Sir sits up alot

1 am still snowing

Everyone is quiet and sleeping. Mom and I just had our late night tea. I can barely keep my eyes open to send this text. This snow is a gift to my spirit, a wonderful mood booster. I have not seen a snow this pretty in a long time.

Having a great time in Virginia

cuddle time

happy days

Alexander loves to swing! Today we also played in the dirt and watched the other kids run around. Alex can sit up on his own for about a minute then he flops over, but supported he can play and play.

sleepy boy

looking like Dad

I think Alexander looks like Martin in this shot.

looking like GranDad

But I think Alexander looks like my Dad in this one.

cereal face

We have started solid food...This is oatmeal. I think he likes it better than the tasteless rice. Sweet potato went down with more gusto!

alex and the eye

Here Martin is holding our super 20 pound 28 inch boy! You can see that Martin is on the mend thank goodness.

Grant Park

We had a nice day in the park.

tired all around

head injury

Martin fell on his skateboard last Friday and can't remember it at all.

Away from Atlanta

Ashley and I went hiking last weekend,climbing up to Blood Mountain. It was pretty toasty high 90's, thanks to our late start we managed to escape the noon sun, and caught the afternoon warmth instead. The phone picture doesn't do it justice, but we could see many layers of mountains off on the horizon. There were beautiful purple flowers and yellow black-eyed Susans. We saw so many tiny little bumblebees. We also, towards the end of the trail, saw a deer, a doe I think ( no antlers that I could see) sitting in the middle of the trail. This would have been on the Appalachian Trail section, before Flat Rock Gap trail splits off. Ashley caught a great picture.

Living in PA for years, I have seen my share of deer, but usually they are at the side of the road waiting to jump in front of the car. This is the first time in a long time that I have seen one so close, so serene and so vibrant.

View from Blood Mountain

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ericaeckler@gmail.com < ericaeckler@gmail.com>
Date: Aug 7, 2007 11:13 PM
Subject: View from Blood Mountain
To: Blog <go@blogger.com>, Eckler Mom and Dad < theecklers@comcast.net>, Eri ca <ericaeckler@gmail.com>

I went hiking with Ashley this weekend to Blood Mountain. It was wonderful! We saw a doe sitting in the middle of the trail, purple wildflowers and many flying creatures little swifts darting about at the summit  

Book Club via comments???

Hi folks!
I just read a new book, The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I will still call R to discuss, but I thought, hey perhaps we can finally have the book club we were talking about via comments on the blog? Not sure how to work it out, or the easiest way to do it. Blogging is probably not the best format, but I thought that perhaps it might work. I am going edit this post later, but for now I will say that The Road was a taut, crushing read. I don't think I have read an other apocalypse / end of days novel as well done. As a new mother, I can't say I enjoyed it, but I think it certainly was a great book, it just made me cry at a time I would rather not be crying.

On a similar note, while I was pregnant, I saw Children of Men in the theatre. It was dark and awful and spirit crushing. I haven't read the book on which it was based.

smoochies from alexander

Snuggle time is wonderful!

pre smooch

Father's Day -brunch at Ria's

Out at Ria's Bluebird Cafe. Martin watched Alexander yesterday, today we are hanging out after a relaxed morning.

georgia aquarium

You can see Alexander's reflection in the glass at the Pacific Reef tank. It is a great day at the Aquarium.

hello from children's museum

Having a great time with Robin and Tony and Quinn and Leah

nice day

Sometimes the only way Alexander will calm down is to sit outside. I forget how much that calms me as well. After a few minutes of bouncing outside he drifts of to sleep or becomes happily absorbed in the nature in the backyard.

bath time

Loves the water already

napping in the crib

This morning we sat outside for a nice dose of sunshine, birds, squirrels and fresh air after yesterday's smoky haze. It made Alexander quite happy, happy enough to take a little morning nap in the crib.

sun kissed

Harriet and the lamp

happy warm cat

Harriet

I wonder if other cats do this. Harriet loves to sit with her head right next to the lightbulbs under the lampshade. This lamp has two 75 watt bulbs and puts out a good bit of heat, so I think it is a kitty sauna for her. She will sit there for a long time roasting away.

in the bassinet

He hadn't shown an interest in mobiles or hanging toys but, this week, he is fascinated. He is making little coo noises.

baby fashion show

Alex has grown into some cute outfits - 12 pounds this week and 23 inches ! I hope everyone is doing well !

green baby fashion show

Here is Alexander wearing the "mommy's good luck charm" outfit that Anissa sent to him. Like mom, he looks great in green. Even though the next shot cuts off his head, the smile is precious.

smile monster 1

more smiles

hiking shot

Still trying to move the pictures from the phone...This is coming back from a hike in North Georgia mountains. It started to rain just as we were leaving and made this gorgeous rainbow.

Forever plaid?

Alex is looking more and more like a little boy,especially in the cute plaid overalls from great aunt Joyce

2 am feeding

Alex is a night owl. I love how his face is so sweet and vulnerable in this shot-just this week he has begun to grasp our clothing when we hold him.

good morning

Here he is with his happy morning face. Looks so small when dad holds him.

early picture

Here he is in a state of bliss,well fed, warm and loved