family of three

Last month, while my super stellar sister-in-law was in town for Thanksgiving, we found a little time to snap some pictures of our new little family of three.  I am so crazy grateful to her for freezing this special time while baby boy is so tiny and perfect.  And I'm also crazy grateful that we snapped these before the little dude's hair decided to step out of the picture ;) It's the little things, ya know?

This last one just kills me.  There's something awe inspiring about tiny baby fingers and the sweetness of when he decides to hold onto me.  Stay tiny forever baby boy!

1 month

Well, we did it.  We've kept this little peanut alive for one whole month.  There were no major accidents, he's sleeping, eating, and pooping with abandon, and the bags under my eyes aren't too glaring (don't tell me otherwise - I don't need to know).

Stats as of his two week check up:

• Weight: 25th percentile
• Height: 75th percentile
• Head Circumference: 95th percentile

So he's kind of a slim, tall kid with a bigger noggin.  Obviously he's destined to be a genius - a genius who's momma needs to go by some baby caps in a larger size.  Newborn caps?  Fo-get about it.  As of that two week appointment he was clocking in at 8 lb, 1 oz - up 5 ounces from his birth weight - and 21.5 inches tall - up an inch and a half from birth.  This kid is growing like a weed and he's pretty happy about it.

Lately we've been able to catch some giggles and I swear he smiles at me on purpose sometimes.  Or maybe it's just gas bubbles, but I like to believe the former.

Clark's umbilical cord feel off around week 2 and I was crazy excited to give him his first real bath.  I was nervous he'd hate it, but the moment his little buns hit that warm water he just melted.  It was stinkin' adorable and so fun to watch him experience water for the first time.  I'm already pumped for many bath times to come.

So far our consistent nighttime stretch is 3 and half hours (he gave me 4 once, but it's yet to reoccur so I don't count it much) and we're getting the hang of nursing, ie: I'm not yelping in pain anymore when he latches on.  Progress!

Sad news: this kid is balding.  Around 3 weeks we gave him a bath and while I was combing his hair it just started to fall out!  He now has a clean little cul-de-sac of bare skin right on top of his head - hence the need to buy more baby hats.  And, yes, for the month of December, that little Santa hat is for sure going to be a permanent fixture.  I kind of love it.

Things that have been invaluable this first month:

• Our bouncer.  Heaven bless that thing.  He loves it, but I think I might love it more.  Best.  Gift.  Ever.
• Grandmas.  My mom came and stayed with us the first week we brought Clark home and David's mom came for a long weekend a few weeks later.  Both of them spoiled us rotten and I haven't had to think about laundry or groceries in a month.  What a huge blessing.
• Our rocking chair.  That thing - worth every penny for those cozy late night feedings.
• Oxiclean.  This kid has a cannon on him and, yes, we've already cleaned poo and pee off the wall, the carpet, and everything in between (TMI?  It's just the truth). 

To be honest, this has been the longest, shortest month of my life.  The days stretch on, but then all of  a sudden I blink and 3 weeks have gone by!  I'm so happy to be this little guy's momma.  Sometimes I think about what I would be doing if he wasn't here and, while it would be easier, it wouldn't be anywhere nearly as rewarding.

We love you baby Clark! 

a month of firsts

Baby boy is mere days away from being one whole month old.  Where does the time go??  This month we had a lot of firsts with our new little peanut, the least of which being learning how to function on considerably less Z's.  We're figuring it out ;)  Mostly Dave and I are feeling pretty good that we haven't messed up this whole parenting gig too much yet!

And now for a gallery of his firsts:

 ^^ Our first day home.  A long, lovely day of cuddles and just staring at those plump little cheeks. ^^

^^ Clark's first bath.  Turns out holding a slippery baby is kind of hard to do. ^^

^^ Clark meeting his future girlfriend for the first time and catching that cheeser on camera finally. ^^

 ^^ Our first family walk breaking in that new stroller and meeting Grandma Cindy for the first time - we love her so! ^^

^^ Baby boy's first official piece of mail and his first Christmas tree.  Obviously he was enamored by both. ^^

Cheers to many more firsts to come!

homecoming

Of everything that happened getting our little guy here, there was one thing I was not fully prepared for (among many others):

What it would feel like to come home. 

Being monitored and watched over at the hospital for four days put me in a comfort zone.  I was content being a mom with a staff of nurses behind me.  Got it.  No problem.  Eight hands, one baby?  Lets do this.  But upon discharge there was this feeling like I was being fed to the wolves!  It didn't quite hit me until we walked into our apartment for the first time toting our little baby carrier and precious cargo.  I took Clark out to give him his first tour and when I got to the nursery I almost broke down with the weight of it all.  The fact that this little guy was our responsibility and he was so tiny and vulnerable, and I have no idea what I'm doing, and I'm tired and healing and scared.  Compound that with postpartum hormones and you have the recipe for one weepy new momma. 

Thankfully, my mom came to stay with us that night, and, as moms do, she took care of everything so I could just focus on figuring out this new hat I've just put on.  Being thankful for mothers was among the top of my list of things to be grateful for this Thanksgiving for sure.

Since then I've slowly become more comfortable being this baby boy's mom.  We're still learning about each other and adjusting to life together and, while it can be hard, I'm trying my best to appreciate and love the times I get to hold this little boy and rock him back to sleep at 3am. 

We love you Clark.  We couldn't be happier that you're here to stay.