Play-date x 2

Last week Mason & I ventured out of the house & had us a couple of "play-dates" with two of my girlfriends & their babies.

Our first visit was to Jen & Miss Ava's house. I had brought us Panera for lunch & we enjoyed watching these two little cuties while getting a bite to eat, talking about "mommy-hood" & how our lives have changed in the last year. A year ago we were planning our girl's-trip to Destin, FL & laughed about how here we were a year later nursing our babies on the couch together, talking about babies, being a mommy & how wonderful it all is.

Here is Mason (7 weeks old) & Miss Ava (2 weeks old). Can't believe how big Mason looks next to her! He is growing way too fast :(

Later in the week we headed over to Autumn's house to hang out with her & Miss Bella. It was fun to see these two interact with each other - even though Mason slept through most of their play-date - again! It was too cute watching Bella grabbing at Mason trying to wake him up & he was not having it. Maybe next time he will realize what he is missing out on?

Love this picture of Bella & Mason & how their little bodies are in the exact same pose. These two cuties are 2 days apart so it is fun comparing notes with Autumn to see what similarities they have.

We love our play-dates & can't wait for many more this summer at the park, the pool & the zoo! Will be so much fun - especially when they get older!

2 months old

Mason is 8 weeks old today! Hard to believe this little guy has been a part of our life for 2 months now. 

 

The first 6 weeks of his life were no joke. Not only was taking care of a newborn hard, but throw in some reflux, minimal daily naps, a lot of fussiness & a helluva lot of spit-up with projectile vomit & you will spend time crying in the shower. 

Once we got him on some Zantac & he crossed over that 6 week fussy phase, it seemed to get a bit better. We still deal with lots of spit up & the projectile vomit but now we are ready for it. He wears bibs frequently & we have a burp cloth in every room of the house. And as for me...well, if you come visit I will more than likely be wearing jammies with spit-up (dried or fresh) all along the front of me as well as in my hair & smelling a bit like stomach acid. It is a hot combo & my husband for some reason has been keeping his distance. This is my life people & that is how I roll. Good times! 

Mason is changing every day & it never ceases to amaze us. It is absolutely true when people say after those first 6 weeks that things start to get much better!

At 6 weeks he smiled at us for the first time & it totally melted my heart! I think I fell more in love with this little guy at that moment - if that is even possible?? He also will "coo" at us when we talk to him & it is the cutest thing ever!

I absolutely love listening to Shane & Mason "talk" to each other & can tell that Shane is going to be a wonderful dad just by the way he interacts with him. As you can see, already he is brainwashing him to love KU & the remote :)

 

At around 6 weeks we also started to fall into somewhat of a night-time ritual & sleep pattern. Mason will usually fall asleep between 9-10pm & will wake around 3am to nurse. Then back to sleep by 4am & up again at 6:30am. We are all looking forward to the 4 month mark where he will hopefully be sleeping 8-9 hour stretches. I can barely see the light...

When Mason isn't busy sleeping or nursing or being fussy or spitting up :) we will spend lots of time on his activity mat while listening to the Rock-A-Bye Baby station on Pandora. He is starting to really interact with the music & the lights on his mat as well as looking at all the little animals that hang from it. He gets so excited & his little legs will start kicking, his arms will flail all around & he starts "talking"! I must get this on video as it is so stinking cute. Unfortunately, someone else likes the play-mat when we aren't looking...

Since Mason is now 8 weeks old, this means I only have one more month of maternity leave left :( I am sad that my time at home with him is soon coming to an end but on the other hand I am looking forward to returning to a job that I absolutely love. Luckily, Shane's mom is coming to stay with us my first week back to work so Mason won't have to start daycare until he is 14 weeks old. I have been so lucky being able to have this time off with him & am definitely going to cherish these last 30 days at home with him.

Happy 2 months little man - mommy & daddy love you oh so very much :)

My Sister = Amazing

I am one lucky girl. I have only one sister & she is amazing. I can't imagine not having this girl in my life. As I mentioned before, she has been my "go-to" person during my entire pregnancy since she comes well experienced having had 3 children herself. Now she has become my "go-to" person on mommy-hood as well & again, I am so thankful to have her in my life.

All three of us were blessed by her visit a couple of weeks ago & after 5 days of her being here, I begged her not to go back home. I even offered her money to stay as my nanny but for some reason she declined the offer :(

She spent her visit cooking for us, assembled meals for the freezer, baked banana bread, would offer to take Mason & stay up with him at 6am so I could sleep-in, offered to put him to bed so I could go to bed early myself, she put on the Moby wrap & snuggled with him so I could shower or take a nap, she kept Shane company watching TV while I nursed Mason & put him down for bed & offered more tips & tricks than I could keep track of.

It was wonderful having her here & Shane & I are so very grateful for all her help. Now the only question I have for her is - how soon are you coming back???

Baby Boy meets Baby Girl

This is me & my beautiful friend Jen:

This picture was taken while we were on our "girls trip" in Destin, FL last April. There were 7 of the bestest friends who went on that trip & out of those 7, there were 3 of us who struggled for quite some time with trying to get pregnant. 

Shortly after we all arrived back home from that beautiful, magical place, 3 little miracles happened. I was the first one to get pregnant, then our friend Kari & then Jen. Was it something in the ocean water? Or in the alcoholic drinks we consumed on that trip? Definitely is quite strange that all three of us would end up pregnant shortly after returning!? Because this all happened after our trip, the "babies-to-be" were soon referred to as Destin Baby #1, 2 & 3 by the other girls.

There are few people who come into your life for a reason. They come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance & support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They seem like a godsend & they truly are. They are there for the reason you need them to be & Jen is one of those people!

Soon after, Jen & I became "belly bump buddies." We shared anything & everything with each other about our pregnancy. We would always rub baby bellies whenever we saw each other, we sent hundreds of texts back & forth & would keep tabs on each other every week with every milestone. Since I was 8 weeks ahead of Jen, I was honored to be her "go-to" person when she had questions. My sister was my "go-to" person so I know first-hand how important having that person in your life is & I am SO glad I could be that for her!

Me, Mason & Jen a week after he was born

Jen's baby shower was held 2 week's after Mason was born. It was the first time I ventured out of the house without Mason - who stayed home with daddy & grandma. Jen was surprised that I came to the shower & even more so without Mason but this was one event that I wasn't going to be missing! 

It was one of the most beautiful baby showers I have ever seen! Everything was so beautifully done - I almost felt like I was at a wedding reception rather than a baby shower! So thankful my hubby & mom tended to Mason so that I could share in such a special day with Jen!

 

Jen's girlfriends did an amazing job with all the details & I am so glad I didn't miss it!!

Earlier this week, Destin baby #2 arrived! Jen's precious little miracle made her entrance into the world on March 10th & both mom & little Miss Ava Jean are doing great! We visited them both in the hospital the next day & made sure to get a pic of our two Destin miracle babies together:

I love how their little fists are identical in the picture :) 

We are both looking so very forward to many play-dates in the future with these two little cuties! I am so very blessed to have such a dear friend in my life & I can't wait to experience "mommy-hood" together with her!

OH & just in case you were wondering...Destin baby #3 is due March 20th - so any day now! Kari unfortunately lives in Chicago so there has been talk of a "Destin Baby" reunion this summer :) 

Moby = Life Saved

This red piece of fabric is called a Moby Wrap & it saved my life - or maybe my sanity - or possibly both!?

When my sister visited me this fall, she brought lots of great things for me to have during my pregnancy & for afterwards. The Moby was one of those things. I had put it away & forgotten I even had it until last week when she mentioned it to me. 

Mason has been Mr. Fussy Pants this past week & it was really starting to wear on me mentally. If he isn't sleeping, he wants to be nursing. When he isn't nursing he wants to be constantly held which leaves no time to fix food, pee, do laundry, let the dogs outside/feed them, clean the house, do dishes - you get the idea.

So I dug out the Moby, wrapped it around my torso, stuck little Mr. Fussy Pants in there & within a minute he was OUT! And the best part - I had two hands free to do all of the mentioned above! It was a game-changer for me & I felt like I got my life back...for at least an hour until he woke up hungry!

If you are a mom-to-be or a new mom, run out & get you one of these or something similar to it! Trust me - it is worth every penny! It is so nice knowing I have this option when Mason is being his fussy little self & I need to get some stuff done around the house!!

Mama gets out

You all may have heard about Snowmageddon 2013 here in the Kansas City area? It was a huge snow storm that dropped 13" of snow in our neighborhood last week & then we got hit by another storm this past Monday dropping another 6 inches! Most snow I have seen here ever since I moved here in 1999!

Needless to say, I haven't really wanted to leave the house with a 4 week old baby & battle all the snow & the bad roads. But today I decided that Mason & I had been cooped up in the house for far too long - 5 days to be exact! By the time Friday rolled around I was going stir-crazy & ready to get out of the house! Mason was all for getting out & about also:

We had Mason's 1 month appt this morning & then afterwards I met up with my girlfriend Camille for a lunch date at On The Border. She is a mother of 3 & it was SO nice to catch up & visit with her about "mommy-hood"! She had such wonderful tips & advice for me & even invited me to join her church's "mommy-group" which I am looking very forward to. She also got some good snuggle-time in with Mason so she was super happy about that!

After our lunch date, Mason & I ran some errands & enjoyed a little "retail-therapy"! It was really nice to get out of the house & spend a little money :) 

Later on in the evening the "game-night" girls were gathering for our monthly get-together. I debated about whether to go or not as Mason has been Mr. Fussy Pants lately but ended up going & was SO glad I did. I hadn't seen these girls in quite awhile so it was wonderful to see them & get caught up with what everyone has been up to. I enjoyed my one & only glass of wine for the evening in 10 months, snacked on some yummy app's & we all played a really fun game: Telestrations. 

This game is the visual equivalent of the classic school-yard game "telephone" - which I had never heard of or played as a kid. It ended up being a super fun game in which everyone's attempts at "art" turned into hilarious pics. You start with a secret word that is passed around the table from player to player. As the word is sketched, interpreted, & then sketched again, it undergoes a visual transformation that most of the time has nothing to do with the secret word. 

For example, the secret word here in the picture was Los Angeles & by the end somehow the drawing was configured to The Wizard of Oz. Too funny - I guess you had to be there?!

There were lots of laughs shared by all & a game we are sure to play again in the future! 

Before everyone left, Melissa made sure to gather everyone together for our usual photo-op. Mason was definitely not a happy boy when it came time to take pictures :(  

I just realized after looking at everyone dressed up in this photo that I am definitely a mom of a newborn - the track suit just screams Mommy - lol :) 

Keri tried her "baby whisperer" skills on Mason & eventually got him to settle down - after this photo was taken :)

 

Mason fast asleep & mommy all ready to go home:

It was another successful "game-night" & I am so glad I was able to go. Thanks girls for letting Mason crash the girl-party, to Jill D. for hosting & to Melissa for always having your camera & taking great photos!!

1 month old

Today Mason is 1 month old! Seriously - how is that possible? I guess when you are elbows deep in feedings, diaper changes, sleepless nights, days full of naps, catching up on housework while baby sleeps, paying bills, washing bottles & trying to eat 3 meals a day will make the time fly!? lol

After Mason's bath this morning, I went to put on one of his cute little newborn sleepers & his feet were busting out at the seams :( I grabbed this sleeper & same thing:

Since I knew this would be the last time he would have this little outfit on I made sure to get a picture. Ugh - this made me so sad! As much as I can't wait for little man to get into a more "fun" stage, it makes me sad that he is growing so darn fast. I reached for one of his 3 mos sleepers which looked way big & to my surprise it fit him pretty well with just a bit of room to grow! Looks like it will soon be time to fold up all his "newborn" clothes & put them away :( 

We got in to see his Pediatrician this morning & he agrees with us that Mason has reflux. After weighing him it was also determined that I am more than likely over-feeding him which only makes the reflux & spitting up worse. Epic fail #1 for this mother!  

Mason weighed in at 10 lbs even & the Dr. was fine with that, but compared to what he weighed 2 weeks ago I guess he is gaining weight too quick for his liking. I have been breast-feeding the majority of the time but will supplement with formula when he acts like he is still hungry - which seems to be all the time. I have also been feeding him when he is fussy - which has been ALOT - because the boobies are what consoles him & this mama has been desperate!

So after much discussion, I am to try & space out his feedings to 2 1/2 hours to give his tummy a bit more time to empty before the next feeding & he was also prescribed Zantac to help with the reflux. I am hoping to have a much more content baby in the next few days!?

Happy 1 month birthday little man! We are looking so forward to seeing how much you change next month!

3rd week = ROUGH

People have called, texted, emailed & stopped in all asking me how I have been doing these past few weeks & I have so appreciated everyone's concern. The first couple of weeks weren't too bad as we were all slowly getting into a routine trying to figure things out & basically survive. But this 3rd week.....I ain't gonna lie, it has been a rough one.

I think the reality of life with a newborn has finally set in. My hubby went back to work, my mom went back home to SD & I was left to take care of Mason the majority of the time by myself. To top it all off he became super fussy right at the 3 week mark after everybody left & it eventually broke me. 

I was exhausted to begin with & there was one night around 2am that I was up with him for over 3 hours & no matter what I did, he would not stop fussing. He wouldn't sleep, he didn't want to eat, his diaper was clean but still he was not content. I finally broke down & sobbed while holding him in my arms begging God to please just let this child fall asleep. 

No matter what I did, I couldn't do anything to console my child & I felt like a failure. I felt like I couldn't do this anymore. I felt like I didn't want to do this anymore. For a few hours there I wanted my old life back...before Mason. And then I felt absolutely horrible for even thinking that - especially after all we have been through to have a child. I then pleaded with God to please forgive me for even thinking that.

Mason finally managed to fall asleep around 5:30am that morning & I pulled myself together, got a couple hours of sleep & managed to get through another day. Needless to say, we haven't had anymore nights like that one which I am SO very thankful for but my little guy still continues to be super fussy. 

After referring to Dr. Google & my other "go-to" resource - my sister - we have determined that Mason is suffering from either colic or reflux. All signs & symptoms point to reflux & after a few more miserable, inconsolable evenings this past week, it is time to call the Pediatrician. Will keep you posted on what we find out.

The day after my rough night, I ironically stumbled across this blog & this post. It is pretty spot on as to how every new mother feels in the beginning - especially for me & I feel like I could have written it word for word. It says everything a new mother has ever wanted to say or feel but was ashamed to & it is too good not to pass along. So enjoy:

So I was hanging out the other day with a friend who has a newborn. A freaking gorgeous newborn boy, to be exact.

He is her first baby. She has recently become a mother.

You know, when we hear those words we hear them like it’s no big deal – “become a mother,” like you might “become a doctor” or “become a pet owner.” As if it’s just this thing that happens, without anything else happening – it’s just this exciting addition to one’s life. You add this new thing and go about your business.

Like a new-home owner, or a resident of a new town.

“A mother.”

But this particular transition comes with a cost. A BIG ONE, yet nobody really talks about it.

And if you do talk about it, you have “postpartum depression.”

I have an idea: let’s talk about it, right here and right now, and call it nothing other than a human, adult reaction to a giant shift in identity, a presence of mind recognizing the end of an entire chapter of life, a heart mourning the woman that once was, and a soul shaking under the weight of a new giant world.

I’ve talked about it a little before, and in my case I actually DID have postpartum depression, and obviously I’m not trying to say that having these feelings does not indicate PPD (um DUH). What I’m saying is that it seems to me that every woman who becomes a mother, no matter how much she loves her kid or wants to be a mom, will most likely, at some point, mourn the loss of her previous identity.

And it will hurt.

You’re sitting in the house a few weeks after your perfect baby is born. Everybody has gone home. 

The help is gone. Your husband (or wife) is back at work.

Your belly is still sagging. Your boobs are exploding. You’re bleeding still, maybe, but you’re definitely leaking milk. There are big pools of it on your bed and couch and everywhere. You don’t really sleep, but rather fade in and out of a half-sleep, alongside your baby, checking him every hour, acutely aware of his breath, as if it were a freight train roaring through the room: do I hear it? Yes, I hear it.

Breathe.

His temperature, his blanket. He stirs and you’re there, boom. Awake. You are infinitely connected. You seem to be melting into this tiny body. He wakes and you stare into his eyes, struck and dumbfounded at his beauty. You coo at him and notice the way he moves his mouth, as if he wants to speak. What will he say?

Someday he will speak. And you know you know him better than everybody else, and always will, and you know when he’s sleeping you’re there when nobody else is there, and you’re watching him breathe so you can breathe and watching him sleep to drift into your own.

And you’re falling into a love you’ve never known. It’s like quicksand; the more you struggle the deeper you fall. Only you’re not struggling, because it’s a gorgeous catastrophe, and there’s nowhere else to go.

But you watch people leave, too. You watch your husband go to work. You see friends come and go, bright and capable with energy and direction, as if the world is still going on outside, out there.

And you’re isolated and stuck.

As you watch them there are moments, moments when you remember when you used to run around and visit people and live your life and work and be alone. You remember when your body was just your own and you were thinner and felt contained and like the owner of your boobs and vagina and life. You remember having a couple shots of tequila or maybe a cigarette with some friends, and you did it like it was nothing, never knowing it was somebody who was going to stand like an old friend some day, a thousand miles away.

You were twenty, twenty-three, thirty, thirty-five. You were free and young and somebody else.

We were free and young and somebody else.

But now, we’re mothers.

At some point the reality will hit us: We are never alone again, no matter where we are, and we are the only ones in the world who have become this person toward this child.

Yeah, that’s right. I said it. NOT EVEN THE DAD.

It’s hard to put into words, but something becomes very apparent when a baby enters a relationship: there is something different between my relationship with this baby, and everybody else in the world.
I am the only one who is The Mother to this child twenty-four hours a day, and will be for the rest of my life.

I’m not trying to speak for everybody. Obviously. I’m speaking for myself, and for my friends, who 
I’ve seen living the same beautiful catastrophe.

My husband went back to work relatively soon after the baby was born. So his life, though obviously irrevocably changed, goes on in more or less the same way it was before. My husband’s sleep patterns haven’t changed. My husband’s body isn’t suddenly owned by a 9-pound nursing machine. My husband’s vagina isn’t...well, let’s change the subject. My husband doesn’t have stretch marks. My husband didn’t give birth.

My husband doesn’t spend hours eye-locked with the newborn, cooing and talking with infinite fascination with a ball of chub. My husband doesn’t pick at the baby’s head and eyes and ears like an attentive monkey.

My husband didn’t become a mother, but I did.

And there are moments when I know it. There are moments when I look at that baby and myself and feel my body that isn’t my body and wonder if maybe I didn’t make the biggest mistake of my life, because what have I given up? What have I done? Was I ready?

Why didn’t I appreciate my life more, when it was mine? What if I want to leave one day? I’ll never be able to leave one day, ever.

I’ve been the same woman my whole life. What about her? Where is she? Is she just dead?

Yes, she is just dead.

Does that seem harsh? Well, it is. So is motherhood.

Perhaps we can soften this whole thing by saying our identities are “transformed,” or we are “forever changed,” but the fact of the matter is that the woman you once were is gone, and she will never come back.

Period.

You can pretend she’s not dead. You can even leave your family and act like a kid again and not a mother. But you will not be free, and you will die under the weight of your lies, because you know you’re something else, and there’s a little girl out there who misses her mama, and has replaced her with a box full of notes and cards and memories and yearning.

I’m speaking from experience.

I will never live a single day as an individual. Always, somewhere, my heart will be beating for that child. Always, somewhere, though I may not even know it, my mind has wrapped itself around her, wondering how she is, seeing a shirt or dog or book, “She would love that.” I miss her.

One thousand miles away, but tied.

And so she’s gone, that woman. Old friend who partied with you and spent hours absorbed in herself, her work. She’s gone, that girl that lived for herself, and maybe you for a moment, but always, in the end, for herself.

And yet, I’m still here. This is still me. I am untouched, unscathed. So maybe I have not died?

If I died, how am I here, nursing and changing and mothering this baby? Who’s doing this work now?

And who is she?

I don’t know her yet, but I will. I’ll know the woman who wraps her baby against her chest and storms the world. I’ll know the woman who goes back to work with one foot and her heart at home, always. I’ll meet the woman who races to preschool to get there on time and holds little hands and chases kids in restaurants. I’ll meet the woman who disciplines. I’ll meet the woman who yells. I’ll meet the woman who works to be better, who holds a child as it grows and grows and grows and I’ll meet the woman who does it a couple more times, until she’s the one sitting by a friend and a newborn, telling her it’s alright, talking about death, and rebirth.

OF A MOTHER.

Thinking my god, I guess I’ve known her all along.

A Week of "Firsts"

Mason's 2nd week of life has been full of many "firsts" & we made sure to take lots of pictures to capture all these first-time moments!

Mason met his Grandma (my mother) for the first time as she came to visit us for the week. They enjoyed lots of snuggle-time & Grandma spoiled little man by buying several new outfits to add to his wardrobe while she was here. We were both sad to see her head back to South Dakota but are hoping she & Grandpa head back this way in the spring.

With the flu & colds running rampant around the area, we had several friends/family who were sick or had been exposed to others that were sick the week that Mason was born & were unfortunately unable to visit us. Once they all got a clean bill of health, they made sure to make there way over to meet the little guy. 

Our 1st visitor was my dear friend Jenn who is also pregnant with her first child. She is having a little girl named Ava & is due early April. I have SO enjoyed being pregnant at the same time as her & having a "buddy" to share the ups & downs of pregnancy with. I can't wait until her little girl is here & for her to experience this wonderful thing called motherhood! We are excited to have many play-dates in the future & we both think that her little girl & Mason are going to be boyfriend/girlfriend when they get older ;)  

Shane's brother was another victim of the flu during Mason's birth so he unfortunately had to wait over a week & 1/2 to meet his nephew! He is a very proud uncle of his one & only nephew & took many pics to share with friends & family:

Of all my "game-night" girls, my friend Melissa was the only one out of the group who hadn't met Mason yet. She too had a bad cold last week & waited until she was back to good health before she came & met our little man. It was so nice getting to see her & be able to catch up - just the two of us for a change! 

Mason's umbilical cord fell off on day 13 so for the first time, he was now able to take a real bath - which you can tell by the picture that he clearly hated every minute of it:

My dear friend Autumn was exactly one week ahead of me with her pregnancy & she ended up delivering sweet baby girl Isabella 2 days after I had Mason. It was so awesome getting to share this pregnancy journey together & now we get to share the journey of "mommy-hood" together!

This past week Autumn invited Mason & I over to her house to meet her precious little girl. It was Mason's first "play-date" with Isabella & even though he pretty much slept through it, I'm pretty sure the 2 minutes he was awake it was love at first sight ;) I think Jenn's little girl Ava may have some competition in the future!? We are looking very forward to many more "dates" with Isabella & her beautiful mommy Autumn!

Mason celebrated his very first Valentine's Day & got in the spirit by wearing a cute little outfit given to him by his Uncle Steve & Aunt Meghan. He truly is a little "heart breaker" ;)

We assembled Mason's Rainforest activity mat last week & here is a pic of him on it for the first time. He loved watching all the animals hanging from the bars, listening to the music & watching all the colorful lights (which aren't seen in this pic):

I can hardly believe my little guy will be 3 weeks old on Monday! Seriously, where has the time gone?? We are looking SO forward to many more "firsts" in the upcoming year & being able to share them with you all!

Mason's 1st Week

Mason's 1st week home has been a bit of a whirl-wind! I have somehow lost track of what day it is or even what the date is so please forgive me for the lack of posts! I know you have all been dying to see pics of Mason & hear how a "Day in the Life of HT" has been with a newborn. Well, as tired as we are, I must say this little guy is awesome, has captured our hearts & we are so in love! 

Last Wednesday was our first night home with him & I'm not going to lie, it was a bit rough as we had no idea what we were doing with this little guy! But we survived the night & woke up the next morning thankful to have gotten through it. I literally now know what the phrase "sleeping with one eye open" means!! I am happy to say though that the nights have gotten easier, we are establishing a routine & things are going really well! (knock on wood)

On Thursday, his 2nd day home, we had our 1st appointment with the Pediatrician to do a weight check & see how he was doing overall. Here he is all ready for his first outing:

 

He had a good appointment but was found to be a little underweight & jaundice so we talked about supplementing formula in between breast feeding & was sent home with UV light therapy to bring his Bilirubin levels down. We returned to the Ped's office on Friday & his Bili levels weren't going up any higher but weren't coming down either so unfortunately we had to keep him on the light therapy through the weekend. We returned once again to the Ped's office Monday, Feb 4th & his Bili levels came way down & his coloring was much better so we were finally able to get rid of the lights! 

Here is a blurry pic of me & my little "glo-worm" catching some ZZZZ's: 

And Mason with his Daddy - zzzzzzzz:

And another couple cute pic's of our little man:

 

Needless to say, the first week around here has been all about getting lots of sleep - for everyone!!

In the first week, Mason also got his first sponge bath! (Never-mind his Mama looking like a "hot-mess"):

We also have been getting in lots of snuggle-time:

Life with a newborn is a huge adjustment, definitely overwhelming & very tiring but this Mama wouldn't change it for anything! I find myself staring at this precious miracle all the time, thanking God for our blessings & I can hardly believe that this is our life now.

Baby T's Birthday - part 2

Mon, Jan 28th, 2013 - 1:50pm

9.5 cm meant that it was "GO" time & things started to move real fast! They had paged the OB & in a matter of a few minutes, my cozy little room turned into a delivery room. In wheeled the surgical table, out came the stirrups, in came my OB & just like that I was instructed to start pushing! 

I got a little scared as things around us moved so quickly & I couldn't comprehend that in just a short time our little boy would be here. I looked over & saw that my hubby seemed to have that same "fearful" look on his face so I reached over, grabbed his hand & asked him if he was ready for this. He responded "hells yeah" (which is such a typical answer coming from him) & at that moment I knew it was all going to be ok.

I pushed for about 30 minutes & at 2:24 pm our little miracle - Mason James - arrived into this world! I think this picture pretty much sums up all the raw emotion I felt at that moment:

He weighed 7 lbs 4oz & was 20.5 inches long:

Proud Mommy with Mason:

  

And an even prouder Papa with his son:

 

We walked in to the hospital as a family of two & are leaving the hospital as a family of three & we couldn't be more in love with this little guy:

Like father like son:

I feel so very blessed to have had such an uneventful, fast, easy labor & my hubby was such a rockstar through it all! We can't wait to get Mason home & begin our new life as a family of three!