One month picture

I took a picture of Reese in our chair yesterday so everyone could see how big he has gotten. I can't believe he has been here for a month. It's weird to think that although our lives have changed so much in the past month, we feel so normal. It really feels like he has always been here with us.

Getting ready takes a little longer, eating is a little difficult with one arm, we don't sleep as much as we did before (at least Lofton doesn't- I'm a terrible sleeper), but life is so much better than it was a month ago.

Reese is the best gift in the world. I don't think I could ever love anything more than him.

Our first solo adventure

Yesterday was Reese's one month birthday. It was big day for the two of us. We got ready and took our first trip to see Lofton at work.

One month ago, getting ready to go visit Lofton at work was no big deal. I just hopped in the shower, got ready, and was out the door. No longer is it such an easy task! Little man ate his breakfast around eight, I changed his diaper, and then put him in his stroller and wheeled him into the bathroom so I could take a shower. It's a little crowded with the stroller in there, but it is super convenient because when his pacifier falls out (as it did yesterday) I just have to reach out of the shower and pull him towards me to fix it.

Once we were both dressed, I wrestled with the car seat/stroller. I had never unhooked them before and Lofton neglected to tell me exactly how to release the car seat from the stroller. It took me twenty minutes, plus a phone call to Lofton telling him we were not in fact coming to visit because I couldn't get the two disconnected. Yes Daddy, I am just like you!

Once that crisis was solved we loaded up the car and hit the road for my first time driving in over a month. That's right, I had not driven a car since September 29th. No worries, we arrived at the store with no problems.

Reese was an angel and looked around and visited with all of Lofton's work people. I fed him in Lofton's office around 11:30 and then the three of us went to lunch.

It was an exhausting morning, but nice to feel like I could leave the house on my own. Today, we head up to the school to visit!

Birth Announcement

I am trying to capture the perfect picture for a birth announcement. When your child doesn't pose or smile it is a little difficult to find the perfect moment. Here are few pictures from this morning's photo shoot- none of which we are using. By the way, Lofton is horrified that I subjected our child to this. He likened it to a form of child abuse. Granted it was a little cold in the house this morning when I stripped Reese of his clothes. Sometimes you have to sacrifice to be cute!

Tummy Time

Reese's big stretch of awake time happily coincides with when Lofton gets home from work. It's nice because they can spend some time together, and even better, it means Reese sleeps longer at night. Knock on wood- he slept for a five hour stretch last night!

This afternoon we decided that we would have some tummy time on the floor when Lofton got home. He loves sleeping on his belly, which for now means sleeping on us, so I knew he wouldn't mind being face down on the floor.

This is fun...

A nice shot of his old man hair.

Lofton trying to convince him to crawl:)

Just chatting

Then we let him use his Boppy as support, but he got hungry, as you can see from the pictures.

I need a snack...

No, really, I'm hungry!

For the love of God, someone please feed me!

Tomorrow we are taking our first trip into the real world... a family adventure to Target!

Our first bath

Yesterday, the remainder of Reese's ambilical cord fell off. Lofton thought it was gross, but it was also a big event because it meant that we could take a real bath. No more sponge bathing for us!

Rich and Ashley came to visit and bring dinner last night. So while the boys had a beer, Ashley helped me give Reese his first bath. I won't say he enjoyed it (he does hate being naked), but overall it wasn't that bad.

I'm not so sure about this mama!

Hey! Can we hurry this up!

Whew! It's over!

I really worked up an appetite. Is it time to eat?

Sunday

Finally! We had a visit from our great grandmother Marene on Sunday. Reese was very sleepy and did not want to wake up, but Marene was persistent!

Thanks for coming to visit! We will see you again soon.

five things on friday

I don't have a lot of time to blog, but while little man takes a (rare) morning nap, I thought I would share a five things about our week home together.

1. I love being a mom. I always knew I would love this, but in the last few (miserable) weeks of my pregnancy I began to doubt myself. I'm definitely not stay at home mom material, but stay at home through December material I am. This is fantastic.

2. I love having my own baby to kiss and love and hug anytime I want. He's all mine (and I share with Lofton when I have to!)!

3. Reese loves to eat! And often. When he wakes up from a nap there is no cushion. He doesn't gaze around and coo, he isn't content to swing while he slowly wakes up; no, not our son. Our son wakes up ravenous. When I pick him up from his nap he begins thrashing his head around like a bird (hence why we have started calling him little bird man) until he finds my cheek or chin or my lip and he begins grunting and sucking until his bottle is ready. It is adorable.

4. He sleeps. Granted we get up a few times at night, but for the most part he sleeps really well. I have no complaints. Knock on wood, but I would take getting up a few times a night with a happy hungry baby then getting up at night with a screaming child and pacing the hallway. Let's all hope this part of his little personality sticks.

5. We went on our first stroller walk Wednesday. I forgot to grab my camera to document- I'll do better next time. It was an ordeal, getting everything out the door. I had to put him in his swing, then get the stroller down the porch stairs, then come back inside for him. And i didn't know what we would need so I took a burp cloth, a blanket (it was 85 degrees outside), his pacifier, my phone, and a bottle of water. No, we didn't walk a mile, just two blocks! I like to be prepared though. I didn't realize how bumpy the sidewalks are until we started strolling. My initial fear was that Reese would get shaken baby syndrome from the jostling, but he quickly feel asleep.

Oh and the sixth best thing about it being Friday is that Nonna, Daddy Buck, and Uncle J are coming to visit tomorrow!

Wednesday recap

We went to the doctor Monday. I was very impressed with myself for getting us both ready and out the door on time. Lofton came to pick us up. I still can't drive or lift things! Reese weighed nine pounds even. An impressive gain of twelve ounces since we left the hospital! Dr. Greer had nothing but great things to say about our little man. We go back at two months for our first shots:(

Yesterday he was a little fussy- didn't want to nap anywhere but on me. Needless to say, I didn't get very much done! Last night I put him to bed about 7:30. He is doing so well sleeping in his crib! Lofton fed him around ten and then put him back down, I got up around 1:45 and fed him again. He slept until five-ish and then ate a snack. We got in the big bed together for some snuggle time and he fell back asleep. I was pleasantly surprised to wake up at 7:30 to a still sleeping baby! I took some pictures while he snoozed!

He furrows his brow a lot. I like to think he is in deep thought, a budding genius already!

After our sponge bath and daily wardrobe change! I just love his little flat feet. He crosses his feet just like his daddy when he sleeps!

I really love my...

Swing

and my Jake kisses

One week home

One week home! I am finally not sick anymore- just tired! I think that's part of it:) Lofton and I braved our first night without Nonna last night. We miss her! The night wasn't that bad; Reese just doesn't like to sleep. He isn't crying, just awake. We had a long stretch from 1:45 to 4:30 where we rocked and talked during the night.

I handed him off to his Daddy about 6:30 this morning so I could take a power nap. We bathed and ate around 10:00 and he has been napping in his crib since then. Thanks Aunt Linda for the bear. We are trying it out this morning and we seem to really like it!

We go to the doctor in the morning. I'm anxious to see if A) Reese and I can get ready and get out of the house- only one of us may be clean when Daddy comes to pick us up; and B) if we are back to our birth weight of eight pounds, ten ounces. When we left the hospital we were down to eight-four.

More later...

new pictures

I am still working on feeling better from this ill-timed respiratory infection. But, here are a few new pictures of our little man. He changes so much everyday!

Home

After an eventful hospital experience, we are finally home. What a nice place to be. More to come later- just wanted to get pictures up for those of you who have been waiting. Thanks for all the sweet phone calls and prayers. We are both doing much better.

Finally out and together!

Very large

last day....

The end is in sight! Tomorrow morning we go in for the induction at seven. I am so relieved that this pregnancy chapter is over and the mom chapter is beginning. Pregnancy has not been my friend, especially the last few days.

Monday, my first day off work, I was a dervish of activity. First, I went to the vet (which is on the far side of Auburn) to refill Jake's anxiety meds. It was a long drive, but the medicine is well worth the gas mileage. My first born son is doing much better:)

Then, I went to buy stamps. I had to mail bills. Not my favorite activity because it involves spending money on things that I can't wear or dress my child in, but a necessary adventure. Lofton doesn't know anything about paying bills, and so I had to get our finances in order before tomorrow.

Next I went to Target, where I spent a leisurely hour walking around. I was told walking would help Reese move lower into my pelvis, and Target is air conditioned. I bought nothing exciting. A new can opener- because I use a metal one straight out of the dark ages and I knew that Mom would be very upset if she had to open formula cans with it while she was here.

My trip to Target drained me; possibly because my body is used to a 10:15 snack every morning (that's when my babies go to P.E) and I started feeling very faint. Sweet Lofton came to get me and feed me lunch; he even offered to drive me home, but after eating I felt better.

At this point you are probably getting a little bored with the adventures of pregnant Elizabeth so I'll fast forward to Lofton and I's post-dinner walk.

Around six Lofton and I went to walk around the neighborhood. Again, I was trying to aide my body into labor. Clearly the walk was not a good idea. I started having some back pain on the walk, which intensified as the night went on. By 10:30, the pain was radiating through my pelvis down my legs- I could hardly walk. At 11:30, I called my mom (for the third time) to see what she thought I should do. At 1:00 I called the hospital. I got the same drill as the last time- wait and see what happens. At 4:30, I decided that I would just call the doctor when they opened and see if they could bump up my appointment from afternoon to morning.

Dr. Alverson said to come in immediately, so Lofton came home and picked me up to take me to the doctor. ( I should interject that although I was in excruciating pain, I managed to take a shower, put on my make-up, blow dry my hair, and find a cute outfit. If this was labor, I wanted to be prepared!) No labor though, just a lot of pressure. And the lack of sleep combined with my uncontrollable anxiety had caused my blood pressure to spike significantly. They hooked me up to the machines and we monitored Reese's heart rate and my contractions for a little while. Dr. Alverson said that there was definitely some signs of early labor contractions, but nothing to get excited about. He sent me home with some Darvaset for the pain and to help me relax.

So here we are! This time tomorrow we will be at the hospital waiting for Reese to make his arrival. I pray that everything goes smoothly and by tomorrow night I am holding my sweet, HEALTHY baby boy.

Hopefully I can hijack the Internet at the hospital with Mom's laptop. If not, Lofton has strict instructions to come home and post pictures on Friday for everyone to to see.

The next time I write, I'll be a mom....