Family resemblance

Zachary really does look like his big brother as a newborn. We scanned through Owen's baby photos and found a few examples. Can you tell which boy is which?












And here they are both wearing daddy's favorite outfit.

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

Today is Sean's birthday! I have become a bit obsessive the past few days trying to create a Raymond family Smilebox. I finished it late last night so, in honor of Sean turning 34 years and Zachary turning 1 month and 1 week, here is my Smilebox creation:

Photo album made with Smilebox

1 month old!

Hard to believe that Zachary is already 1 month old! He is a feeding machine, having gained over a pound since birth, and is starting to be much more alert and even giving a few smiles.

He's also a decent sleeper though, par for the course, his developmental gains also mean that it is easier for him to get over-stimulated which makes getting him to sleep much harder than it was a few weeks ago. And he is suffering from mild thrush (yeast infection of the mouth) and reflux which isn't helping his comfort. But these are just minor and short-term bumps in the road.

To try to keep all of us as even-keeled as possible (especially sleep deprived mom & dad), we have been trying to get out of the house as much as possible and it has been an amazing help to have the grandparents around for much of the past month. (My parents left on July 4 and the Raymonds arrived on the 13th). Here are some pics from our outings:

Bordeaux Quai, June 19

Arcachon, July 1

Baseball in Bordeaux, the Pessac Panthères v Monligny Cougars, July 10

Miroir d'Eau, July 2


Bordeaux Quai, July 3

Also, in honor of Zack's 1 monthiversary, it's probably a good time to write my own recollections of D-day. Obviously, I trust Sean who was significantly more lucid than I was but I do have a few memories to share. I have added them in blue font to Sean's original post.

Brotherly Love

I can't believe it's been over 3 weeks since Zachary Max Raymond arrived! Owen was a bit skeptical at first, not wanting to get too close when he came to visit us at the hospital on the day Zack was born:

We convinced him to get a bit closer but he still was more interested in a piece of candy than his baby brother:
But how quickly things change!

Always the observant type, when Zack and I first came home on Saturday, June 18, Owen would sit next to us on the couch and watch us but was not ready to touch the little guy.


But then, after Owen's nap, Zack gave Owen a special "Thank You For Being My Big Brother" bicycle. And Owen was hooked! On the bike and on his little brother. First, he started saying that he was glad Meatball came out of my belly. Then, he started asking if he could kiss the baby or hold him on his lap. Here are a few of my favorite brother shots:


I love my boys!