I thought I'd start a blog as a way to document and remember all the little things that are happening in our new family's life. My goal is to do a weekly post so we'll see how this goes!
Our bundle of joy decided to delay his entrance into the world. This is me 40 weeks 2 days pregnant before Chris and I went out on one of our last dates for a while.
After a long, difficult labor our little Landon Frederick arrived! Chris and I couldn't believe he was actually "ours"! Landon was born May 31st, one week past his due date, weighed in at 7 lbs 6 oz, 19.5 inches and was born at 2:41pm.
Landon's first photo
Our first family photo (yeah, I'd say I'm a little exhausted!)
Landon and Grandpa Dan
Meeting Uncle Rob and Aunt Adrienne
Meeting my cousin Kinsley Roth...we're less than 6 weeks apart!
Snuggling with Daddy
Cuddling with Mommy
Family photo the next day (it's amazing what a shower and 30 minutes of sleep will do for you!)
We had lots of family and friends visit us at the hospital over the next few days. Chris and I were so exhausted the first night but we wanted Landon to room in with us. However in the middle of the night Landon was inconsolable. I asked Chris to push the call button and ask the nurse to come and take him to the nursery for a while so we could rest. Poor Chris was so tired that when the nurse answered the call all he could get out was, "Need nursery help". The hospital is a very busy place. Landon and I were always getting nursing assessments and physician follow ups. We were very anxious to get home.
Heading home! Chris said he hadn't been this excited to drive carefully since drivers ed!
Once we were home Aunt Kristen and Isaac brought us homemade basil pasta and meatballs. We had a big family lunch and afterwards I got in the most sleep I'd had in days...an hour long nap! That evening Rob and Adrienne visited and stocked our freezer with lots of meals. My Mom and Dad stayed with us and helped us out our first night home.
Grandma Janice is a great rocker!
We gave my Dad an early Father's Day present...his grandson wrapped up in a KU golf shirt!
Everyone had left by Sunday morning and then it was all too real. Sink or swim time for Chris and I! Luckily Landon is pretty good during the day. Unfortunately he is a bit of a night owl, but we are trying to adjust ourselves to his routine.
Monday morning we decided it was time for Landon to get his gear on! We had received some newborn K-State items so we thought he'd better wear them now.
We also had our first bath at home. Chris and I worked as a team and got it done better than I thought we would.
Monday afternoon we ventured out for Landon's first pediatrician appointment. We quickly learned that we need to add at least 30 minutes to whatever time we think it will take us to get ready and loaded up in the car. Our pediatrician is one of Chris's good friend's sister. It's so nice to already like, know and trust your pediatrician! First on the agenda at the doctor's office was to strip Landon down to his diaper so he could be weighed. He in return immediately had a pee that leaked out of his diaper everywhere onto the table. He sure knows how to make an introduction!
Landon's check up went great! He had already gained 4 oz since he left the hospital. It was so reassuring to know he was getting the nutrition he needs! After his appointment he let us run an errand to where else but Buy Buy Baby so we could pick up a few more items for him.
He was sleeping so peacefully in his car seat when we got home that we decided to leave him in it while we tried to quickly sneak in some dinner. Lesson learned! Landon had a huge diaper blow out and Chris had to remove the newborn insert and pretty much clean and disinfect the entire car seat.
Things went so well on Monday that by Tuesday we were feeling pretty good about ourselves and parenting. Tuesday night happened to be the night of my Bunco group so we decided to swing by so the girls could meet Landon. I'm on driving restrictions and I hadn't been out of the house all day. On the drive to Bunco I told Chris I felt like a dog with my head out the window. The fresh air was so nice!
Usually Bunco is "girls only" but they happily made an exception for our little man.
Landon meets the Bunco Girls!
Wednesday was so nice we got to go outside for the first time and watch Chris bath the dogs and do yard work.
My first successful tummy time.
Chris had 5 days of paternity leave so Thursday was his first day back to work. I was a little apprehensive about how I would do all myself, but Landon is so darn good during the day that it was great! If only we could reverse his day and night schedule. I should knock on wood, at least it makes it easy for me to be at home by myself with him!
Thursday was also Landon's one week mark. I'll be taking a picture week by week so we can watch him grow!
Chris and I purchased our first DSLR camera for our Germany/Italy/Amsterdam trip last fall and we love it. We are going to try to take our own newborn photos of Landon in the next week or so. Landon was being so good yesterday afternoon that I decided to do a little photography trial run by myself.
Here's a few of my favorites:
Thursday evening the Kirchner's stopped by for a visit and brought us a delicious dinner and some healthy snacks. Landon got to meet Joe, Megan and his future buddy Louis.
Megan and Landon
Everyone wants to know how the dogs are doing with this new little being in the home. We have let the dogs get sniffs in here and there but then they have get back. I believe adopting another dog last year was a good transition for Tucker. We've been trying to still give them just as much attention as we did pre-baby.
Tucker could care less, but Boomer's keeping a watchful eye on Landon this time.
Well, that was our first week at home with a newborn. Here's a few pieces of wisdom we've picked up already:
1. Do not place the diaper pail and laundry hamper side by side in the nursery closet. Even though they look nothing alike, some sleep deprived Mommy keeps confusing them.
2. Speaking in baby talk will cause it to sneak out at weird times. While walking the dogs, Chris saw another person walking a large dog. He then asked our "doggies" in a cooeing voice "What is that up there? Do you see that? What is it?" He caught himself before he took it any further.
3. A newborn baby will make you quickly forget childbirth. After a very long, intense, and at some points scary labor Chris and I both agreed that we never wanted to go through that again. Maybe we could adopt a sibling for Landon? Three days later Chris and I were talking and he said, "So maybe we can have another baby in a year and a half or two....What do you think of _______ as a girl's name?"
4. Do not use food to describe the way a nursing newborn's poop looks. Let's just say I'm not going to be able to eat spicy pepper or curry hummus for a while.
5. Last but not least: It doesn't take long to love being a little family!
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