2 Weeks

Obviously I won't be doing weekly posts forever (and nobody would want to read that), but at this point a week makes a big difference so I figure I'll go weekly until switching to monthly in a bit.

Week two was a significant improvement over week one. Part of that was just gaining more confidence, I think. Going to the doctor 3 days in a row for heel pricks was terrible, for example, but now we're pretty seasoned at the doctor-visit routine. Looking on the bright side.

It also helps that we made some definite progress in the nighttime arena. The pediatrician made a few suggestions for helping make the bassinet a more appealing place to sleep, and so far they've been pretty successful (I can go through the tricks in more detail if anyone is interested...). So we get some decent stretches of sleep at night now--waking up every 3 hours to feed except for the last round, which can stretch to 4 hours. The only challenge is that we're not really up and moving until 9 or 10am, which doesn't work if we have to be somewhere or want to get stuff done. I think we'll gradually be able to move earlier. For now, I'll take it.

Firsts

Sunday family dinner at the big house

Breakup: with Stumpy, the umbilical cord stump

Projectile poop (estimated 4-foot distance. Off the changing table and into a basket of clean laundry. Picture available upon request. I'm not even mad. I'm impressed).

Stroller adventure around the neighborhood (trip to Frothy Monkey after about an hour of me and BA trying to figure out how the GD carseat snaps into the MF stroller...engineering degree and marriage counseling recommended)

                 

lunch out with Jules at Taqueria del Sol

dinner out with Grace Ann (and surprise guest appearances by Catherine, Miss Nancy, and Maggie Howell) at 12S Taproom. Concurrent with first adventure in Moby Wrap

Mom's first beer. There wasn't a second. Tolerance is a tricky bugger...gotta get back in form.

brunch out with Kate and Andy at blvd [living in a walkable neighborhood is a huge help...we can get out of the house and get some fresh air and feel sort of like real people, but can be home in 5 minutes if things go sideways]

And a special welcome to CW's friend Oliver, the final installment in the February Babies Club. Wishing mom a speedy recovery and looking forward to playdates soon. And the delayed celebration of National Margarita Day--his mom craved margaritas all throughout pregnancy so it's a date!

Stats

last weigh-in: 7lbs 15oz
diapers: size 1 (that was fast)

"two-week" checkup is tomorrow, so we'll see what they say then.

We're doing ok, making it through, and having a pretty good time! He's just pretty darn sweet.

Hatching Evil Plot

Secret Service

(40 Weeks)

Today was the official due date, so I thought I'd do one last post for that. While it was more than a little stressful that he arrived prior to the due date, I'm glad we've already got almost 2 weeks under our collective belt.


How Far Along: Today was the EDD--40 weeks. This is, at best, an inexact science. As such, he's got 11 days on the outside. 

Total Weight Gain: GAIN SCHMAIN. I haven't hopped on the scale in a few days, but last time I checked I was down about 24 lbs from my weight at delivery. I suspect that the pounds get harder to lose--the first 20 are basically a freebie what with baby, placenta, and fluid--but I'll take it. I don't know what's "typical," but I'll share my experience. I had hoped to start going on walks around now as I feel pretty good physically but it has gotten too cold to really take him out for the time being. But the weather here is a fickle beast, so I am pretty confident that some nicer days aren't too far away. 

Size of Baby: Baby is the size of a jackfruit, a watermelon, or an actual 8-pound human baby.

Maternity Clothes: Yes, still. Mostly leggings and jeans. I'm still wearing the v-neck Mossimo Target tees (non-maternity) that I wore all the way through pregnancy. They work well on this side of the deal as well. The general look has been characterized as "homeless yoga instructor."

I could probably wear non-maternity leggings or larger-than-pre-preg-size Lulu, but no need to push things yet. I would say I left the hospital looking about 6 months pregnant and now look maybe 14-15 weeks pregnant? With clothes on, that is. The belly situation is weird and I'll leave it at that. 

Stretch Marks: Never got any. On the belly, at least. I know I largely have my mother to thank for that, but all future pregnant friends will be receiving this as a gift from me:

Gender: It's a boy. No surprise there. 

Movement: N/A? But I miss that part a little bit. 

Sleep: 
Him: Really good, I think. He's napping in his swing now. Sleeps well and pretty much anywhere during the day, but we are still working toward the goal of having him sleep in the bassinet between feedings at night. We tried this for serious last night and it went...ok. I didn't get less sleep than doing it the other way, and BA got more. The pediatrician suggested a couple tricks so we'll just see what works and know that it won't be magically resolved in a day. I'm going to try to keep him more active for some stretches during the day--looking at stuff, etc.--to hopefully help switch his day/night cycle. Because it's totally backwards at this point. Which is normal. 

Me: see above, I suppose. 

It isn't perfect, but I know a lot of people have it a lot worse. 

Cravings: I don't have any cravings or aversions, but appetite has been weird. I was STARVING during labor, probably because we had rushed through dinner before going in and, once there, I was only allowed a clear liquid diet. I never want to see Hi-C orange Jello again. But after birth, I have struggled to get a normal appetite back. I'm usually hungry for dinner--probably because people keep bringing awesome food--but during the day just have to eat because I know I'm supposed to. Generally the desserts that people have brought, because why not?

Other crazy symptoms: Trouble regulating body temperature; night sweats. General soreness and whole-body achiness a couple days in, but that has largely gone away. Spontaneous displays of emotion. Recovery-wise, I think I'm doing well, but that definitely adds another dimension to trying to take care of a newborn. I would say I feel like I turned a corner in that department about two days ago, which was a welcome change. 

Best Moment this week: They're all best moments...he really is a sweet and easygoing baby. Feeding is going well, the jaundice is resolving, and his weight gain is on track. Watching BA with his little buddy is also particularly sweet and entertaining. 

These hockey games aren't gonna watch themselves...

Deep Thoughts

Shall I poop now, or shall I poop later? Yes.

Smiles

One Week

Well, technically he was still many hours from arrival this time last week, but it's close enough for me. [Ok, so I wrote this in advance but then it took me 2 days to put in the photos. So it goes.] Here we are...all still alive, which is my definition of a raging success. People always talk about how they're terrified to bring home a newborn, but I had no idea how many horrors would lurk around every corner. The mind can invent some truly awful situations, especially in the dark while alone. Fortunately, after a few days, this faded to a manageable anxiety that is within normal limits. I would think.

Overall, we are all still doing well. He is on a fairly predictable pattern (I wouldn't call it a schedule) of eating every 2 hours and sleeping in between. Eating is going really well, for which I am very thankful. Knock on wood. I know that many people really, really struggle with that piece, and I admire their determination. Even though it has been relatively complication-free for us, it's still pretty challenging. And stressful. C has had some jaundice since birth, and eating well is really the only way for him to clear it out (via poops that we now discuss casually and frequently as if that is a totally normal thing to suddenly be discussing). Just in case worrying about sustaining your child's life is not enough, adding in the threat of "irreversible brain damage" (I suggest some addition professional development to that nurse) is pretty motivating. Thankfully, as of yesterday, his bilirubin levels have stabilized and we are just monitoring for now. We are all hoping we're finished with daily doctor visits and heel pricks.

Between feedings--day and night--he really just sleeps. This is pretty easy, except that he does not want to be put down at night. So the bassinet in our bedroom remains empty. BA and I just tag team throughout the night, sleeping in shifts between his feedings. The on-duty party is generally downstairs in the living room, where most of our supplies are. Plus, one can watch tv to stay awake. This is not a long-term solution, but it is ok for now. During the day, he'll usually sleep in the vibrating seat of the Pack N Play, and I have a couple ideas for how we can reconfigure some things to address nighttime that we'll get to if needed. The adrenaline definitely starts to wear off after a week and not sleeping gets harder, but we're still making it through.

Firsts:
Everything's a first in your first week of actually, you know, being alive on the outside, but here are some milestones in addition to getting born.

People C met and loved:

Jules

Miller

Sara

Lil Mary

not pictured: Berna, Kate & Andy, Catherine, Pete & Jules L, Grace Ann, the dogs, Janette

FaceTime: with the Upstate grandparents (ain't technology grand??)

mail: Valentine from his favorite great aunt

holiday: Mardi Gras, Valentine's day

car ride:

Stats:

- weight:
at birth: 8lbs 3oz.
2/13: 7lbs 8 oz
2/14 and 2/15: 7lbs 11 oz
The amount he lost after birth was within normal limits and he's gaining well now.

- length at birth: 21 3/4"

Likes: rootin' & tootin'

Dislikes: diaper changes. Until the fresh one hits that little bottom, and then everything is instantly ok; bilirubin heel pricks; the bassinet

Despite the craziness, we're having a good time just getting to know him. It's all so new, but it also feels like I already knew him.

Thank you to everyone for the visits, meals, calls, texts, and general cheerleading. It would be impossible (and a lot less fun) to do this without your love and support. Cheers to you.

a hospital ice bucket