Olympic Focus from Matt Underwood on Vimeo.

Its already been weeks since my last update on our J-man and Underwood life.  Last week we were happy to welcome Ryan's brother Matt for a long weekend.  While he was here we brought him along to meet my extended family to celebrate Nanny Plante's 70th birthday.  He and Ryan also led worship together Sunday morning at church and put in many creative hours on an Olympic video for Ryan's upcoming sermon series.  The combination of their creativity is... well.. it leaves me speechless.

Jameson was quite content with the extra attention from his Uncle Matt.  He loves to interact and "talk" with people.  When he first wakes up in the morning (and before he thinks about breakfast) he is so happy and interactive.  I have to tear myself away from the little charmer. 

On home news.. tomorrow we take on the project of painting our house.  The supplies are on the kitchen counter awaiting many hours of work ahead.  We are hoping for a content baby and good weather.

Jameson models his first Vols outfit from Grandpa Jim and Nana Cathy.

The last couple weeks have been monumental in Jameson's life.  He started daycare three days a week, has been sleeping the night... well seven hour stretches, and he has moved into size 3-6 months.  One of the teachers at daycare told me Jameson is enamored by the music teacher there.  "Mr. Abe" comes in each morning to play his guitar with the babies.  Jameson gets very excited and tries to sing along!  He is laughing and trying to communicate more than ever.  We are nuts about him!

We are counting down the last hours until Ryan returns from a two week youth trip to Mexico City.  The anticipation is great!  I think Jameson must have an idea of what is to come.. he hasn't taken a good nap yet today.  The unfortunate part of youth ministry is that Ryan is gone from home so much.  In the past summers I've been working while he is away.  This year was different as I'm on my last weeks of maternity leave and have little Jameson to keep me company.  We spent the first week in Nashville visiting Ryan's family and introducing Jameson to Ryan's grandmothers and brother Matt.  Jameson was a "peach" to travel with.  He was awake for both flights but was content.  We have started looking at books.. which helped a lot.  At this point he is just excited by the bright colors and sound effects that mommy makes.  It was wonderful to spend time with the Underwood family. 

I only have one week left before I return to work.  The feelings are mixed.  I feel really good about the daycare we've chosen.. but I still know it will be a challenge for me to transition back to work and leave him.  (I'm glad Ryan will be doing the morning drop offs). 

Here are a few family pictures Cati (one of our former youth) took for us this month. 

The upside.. Jameson is a wonderful baby and is communicating so much more now!  I need to get better at updating our blog.  He has lost the new infant look with the fragile limbs and new cry which have been replaced by chubby legs (with rolls) and a cry that sounds like he has had some practice at it. One of our favorite times is playing on the floor between feedings.  Jameson loves to stretch out and interact.  The best part is his smile!

I wish we could get a more consistant sleeping pattern at night.  We'll go anywhere between 3-6 hours. The 6 hour stretches are incredible! Obviously, it's harder to function well the morning after the 3 hour nights... which included last night.  I'm just trying to remind myself that he'll be sleeping the night before I know it and I'll miss these times of getting up when everyone else is asleep to feed my little boy. 

"hello world" Jameson is six weeks old.

He has made his entry into the world...at last.  Born at 8:19pm on May 28, 2008.  7 pounds, 10.5 ounces.  22 inches long.  There's no way for me to express here what it feels like to hold him and know that he is my son.  It was a long day yesterday, but he came.  My wife is the single most amazing person I know for being willing to go through what she did.  I am simply in awe.  We'll write more soon, but for now here are some pictures...

Well, as one due date passes and another sits about a week away, we find ourselves anxiously awaiting the arrival of our son.  (If you're not up on the fact that we have multiple due dates, I'd love to fill you in, but it's a long story.  Suffice it to say that they have no idea what day this little guy is coming, just sometime in May).  We're trying to keep ourselves occupied and focused, while at the same time keeping the hospital bag near the door and not planning any trips that take us into any desolate parts of Minnesota, such as those where a baby might have to be born in the forest or other natural habitat.  It is interesting though, in my extensive prenatal reading (about 15 minutes worth), I came across the fact that a woman's body is so naturally designed to move through the birthing process, that really, you could choose to stay home or go into the woods to have a baby and you'd be fine.  Somehow though...I'm not quite ready for an adventure of that magnitude...so we're staying local until the little guy says it's time.  Every time Liz makes any sort of noise, I instinctively find myself reaching for my keys as I hurriedly ask her what is wrong.  So we continue to wait.  Our doctor seems to think that we might see Memorial Day before we see our son, so we're getting creative as to how to pass the time.  Lots of walking, every day, sometimes more than once a day.  The kid's already going to instinctively know his way around our neighborhood, so that is already one large weight off my shoulders as a father.  Otherwise, I'm having fun planning a bunch of stuff for May that I might or might not be at...it's not easy to plan things that you might not be at.  You lose that whole option of "oh I can just do that when I get there...", which I am commonly fond of relying on.  So, if anything, this kid is already forcing me to be more organized...and a youth pastor can always use more of that.  So, now that this has gotten rather long and rambling, I'll cross "write a blog entry" off my list of ways to keep busy and move onto the next item..."organize clothes in closet by color palette".  He'd better come soon...

Above: the nursery we have ready for our little man & Jr is thirty-two weeks along!

Today while out to do some Easter shopping, I heard the sound of running water and birds! We had the first official day of spring this past week which is a joyous occasion after a long, house bound MN winter.  Easter shopping was successful.  While our husbands were away at a youth convention in Chicago, my sister Kate and I (joined by my 18 month old nephew Jude) hit the stores to put together Easter baskets for Grace and Jude as well as hunt for miscellanous items on our lists.  (We girls are very directed shoppers!)  Personally, I've had the fever for spring cleaning and getting the house in order for days ahead with an infant.  Its been very motivtating to see the nursery done as well as other projects completed here at home!  All I have left for this weekend is a little grocery shopping and to welcome home a tired hubby. 

We hope you have a wonderful Easter Sunday tomorrow. 

Liz & Ryan

...Then you will most likely laugh at this. It's not necessarily the talent (or lack therof) but the deep level of insight. (If you aren't connected with SimplyYouth Ministry, you need to check out their stuff...it's very good).