A Perfect Little Family Morning

This morning was a wonderful morning. I have been wanting it to snow while on maternity leave since it started. I love watching the snow fall peacefully outside while I am warm and cozy inside of my house. This morning was just that. We woke up at your usual time of around 7:30 and Dad was supposed to drive to Twin Falls for work. I opened the bedroom curtains to find a white world greeting us. Since it was still snowing Dad decided not to make the drive to Twin. Yay! So the three of us cuddled in bed together (I even got a Marcus and Dad cuddle sandwich) and watched the adventures of Tin Tin as we watched the snow fall through the window. You were awake through the whole movie and made us smile with your bright blue eyes and curious looks around the room. It was a perfect little family moment for me that I will cherish forever.

The Rest of Your 4th Week

Wednesday

The day after mommy's birthday we went over to my parent's house to celebrate my birthday. We had the whole family there and it was your first time that Uncle Chris got to see you. Great Grandma Casey was very anxious to hold you and it was sweet because she ate her food so fast just so she could be the first one done with dinner. I am convinced this was so that she could hold you for the rest of the evening. The two of you snuggled together.

We did have a little mishap on the way home, my car wouldn't start. We tried for over 30 minutes to get it to work and to no avail. We had you in the carseat and you cried the whole entire time. It was very stressful. Grandpa let us borrow the suburban to drive you home for the night.

Thursday

On Thursday I braved the restaurant scene for the first time as just you and me. We didn't have dad come along to help. We met up with my friend Annie from work for a late breakfast. She brought her kids and we visited. You were your usual sweet self and slept pretty much the whole time.

Dad showed me this book the other day when we went to the book store. It's called 'Raising le Bebe' and it is a french book. I have been reading it to get tips for helping with you. I read the chapter on sleep and tried out some of the techniques in the book. You slept for the first time for 3 hours at a time over the night. It was nice to have the little extra sleep. I am hoping this is a trend that will continue!

The rest of the week was pretty low key with you. We didn't go out or do much with you. We stayed at home and just loved up on you. It did snow a little bit on Monday the 27th of February in the morning. I have been hoping for this since I have been on maternity leave. I opened the windows and watched the snow fall lightly as I snuggled with you. It was a short snow, but at least it is better than nothing.

3 Weeks Old!

Mommy's birthday is exactly three weeks after yours. You were a birthday gift in and of itself this year little man!  I turned 28 today and we kept it pretty low key this year. No parties or anything. However, my birthday happens to be on Mardi Gras this year so your Dad really wanted to take me out to celebrate. So, you had your first babysitting experience today (from a non-family member). Since it was a weekday we knew your grandparents wouldn't be too interested in staying out late to babysit you. So, we invited our friend Jasmine over to take care of you. You did great, you slept for her almost the whole time and woke up just a few minutes before we got home. Way to be a trooper and let mommy and daddy go out to have a little time together.

Your 3rd Week With Us

Day 15

Your 2 week 'birth' day and beginning of your third week is on Valentine's Day (this also happens to be your Uncle Ryan's birthday).

The day started out with your 2 week old doctor's appointment. We weighed you and you weigh 8 lbs 12 oz now! That is wonderful considering that the last time we took you to the doctor you were 7 lb 13 oz. So, you have gained almost a full pound since then and are 5 oz over your birth weight. Despite all of your spitting up, you are still growing! The doctor checked you out and said you were healthy and looking great. He was a little worried about your jaundice so we did have to prick you for it, but even though you do have quite a bit of jaundice, fortunately it isn't enough to warrant a trip to the hospital to sit under the billirubin lights. As far as percentile ranks go, you are 95 percentile in height (22 in and don't ask where you get that from since both your dad and I are just average) 85 percentile in weight (8 lb 12 oz) and 55 percentile for head circumference (also a shock since we joke that your dad has a big head). 

After the doctor I took you to meet my co-workers. We stopped off first to visit my boss and then headed over to my office. You were a perfect angel and slept the whole time in your car seat. We were there for 2 hours, so I was pleased with how well you did. 

Since it is Valentine's Day your dad and I wanted to do something to celebrate the day. We settled on taking you out to dinner for the first time. So Jake, Jessica, and the three of us decided to head to Chapala's for dinner. We figured that would be a good place since they allow children. You rocked being a baby again and slept the whole time there too. 

Later when we got home I took another bath with you. You absolutely loved it, even more than the one yesterday. You didn't cry once and you proceeded to sleep for three hours after the bath. We need to start making this a routine!

Day 16

Today your Dad was busy with work so I took you over to my parent's house for dinner. Grandpa had mac and cheese for me. You were passed around to everyone and got loved on. You and Uncle Kevin had on matching outfits by coincidence. 

Day 17

Today Dad and I braved another restaurant adventure with you and took you out to Bacon for breakfast. As your usual self, you slept the whole time we were out. Since we were downtown we decided that we should stop by and see your Grandma Harper at her work. We knew she had been dying to show you off to all of her coworkers. She was delighted to see us and the girls in the office immediately came running over to check you out. She is definitely one proud grandma! After that we went to the store and had our first big grocery shopping trip with you. I think that you are trying to make our lives easy so that way your Dad is willing to have another baby, either that or you are saving up all of your obnoxiousness for when you get older because you slept for us this whole time. By the time we got home, whew I was tired! I am clearly still recovering from your birth.

Day 18

Dad had to work all day today so it was just you and me hanging out together. I shared the most tender moment with you this morning. You stared up into my eyes and were so peaceful. We just looked at each other as I talked to you. I think you are slowly starting to get to know and recognize my face. You sat in the swing this morning and let me take a shower without screaming once. That was a big feat for me to know that I could take a shower on my own without needing to get out to take care of you.

Dad and I went out on our first date since you were born. You had your first babysitting experience as Grandma Harper came over to watch you while we went out to Chandler's to celebrate Valentine's Day and my birthday. You continue to be the perfect baby as you slept for her the whole time we were gone and woke up right as we were getting home in time for me to feed you. It wasn't easy leaving you, but I did it and I'm glad I did it with you at such an early age because I think the longer I would have waited the harder it would have been. By the time we were getting ready for dessert I was ready to call your Grandma and ask how you were doing. I wanted to know that you were okay and weren't in need of me. That will be the one good thing about pumping so you can eat out of a bottle. Right now you are completely dependent on me for food and it is a little scary! Your Dad and I had a wonderful meal with steak and chocolate souffle for dessert. Thank you for being such a good boy while we were gone!

Day 19

Today was a harder day. You were pretty fussy due to all of the gas that you had. The gas and your reflux is really bothering you. I have decided that I am going to call the doctor to see if we can get you some medicine for your reflux. Every time you throw/spit up you cry and arch your back so I think you are in pain from it. It breaks my heart to see you hurting, so we are going to see what we can do about it.

Day 20

This morning I was able to calm you down with my voice while changing your diaper for the very first time. That was a wonderful feeling! This morning while I was enjoying your loves and happiness I realized how much I am going to miss our mornings when I have to go back to work. You are the sweetest most lovable boy and are so happy in the morning. It is my favorite time of day with you because of how alert and animated you are. The picture below was taken early in the morning. See how happy you look!

Day 21

Today Aunt Megan came over to visit. She had some free time so she decided to drop by and pay us a visit. We had already planned on going out to lunch with Jake and Jessica since it was President's Day and they both had the day off. So, Jake, Jessica, Aunt Megan, and the three of us headed out to lunch at Bombay Grill. I've read that the foods that I eat affect the flavor of my breast milk and can help make you a less picky eater if I expose you to lots of different types of foods. Due to this knowledge I am trying to eat a wide variety of food to make you a foodie like your Dad and I. Therefore, it was Indian food today! You were actually awake for the very first time since we started going out. Even though you were awake the whole time we ate, you did a pretty good job at staying mellow.

Later on in the evening we had more new visitors to see you. Our friends Mike and Shari came over to meet you. Dad cooked a wonderful meal of lamb for us all (I told you I am introducing you to lots of flavors). We chatted and Shari got to hold you. As your usual self, you were wonderful and sweet while she held you.

Your 2nd Week in the World

Tuesday Day 8:

Today was sort of a hard day. You haven't been sleeping well because every time I lay you down on your back in the crib you end up spitting up and choking to the point where you wake up. I feel so bad for you. Needless to say, it has caused nights with very little sleep for me. I had another breakdown today from all of the hormone changes and lack of sleep. I have brief moments of weakness where I don't think that I can do it. Fortunately I talked to my mom, Jessica, and my dad and that helped out. My mom suggested that I prop the crib mattress up with blankets underneath to try and help you sleep.

Dad celebrated your 1 week mark and the birth of you with the cigars that he bought with a bunch of friends. He says he will be keeping the cigar box to give you when you grow up. He has been showing off your beautiful picture to anyone who will look at it. You are one admired little dude!

Wednesday Day 9

You slept much better last night being propped up in the crib. I was happy to see that you didn't spit up too much and you slept for longer intervals. Hopefully this is what we need to keep you a happy sleeper.

My friend Annie from work came to visit us today at the house for lunch. It was nice to catch up with her and get some advice on you.

For dinner Megan and Grandma Harper came over. This was because your dad was supposed to have gone out of town for the night for work. However after the day that I had yesterday, I asked him not to go. So, we had them both over and Grandma brought us dinner and cooked it over here. You got lots of love from both Aunt Megan and Grandma Harper.

Thursday Day 10

You passed your hearing screening test today! After the test we had in the hospital, I was very pleased that you passed and that it was done with relative ease. This was also good practice for us to go out and be somewhere at a certain time. The first appointment time we made with the hearing screening lady we had to cancel because you were wide awake and screaming. Fortunately, we were able to bring you in later in the day and you were fast asleep.

Boy you spit up on me and peed on me a LOT today! This is certainly one example of unconditional love!! No matter how dirty you make me, I still love you more and more each day. I have decided we are going to try a bigger size diaper to see if that helps with the leaking of the diaper. Right now you are in a newborn diaper so we will try the size 1 diapers and see if that helps.

Dad left us at home in the evening for a little while to go to our friend Mike's record release party. It's funny I had a little bit of separation anxiety being at home alone with you even though I have been at home with you alone during the day. Something about it being at night freaked me out a little bit. We did just fine though! Your dad texted us the whole time.

Sunday Day 13

You had more visitors today! First Great Grandma Casey and Grandma Miklos came over to visit you. Then our friends Dasha and Cameron came over to visit you. You were a perfect angel for all of them! In fact I was so amazed because you actually stayed awake for 4 hours in a row today! For an almost 2 week old baby I would say that is pretty impressive! You were such a joy to be around today. I love you so much.

Monday Day 14

Today we went on our first walk. Boy it was a lot of work but I felt fairly accomplished by the time I got back! I tried to put you in the car seat so that we could go for a walk with the stroller, but you wanted nothing to do with that. You screamed and screamed until I let you out of the car seat. So, I figured I would try the Baby Bjorn. I was a little hesitant thinking that you might be too little for it, but you fit in there perfectly. I imagine if someone was watching me they would have found it rather amusing getting ready. After I had gotten you into the baby bjorn I realized I hadn't even put my shoes on yet so I was trying to do that while you were attached to me. It was like being pregnant all over again! Then on top of that, I had to get Bailey ready for the walk too. By the time we were ready to leave, I was already exhausted. We walked for about 15 minutes around the block since that was all I could handle. You like the carrier though, you fell asleep within just a few  minutes of me putting you into the carrier.

Your circumcision fell off today today! This means you are officially a 'baby.' Just kidding! But you no longer have the bell on from the circumcision and your umbilical cord fell off a while ago. So, this meant that I was able to give you a real bath today instead of just a sponge bath. I decided to take a bath with you and I absolutely loved it. You and I just sat in the water together and although you had a few moments where you looked a little terrified from the water, I could tell you knew you were safe because you didn't cry once. I breast fed you for a while in the bath and then bathed you. It was very relaxing for both of us. Now, you did not like getting out of the bath and started crying at that point, but who can blame you? No one likes to get out of the bath or shower into the cold air!

I call the face you are making below your "old man" face. I am going to start posting pictures of your different facial expressions because they are one of the best things about you right now. They are so amusing and they entertain everyone. The one above this one we call many different names, your "Oh" face or your "Cheerio" face. 

Finishing Out Your First Week

Well, I am falling behind a little in the posts. Apparently being a new mom and loving on you is a full time job! And who can blame me? I would much rather share cuddles with you than be distracted by a computer. However, I do want you to have a great 1st year baby book so we will keep plugging away on the entries.

Day 5
We had more visitors today. Great Grandma Casey, your Uncle Kevin, Aunt April, and Grandma Miklos came to visit you. This was the first time you got to meet your Uncle Kevin. He held you and loved up on you but then was also great and took Bailey out to the park for some loving. She is doing really well adapting to having you in the house, but she still is very attention starved.

While my family came to visit us, Dad had made plans to meet up with a few friends to get out and get some fresh air. He has done such a great job of taking care of both of us, that I know it is important for him to get a break in order to keep his sanity and to continue to help us out. Later in the evening Jake and Jessica came over to visit.

Today I got very emotional. Your dad had to calm me for quite a while. Everything possible was running through my head about how fast you will grow up and how I feel I might miss too much, to the fact that I am never going to sleep again, to I don't want my happiness that I am experiencing right now to ever go away. Coming off hormones is crazy, but your dad does a great job of helping me talk through them.

I also took a video of you sleeping today. It is the most precious thing ever. You make the most amusing and sweet faces when you are sleeping. I was able to capture you smiling and frowning while asleep. I can sit for hours and stare at you while you sleep because I am so in love with you and all that you do, even when you are not awake! Unfortunately the video is too long for this post so I won't be able to post it.

Click for Link to Video of Marcus Sleeping

Day 6
Today was Super Bowl Sunday. Your first super bowl had the Giants and the Patriots in it and the Giants won. It was actually a very boring game and I fell asleep before it was even over. I had high hopes before you were born of taking you out, but then became realistic in the fact that you aren't even a week old yet and probably don't need to be out and about. Plus, we are still getting used the whole parenting thing and it is very tiring! So, instead of going anywhere or throwing a party (particularly since we don't care about who played) we invited the Gunns over. Curt and Colleen brought Conrad and Everett to hang out and meet you.  Conrad is 6 and Everett is almost 1. Conrad had so much fun holding you and talking to you. He was very emotional when you screamed as I changed your diaper. He felt very strongly that I was hurting you and that I needed to stop. I couldn't explain to him that you were upset and unfortunately that is just what you do right now. Colleen brought us a huge box of clothes for you to have. I am so very grateful that now you have a wardrobe to wear!

Day 7
This morning was a big day! You let me change you diaper this morning for the first time without screaming. It was much more relaxing and easy without you kicking your legs everywhere.

Also this morning while Dad was at work you sat in your swing long enough for me to take a bath to soak. I was very happy about this. We have been working up to you sitting in there for any significant period of time, but you usually cry. So, I was very grateful that you gave me about 15 minutes to soak in order to take some of the pain away.

Later in the day after Dad came home we took you out for our first big shopping excursion. We were out on the prowl getting baby stuff for you and things for me to help with my recovery. You did really well and slept the whole time. What a perfect boy you are!

Day 4 Of Your Life

Friday was a good day. It was our first full day at home and you did great. The day started off with needing to go to the doctor to have a checkup for you. So, even though you were fast asleep at 7 am, we had to wake you up so we could make it to our eight o'clock appointment. The doctors wanted to check you jaundice level as well as a heart murmur that you had. Everything came back wonderfully, your murmur was gone and the doctor said to just keep an eye on your jaundice. You were down in weight as expected to 7 lbs 13 oz.

Later in the afternoon your grandpa Harper stopped by with a goodie bag for us full of food and even a hodgie (a stuffed hedgehog) for your sister Bailey.

Your Dad's friend Joe and his girlfriend Coco came by to visit you and see us in the evening. We went to bed early like old people! We were in bed upstairs with the tv on by eight o'clock. We had the epiphany that this was our new life, but you are totally worth it!

Today was the day that I had the epiphany that you are totally worth the childbirth pain. It only took me four days of you being alive and for me to be staring at you so incredibly in love to realize that I would go through all of the pregnancy and the pain of the birth once again to have another miracle like you. I thought for sure it would take me longer than four days to say I was ready to go through the pain of childbirth again. You already have me that wrapped around your finger, oh and I don't think your father is far behind!

Day 3 Of Your Life

Thursday was a rough day! We were working on virtually no sleep from the night before and we got discharged, which therefore meant you got circumcised.

We got woken up at 6 in the morning (right about the time you finally went to sleep) by the nurse saying that the doctor was ready to do your circumcision. So they wheeled you off and I slept with your dad for a while. When you came back I asked for the nurses to take you so we could get a little rest. With the sleepless night and no nap the day before, I was exhausted. The break was short lived though because the doctor that did your circumcision came in shortly afterwards to give us care and discharge instructions for you. Then after that my doctor came in to give me discharge instructions. By the time all this had occurred you were ready to eat! 

The nurse manager from the unit came to visit us in the morning and she gave you the cutest Saint Al's bear. I work with her frequently and so we talked a bit about the unit and service that we received. 

Dad and I had our 'celebration breakfast' together with you sleeping soundly in the room. The lactation people came in again to have another consult so that I could ask any final question. After that Dad had to go off to work so it was just you and me again. 

We had the hearing screener come in to do your hearing test. I knew that you weren't going to be ready for your test since she had told me you needed to be in a deep sleep, and because of the circumcision earlier you were very fussy and just wanted to be held. You were just barely sleeping in my arms. However, I let her try since it was the last day in the hospital and I had already put her off the day before because we were so busy. The hearing screening did not go well. You were upset from the very beginning and woke up before she even started the test. We got you to calm down for a few minutes and I thought we were in the clear. Then you got the hiccups and everything spiraled downward. Although you passed the left ear, your right ear wasn't testing properly and you began to cry. It was at this point that I had my first 'mother bear' moment. You were inconsolable and I wanted to help you calm down. When the screener finally realized that you weren't going to calm down she let me pick you up. I was so frustrated at her by this point that I started to get angry. Although I was holding you, you were inconsolable. My heart hurt for your pain and frustration. She finally realized that your ear wasn't going to test and said we could reschedule for another day. Yet she wouldn't take all of the LEDs off of your head. I began to tear up in my frustration at her. I tried explaining to her that you just wanted to eat and be loved and that there was no point in leaving the LEDs on if we weren't going to finish the test. She caved eventually when you wouldn't calm down. It took me quite some time and lots of love to get you to calm down. 

At this point Dad came back and it was time for me to get a massage. Dad held you and kept you calm while I got my massage. The emotions from the week and frustration from earlier made me cry a little as I got my massage. The release of the tension was wonderful and I was glad the massage helped me relax. After the massage we were ready to be discharged. We started packing up our things and the nurse came to give us our discharge instructions. I was so distraught at how you were feeling so I didn't want to subject you to getting changed into the outfit that I had brought. I had this picture perfect idea of how we would be going home. You in your outfit, me having showered with my hair and makeup done and me being wheeled out of the hospital with you in my arms. It was nothing like that, and I am completely okay with that. I have already learned that parenting is full of expectations that can be broken or exceeded. In this case the expectation was broken and I was completely okay with that. 

The car ride home went well, you like the car seat once you calmed down from being put into it. I was so exhausted I tried to sleep when we got home, but you woke up hungry. Grandpa Miklos called and I had a little bit of a breakdown on the phone. I fed you and then I did get a chance to take a shower for the first time since before the delivery. The shower helped tremendously. Grandma Harper came by and brought us food for dinner and spent some time with you. Dad and I had a few minutes to ourselves and got a chance to eat while Grandma held you. After she left we were pretty much ready to go to bed. It was early, but with no sleep the day before or on Thursday we were ready to turn in. 

You slept much better this first night at home. You slept for about two hours at a time and then woke for feedings. I awoke still tired, but feeling much better and with a new outlook on life. At least the first night at home was a successful one!

Day 2 Of Your Life

The nurses brought you in around 8 o'clock for me to feed you. You were as calm and bright eyed as the evening you were born when the grandparents were visiting. You were also now wearing the cute had that you are seen with in the picture with your dad. Some volunteer makes them and brings them to the hospital for the newborns. You were so precious. We spent the morning loving and cuddling with you in bed.

There were lots of hospital workers in and out all day long. The pediatrician came and visited you. Then we got to see Bryant, Connor's dad. He came in to do a follow up on my anesthesia. It was wonderful to get to talk to him for a little while and see a familiar face.

You had LOTS of visitors on Wednesday! Your first visitor was Carla from my work. Then after her Annie and Stephanie came to visit you. They spent a lot of time giving me support during my pregnancy with you so I was very excited to see them. Each of  them held and loved on you.

We had a short break from visitors and then the photographer came in for your newborn photo shoot. You were wide awake for the whole shoot and did wonderful. The pictures turned out great! We are using them for your birth announcement. A sample of some of them are in this post.

Jake and Jessica stopped by around lunch time to visit you. We spent some time with them and talked about your birth to them. I also had the lactation consultant come during that time so we had our breast feeding lesson while the guys went outside for a walk.

We had a short break again without visitors and had time to spend alone with you and eat some lunch. Dad left for a while to go check in at work and to run home to get some things done around the house. You and I spent alone time in bed before Grandpa Miklos, Great Grandma Casey, and Aunt April stopped by with flowers and gifts. You are the first grandbaby, and great grandbaby on both sides of the family so you are VERY loved and have tons of people that were excited to see you in the hospital. It was Great Grandma Casey’s and Aunt April's first time getting to meet you. Aunt April loved your cute little nose!

After they left Aunt Megan showed up with flowers and a gift as well. She spent some time holding you and we caught up just the two of us for a little while. A bit later two more co-workers, Nancy and Dahl stopped by to say hi. Everyone wanted to meet the beautiful baby Marcus! You were passed around and were a perfect angel, not making a sound as everyone loved on you. The last visitors of the evening were another co-worker, Teresa (she brought you the cutest Boise State track suit) and your Grandma Harper. 

Once everyone left Dad and I ate dinner and by then we were tired. We were ready to go to sleep by 8! We dozed off with you in the room with us. You didn't sleep very well on this night... you were up constantly and wanted to be held a lot. Although Dad slept off and on, I didn't get very much sleep. It was my first experience with a virtually sleepless night. I promise you are worth all of the sleepless nights up to this point and all of the ones to come!