Jack's first laugh

On Sunday afternoon, Maria went to her first post-pregnancy yoga class. It was a special moment for her – she had been longing to exercise again after doctor’s orders not to exercise for 6-weeks post-delivery. It was also the longest period of time that she would be away from Jack.

Jack was not in a good mood on Sunday afternoon, so Michael was holding him in an “Ergo” carrier on his chest/stomach, like a kangaroo pouch, which helped calm him down. Jack's stomach was full, so he eventually fell asleep for almost an hour on dad’s chest. When he woke up, he was hungry again, and mom wasn’t home to feed him. Michael tried to distract him by changing his diaper, singing to him and engaging him in play activities, but those attempts soon failed and Jack began to cry. Then Jack began to scream. Michael called Maria as her yoga class was supposed to be over, but the call went to voicemail – he knew the class had probably run long. He quickly prepared a bottle of formula for Jack, but Jack was not interested in a rubber nipple and prepared formula. He rejected the bottle and continued to scream as hard as his little lungs could. This continued for some time while Michael desperately tried unsuccessfully to calm him down.

Maria got home from yoga and came straight into Jack’s room where Michael was holding him, seated in a chair. Jack was staring up while crying and saw Maria come into the room, but at first it appeared he didn’t know who it was. Then, as Maria got closer, he saw that it was his mother. He immediately ceased crying and a wide smile grew across his face. He grinned as big as he could and let out a little happy laugh at the sight of his mother – it was adorable and truly heart-warming. Maria could not have been happier; it was Jack’s first laugh and it was clearly directed right at his mother. It was a special moment, and for the rest of the afternoon Jack was calm and playful once he had what he wanted – his mom.

The boys with their mother