Photo Dump

We have been taking a bunch of pictures, but I haven't had all the time in the world to post them... so here's my little photo dump. Enjoy.

We went over to my sister's house the other night for dinner, here's her clan.... see how their personalities show up in the picture

Dad learning how to plan Rock Band.... Lee's playing drums with wooden spoons

First time meeting Grandpa Buddy

First time meeting Grandpa Shooter

Leela's adjusting pretty well to the new addition

Weston loves to sleep with his hands up by his head... or just "up"

My Little Man

Hang'n with Dad

What a sweet and precious little man!

Breast or Bottle?

How about both?! sort of...

Since Weston had lost so much weight in the hospital, enough, at least, to keep us in there an extra day, I have been fairly paranoid about his eating habits. I know these feelings are very common with new moms, but I have been incredibly anxious about whether or not he was getting enough to eat while breast feeding. Not only was I anxious about him eating, but how he was eating... breast feeding has been a big challenge with him. I do want him to be breast fed as long as possible, but knowing I have to go back to work, I've known he's going to be bottle fed at some point.

Luckily, though, I talked to a friend of mine the other night who recently had a baby of her own, and we talked about all the frustrations with breast feeding vs. bottle feeding. She is also a working mom-- another teacher-- and has gone back to work already, so she's been pumping too. Though she has been bottle feeding with breast milk since early on when her baby was having issues with breast feeding. So yesterday we tried going a full 24hours strictly bottle feeding breast milk. It was great! I had no anxiety about feedings with him... I have a better idea about how much he is actually getting, he stays awake for a whole feeding, Matt can feed him too, and he's sleeping much longer through the night! Hopefully this trend will continue!

Thank you so much Amber!

Weston: a story and some numbers

Birth Story...
After passing my due date, Matt and I headed to the hospital Saturday night to start the induction process. That night, they gave me some oral drugs to try and kick start labor-- Sunday morning they were going to start the pitocin and really get the show on the road. Unfortunately, when my doctor cam in Sunday morning to check on my progress, I had not dilated any more-- I was still sitting at 1cm. The next step was to break my water, but that did nothing either, so the c-section was scheduled. Matt called Mom and Tracy and let them know to hurry on down to the hospital, and then I was wheeled to the OR. Everything happened extremely fast.... and Matt was able to sit in on the c-section (the doctor and nurses were VERY aware of his inclination to pass out and they were very understanding). I was so proud of him... he even video taped them pulling Weston out... then he had to leave! Weston was perfect... 7lbs 3 oz. and EXTREMELY alert!

Hospital Story...
Weston was born on Sunday at 10:25 and we were anticipating going home on Wednesday; however, we were told Wednesday morning by the pediatrician that Weston had lost more than 10% of his birth weight and they wanted him to stay another night and try to get his weight back up. Matt and I were extremely disappointed, especially since we had been asking continuously to see a lactation consultant and had yet to have a full consult-- the night before, a consultant came to see us for 10 minutes after she got off work and promised that we would have a complete consult the following morning since she was only able to touch on some key points. I guess it was for the best, since the 2nd consultant we talked to was MUCH better. After seeing the 2nd consultant, we started being more aggressive with feedings and even Weston jumped on board! He gained 3oz. in less than 24hours and we were cleared to go home on Thursday!

STATISTICS...
Weston had 16 visitors while in the hospital
Matt changed a BAJILLION diapers
We recieved 2 deliveries.... Thanks again Dad and Carrie and Susan and Randy!
0= the amount of times Weston cried on the ride home from the hospital
Weston peed through 3 diapers/nightgowns his first night home
Weston's averaging 4 sneezes each time he has to sneeze (a gift from mom)
Number of times Matt and I have said how stink'n cute he is.... COUNTLESS

Milk Drunk

Burp'n

Proud Pops

Aunt Diane visiting the little man

Amanda looks like a natural holding Weston

Mary visited also

One of Matt's best friends, Landon, came to see the new man-- her mom came too!

Getting ready to go home... all of his newborn clothes looked so tiny, but they swallow him hole!

Going Home!

The ride home

Chillax'n in the family cradle with his Great Nana's afghan

Snuggling on the couch

Asleep in the cradle with his afghan

Still sleeping

Introducing...

Weston James Aurand
7lbs. 3oz./ 19in
December 27, 2009

T-Minus... any day I suppose

I don't have any cute pictures for this one.... mostly because I am a little lazy at getting the camera out (not due to a lack of exciting events).

CANKLE UPDATE...
My cankles have spread to my feet, or should I say, "theet," those would be thick-feet. My entire leg, really, looks like a Cabbage Patch Doll's. My calves go directly into my heels, leaving only a little dimple for my "ankle," my feet are over stuffed to accentuate the carefully "sewn on" toes. I am not mad about any of this, mind you. Mostly, I think it's amusing. There's no point in getting mad-- and it looks incredibly funny. The other morning I had to put on Matt's socks since mine are too tight on my Cabbage Patch Theet, but when I went to slide on my Birkenstock clogs, my feet wouldn't fit. Realizing I was going to have to wake Matt up and ask for his help in tieing my tennis shoes for me, I grabbed my shoes and went up stairs to gently wake him. After he put one on and tied it, he could see I was wincing a little (my ankles are so far gone that the ankle support for my shoe was not compfortable at all!). Being the most gracious, caring, protective, thoughtful, loving husband that he is.... he said, "hang on." He ran downstairs and returned with his tennis shoes. It was at that moment that I started to laugh... a lot (knowing they wouldn't fit). However, when he tied the first one on and it didn't hurt, I laughed some more until tears came. He reassured me that it was going to be okay, that my feet would go back to normal after the baby is born, and that this was only temporary. I asked him, "what will you wear then?" His repsonse, "I'll find some other shoes. What's most important is that you are comfortable!" How the heck did I get so lucky? I love him!

Speaking of lucky... I went out yesterday morning to meet some long time friends at Starbucks and catch up- before baby comes. While I was out, Matt stayed home and cleaned the house. It wasn't a suprise or anything, he even told me he was gald I wasn't going to be around so I would feel the urge to try and help. There are still some things that would not pass the "white glove test," but he cleaned all on his own, and I am not going to argue about that one. So if anyone comes over.... please look past the tiniest of imperfections that only you would see and realize that I have the most wonderful husband in the world, and be happy.

As for today... we are off for Dunwoody this afternoon to celebrate my sister's 6th child's 1st birthday. I can't believe that a year ago we were at the hospital welcoming Sara.... this year is really going to feel like deja vu!

We are sitting at 9 days away from my due date, but really anything could happen-- he could come early, on time, or just a little late. Either way, we are both "ready" to be parents and cannot wait to share him with all our friends and family-- so stay tuned.

Cankles!

Now that I am 37.75 weeks pregs, my ankles have decided to retreat into my calves until this baby comes. That, or.... my calves were starving so they ate my ankles. Either way, I am sporting the largest cankles known to man (or at least known to me)!disclaimer: please look past the chipped, almost gone, toe nail polish-- I can't reach my toes to make them prettier.

I remember giggling to myself, but it could have been out loud, at Tracy's cankles when she was giving birth to Sara almost a year ago. However, I am not giving birth yet and I have pair already! The things we do for our children. If you look really close at the picture you can see the ring band from my socks I wore today. The cankes don't really bother me, I suppose, but I am also not wearing tight shoes. Praise the Lord for Birkenstock clogs and tennis shoes! We'll see what I squeeze into tomorrow night for the Christmas party at Matt's work!

Update: I went to the doctor today and everything looking good for a December delivery... whether it's vaginally or a C-section. I am already on a weekly check-up... next week I will have an ultrasound to check on growth and such. So stay tuned!