nice colors? Jafred put together these shots - he has a way with color and design. Fazal is getting more and more alert. The best thing is to hold him just inches from your face and have him stare at you with these huge brown eyes!! It is so funny and charming. The last 2 nights he has woken up almost exactly every 2 1/2 hours, almost to the minute. He is getting stronger too, and can control his neck while he's awake, and loves to tilt his head back and look into light. Out side he loves to look up at the sky. Yesterday we went for a long walk. It was a beautiful day but its getting quite chilly adn wintry feeling. We bundled up Fazal and he slept soundly the whole time.

7 1/2 weeks old

With grandpa & auntie

With grandpa!

Auntie Em came for a short visit!

...and Fazal is wearing a cute outfit with a peacock on it that she gave him :-)

Autumn leaves

can you see the baby amid the blankets?
occasionally i agree to hold my own bottle!
with lois and family friend, nancy

Saturday's visitors

A word of advice...if you ever feel lonely, have a baby, adopt a baby, borrow a baby!! We have felt so fortunate that Mr. Cuteness has attracted so many visitors to our home, and today was no exception.

First, Debby, Mark and Allie came by and we had a lovely time catching up... We hope they make it to the East Coast more often.

Doesn't it look like they are making each other laugh?!
Two very happy aunties
Debby getting to know Mr. Polkadots
Later on Saturday we went and picked up Wairimu, a young Kenyan woman that we knew in Haifa, Israel. She is now studying at Mt. Holyoke College, which is not far from us. Below is such a cute photo of Fazal with his Kenyan "cousin".

Six weeks old!

Fazal will be six weeks old tonight!!

Some of the words we ponder as we contemplate the incredible responsibility of raising a child:

"While the children are yet in their infancy feed them from the breast of heavenly grace, foster them in the cradle of all excellence, rear them in the embrace of bounty. Give them the advantage of every useful kind of knowledge. Let them share in every new and rare and wondrous craft and art. Bring them up to work and strive, and accustom them to hardship. Teach them to dedicate their lives to matters of great import, and inspire them to undertake studies that will benefit mankind." from the sacred Writing of the Bahai Faith

Some photos from this week...

Like father, like son!

Caryl & Tom visit

Caryl & Tom visited on Monday!! What a treat...we hope they got plenty of baby-holding time!



We see Fazal every day so it is not easy for us to see him changing, but looking at these photos, he is definately looking longer/taller!

Fazal's first bike ride (well, not really...)

Uncle Hank came to visit on Friday, having recently returned from a three-week bicycle trip touring Ireland! He biked approximately 500 miles - and has some fantastic photos to prove it. Of course, he had to show Fazal what biking is all about - see photo below. When he is a little older, surely they can enjoy a real bike ride together.

Now he has a cute little "Irish" outfit to wear too! It won't be too long before he fits into it.

Also, mom visited early last week - do you think Fazal got his eyes from her?
Finally, we mention "in memoriam" that Abby, Lois and Ed's beloved pet for 11 years, died this past week. She will be missed by all to whom she provided companionship. We hope she's enjoying a lot of yummy treats and runs on the beach in doggy heaven. So long, battle axe...

Bahai prayer gathering for Fazal

Some of the Bahais from western Mass came together on Friday to welcome Fazal to the community and offer prayers for his future. It was really lovely and we thank Minoo & Mashi for hosting.