02.28.10 - Mommy's little hunk

More like "Mommy's little chunk!" Nate weighed 9-4 at birth and 10-2 at his three-week checkup last week. He'll be one month old this week and he's already outgrown newborn diapers and his newborn outfits.

02.27.10 - Cuteness overload

At nearly a month, Nate is starting to spend more time awake. He sure is cute to look at!

02.26.10 - Baseball blankie

Nate, sound asleep under one of his many baseball blankies, dreaming about pop flies, rosin bags and Louisville Sluggers, or so I'd like to think!

02.25.10 - Sittin' up like a big boy

Can't believe he's only THREE weeks old!

02.24.10 - Nope, don't wanna do it

Much to Angie's chagrin, Nate wasn't much interested in sleeping today.

02.23.10 - Bored by daytime TV

So I guess I'll just take a nap!

02.22.10 - I'm squeezing your head

Nate gets a bath after peeing all over himself, his changing pad and his mom. We're thinking we should have used bathroom and kitchen grade paint in his room as the wall next to the changing pad has already been hit twice.

02.21.10 - Adorable

Yes, he is!

02.20.10 - Sweet dreams

Looks like he's having some sweet dreams.

02.19.10 - Along for the ride

Nate holds on tight to his Mommy as she carries him through the house.

02.18.10 - Couch potatoes

As was the case with Maddie, Harley won't let Baby Nate get in the way of some quality snuggle time with her mom or dad.

02.17.10 - Hold your head high

Today was my last day of paternity leave. I'll be a little sad to leave the kids tomorrow but Angie's got six more weeks and I know she'll take great care of them!

02.16.10 - This is more like it

As I try to tell clients with whom I work, the best images are those that are found, not forced. Case in point: yesterday's photo with Harley. It just wasn't working. Nate doesn't normally lie on that blankie in the middle of his bedroom. And Harley would never just sit beside him. The result is an awkwardly composed image that draws more attention to its imperfections than it does the message it's trying to convey. Today's photo worked out much better. I'd already made several frames of Nate throughout the day. But when Harley jumped up on the love seat next to her brother (most likely in an attempt to steal a spot on the blankie), it made the perfect frame we were trying for yesterday and that is that Harley's warming up to her brother much faster than she did her sister. And we're thankful for that!

02.15.10 - H is for Happy?

We wanted to get a nice photo of Harley sitting next to Nate, especially since Nate was wearing this cute puppy shirt with the word "Happy" on it. Harley makes us really happy but she was really only happy when we gave her a treat with which we were bribing her. And Nate wasn't much happy as he was hungry. Perhaps that's what his shirt should have said.

02.14.10 - Happy Valentine's Day

Nate asked his mom to be his valentine and she said "yes."

02.13.10 - Stretch

Nate was just lying there asleep on the sofa when I decided to make a few frames. He must not yet be accustomed to the sound of a shutter because he started to stretch as though he were waking up. He didn't and he's still asleep right now.

02.12.10 - Meeting Grandpa Greg

Grandpa Greg stopped by to meet Nate this morning. He fell in love instantly! He also brought with him the cutest K-State bank and outfit as gifts. Thanks, Grandpa Greg!

02.11.10 - Snoozing, again

Grandma and Grandpa Shepherd came over for lunch today. Of course, Nate was either sleeping or feeding the entire time they were here but that didn't stop them from getting in a little quality time!

02.10.10 - Being a baby is hard work

Today was just one of those lazy, sleep-all-day kinds of days. Well, sleep for the baby, that is!

02.09.10 - No girls allowed

One of these days, Nate will realize we're outnumbered in this house!

02.08.10 - Poor guy has no idea ...

... what's about to happen! Dr. Green explains how to care for a circumcised baby prior to performing the procedure during Nate's one-week checkup today. The doctor assured us that it bothers us more than it bothers Nate. So far, that seems to be true.

02.07.10 - Super Bowl party

Ok, so it wasn't much of a party!

02.06.10 - My big sister

Today Nate met his big sister, Maddie. She didn't want to have much to do with him. In fact, the only way we could get her to sit next to him long enough to get a snap was to do it as she was having her bedtime bottle. She must take after her father; she can be bribed with food!

02.05.10 - First visitors

Nate had his first visitors today! Nan and Pop dropped by to meet the little guy and to bring dinner.

02.04.10 - Little Brother

Nate came home from the hospital today. Angie found this adorable baseball jersey at Kohl's but decided not to get it. So, after she told me about, I promptly went back and bought it as his going home outfit. Before we left for the hospital, I grabbed my good luck baseball from my car and stuck it in his diaper bag to complete the ensemble. How cute!

02.03.10 - He's here!!!!!!!!!

Nathan Michael • 9 lbs 4 oz 22 in • 4:28 p.m.

02.02.10 - Tomorrow's the big day

Angie's worked right up until the end. Before leaving the studio after lunch today I asked her to pose for a quick portrait. She's 39 weeks and six days in this photo. Tomorrow we're being induced.