Four Months Old!!

BABY STATS:

Sleep: Oh how you have regressed in this department.  You now require a lot more effort to put to sleep.  When you finally do get to sleep you  usually sleep for only 4 hour chunks of time.  A "typical" night for you is: bedtime at 7:00, takes an hour to get you completely conked out, wake again at 1:30 to eat, then wake again around 4:30, and again around 6:30.  We usually bring you into our bed to sleep more on the weekends after your 6:30 wake up.  You don't take long naps unless you are being held and coerced into sleeping more.  On your own you will only sleep 30-45 minutes at a time.  The pediatrician assured us this is normal for your age, and that you should nap longer at around 6 months.  You seem to really fight sleep these days.  If we are out and about with you, you sometimes go into an overtired, overstimulated screaming fit, but resist going to sleep.

Daily Routine:  You now have a routine on the weekdays, since mom is back to work.  Every morning around 6:30 or 7:00 daddy gets you dressed.  You sit in your seat downstairs and watch daddy get ready for the day while mom gets ready upstairs.  At 7:30 or so, you and mom head to Grammy and Grumps' house (or Octavia's house if it is a Wednesday).  It sounds like you take a nap at their house around 10:00, then another nap later in the afternoon.  Mom comes to pick you up at 4:00.  We go home and play for a while until dad gets home at 5:30.  Then dad and mom eat dinner while you sit in your high chair seat.  We play with you and then you eat  at 6:30 right before we put you to bed around 7:00 or 7:30.  Every other day you get a bath before bed time.  

Feedings:  I am still exclusively pumping.  You are now eating 5-6 oz of breastmilk per feeding, and are eating about every 3-4 hours.  We are trying to space out your night feeding so that you will eventually sleep for an 8 hour stretch!  We tried a little bit of rice cereal yesterday.  You didn't seem to think much of it.  I don't even know if you swallowed any!  We will try again in a couple weeks.

 

Weight:  

At birth: 7 lbs 3 oz

1 Month: 10 lbs!

2 Months: 12.5 lbs (50th percentile)

3 Months: 13 lbs, 13 oz (I only know this because we had to go to the doctor because I thought you were sick)

4 Months: 14.18 lbs (50th %ile)

Length:

At birth: 19.75 inches

1 Month: 21 inches

2 Months: 23 inches (50th percentile)

3 Months: ????

4 Months: 24 inches (25th %ile)

Head Circumference:

At birth: 34 cm

1 Month: 38 cm

2 Months: 39 cm

3 Months: ???

4 Months: 42 cm

Diaper Size:  You are a size 2, and we are STILL working toward getting you into cloth diapers.  

Clothes Size:  You are wearing 3-6 month clothes!  You are definitely outgrowing several of your onesies!  You are even wearing some 6 month clothes!

Hair Color:

At birth: dark brown/black with a small blond streak in the front

1 Month:  same, maybe slightly lighter

2 Months: medium brown

3 Months: medium brown

4 Months: medium-dark brown -- you have quite the mullet mohawk!

Eye color:

At birth: dark blue/gray 

1 Month:  dark blue outer ring, with a lighter blue on the inside

2 Months: dark blue outer ring, with a light blue inside 

3 Months: dark blue

4 Months: medium blue

Funniest Moment:  When you laughed at mom saying "do, be do, be do biddy do be do, be do be do, be do, be do biddy do be do" while pretending to drop you on the "be do biddy do be do" part.  You haven't laughed since the initial instance, but you always open your mouth into a huge gummy grin while playing this game.

Milestones:  You have definitely learned how to make raspberries!  You love to blow spit bubbles and make that raspberry sound with your lips.  You like to experiment with sticking your tongue out -- sometimes you grab your tongue with your hands.  You have started really exploring by reaching out for things.  You like to reach out and grab/touch/pinch your parents' faces.  You reach for toys and objects.  You love to grab objects and put them in your mouth.  You have also discovered your feet, and will grab a hold of them when you are lying down or in a sitting position.  This month you rolled over from back to front.  So, now you can roll both directions.  You are getting pretty good at holding your body up in a sitting position.  You tried rice cereal for the first time this month.  You are becoming very aware of your surroundings -- you look for people who are out of sight when you hear their voice.  You get really excited when you hear mom or dad's voice on the phone.  You have used your voice to "yell" at us a couple times.

Your favorite toys:  You love your soft bunny rattle.  You like your crib mobile pretty well.  You like the jumper over at Grammy and Grumps' house.  More than anything you like people's faces and voices.  You like being thrown in the air.  You like lap games, like "Poor Old Horse" and "This is the Way the Ladies Ride".

Firsts:  You rolled over from back to front, and now prefer to flip yourself onto your stomach to sleep!  You had your first, and many subsequent, day over at Grammy and Grumps' house and Octavia's house while I go to work.  You laughed/giggled, though we are still waiting on some good belly laughs.  You laugh when you feel like you are falling.  You had/have your first cold -- it's a miserable cold, your voice is so hoarse and you snort like a pig because you are so congested.  You had your first trial of rice cereal. 

3 Months!! Where has the time gone?!

Buddy!  You are already a quarter of a year old!  Can you tell your mom is a glass half empty kind of girl? We have had so much fun this last month!

BABY STATS:

Sleep: You are starting to sleep for longer periods of a time pretty consistently!!  One night we got 7 hours straight out of you!  Usually, though, it is more like 5-6 hour stretches of sleep.  You will usually sleep from about 8:30 until 2:30, then again until around 5:30, and then again until maybe 7:30 or 8:00 am.  A couple nights ago, for two nights in a row, you kept waking up every two hours.  I am pretty sure you just had your 3 month growth spurt, and that caused you to wake often to eat.

Daily Routine:  The only routine that we have established this month is a bedtime routine.  We start the process around 7:45 or 8:00 to have you in bed around 8:30.  Some nights (every other night) we give you a bath, then we dress you, diaper you, and feed you.  I have been reading you a bedtime story most nights.  Right now I am slowly reading you chapters from The Chronicles of Narnia.  Don't worry, we also read "baby" books.  There isn't much of a routine during the day, but we make sure that you get tummy time, play mat time where you get to bat at hanging toys, book time, and lots of music time (meaning mommy sings very silly, mostly made-up, songs to you).

Feedings:  Baby, baby, baby.  What am I to do with you?  You have completely rejected the breast at this point.  You will ONLY take the bottle.  I have tried very hard to coax you back, but you are so stubborn!  You scream if I even place you into the nursing position.  I went to a La Leche League meeting to get advice from a lactation consultant.  We still haven't fixed the issue, despite her advice.  It would just make things so much easier on both of us if I didn't have to pump you a bottle, and then feed you that pumped bottle.  Fortunately, we live in modern times and I have an excellent pump, which makes it possible for you to be exclusively eating breast milk, even if you are refusing to nurse.  You eat 4-5 ounces each feeding, and eat every 2-3 hours!

 

Weight:  

At birth: 7 lbs 3 oz

1 Month: 10 lbs!

2 Months: 12.5 lbs (50th percentile)

3 Months: 13 lbs, 13 oz (I only know this because we had to go to the doctor because I thought you were sick)

Length:

At birth: 19.75 inches

1 Month: 21 inches

2 Months: 23 inches (50th percentile)

3 Months: ????

Head Circumference:

At birth: 34 cm

1 Month: 38 cm

2 Months: 39 cm

3 Months: ???

Diaper Size:  You are a size 2, and we are STILL working toward getting you into cloth diapers.  We have had you in your cloth diapers for a couple 48 hour stretches, but always have to revert back to the disposables because of rashes.  :(

Clothes Size:  You are wearing 3-6 month clothes!  You are definitely outgrowing several of your onesies!

Hair Color:

At birth: dark brown/black with a small blond streak in the front

1 Month:  same, maybe slightly lighter

2 Months: medium brown

3 Months: medium brown

Eye color:

At birth: dark blue/gray 

1 Month:  dark blue outer ring, with a lighter blue on the inside

2 Months: dark blue outer ring, with a light blue inside 

3 Months: dark blue

Funniest Moment:  

Milestones:  You continue to talk quite a bit!  You love to say "a-goo", "a-boo", and "oooo".  You talk to your toys, you talk to your mom and dad, to your grandparents, to other children, you talk to your eye-spy quilt . . . talk talk talk!  I love it!  You are on the verge of making raspberries, I think!  Just today you rolled over for the first time without assistance!  Before we had to place your arms under you a certain way, but not today!  You did it!  You are much less resistant to tummy time these days, and may even enjoy it a bit!  You are now able to do "Super Baby" where we hold you above our heads and you keep your whole body straight like Superman.  I think you like this too!  We still have yet to hear your first laugh, or your first squeal!  I am so excited to hear them.  I think you have done a couple silent laughs, and are close to a squeal.  Anytime now buddy, I know we aren't that funny, but, come on!  When I read to you, you like to grab the pages of the books/magazines and help me hold them up!  I love it!  My little reader.  You will sit through an entire children's story, particularly, The Belly Button Book by Sandra Boyton. You are obsessed with your hands and fingers right now, and are constantly putting your fingers (usually more than one at a time) in your mouth.  This can be quite unpleasant, as you often gag yourself!  Poor guy.

Your favorite toys:  You continue to love your pacifier, your swaddler, your mobile from Aunt J'aime, and now you also love your crib mobile from your grandparents!  You love the octopus that your grandparents gave you -- you stare into its crazy big eyes.  You are enjoying batting at objects hanging from your play mat.

Firsts:  You rolled over for the first time!  You slept through the night for the first time.  Mommy and daddy had their first date night while grandma and grandpa watched you!  You also had your first daycare-like experience.  Daddy and I rejoined the YMCA, and I have been dropping you off at the child watch area while I go to Zumba class.  I don't think you have been awake for the child watch people yet!  

Well, Elliott, you and I have just one more week left together before I go back to work.  It is pretty sad, but it hasn't quite hit me yet.  I am sad to be away from you, missing your prime time during the day, and all of the milestones you might meet while I'm away.  The good news is, you are going to have a GREAT time with Grammy and Grumps!  Also, you will be spending one day a week with Octavia!  You will have a lot of fun, and I expect a full report from you each day when I pick you up.  I am sure it will go something like, "a-boo, a-boo, a-goooo, ooooo, a-booo".  

2nd Month

BABY STATS:

Sleep: You are still sleeping for about 2-3 hour stretches.  There have been a couple rare 4-5 hour stretches, though!  You sleep in your crib usually, but often we bring you into the co-sleeper after your 5 am feeding, because that's when you start the grunting.  You have gotten pretty good at putting yourself to sleep.  You will lie in your bed and look around at things until you fall asleep!  

Daily Routine:  We still haven't established much of a routine.  I think this is something that will happen when your mom goes back to work!  Right now mom's schedule is your schedule, for the most part.

Feedings:  You are still breastfed exclusively.  We had a couple hiccups in this area this month.  I think we were giving you too many bottles, and at one point you decided you didn't want to have to work for your supper and would cry anytime I tried to feed you from the source!  This got especially bad on our vacation when we relied heavily on bottles.  You are finally back on track, though.  When your were taking bottles you were eating about 4-5 ounces per feeding.

 

Weight:  

At birth: 7 lbs 3 oz

1 Month: 10 lbs!

2 Months: 12.5 lbs (50th percentile)

Length:

At birth: 19.75 inches

1 Month: 21 inches

2 Months: 23 inches (50th percentile)

Head Circumference:

At birth: 34 cm

1 Month: 38 cm

2 Months: 39 cm

Diaper Size:  You are a size 1-2, but we are still working toward getting you into cloth diapers.  Your diaper rash is finally diminishing, and I think we can start the cloth diapers this weekend!

Clothes Size:  You still mostly wear 0-3 month onesies, but you fit some of your 3-6 month onesies!

Hair Color:

At birth: dark brown/black with a small blond streak in the front

1 Month:  same, maybe slightly lighter

2 Months: medium brown

Eye color:

At birth: dark blue/gray 

1 Month:  dark blue outer ring, with a lighter blue on the inside

2 Months: dark blue outer ring, with a light blue inside 

Funniest Moment:  

Milestones:  You have really started "talking" this month!  We hear lots of "coos", especially when we are changing you and you are looking at your mobile.  You seem to respond to us when we make your noises.  You have been saying "whoo, whoo", "a-goo", and "aaaah".  You are so cute when you talk, especially the adorable little 'O' shape your mouth makes with the noises.  You are also doing a lot more, visually.  You notice a lot of your surroundings and occupy yourself with looking at people and objects (particularly lights and ceiling fans).  You follow objects with your eyes, turn to familiar voices, and even watch the dogs sometimes!

Your favorite toys:  You love the mobile that your Aunt J'aime made for you!  When we sit you in your vibrating seat, you absolutely love to stare at the animals that hang from it.  I make the animals talk for you, and you find that endlessly entertaining.  You also love your swaddler and your pacifier.  

Firsts:  This month you had a BIG first!  You went on your first plane ride to your first vacation and first wedding!  You were such an excellent traveler!  You barely cried at all on either of the flights.  You tolerated multiple car trips, restaurant outings, hotel stays, lack of air conditioning in some places, being held by tons of "strangers", and hitting up the bar!  Everyone was amazed at how easy going you were for a mere eight week old!  All of your dad's friends kept calling you a "chill" baby!  

You and Mama at your first wedding!

You and Daddy dancing at your first wedding.

You snoozing on the beach at the lake house in New Hampshire.

This month you also had your first "coo"!  I absolutely love hearing your sweet little sounds.  It sure does warm a Speech-Language Pathologist's heart!

You had your first real series of vaccinations at your 2 month check up!  An oral vaccine for the rotovirus, a nice cocktail for tetnus, diphtheria, and pertusis, as well as another shot that protects against pnuemococcal infections.  You were not happy with the nurse when she gave you the shots, as real tears streamed down your beat-red face.  :(  Poor baby.  You got some infant Tylenol and were a trooper the rest of the day.

You met your Great Uncle Jeff for the first time this month!  We met at Pei Wei for his birthday.  You slept the whole time, and then fussed a little toward the end because you were hungry.  Your Uncle Jeff will teach you how to rough house when you are a bit older, I am sure!


To be continued . . . 

Hanging Out with Grandma and Grandpa

Hey Elliott,

It was great hanging out with you yesterday. This was a first for all of us. Your mom and dad went to the show with Aunt J'aime and Uncle Matt. Your cousins Josie and August helped Grandpa and me watch you. You didn't have much to say that afternoon, so the four of us just kind of hung out together and watched you! You are an amazing guy - you kept us all occupied without doing a thing.

Love,

Grandma

Thank You, Aunt J'aime!

In addition to being super smiley, Elliott is really taking in the objects around him.  He focuses on all kinds of things, including the dogs!  Here is a video of him first noticing the beautiful mobile that his Aunt J'aime made for him!  He loves it!!  Later I will post videos of him recognizing the song playing in the background, O Pato, which has become his favorite song!

Fun Times

So far this month has brought lots of laughs (from us) and smiles (from Elliott).  He is really getting good at using that open mouthed grin to make us swoon.  He is starting to coo as well -- becoming quite human!  We love these milestones that show us that he is interacting with and taking in the world around him!

Introduction

Hello Elliott,

I am your daddy's mom, which makes me your grandmother. A bit formal I know - I think that you will decide to alter it in some way and make it fit me just right.

I've been watching you for a while now - even before you were born. This gives you a sense of just how much I anticipated your arrival into this world. The day you were born was the beginning of a great journey for you and the rest of your family.

By the way, you did very well in the family department. You have very loving parents who anticipated your arrival even more than me. They plan to guide you through this journey and help you find your life's path. Along the way your four grandparents (yes, you scored you got a full set) will do their best to add some words of wisdom, a bit of humor and a lot of love. You also come fully equipped with an Uncle David, Aunt J'aime, Uncle Matt and a couple of cousins Josie and August - who will liven things up a bit for you! Additionally, you also have three great grandparents and a bunch of great-aunts and uncles. In other words, you have a lot of people to count on for love and support. You did good!

I love looking at you and wondering what the future will bring - you certainly are a life changer for your parents and for me.

More to come

Love,

Grandma

Grumpihood

Dear Elliott,

 

We don't know each other very well yet. Let's face it, you're almost a tabula rasa.

 

But what has been written so far on the tabula, is excellent. You have the best parents any baby could want. Your grandparents ain't bad either.

 

In no time we'll be best buddies. I'll show you the "laying on of the pinkie" and other sacred rites which are part of this family's faith. You will become an acolyte in the Church of Grumpiness, even as you smile and laugh.

 

I look forward to teaching you piano and many other things. And all the while, we'll be laughing together. There's plenty in this world to smile and laugh about. I'll save the stuff worthy of grumpiness for later.

 

I'm so happy you're here. You've already made a big difference in all our lives.

 

Love,

 

Grumps

 

p.s. I promise to have the toy chest done before you turn 18.

Sweet baby Elliott,

You are one incredibly lucky little person. No one has ever been more wanted than you are. And you have a mommy and daddy who are so smart, and so loving that there is no doubt you will grow up to be the best possible you. And, they will teach you how to truly enjoy life, because that's what they do. Adding to your good luck is the existence of two sets of grandparents who will absolutely dote on you.

And you know who else is lucky? All of us who now have you in our lives! I love you already, and I barely know you. That's called unconditional love. As time goes on there will be more and more love that is based on who you are...your unique qualities. But I'm not hurrying time along. I'm enjoying every minute of experiencing the sweet development of you and of your parents.

Hold on to your cute little hats! (That's a reference to a common expression that may not still be around when you are old enough to read this) Here comes LIFE! You'll love it...most of the time.

Grammy

One Month Old!

My how the time flies!  Today you are about 5 and a half weeks old!  You are getting cuter by the minute! You, your Grammy, and I all went shopping today, and we bought a Flip!  Now I can take video snippets of your development every day, as the Flip fits so nicely in my purse!

BABY STATS:

Sleep: Your sleep is still pretty erratic.  Most nights you sleep for 2-3 hour stretches. You are breastfed, so you require food about every 2-3 hours.  Sometimes, if we are lucky, you will sleep for a 4 hour stretch!  A lot of times in the morning, after you are fed, you make whiney/grunting noises for the rest of the morning until we wake up for the day.  I hope this stops soon, because it sounds like you are uncomfortable and it keeps us both awake!  Last night (June 30th), we put you in your crib to sleep for the first time.  I was very nervous about you sleeping in a separate room, and watched you often on the video monitor.  But, your pediatrician was the one who suggested we start having you sleep in your crib, so we are trying it out!

Daily Routine:  We haven't established too much of a routine yet, but know that we need to work on this soon.  I imagine it will eventually be something like: bath, eat, book, sleep.  Right now you are usually going to bed around 10:30 or 11:30 after your final feeding for the day, then we change you, swaddle you, and lay you down to sleep.  When we wake up you eat, we look at books, dance to O Pato, have tummy time, and chat.

Feedings:  You are breastfed exclusively, so it is hard to say how much you eat in a sitting.  However, whenever I pump a bottle for you, you tend to eat about 3-4 ounces.  You eat about once every 2-3 hours.

 

Weight:  

At birth: 7 lbs 3 oz

1 Month: 10 lbs!

Length:

At birth: 19.75 inches

1 Month: 21 inches

Diaper Size:  You are a size 1, but we hope to have you off of disposable diapers and on to your cloth diapers as soon as possible.  Unfortunately, you have a horrible diaper rash, and we can't use your diaper rash cream with the cloth diapers.  :(

Clothes Size:  You mostly wear 0-3 month onesies, but today we found that you fit some of your 3-6 month onesies!

Hair Color:

At birth: dark brown/black with a small blond streak in the front

1 Month:  same, maybe slightly lighter

Eye color:

At birth: dark blue/gray 

1 Month:  dark blue outer ring, with a lighter blue on the inside

Funniest Moment:  Well, I'm sorry, my child, but I had to call you an idiot this week.  I was playing with you on the floor when out of nowhere you started screaming.  I inspected you and saw that your fist was balled up by your head.  I tried to pull your hand down, but realized the reason you were crying -- you had gotten a hold of your hair in your fist and were pulling your own hair!  Poor guy, no wonder your were in pain!  You will understand the humor of this situation when you learn that your family is all about the schadenfreude. 

Milestones:  You seem to have excellent motor skills!  You have been holding your head pretty steady for a very long time, since birth, and getting stronger!  

You are able to support some weight on your legs, and when you are on your tummy, if I put my hand behind your feet, you can kick off and move several inches forward!

You had your first social smile in the last week or so (around 4 weeks old)!  You are showing more and more social smiles as the days go by!  I love them!  You are so so so cute!  You smile most in the mornings.

You are following objects and faces with your eyes.

You are much more alert and interested in the world around you, although you were pretty alert from the start!

Your favorite toys:  You don't seem to have any favorite objects right now.  You do seem to enjoy looking at a couple of board books that have high contrast black and white pictures as well as a board book with a bunch of baby faces.

Firsts:  Everything this month was a first for you!

First bath

First outing to:

Botanical Gardens (every week since you have been born, sometimes more than once a week)

Target

Walgreens

Schnucks

Trader Joe's

Grammy and Grumps'

Grandpa and Grandma's

Jenn and Tim's

Costco

Chris' Aunt Susan's visitation

Steak n' Shake

Onesto

Chimichanga's

Tower Grove Park

Urban Chestnut Brewing Company

Doctor (mine and yours)

Al Waha

Tower Grove Creamery

And more (I'm sure!)

First smile

First night in your crib

Here you are grunting in your car seat at REI -- this is what you sound like every morning.

We love you, Elliott!  We love watching you grow and change -- but you are doing it so/too quickly!

Your Birth

Wow, what a crazy way to start labor!  Your father and I were at our friends', Tim and Jenn's house on a Tuesday evening, because that was when we all got together to watch our Showtime shows (this time we were watching United States of Tara).  Just as the show was over, I was lying on their couch in their basement telling you (in my belly) that you could come out anytime now, that I was ready.  Seriously, not two minutes later, I heard/felt this pop!  I thought it was you kicking me in a strange spot, but as I sat up I felt something wet and ran to the bathroom.  Sure enough, as soon as I sat down on the toilet a huge gush of fluids came out, and that's when I yelled to your dad, "Um, I think we need to go to the hospital!"  Tim and Jenn leant us an old towel for me to sit on in the car, and off we went to Barnes!  

When we got there (this was at about 10:00 pm, Tuesday night, May 24th) I was afraid that they would tell me my water hadn't broken and that I was imagining it.  But, in the pregnancy assessment center they tested my fluids, and sure enough, it was amniotic fluid and my water had indeed broken.  You were on your way!  With that I was admitted, though I was still only 3 centimeters dilated and -1 station, and not having much in the way of contractions.  They started an IV, got me checked in, and we headed over to the labor and delivery department.  On our way to Barnes we had called all of our family to let them know it was happening!  Your grammy met us in the pregnancy assessment center, as did Katie, who was going to be taking care of the dogs.  

When we got into my labor/delivery room, the nurse informed me that they would be starting me on Pitocin to jump start the contractions.  I was disappointed to hear that, because I had heard such bad things about being induced with that drug.  But, I had no choice.  Boy did that medicine work its magic quickly!  Within the hour I was already 4 centimeters and really feeling the contractions.  I was so hot, even though everyone in the room assured me that it was freezing.  Your dad was so sweet and fanned me with a camera bounce for hours!  I had been in labor for about 5 or so hours when I asked for an epidural.  I had become quite nauseous and was having difficulty making it through the contractions with just breathing techniques.  I was disappointed about this too, I was hoping that I could get further along before asking for an epidural, but the nurse told me that most people asked for one at about this stage (4 or 5 centimeters).  The epidural did not hurt at all, and about 20 minutes later I was feeling pretty good!  At around 8:00 in the morning (May 25th), it was about time to start pushing, however, the doctor who was going to be delivering you, Dr. Stephens, had a surgery to do.  She checked me and assessed that I could wait on the pushing for at least another hour while she did the surgery.  Aaaaah!  More waiting.  But, as soon as she came back it was time!  

There were so many people in the room -- nurses, nursing students, doctors, doctors' residents and fellows, and several other medical staff, as well as your father and me of course!  Your dad and a nurse held my legs while I gave it my all to push you out.  Your heart rate kept decelerating after each push, and the Doctor started threatening that she might have to use the vacuum or move on to a c-section if I didn't get you out in the next couple of pushes.  Well, that was all she had to say, because about two pushes later, you were born!  A very healthy, beautiful boy born on May 25, 2011 at 10:52 am!  You were so beautiful and healthy you were given an Apgar score of 9!  That is on a scale of 1-10!  My perfect little guy.  Your dad cut the cord, twice!  He wasn't at all squeamish.  He cried with happiness.  I think I was too tired to realize what had just happened (we hadn't slept in 24 hours).  

All of your grandparents were there in the waiting room, eagerly awaiting permission to come and see you!  They were so thrilled.  Everyone "ooohed" and "aahed" at how beautiful you were.

We stayed in the hospital for 2 nights.  The hospital stay was very pleasant.  We had a lot of people coming by to help us and teach us different care taking skills, such as breastfeeding and diapering.  At night your dad slept in the hospital room with me, but we sent you off to the nursery to be looked after until you needed a feeding.  This was a great decision, as it was the only way we would get any sleep!  You had many visitors in the hospital: Grammy, Grumps, Grandma and Grandpa Jackson, Aunt J'aime, Uncle Matt, cousins August and Josie, Uncle David, Octavia, Delphi, Faith, Jenn, and Katie!  You are so loved already!

On Friday, May 27th, we got to take you home!  We stopped at Wendy's on the way to pick up lunch.  When we got home we introduced you to Escher and Wembley -- they were interested in smelling and licking you quite a bit!  That evening your grandparents came over and brought us food.  We were so exhausted come bed time, but you weren't going to let us sleep that night -- or many nights to come!  That's okay, we love you, and are so glad you are here, safe and sound!

Modern Congratulations

Hi Elliott!  My baby countdown widget tells me that there are only 17 days left until you arrive!!  Let's see how accurate that is.  I went to the doctor a few days ago and they told me I was 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced.  You haven't moved down much, so you are probably still around -4 station.  We could meet you anytime now!!  We are so excited.  Chris said the other day, "I am getting so excited to meet him (you)"!  We all are.

Your grams has lost it, she is so excited.  When shopping for some things for you, she rode in the backseat with your car seat.  She exclaimed that she was pretending that you were already out in the world, in the car seat.  She kept her hand in the seat the whole ride.  At one point she even got nervous when she looked over and saw that you weren't there, because she had been using her imagination so well!  Don't worry, grams isn't completely off her rocker, she just loves you so much already and can't stand the wait any longer!

I wanted to record the text messages I received when people found out that you were a boy, so I thought I would use this blog to remember them:

Katie K: Yay!! I kneeeeew it!  I can't wait to start buying boy $hit! (excuse her French)
Faith: Hooray!!!!!!!! :)
Becky: Yay!! Congrats! So happy for the both of you!  Chris said, "Finally! We need a flipping boy in this family!!"
Julie K: Omg so awesome.  I was talking about u and ur due date last nite! CONGRATS 2 u 2!! Boys rock!
Katie: OMG today is the 30th! Ah! Congrats! I thought so :) in other new additionish news but not nearly as exciting I got a new car! Your news is way awesomer. All healthy and good lookin too?
Jenn Khunn: Hooray!  I'm so excited! Now OP and I can get going on some crafty treats.
Jenn Huffaker: Aww!  I'm so happy!
Aunt B: Oh Boy!!!!!!!! That is what uncle whiskers kept saying when my water broke with Nick always brought a smile as we thought he was a girl . . . . . oh goodie a boy :))
Shawnee: Eeee!!!!!  Congrats!!!!!
David: YEAAAA!!!  I knew it. Congrats.

Time is flying by until you are here.  We are trying very hard to get as much done before your arrival as possible!

Surprise!

Well, look at that, Elliott, your dad posted before I had a chance to do so!! We loved looking at your little face tonight, trying to figure out just what you will look like in flesh tones, with hair and opened eyes! Here are your first baby pictures when you actually looked like a real baby (not a Skeletor).

Sweet, snuggly baby

This is your hair!!!  The sonographer said you had a mullet!

This one is for your future girlfriends!