Photo dump

I finally figured out how to upload pictures on here from my iPhone - get the blogger app! Duh! :) Getting on the laptop to post stuff is nearly impossible, so hopefully this will make things easier!

We've been having tons of fun over here. Jacob has started playing a lot and talking up a storm! He loves working out on his playmat, the occasional tummy time (when he's in an extra good mood), monkeying around in his bouncy chair, and swangin' on the highest setting his swing will go! What a boy!

4-year Anniversary

Today is our 4-year wedding anniversary and I felt the need to write a quick blog, thanking my husband for sharing the past 5 years with me.  He's such an incredible man, and I feel so incredibly grateful to be his wife and the mother of his child.  He's taught me how to be a better person (still working on this personally), but still allowed me to be myself.  I can't imagine going through this crazy roller coaster we call life with anyone else.

I would also like to thank him for everything he's done for me in the past 6 weeks (really, the past 9 months and 6 weeks).  Josh has been so supportive, understanding, patient, encouraging, flexible and loving.  I literally would not be able to survive without him.

Love you babe, and cheers to many more years!

Jacob's first 4th

Here's a cute picture of Mr. Jacob on the 4th of July.  Summer holidays are my favorite, especially the 4th because of the fireworks, so I'm really looking forward to next year when we can take him to watch fireworks!!

Jacob - 1 month

Age: 1 month
Height: 21.85" (67%)
Weight: 10lbs 12oz (75%)
Milestones: Jacob is able to hold his head up really well, especially when being held or laying on someone's stomach.  He just recently started reacting to laughing, smiling and kisses.  He loooves kisses from his mama, and I think a real smile will come very soon!
Sleep: Up until 3 days ago, Jacob would only sleep at night when being held - as soon as we would lay him down, he would start fussing - so Josh and I had been splitting the nights (4 hours each) on the recliner holding him.  During the day, however, Jacob would nap in several different spots, including the Sleep & Play Rocker from Emma, but never the pack & play (I don't think he likes being flat on his back).  So 3 days ago we decided to really commit ourselves to getting him to sleep in our room in the Sleep & Play Rocker at night, so we started a bedtime routine (bath, PJs, feed, book, rock, bed) and swaddling (which I thought he hated) and he is finally sleeping independently!  Some nights are better than others, but it's so nice to sleep in my own bed with Josh!
Eating: Jacob is eating like a champ!  He eats about every 2-3 hours during the day, and 3-4 hours at night.  About 2 weeks ago he started fussing really bad during feedings, which I originally thought was a dairy allergy, so I cut out as much dairy as I could (milk, yogurt, cheese, etc.)  The fussing continued, along with what seemed like choking, so I then decided it was an over supply and/or fast letdown issue.  I started pumping 1-2oz before each feeding and that has helped tremendously!  I'm now trying to decide if I should continue to avoid dairy, or slowly re-incorporate some and see what happens.  We'll see.
Clothes size: Officially in 0-3 clothes.  Thank goodness because I didn't have many newborn outfits!
Diaper size: Size 1
Best Moment:  These few weeks have been such a blessing, so it's really hard to narrow it down to 1 best moment.  But, if I HAD to list only 1 - it would be 2 nights ago when he slept 12 hours (9-9) with only 3 feedings.  That morning I thought to myself, "he's not a newborn anymore."  And sadly enough, he's not!  He's officially a 1-month old!
Worst Moment: I still laugh thinking back to our first night home from the hospital - how dumb Josh and I were!  We literally laid Jacob down in his pack & play and just thought he'd go straight to bed.  No rocking, no white noise, no swaddle, no bath, no nothing!!!  Needless to say, we didn't sleep AT ALL that night and Jacob was probably wishing he was still in the hospital nursery.  HAHA!  We've definitely learned from that experience.  I also want to mention that his 2-week growth spurt was pretty terrible, too.  No one ever told us about growth spurts, so when Jacob was suddenly eating every hour and SCREAMING between feedings, Josh and I were really freaked out!  We spent 48 hours nursing constantly, and didn't get any sleep.  Thankfully we survived, and are anxiously awaiting his 6-week growth spurt. :)
Teeth: None yet, thankfully!  Not sure how I feel about breastfeeding with teeth?!?!
Looking forward to: Taking Jacob out more, introducing a bottle so I can get out more, my 6-week check-up so I can start working out, and general growth!

This first month has taught me so much about myself, Josh, our relationship and life in general.  It has definitely been much harder than I ever imagined, but so much more rewarding!  Even after a night of screaming and crying, I look at Jacob and can't help but smile.  He's the best thing that's ever happened to us, and we are so so so glad to have him!  As precious as this first month has been, we're definitely looking forward to the future - when he will start laughing and smiling and cooing.  This first month has been alot of "giving" without a lot of "getting", so I'm really looking forward to getting a little back from him (I hope that doesn't sound selfish).

The dogs are adjusting really well, I don't think they're even bothered by the crying anymore.  You can tell Maverick is very protective over Jacob, always sitting next to him and kissing him.  Schatzi is a little more reserved and timid, but she's starting to warm up to him and I think she'll be a great big sister when the time comes.  I can't wait til Jacob is old enough to interact with them, it will be fun to see the dogs' reactions then!  So many people told me that the dogs would be pushed to the back burner after Jacob arrived, and while the amount of attention and lovies they receive has decreased, I still love them so much and try to give them as much attention as I possibly can.  They're sleeping on either side of me as we speak.

Overall, I'm just thankful we survived the first month!  I love my husband so much, and am sooo thankful for all his help, support and patience.  The hormones running through my body are out of control, and unfortunately he receives alot of the backlash, but I seriously could not do this without him.  Hopefully as things "settle down" and I get into more of a rhythm and schedule, I'll be able to blog more about day to day happenings.

Love,
Kate

Jacob's Newborn Pictures

My heart literally explodes when I look at these pictures, and my sweet baby boy. Our little family is complete.

Photos by Heather C. King

Hospital Bag

We packed SO MUCH unncessary stuff in our hospital bags, which ended up just taking up space in the tiny hospital room. So, here's a quick run down of things you need and things you don't need. Of course, this is based on our hospital, so you might just want to confirm with the hospital (or your OBGYN).

NEED:
- Warm, comfy clothes: The hospital is soo cold, and you'll literally just be sitting in your room all day. I'd recommend packing clothes that are larger than pre-pregnancy. I've heard that you'll be around 6-mo pregnant when you leave the hospital, but I was smaller than that.
- Nursing bra, nursing tanks, nursing sleeping clothes: I was so surprised how frequently the nursery nurses came to check on our breastfeeding (nearly every 3 hours), so these came in so handy! I have this nursing bra, and several of these awesome nursing camis and LOVE LOVE LOVE them! Buy your nursing bra a size larger than pre-pregnancy, because your boobies will get HUGE! I literally have been wearing these items every day since I got home from the hospital, too.
- Slippers/house shoes: You probably won't be leaving your room, so no need to dress to impress, but you definitely want comfy shoes to stumble to and from the bathroom.
- Toiletries: Bring your own shampoo, conditioner, tooth brush/paste. No need to bring pads, nipple cream, etc - the hospital will provide all of this.
- Cell phones, iPad, digital camera, video camera, chargers for all
- Boppy: This is a necessity for every mom that breast feeds! Can't say enough good things about it!
- Pillows, warm blanket: Definitely bring a pillow (with colored pillowcase) for you and your husband. I originally brought the warm blanket for me, but Josh used it most of the time. The hospital provides some blankets, but they are hospital blankets after all.
- Carseat: They won't let you leave without one!
- "Going home" outfit for baby: I brought TONS of clothes for Jacob, most in 0-3 month size, and ended up using NONE of it! He ended up being way smaller than we anticipated, so he only fit in NB size, plus the hospital provided little t-shirts and hats. The t-shirts ended up being so convenient for diaper changes, and all the poking/proding that the nurses do, so we just kept him in that the whole time. We put sweat pants on him when we left the hospital, which were way too big and looked silly. I guess his "going home" outfit will have to wait until a special occasion. :(

DO NOT NEED:
- Makeup, hair dryer, straightener, etc.: Unless you are Super Woman, I highly doubt you will want to/care about doing your makeup and hair. More power to you if you do.
- Baby stuff (diapers, wipes, blankets, clothes, etc.): The hospital will provide everything (literally even gave us a nail file and thermometer), so unless you have a special blanket you want baby to use or special pacifiers, don't waste your time!
- DVDs, books, magazines, etc.: You won't have time for any of this nonsense.
- Feminine pads, nipple cream, etc.: The hospital has the BEST pads and breast feeding accessories, so be sure to use their stuff, and request more before you leave and take it with you! Your insurance is paying for all of it anyways. My favorite items were the ice pack pads (amaaaazing) and the feminine water bottle (you'll know what I mean when you get there).

Other hospital recomendations I have include:
- Take advantage of the nursery at night: It was so hard for me to let the nursery nurse take my sweet, new baby boy, but it was the best decision I ever made! I haven't slept 4 straight hours since I left the hospital! Plus, they do lots of tests early in the morning, and your pediatrician will come every morning to check on your baby, so they have to be in the nursery for that. They will bring your baby to you if they are fussing or if its been 3 hours and you need to nurse.
- Take advantage of the lactation consultants: They are awesome and will just watch you and make sure you're doing everything right. Ours gave us little pointers that have come in super handy since we've been home!
- Take your pain meds whenever you can: Whether you can feel it or not, alot of trauma occured and eventually the pain will catch up to you.
- Drinks tons of water (and prune juice if it's available) and take your stool softeners: Just trust me.
- Do not be afraid to ask for advice: I asked everyone for advice - the nursery nurses, the lactation consultants, my nurses, etc. These people are around babies all the time and have seen it all, so don't be afraid to ask!!

Maternity Pictures

Finally!  Our maternity pictures are here!!!  I'm so so happy with the outcome, and can't wait to share Jacob's newborn pictures as soon as we get those back.

Enjoy!

Photos by Heather C. King