Merry Christmas to All

(promise he was happy for Christmas!)

Newest Jayhawk (6 days old)

Brand New Stats

Weight: 7lb 11oz at birth (7lb 1.5oz three days later)

Length: 19in

Eating: exclusively breastfeeding every 2 to 4 hours. Currently feeding on demand as he's working on putting weight back on. Most of his feedings are 2 to 3 hours apart. 

Bedtime: William normally feeds til he is full/falls asleep. His naps last anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. At night, he usually goes down at 11/11:30pm, back up again by 1:30am and down again for 2-3 hours. I am up for the day with him by 5:15/5:30am. 

Naps: Life is currently a series of naps for William and for us!

Diapers: Newborn size! We change him each time he needs to feed as it wakes him up a little and any times he needs to be changed between. The breast milk has changed the consistency of his diapers. William is NOT a fan of being naked when being changed ;)

Clothes: Newborn size! Before William was born, we bought some newborn size onesies & sleepers but didn't wash them. So glad we kept them! Even some of the newborn clothes are too big for him. Trying to make sure he is able to wear all of the newborn clothes before he outgrows them!

Favorites: William loves to fall asleep in someone's arms and turns toward anyone who is talking. 

Development: Right where he needs to be for a one week old. Moves his head toward voices, moves arms & legs all over the place. Working on putting weight back on before his two week doctor's appointment. 

(A little scared of Nemo!)

Welcome to the World, William!!

Bret and I welcomed our son into the world on Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 8:07pm. He was 7lbs & 11oz and 19in long. And absolutely perfect!

I was due December 15th and asked my doctor to induce if I went over my due date. I went into the hospital on Wednesday evening to start cervidil. We checked in at 9:30pm and I began medicine at 10:15pm. At 6:30am on Thursday, December 17th, I started pitocin to get my contractions started. Things were slow going for a while. Around noon, my doctor broke my water & that's when the contractions started getting real. I got my epidural to control my pain levels. At 3pm, I had dilated to a 5cm (halfway there!!). I continued to dilated and was ready to push about 6:15pm. It was very intense, but Bret was so incredibly supportive the entire time! He kept saying, "You can do it! I know you can do this!" His affirmation gave me so much confidence that was very much needed by me. 

Our hospital encourages 'kangaroo care' immediately after birth. Babies & families are given two hours to bond. Bret, William, & I enjoyed this time. William breastfed during that time and I love the quick bond it created. After those precious two hours, William met both sets of grandparents. He snuggled with each grandparent and captured their hearts. 

Our time in the hospital was great. I wanted to kidnap one or two of the nurses to bring home. The nurses were supportive of Bret and me & fell for William's handsome face. 

Now we are back home and finding a schedule to keep. Our little man is the king of the house and we are just living in his world ;)

 

I saw this on Facebook & love it!

First Doctor's Appt

William had his first doctor's appointment this afternoon. He weighed 7lb & 1.5oz (down from 7lb & 11oz at birth). His circumcision is looking good. We change the gauze/Vaseline on it every time he is changed. When it is healed, we can give him his first official bath. Until then, it's sponge baths only. 

He has been mostly breastfed so far. His Dr (who fully supports breastfeeding) said its hard to know exactly how much he is eating while breastfeeding. Between now and his two-week appointment (Jan 7), William should gain a half ounce to full ounce each day. He has been feeding every 2 to 4 hours and sleeps almost immediately afterward each time. I have also been able to pump breast milk to start building a back up for William. 

Other than that, we just have to keep him healthy and fever-free!

Next appointment:

January 7 @ 2:30pm

Final Days as a Family of Two

We went to the Dr on Thursday (12/10) and scheduled an induction if William decides to not show by next Wednesday. So yesterday was our last Thursday just the two of us. Today is our last Friday. Just so crazy to think of it like that!

I made sure my classroom is ready to go for next Monday, just in case he decides to be a weekend baby. Every time I leave my classroom I have to remind myself that I might not be back for three months. It's hard for me to fathom that! 

We decided to go out to dinner just the two of us Friday night. Dinners from now on will include an infant/toddler/child. Then we ventured to Union Station to see their holiday decorations. 

Bret read to William as we settled in to sleep. He nestles and reads right to my belly and describes the illustrations to him & makes voices for the characters. I love it!

39 Weeks

How far along? 39 weeks

Total weight gain? 27 lbs

Maternity clothes: Of course, nothing else would fit ;)

Stretch marks: none

Sleep: Still getting good sleep!!

Best moment this week: Bret took three days of work and it was WONDERFUL to spend the extra time with him!!

Worst moment this week: When my right hip started hurting and now I walk like a cowboy who has been on the trail for two weeks & forgot how to walk. 

Miss anything? Easily moving around. I feel like I have think through my actions before doing them!

Movement: He's running out of room in there, but he still has his moments of big movements. Usually it's a foot pushing out. 

Food cravings: sweets!

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nothing 

Belly button in or out? Stretched!

Happy or moody most of the time? Happy, but a little achy

Nervous about: When he will be here. I am such a planner, it's hard to remind myself that it is all up to God. 

Looking forward to: Meeting William!

Next appointment: 

Dec 16: to start the induction process, unless he decides to show up before that!

Down to single digits!

What??? How can we be just single digits away from William's due date? It seems like just yesterday we were deciding to go through IVF to be parents. Bret and I were in William's room this morning looking at his first picture (when he was just a little embryo!) and saying that it's crazy that our baby is almost here to meet us.

We are ready (as ready as you think you are before having a baby) and excited to meet the little man. He is going to totally rock out world and change life as we know it. And we cannot wait for that! 

We hope the little guy will always know the prayers we sent up for him and how very much wanted he was/is. All of the needles and medicine and waiting and tears will be totally worth it when we get to meet William and kiss his sweet face. 

Nemo, we love you!

38 Weeks

How far along? 38 weeks

Total weight gain? 24 pounds

Maternity clothes: of course!!

Stretch marks: still none :)

Sleep: Still sleeping well throughout the night. Waking up two or three times a night to go to the bathroom. 

Best moment this week: Bret is taking two days off work this week, so we get more time together!!

Worst moment this week: Uncomfortable hips and lower back

Miss anything? Still the energy in the evenings. The sun going down early doesn't help me being tired early. 

Movement: Big movements in the evening and tightening (Braxton Hicks)

Food cravings: sweets :)

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope!

Belly button in or out? Stretchy

Happy or moody most of the time? Happy and looking forward to being a mom soon!

Nervous about: What the contractions will feel like as well as the whole birthing process. But that's what hospitals & doctors are for!

Looking forward to: Meeting the little man!

Next appointment: 

Dec 10

Dec 17