August Update - Baby C's First Month!

We welcomed Baby C home a few days earlier than planned. He was scheduled to be born via c-section on Monday, August 6th. But Daddy booked a flight for all of us to Detroit for spring break to see his grandfather's old stomping grounds, and it was as if his new namesake new. At 4am, my water broke and knowing he would be big, all I was worried about was getting to the hospital in time to still have a c-section, and not a natural delivery.

Aunt Cassandra came over to watch A, and we sped off, early enough to miss the usual morning traffic. I was in a prep room as the sun came up over the mountains to my right. Before we knew it, I had an IV in and the anesthesiologist was going over consent with me, in more detail than I needed.

After meeting with my doctor, I was taken in and prepped for surgery. I had a little trouble breathing, a side effect of the spinal block that goes halfway up my chest, probably put into my head when the anesthesiologist mentioned it as a possible side effect. Feeling this effect caused me to well, feel more like I was having trouble breathing and I started shaking because I was so cold. "Let's bring the husband in," someone said, and he was by my side before I knew it, taking me to my happy place by asking me to talk about the Halloween housewarming party that I plan to throw.

There was a lot more pulling and tugging this time around like they were really having trouble getting him out. The table I was on moved and the whole process was taking much longer than when I had my daughter. Both of us were concerned, but neither of us said anything. Then, we heard a bit of a cry, followed by silence. In reality, probably only 15 seconds passed until the next cry, but it felt like minutes. When we heard his cries again, they were reassuringly much stronger. Someone called him a hunk and they said he was perfect and tears of joy and relief started flowing. Underneath my husband's mask, a few tears escaped, and we each breathed a huge sigh of relief.

We were in recovery for a little while, before being taken up to my room where I would spend the next four days. That day, my friend Ann-Marie picked my daughter up and took her to daycare, stopping first to get her a doughnut. She sent me some pictures of her smiling, and I felt good knowing she likes daycare and that it's a part of her routine. An absolute highlight of that day, other than meeting our little man, was seeing her meet her little brother. It was a moment I had long dreamed of, but wasn't sure I would ever see.

On his second day of life, just as with A, I was amazed to discover that he has a dimple - on the same side as her! Newborns don't smile unless they have gas, and so it was only by chance that I happened to catch his dimple on video, and then took a screenshot. I was/am so overjoyed that they share this trait! What are the chances?

My time in the hospital flew by. I purchased a new book that I was excited to read and saved up 3 weeks of People magazine but didn't read a page. Each day, Daddy would bring Baby A to visit and then I had other visitors: My Dad and brother, Carey, Ann-Marie and Andrea. Andrea even took Baby A to Disneyland one day, which helped assuage my guilt of not being home with her (My first night in the hospital was our first night ever apart). And Carey had A over for playdates with her best friend Tommy, even though she also had a newborn at home. This helped tremendously because Daddy was busy trying to pack up the rest of our home!

First night

When I came home, nearly everything was packed up to move. We spent the first night in our new home just two days after I arrived home! Forget nesting, I was happy enough to be able to find his diapers and formula. And here I sit, one month later and we have made progress, but so much is still in boxes. Because I was so pregnant and we didn't know for sure that we were moving until the last minute (our home had other offers on it), I did not do a lot of packing and decluttering on the front end. My husband did the majority of the moving himself, and toward the end, just ended up throwing things in boxes. 

Six days old - first doctor's appointment

From the beginning, A has been an amazing big sister. On the first morning home, she woke up and I was feeding him. Since day one, I have breastfed him, followed by supplementing with 2 ounces from a bottle. When she came into the room, he was ready for his bottle. Not wanting her to feel left out, I quickly said: "Let me give him to Daddy to feed so I can spend time with you." She wasn't having it! "No, I want to spend time with my baby brother!" Almost daily, she will come in for a cuddle and say "Aww! He's adorable!" or " He's gorgeous!" When she asks to hold him, she's ready to give him back after less than a minute, but never seems to mind me holding him or doting on him. With the new brother happening at the same time as the move, I expected something, but no bad behaviors came until the day of our very important newborn photo shoot. She acted more afraid of the studio and photographer than she would at a doctor's appointment, wouldn't listen to her directives, cried a lot. Because of this, I braced myself for the onslaught of more of these behaviors, but they never came. The photoshoot lasted nearly two hours, and sadly I now realize she was most likely really hungry! 

Just like with A, he is an amazingly easy baby. He wakes every 2-4 hours to feed but is otherwise asleep all of the time! Nights were rough until we were in our new home for about a week and my husband took over the night feedings. No doubt this long stretch of sleep each night compromised my milk supply, but I just cannot pass up 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep! 

...and prayed and prayed.

It's been a crazy, whirlwind month. But in between unpacking boxes, we managed to have some family and friends over for BBQs, start going on daily walks, sit out by the fire pit and roast marshmallows, explore the trail out our backyard gate, and watch her go in the spa with Daddy almost every night. As we settle into our new home and adjust to being a family of four, I just feel so blessed. Baby C is the icing on the cake and completes and balances out our family. There was a time when I feared that we may not have any children, and now we have two! 

Things I don't want to forget about this month:

• Her saying "Please I can ....(watch princesses, watch TV)" instead of "Please can I..."
• Holding him when he was less than a week old, in the new house. He was looking at the floor and I started singing to him. He slowly turned his head upwards and locked eyes with me.
• Daddy singing "You Are My Sunshine" to him and Baby A joining in.
• His nickname, baby Chomper