Trying New Things

Hello!  This week has been one for trying new things and learning for Tripp.  Below are some pictures from some of Tripp's new tricks and adventures.  Enjoy!

So far, the activity mat has been a lot of fun for Tripp.  He loves looking at all the animals and focusing on the contrasting colors.   There's a bit much going on here, but he seems to be enthralled rather than overwhelmed.  

The not-so-fun part of the activity mat is when we do tummy time.  He is getting better at it, but still prefers to do this (i.e. rest) rather than work on his neck muscles... we'll keep trying, though.

A very dark picture of the first go in the bumbo.  Not quite ready for this, as you can tell by his face.  We'll try it again in a few weeks. 

 Being a big boy.

Smiling, and some laughing. 

Relaxing in the bath and afterwards. 

A strolling adventure to visit the residents of the duck pond in our neighborhood.  

We have also managed a few road trips in the last couple of weeks.  We went to and from Lake Logan Martin to visit the Ferguson grandparents, and to and from Eatonton to visit the Roughens.  Tripp is loving road trips (albeit, short ones so far) and does a great job of catching some shut-eye when we travel.  Everyone hopes this continues!

We also went to see the pediatrician for Tripp's 4 week appointment, and he says that all looks great and Tripp is a healthy baby, for which we are all very thankful (and blessed!).

In other news - I am now about half way through my maternity leave, as I plan to return to work on Wednesday, August 24th.  I cannot believe how fast time is flying!

Have a great weekend!

TGIF,

Meg

Happy Birthday Uncle Daniel!

Matt's brother, Daniel, is celebrating a birthday today, July 9th.  He came to visit us all the way from Little Rock, Arkansas this past weekend, so I thought I would post a few pictures in honor of his big day.  Tripp loved meeting Daniel and his fiance & Tripp's future aunt, Whitney.  He cannot wait to see y'all again!

Hope you have a good one, Daniel!  Enjoy what remains of your 20s...

By the way, Tripp is the first baby that Daniel has held, and he, like his brother John, is a natural.

Happy Birthday!
Meg & Matt

4 weeks old today!

... and such a big boy!  

Tripp is still doing well, growing like a weed and getting more alert each day.  He is starting to smile (though we are not sure he knows what that means & we are pretty sure that he does it only when he is relieving himself of some gas in his belly) and loves to be in his stroller.  Here's a picture from this morning.  And yes, his hair is still red.  We plan to invest in Coppertone stock so we can keep all of our skin from being burned...

For today's morning stroll, we went down to Piedmont Park to check out the scenes (& hang with the many homeless folks).  Such a cool, green oasis in the middle of midtown Atlanta.  Here's a picture of Tripp sleeping peacefully while circling the park.

Hope all of you had a great holiday weekend!  

Meg

Happy Independence Day!

Happy 4th from the Roughens!

Since this is the first year in a long time that we have been in Atlanta for the 4th, we decided to take full advantage of the festivities. We took a stroll from our house down to Peachtree Road to watch the 60,000+ runners & walkers attempt to finish the annual 10k in the brutal Atlanta July heat.

We saw a few familiar faces and lots of crazy costumes... Most had a patriotic theme. Captain America, Lady Liberty, lots of flags, a few inappropriately scantily clad runners of all ages, shapes and sizes, streamers and plenty of red, white, and blue! Of course there was the requisite beer drinking running group, complete with their beer banner/flag. Fratty.

A fun day so far! We hope everyone is having a happy 4th and enjoying the extra day off from the grind. A special thanks to the men and women of our armed forces for protecting the very freedoms that we enjoy today and everyday!

Cheers & happy 4th!

Meg & Matt

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Tripp's Many Admirers

Tripp has been very popular in his first 2.5 weeks on Earth and has had lots of visitors. We have tried to get pictures of everyone, but have failed in that mission so this is a post of just some of the folks who have been nice enough to drop by and meet baby Tripp.  Thanks to everyone who has come to visit & we look forward to seeing you again.  We have enjoyed seeing everyone & introducing Tripp to all of you!

Family

Roughens

 Grandmother Roughen

 Grandfather Roughen

Uncle John Roughen (Tripp was the first baby he's ever held, and he looks like a pro!) 

Fergusons

Shug (Grandmother Ferguson) 

Papa (Grandfather Ferguson)

Aunt Katie Ferguson

Great Grandmother Cokey Kurtts

Great Aunt SuSu & Aunt Anne Hopton-Jones

Friends

Charles & Tish Woolley

Katie Pittard 

Sewell, Richard, & Emily (not pictured, though present!) Avant

Shandon & Linda Bess Gunter

Mallie Whatley & Kat Segars

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  Off to brave the grocery store with a baby in a car seat... wish me luck.

Meg

This Must Be The Place

Below are some pictures of where Tripp is currently spending most of his time, his nursery.  Whether eating, sleeping, having a diaper changed, testing out his stellar lung capacity, or getting dressed, the nursery is the place to be.  I snapped a few of these as he was enjoying his morning nap and thought I would share with you fine folks.  (excuse the less-than-desirable lighting) ... Enjoy!

 Dresser-turned-changing-table, along with the ever important glider, a Christmas gift from Tripp's Ferguson grandparents, Papa & Shug.  We are an equal opportunity ACC home, so the glider features both UVa and Georgia Tech needlepoint pillows.

 A little statement of sanity for when things are... well, insane.  I enjoyed learning about the history & original intent of this poster.  In short, these posters were produced by the British government in 1939 to boost morale of its people during the time leading up to WWII.  Interestingly enough, it was never used as intended, but resurfaced in 2000 and is now found everywhere from office cubicles to doctor's office waiting rooms.  ... and now it brings me peace in Tripp's nursery.  If interested, read more here.  

 Baby Tripp, swaddled for a morning nap.

Here's a view from the door.  The antique daybed was my grandmother's, and has been a God-send (more so for dad than for mom) during a few long nights.  I am sure it will continue to get more and more use as the days roll by.

In other news... We are all glad to have Matt back in town after a week away on the west coast to learn all about his new job.  He enjoyed his time away, but is also glad to be back, especially at 3 am each morning ... the Hampton Inn where he stayed did not feature a screaming, hungry baby, so that's a plus to being back home.  I have been putting some serious miles on the stroller in the mornings before the heat and humidity get too bad.  Tripp loves strolling!  

That is all the news from here.  We hope everyone is having a great weekend & staying cool in this hot weather.  Keep those meters spinning... 

Meg

All you need is love!

... well, and diapers, milk, a crib, car seat, etc.

Not much new today in the world of Tripp Roughen. We are getting used to the new schedule and learning to sleep longer at night.

Matt started his new job today in California, so Aunt Katie came over to help me with Tripp for the evening. ...and what a big help she was! Cooking dinner, distracting/soothing baby Tripp, and providing much needed stimulating conversation to break up the monotony of the feed/wake/sleep cycle. So glad to have her in town!

This morning, we went on a short stroll to the dry cleaners and the fresh air was great! That is about all the activity here!

Enjoy the pictures - happy Monday to everyone!

Meg

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Luck O' The Irish

Happy Friday!

Lucky are we to have Tripp in our lives... and Irish are we that his hair is getting redder by the day.  

Yesterday was a big day.  Laura Hunter from Moms On Call (www.momsoncall.com) came by to show us the ropes on cutting finger nails, bathing, swaddling, and getting Tripp on a good feeding/eating schedule so that ultimately, we can catch some more Z's at night.  She was such a big help and we feel increasingly more confident with each passing day.  Let the "baby boot camp" begin!

We would highly recommend her to any new parents!  If you are in the Atlanta area, she makes house calls.  If not, get this very helpful book:

Let the weekend begin!

Meg & Matt

Baby Tripp comes home!

Our little boy is home and we are enjoying him so much! Finally getting the hang of feeding and sleeping schedule, and Tripp had his first pediatrician appointment. Dr Elliott said all looks great!

More to come... But for now, here are a few pictures.

Matt & Meg

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Introducing: Albert Hugh Roughen, III - "Tripp"

On June 7, 2011 at 7:30 pm, weighing in at a hefty 8 lbs, 14 ounces and measuring 21.25 inches, Albert Hugh Roughen, III, "Tripp" entered the world showing off his lung capacity immediately.  What a surreal experience this has been!

It all began at 6 am on Tripp's birthday when we got to Atlanta's Piedmont Hospital.   His arrival was more than 13 hrs later in an operating room via C-section... albeit an unplanned C-section of a very nervous mom and dad.  After a brief introduction, Tripp and Matt we were taken away to the recovery area while mom was sewn back together.  Tripp was checked and rechecked and determined to be a very healthy (and loud) baby boy.  The next few hours were those like we've never experienced... holding and meeting our new son is indescribable.  After a long day and a few of hours in recovery we were moved to postpartum and Tripp was able to finally meet both sets of grandparents, one uncle (John Roughen) and one second cousin (Katie Ferguson).

On Wednesday, after approx. 3 hrs of sleep during the night, Tripp experienced a right of passage most males would not want to see.  Tripp was circumcised around 7pm on Wednesday, under the watchful eye of his father.  Another restless night of feedings and bonding followed.

As of today, Thursday, June 8th, we are still in the hospital and will likely be here until the morning of Saturday, June 10th to allow mom to continue to recover from the surgery and Tripp to get some extra TLC from the Piedmont nursing staff (... all of whom have been great!).

In case anyone is wondering, Tripp is absolutely perfect in every way.  More photos to come!

Back to caring & feeding!
Meg & Matt