Week 5

Oh W... 5 weeks have passed.... and we didn't sleep last night. Everyone says that after 6 weeks it gets easier, so you have one week to shape up!

W has started to spend more and more time awake during the day, he likes to look at the light, and sometimes watches the fan blades. He likes to look at the trees out the window. When he cries we go for walks outside in the pasture if the weather is pretty. The last time we went out he was crying, and all the animals took notice. He met Henry the sheep, a couple of no name chickens, and the cats Booger and Boots. Everyone took a sniff/look and ran away. It was pretty funny. W continued to cry, and eventually calmed down about 4 hours later.

That's pretty much how this week has been, lots of crying, lots of wondering what is wrong with him. We tried formula to give me a break from feeding. He got constipated (we think) and was so miserable that its not worth using formula unless there is some emergency and we run out of frozen milk, or I'm not there to feed him.

This week W did not go to Anderson for dinner with friends, because we were having a bad day. Saturday we went to a 31 party with Rena (where mom spent money) where we met other babies, and had fun with all the Mommies. Then we dropped by Nanny and Papas for a quick visit, and then went to Anderson to find a new swing for W (mom wants one too) and shopped around for other random things. The main reason we were out was to get me and W out of Ben's hair so he could work on the house.

W also got to go to his first band staff meeting. He was definitely the boss, controlling the meeting the whole time. He got to meet Marvaye and MayaRay, and Mark.

I don't think I would have survived this week if it hadn't been for Rena, who has come over almost everyday and either helped with dishes, laundry, and especially holding W and getting him calm. She is amazing with him, and he calms right down with her.

Week 4

On March 8th W was 28 days old. This week he met lots of new people.
On Friday (the 4th) we went to Calhoun Falls to visit everyone. I should have taken more picture, but we did get a picture with the most important person, Mr. Wanga. He teaches math, and is from Kenya. He makes me laugh and reminds me that I can't be serious all the time.

We then went to AHS to drop something off to the band room, and Traivon, one of our drummers has the distinction of being the first band student to hold W. He did a good job, and I didn't get nervous at all.

Our biggest trip of the week was on Saturday. We drove all the way to Union so W could meet his Great Grandmother - Mama. Aunt Caroline came along, and Uncle Preston was there.... and Grand pa Brooks, and we even got in a visit with Grand ma Sharon. We don't know what W will call his grandmother and grandfather, since he is the first grandchild he gets to decide.

W got to go to Hearts and I got to eat a Gyro, but no cherry pepsi because they were out. (SHAME)

Nanny visited on Monday (7th)
W got to meet Brittany, our neighbor and my former student, on the 8th. Brittany was home from college on spring break. I'm hoping to get her to babysit a little if she will ever stay home long enough.

Week 3

My little potato is 21 days old today. I really cannot believe how time is flying. My failing memory also helps that. I am going to try to start writing things down as they happen so that when it comes time to catch up with W for the week I am not thinking "I need to write a blog post, but I don't even remember what happened this week!". Well that is what husbands are for, to remind me what happened.

Uncle Steve came to visit after a veteran funeral. It is great to get random visits from my family, but Uncle Steve is very special.

We went to Anderson this week with Rena to go shopping, Wesley was such a good and tolerant baby. We went to at least 5 stores, and he slept most of the time, and demanded the "diet ninny" the rest. "Diet Ninny" is what Ben is calling the Pacifier.

We got adventurous as a family and went to McAlisters for dinner, Wesley only peeped once, then we went to Tractor Supply and Walmart. We learned a very valuable lesson: always take the stroller.

Today W and I went to the Grey House in Starr (where Ben and I were married) and had lunch with Nanny and some of her friends from high school. It was lots of fun, and Esta brought some very cute clothes for W. After, we went to Nanny's house to visit with Papa, took a nice walk with Nanny, and got a pattern for one of my favorite childhood toys. A giant cat pillow that Nanny made me, it was ruined in the basement of our house in Montana, and I've never forgotten it.

I was talking to W this morning, holding him while I ate breakfast, and we were discussing college. He has showed signs of being very advanced, having great head/neck control for his age, his APGAR score was 9/9, and we believe he rolls over when we aren't looking. Next week he will be going to college. This is a joke of course, but really I'm very sad that some day he really will be leaving for college the next week. This breaks my heart, that one day he will grow up and leave me.

I'll try to have better memories for next week. I can't believe I'm still so scatterbrained.

Week 2

The first week of W's life was made up of medical checks, sleeping, diapers, and eating. This week we added crying to our repertoire. Sometimes he has been changed, fed, burped, and cuddled; then finds it necessary to cry. He will cry until he gets tired of it, everyone rests for about 30 seconds. Mom and Dad find hope in the quiet, then he starts up again. This usually happens in the evening, but the good thing is that everyone sleeps really well. We had one night where W slept about 5 hours straight, and that was heaven to us.

Today is W's 14th day with us. I love him so much, even though I'm constantly tired and confused about what is going on.

This morning we got up and had breakfast, went downstairs and I put him in his swing. He didn't go to sleep like he normally does, he sat quietly and looked around. No crying, no "you're a moron hands" he just peacefully looked around. So I started my morning chores, feeding the dogs, cats, sheep, chickens, collecting the eggs. W was alone for a few minutes at a time and never whimpered.

He stayed awake for a long time this morning, some of the time I held him and we listened to a Jack Johnson album I downloaded for him, we went outside for a bit, and then finally he dozed off in his swing. He is becoming more aware of his surroundings, and even looks at one of his toys on the changing table.

His umbilical cord stump fell off last night, luckily on Ben's watch, because I was terrified.

I think he might have purposefully grabbed my finger, but I'm not too sure.
I love this kid.

Week 1

Wesley was born on a Tuesday - February the 8th. I woke up leaking. It took me a while to wrap my head around what was going on, and then I told Ben. We called into work, leisurely packed for the hospital. Picked up breakfast. Went to the doctor's office where they examined me, and sent me to the hospital.

We went to the hospital, were admitted to Labor and Delivery, met our awesome nurse Betsy, and after 7.5 hours of labor, had Wesley at 6:47 PM. He was 19 inches long, and 7 pounds 10 ounces.

The two days we spent in the hospital were nice, the food was good, the staff took care of us, and Wesley slept and slept. Lots of people came to visit, and on Thursday we went home.

Friday Wesley had a doctors appointment, there I was told he would have to be on a bililight machine until the red blood cells from my body were flushed from his. This defines our first week. Constant contact with the machine unless he was being fed or changed. Sometimes we cheated and held him without the light. Once a day a nurse would come and weigh him, and prick his heel and take a vial of blood.

Wesley does NOT LIKE being changed, naked, or having his heel stuck. Having this happen everyday was not a good start to life, and hopefully he will think life is grand from now on because all of that is not happening.

Other than being hooked up to the light, poked, and prodded, Wesley enjoys having a snuggle with mom or dad. Dad is a better snuggler because he walks around sometimes.