Milo Making Funny Faces-Kelly's Edited Movie

Fancy Baby Sling--Hands Free Transportation

Kelly went shopping:
"I got this today at the fancy baby store in green hills

Milo seems to like it and its great to have both my hands free!"

Yes, Very Handsome Belly Button

Dog and Baby Bonding!

Random was the first baby in the Kerrigan home 8 years ago. Now there is a new baby and Random thinks Milo is his brother. Random loves his new room mate even though he squeals a lot, wets the bed, and doesn't say anything. All known to be very endearing traits in a room mate.

My first real baby bathtub experience, oooh itis good!

Now, this is what I am taking about.
Just cuz that old belly button thing was hanging around I had two weeks of that sponge bath gig. It was getting real old.
Now that the grunge fell off my belly button I can splish, splash and take a bath.

Blue and green are my colors, don't ya think?
Well, with a dash of red trim. Very sheik in bath paraphernalia.

Now the really nifty thing that adds to the tub experience are these little animal towels that adults put on you to dry off. I got several at my shower with kind of an animal theme going. This one has a dog get- up with floppy ears. I get to pretend it is Halloween party every time I get out of the bathtub.

Woof!

Tummy Time...

Hummmm...what is happening?

Yes, something feels a little weird...

Oh, I think I just lost that really ugly belly button thing
that has been hanging around since I left the hospital.

Yeah! It is tummy time.

Now I have a really cute belly button!

Two Weeks Old

On June 17 Milo was 2 weeks old.
He was born on Tuesday--Martes in Spanish.
Martes era muy bueno!

Milo was born on a New Moon and his two week birthday was a Full Moon.
When you look at the moon think of Milo.

Lewis' Father's Day Present was An Afternoon With MIlo

June 14, 15, 16 Just some cute pictures

The Phoenix Has Landed: Welcome Earthling!

The Phoenix spacecraft launched from Earth on August 4, 2007 and landed on
Mars on May 25, 2008.

For the same nine months of the flight Milo was growing and getting ready for his launch.
They both landed safely about a week apart.

Phoenix and Milo are now learning all about their new planet.

WELCOME EARTHLING!

A Rose by Any Other Name is Still a Grandparent

We have had months of discussions of what Milo will call all the grand parents.
My vote is for baby to make up his own mind. But until the time that Milo steps in and decides, we are in a quandary. We have been signing our emails to Kelly and Paul with different names to throw in the mix. Here is the very fun email Paul sent us back:

Email from Paul to Lewis, Judy, and Susan
June 9, 2008

Ok.
Grandparent names.

You guys all have signed e-mail using names, so I thought I'd make it
official.

Granny = Susan
Gran (Pronounced "Me-Maw") = Judy
Pa = Lewis

To change your grandparent name,
please e-mail our name coordinator, Paul,
to receive the proper forms to get assigned a place on our waiting list,
after which one of our customer service associates will contact you
between the hours of 9am to 5pm Central Mountain time
4 to 6 weeks after your official formal request.

We thank you for your Grandparent Name applications.

+ p a u l +

Note: I am drafting my letter to the name coordinator to take "Me-Maw" off the list.

Can You See Me You LIttle Do-Do

Those Smart Geek Guys Invented YouTube Just for Grandparents

Remember the 60's and 70's when friends and family would torture you with endless hours of unedited 8mm soundless home movies of their children?

No more being cloistered in someone's living room where there is no escape while the film rolls. No, we are in the YouTube Generation. Now everyone can be a movie producer for a world-wide audience. You just gotta love technology. Movies on demand. Sit with your laptop and view at your leisure. 24-7. Be there or be square.

Of course everyone knows that Milo's Butler Grandmother is a Techno-Geek. No question about out it. Then ergo...our offspring Kelly did not have a chance for avoiding the techo world big time. She was surrounded by it all her life. Small wonder that her art business is Internet based. Small wonder that she found a mate that is as technology obsessed as she is. A techno-union made in heaven.

What is the probability that Milo Sparks will be surrounded by all the latest gadgets of the digital world? Mighty high mathematical probability, I'd say.

To initiate him into this technology "flattened" 21st Century world is of course, YouTube.
He is one week old today and a world star of major significance (well at least to his grandparents).

Find Milo on his own YouTube site at:
http://www.youtube.com/MiLoSparKs

Enjoy!

PS
Oops, now that I think of it, Lew has tied a few people to the couch and made them look at his vacation photos. I am physic and see a vision of the two of us gluing friends and family to a chair in the den and coercing them to look (and enjoy) the latest and greatest movies of Milo on my Blog and YouTube. Oh dear!

PS2
This Internet address above is not a "hot link" to YouTube.
See the hot link at the top left of the Blog or paste the URL into your browser. (Did everyone get those Techno_Geek-Directions?)

The Blooming of New Life

The first week in June, 2008, the week Milo was born,

Grandpa and Grandmother's yard is
filled with beautifull flowers in bloom.

We went to see Milo at his parent's home shortly after they arrived from the hospital.
When we came back to our house after the visit,
Lew and I took a quiet walk around our yard.
We were taken with thoughts of how much joy abounds with the blooming of new life.
All colors pale by comparison to the birth of a child into the family.

Last year the frost and the drought prevented the hydrangeas from blooming.
Life is like that. Bursts of color almost overwhelm you
followed by periods of rest and rejuvenation.
The first plant that greets visitors at our front door is the hydrangea.
This year with Milo's birth the blooms are shades of white and pink and magenta.

Lillies abound in the back and front yard.
This season the plants have more blooms than ever.
Strong and tall sentinels with vibrant colors of rich pinks, orange, and mauve.

Yarrow and cilantro make good companions in the herb garden
with umbrellas of tiny yellow and white buds fanning out into big sun-like clusters.

Deep purple stars of clematis are climbing on the trellis next to the Blue House door.
This vine has been there three years and this is the first time it has bloomed.

Lewis and I sit on our patio, look across our yard and
ponder the miracle of life...

I Like the Hood on This Go-Cart

Milo looks so good in his new digs.

Milo arrived home from the hospital on June 6, 2008. Thanks to family and friends he has so many comfie clothes, furnishing, and gadgets to make his arrival safe and happy. Kelly and Paul are enjoying these quiet moments preparing for the inevitable challenging sleepless nights of feeding and changing.

Hello Random-You Have a New Room Mate

Random comes out to car to greet Milo. Who is this?

Mario Andretti --Milo is Not--For His First Car Ride

I am a cool car guy!
Hey, I got my new socks, my primo-yellow hat, my snazzy outfit, and
this very fine big blue thing to suck on.
Life is good for the ride home.

Milo One Hour Old June 3, 2008

Milo's Grandmother just learned how to edit and put movies on the Blog. Yippee!

Going Home from the Hospital

Kelly leaves this really wonderful hospital and staff today.
Oh, how great it will be to get home with Milo!Kelly and her Labor Room Nurse--she was the "Creme De La Creme" of nurses.
She came to see Kelly yesterday just to check up on her and Milo.
Many hugs went all around. She was it.

A beautiful facility filled with capable people.
We are so appreciative of the expert attention Milo and Kelly received.

The nursery where Milo spent time with the great sign on the door: Well Baby Nursery.

The sculpture in the lobby welcomes you and symbolizes the emphasis on caring.

Cute bulletin boards about the hospital remind new parents of how to care for their infants.
So long to this place of Milo's birth and now off to great adventures.

Expert Feeding Technique

Prepare for feeding:

First: clear blanket away from mouth...Second: tickle feet to wake up...
Third: Prepare target trajectory...
Bulls eye! Success. Happy Baby.

Making the Hospital A Cozy Place

Yes, this is a photo of the hospital room where Milo, Kelly, and Paul have been hanging out for the last three days. Does it look cozy? Yes. That is because Paul brought just a few things from home so the long nights would not be so long. Let's do a little inventory...9 video tapes including an eclectic selection including Disney, action adventure, and other genre; laptop with keyboard, Ipod, books galore, and of course a Monkey Lamp!

Grandpa Note--Day 3 In Hospital: What Is It?

Lewis Holding Milo for the first time...

What is it?

What is it about holding your grandson for the very first time?

When Milo was being handled in the hospital nursery, the nurses were swinging him around like a dishrag! No problem: he was swung and passed from hand to hand and he didn't mind.

The next day I was offered the opportunity to pick him up. Just as I was about to clutch him to my chest the lactation nurse came in to get him. I had to wait another day: no problem, right?

Today I held Milo for the first time. How fine he felt and smelled as he burped his milk! In order to fully appreciate the experience you must be of a certain age and disposition. At 67, I must be there.

As I held him I was smiling through potential tears of Joy.

June 4

Lewis about to pick up Milo for the first time

but the Nurse came in and he had to wait till the next day!

June 5--Milo's Dirty Diaper

June 5 Milo Update:
Milo has taken off with the eating and the diapers are proof that his digestive system has leaped into full motion. How exciting the way a little stucture adjusts quickly to the way their body is supposed to work.

Milo, Kelly and Paul are doing wonderfully this AM. She and Paul go for long strolls around the hospital to get her body working right again. The baby spends a lot of time in the room with them getting ready for their trip home tomorrow.

With such a frightening beginning being rushed to surgery quickly Tuesday evening—all is now so wonderful.

Yesterday Lewis visited with Kelly and Milo. The nurse turned to him and said are you the “Pa.?” I said what? She said “Pa”, you know “grandpa.” hummmm.... I wonder if "Pa" is the name that will stick?

The hospital where my daughter has been has wireless in the room. This just encourages Grandmothers to brag about their "youngin" to the whole world. Plus we love Google Blogger. It is amazing what a 12-hour nap will do for a tired grandmother. I am rested and now off to see Kelly and Milo.

Noon June 4--Kelly and Milo doing well

Milo and Kelly have had a good morning. Milo cannot walk yet but Kelly can. Her marathons so far have only been as far as to the bathroom and back but soon she will be sprinting down the hall. If she continues to do this well the Doctor says she will go home Friday Morning.

Baby Milo has been in the room all morning and it has been busy, busy. He and Kelly are now fast asleep. Milo apparently is the only one of the Butler or Kerrigan family who does not snore!

Milo spent his morning trying to figure out this sucking thing. Food does not seem that appealing to him. Wish I had this problem. Would be a good thing for me but not such a good thing for Milo. The Lactation Nurse has been in giving him some pointers and with her as the coach we are optimistic. She is my generation and was part of the La Leche League in Nashville when Kelly was born. We know many of the same people who were part of that whole movement in the mid-70s to bring back breast-feeding. Mother’s milk had fallen out of favor with the baby boom generation after the war with that new invention of the glass baby bottle. Now everyone who walks through the door extols the virtues of the old fashion way. This was not the case when Kelly was a baby; it was the weird hippy thing to do. Hooray for grandparents who came through the 70s as parents and are now getting to enjoy their grandchildren in this decade.

Milo Arrived at 6-03 Month at 6:03 PM