One Month

Age:  1 month old!

Weight: 10.4 pounds

Height:  23 inches

Favorite activity: Eating or sleeping...though you get a kick out of watching the ceiling fan.

Honorable mentions: Staring with rapt attention at the ceiling fan.

Least favorite activity:  Burping, Lord how you hate it when we take the food away.

Milestones:  You are holding your head up quite well.  Sometimes you still look like a bobble head, but we're constantly amazed at how strong you are!

No more baby bobblehead!

Words: none

Sleep:  2-3 hours at a time with increased wakefulness during the day

Best Moment: Taking you to the faculty Christmas party where you were ooo'd and ahhh'd over appropriately.

Worst Moment: The night you wailed (not cried, the angry scream that you do when you're ticked) for 2 hours.

Eating:  You are thriving on formula and while me not being able to breastfeed you breaks my heart every day, it's getting a little easier.  A lot because I've put away/gotten rid of any and all reminders of how my body let us both down.  I know it's not the best way of coping, but right now, I just need those things to go away.

You take about 2 ounces at every feeding.  Sometimes, though, I swear you have a hollow leg because you'll do two or three 2 ounce bottles in two or three hours!

Teeth: None, but your front teeth look like they might pop out at any time.  They've looked like that since you were born.

Even the nurses in the hospital commented on your "teeth."

We love you to the Moon and back, buddy.  We can't wait to see what the next month brings.

Red chair picture - 1 month

Giggles

Even though you've only been here two and a half weeks, Little One, you keep us laughing constantly.  For example:

• One morning, I asked you if you were hungry and wanted a bottle.  As soon as I said bottle, your eyes lit up and you made what I can only call your "Oooo" face.  Your mouth made this perfect O.

• While in the hospital, I was burping you.  You were almost asleep when you let out the loudest belch I've ever heard (not just from a baby).  It scared me so badly, I almost dropped you!

• Even though we know your smiles are gas related, you smile at the funniest times.  Last night, Daddy was up for your 2 hour dance party from 3 - 5, and he tried to give you a bottle.  You locked your lips together and grinned an evil grin.  Tired as we were, we had to laugh.  You stinker.

• One evening, I decided you needed some diaper rash cream on your bum.  Well, it must have been cold because as soon as it touched your bum your teeth started to chatter.  Such the little drama king.

• It's no secret that Daddy needs more sleep than Mommy.  However, Daddy has been helping out on everything since you were born.  He doesn't want to miss a minute of your activity.  I knew Daddy needed some sleep one night though.  You started to cry so I got out of bed to make your bottle.  Daddy sat up as I walked to the bathroom.  You fussed while I got your bottle ready.  When I came out and started to feed you, I looked over and Daddy was still sitting up on his side of the bed.  Only now, he was burping and shushing his pillow.  Oh, how I giggled at that one.

Week 2

Dear Wombat,

I can't believe you're already two weeks old!  Time is just flying by.

We tried to take you to get pictures done for birth announcements/Christmas last weekend.  Epic fail.   Even with an appointment there was a one hour wait.  Mama was not about to wait an hour with you in a photo studio full of germy people.  It's majorly inconvenient that you were born close to Christmas.  Now we have to fight the Christmas crazies just to get a few professional pictures of your cuteness.   It's kind of stressing Mommy out, the whole picture thing, because you're only going to be this little for a short time and I don't want to miss it!  Luckily, your Daddy has plans and he'll make sure something happens if I tell him it's important to me.  He's wonderful like that.

Also, let's talk about the hands.  Good grief, child, get your hands out of your face!  For 9  months, I thought about swaddling you and laying you down to sleep.  Ha!  Oh, I can try to swaddle you, but those sneaky arms always find a way to sneak out.  You are one tricky little man.  I wish you'd let me put you in the baby straight jacket, I mean swaddle, because you wake yourself up so often with your flailing appendages.

Speaking of sleep, please start doing that.  You have a good night (only waking up twice and giving Mommy 3 hours of sleep at a time) and then you have a bad night (waking up every 2 hours with a 2 hour dance party from 3-5).  Buddy, Mama needs sleep.  Mama gets crazy eyes when she doesn't get sleep...and let's not even talk about her hair.

We spend a little time each day on our tummies which you hate.  That being said, you're super strong already and starting to have better control over your head.  Soon you'll be able to hold it up yourself and Mama won't be so paranoid whenever someone else holds you.  (Yeah right)

Daddy has been working all week and boy do we miss him!  It would be nice to stay home, just the three of us forever, but unfortunately life just doesn't work like that.   Luckily, Daddy can come home at lunch time and check on us and snuggle you.  It's always fun to snuggle you, my little wiggle worm.

Christmas is quickly approaching and we're looking forward to starting new family traditions with you.

We love you more and more each day.

Love,
Mama

Your Birth

The story of your birth, little one, is pretty uneventful.    Your due date came and went and after a week the doctors decided you were coming out by choice or by force.  We discussed induction vs. c-section and we decided that a c-section was a better option for us.  Even though I spent my entire pregnancy worrying about a c-section it seemed like the quickest, easiest way to get you here.  I didn't want to wait 12 hours for the pre-lim medicine and then start the pitocin which could take up to another day and a half to work.  Why not schedule a c-section for the following afternoon and be done with it?

You, of course, had other plans.  The morning I was due to have the c-section I started having a strange pain.  It started around 1 in the morning.  I'd have that pain every hour.  Then, by 5 in the morning, I was having the pain four times an hour.  I finally woke Daddy up and told him that didn't know if I was just nervous about the c-section that was scheduled for 12:30 or if it was something else...but I was having "nerves" every 15 minutes or so.  Daddy called the doctor's office and packed me up and we headed for the hospital.

Once we got there, they figured out that yes, I was in labor!  I am not surprised you decided to take things into your own hands.  A little fear was all it took for me to come out, evidently it was all you needed too.

The nurses called the doctor who was doing some outpatient surgeries downstairs.  He said he'd be finished by 9:30 and that we'd do my c-section then.  You'll do anything to be first, won't you?  They took me over to the prep area and started my IV and got me ready for surgery.  Daddy sat with me and called the grandparents so they knew what was going on.  Around 9:15, the doctor showed up and said he was ready to go.  Off we went to the operating room!

Daddy got suited up in his scrubs and mask while they wheeled me into the room.  The nurses were wonderful.  Three of them had children under 1 year old and kept me distracted with stories and advice.  The anesthesiologist took a few minutes to find the right spot in my back for the medicine.  That was the scariest part, Little One.  Mainly because Daddy wasn't there.  Daddy is always very calm and I count on that.  They got the medicine started and tilted my head down.  I felt like I was going to slide off the table!  The medicine kicked in quickly and before I knew it, I couldn't feel my feet and Daddy was there.  Hooray for Daddy!

It seemed like seconds later they were telling Daddy to stand up and watch you being born.  No one offered me that option!  Before long, I could hear you screaming.  Not crying, screaming.  You were cold, I get it.  You do not like to be cold.

Hey, it's cold out here!

The wonderful nurses took Daddy's camera and took fantastic pictures of you.  I remember asking Daddy over and over again if you were ok and he assured me that you were.  Finally, they brought you over and let Daddy hold you.  He talked to you and I swear you knew exactly who he was.  Then he leaned over to show you to me.  I was tilted so far down I could just barely see your eyes.  But when I talked to you, you slowly turned your head and gave me a look that clearly said, "Hey...I know you...you look different."

Our first family picture and one of my favorite pictures, ever.

We spent 2 days in the hospital.  Daddy stayed with us and helped change you and hand you to me since I was very sore and not able to get out of bed much.  What would we do without Daddy?

They sent us home Thanksgiving morning.  Best. Thanksgiving. Ever.  We were all so happy to be home.

What a wild week

Dear Wombat,

Today you are 9 days old.  I told Daddy last night that I still can't believe you're here, but it seems like you've been here forever.  I already can't imagine how we lived without you for so long.

We visited your doctor today and you've only got 2 ounces to gain back to get back to your birth weight.  Good job, buddy!  All that formula seems to be making a difference.  We tried breast feeding, but I just don't think it is going to happen.  Mama is working on making her peace with that.  It's been a slow road.

You, of course, are perfect.  You make Daddy and I laugh every day.  We often find ourselves just staring at you and marveling in how wonderful you are.  How did we do that!?  I try to find time every day to tell you just how glad I am to have you and Daddy.

Oh good grief, not this story again!

That's right....this is my monkey swing.

You already have lots of personality.  You don't cry just to cry.  If you're crying, something is wrong.  We generally go through the normal reasons until we strike gold.  Right now, you are sleeping a lot (and Mommy likes that).  When you're not sleeping, you're eating.  Tomorrow we start tummy time.  I can only imagine the crying that will ensue, but it's something that you just have to do.    The times you aren't sleeping and eating you are remarkably alert.  Your big blue eyes stare at anyone and anything nearby.  You love to stare at the light behind Daddy's chair or the monkey mobile hanging above your swing.  While we're discussing your personality, can we chat about your obsession with your hands?  They've been in your face in every ultrasound picture and now you're still obsessed with them.  I thought we had a few weeks before you discovered your hands!  Nope, you knew about them coming out and you still love them.

You enjoy your cradle that Granddad made for you.  You sleep in it every night.  The first few nights you were home we didn't think that would ever happen.  Daddy put the shirt that I wore to and from the hospital on the mattress and that also helped.

Swaddled and snoozing in his cradle

We spent most of your first weekend on the phone with your doctor because you were so gassy, upset, and uh, backed up.  Once we switched to formula, those problems disappeared or reduced significantly.  Then, I came down with a fever Sunday evening.  It broke Monday morning, but I still needed to go to the doctor and make sure everything was ok.  I figured I was fine when the fever disappeared.  Shows what I know!  The doctor sent me right back to the hospital for 48 hours.  Not before telling me that you couldn't come though.  Oh, the crying that statement unleashed.  Daddy dropped me off, called your grandparents (who had just left to go home that morning), and your uncle.  Uncle B came to be with me at the hospital and Daddy took you home.  I had the best nurse, Little Man.  When she noticed me crying, yet again, she said, "You know, he can bring the baby.  We'll get him a bassinet and everything.  As long as someone is here to watch him, he can stay with you."  I immediately called Daddy sobbing, "BRING ME MY BABY!"  Luckily, the fever didn't come back and they let me go home the following day (your 1 week "birthday").  Mama will be on her best behavior from here on out.  I don't want to go back there especially without you!

Anyway, Little One...we're so glad you're here with us.  We can't wait to see what you will learn next.

Love,
Mama

Welcome to the World, Wombat!

Born:
November 20th, 2012
10:27 AM
8 pounds, 4 ounces
20 inches long

We already love you so much and we just met you.

Put me back in!  Put me back in!

Ok...that's a little better.

First family picture

"Hey...I know you.  You look different."

Check back soon for his birth story!

Week 40

Dear Wombat,

Duuuuude...  It would appear that you have gotten your Mama's stubborn genes.  Let me just say, I am already looking forward to your teenage years.

Let's have a little heart to heart, buddy.  First, you are such a good boy.  Mama asked you to wait until the 17th and you have!  (Daddy confessed weeks ago that he thought you were coming early...ha!  Mama is always right.  Write that down.)

Now that we've made it to our personal goal, I think it's time to start seriously thinking about coming out.  Oh, I know you're thinking.  If the last week is any indication, you've got something going on in there.  However, there is still no indication that you're planning to join the party in the near future.  I know I told you all the cool kids are late, and they are, but there is a limit to how late, bud.

All your grandparents are here (or will be in a few hours) and everyone is pretty much sitting around waiting for you.  We're all trying to be patient, but some of us are better at it than others.  Speaking of patience, hopefully, you have your Daddy's patience because Mama can't afford to give away the tiny amount of patience I've gathered over the years.  

So, maybe one more cookie and then you'll come out and play?  We'd really like to have a birthday party...I hear they have cake at parties.  Cake is like a cookie!

Ollie, ollie, oxen free!

Love,
Mama