Colin's First Three Weeks

I was planning on posting a picture from every day of Colin's first week, but I missed some days already, so I picked some shots from the past three weeks. I was really surprised that I didn't have the camera out every day, since it seems like I've been hypervigilant in getting pictures of #3. Colin has been changing so much! He is starting to be alert much more of the daytime, and is doing an excellent job of sleeping in the travel crib with a sleep positioner during the night in between feedings. He's really a content baby, and we are enjoying him so much!

We're famous!

Check out the article in today's Star Tribune variety section featuring Blooma. Blooma is the yoga studio where I've been going for prenatal yoga and volunteering my Tuesday nights at all summer long in exchange for discounted yoga classes. Colin (in utero) and I are pictured in the newspaper, even before his birth announcement- how about that! Here's the article for you out of towners (or even worse, Pioneer Press subscribers): The bloom of birth ">

Homecoming

We brought Colin home on Thursday, November 13th, around noon. My milk came in that afternoon, and Colin has been doing a great job of nursing ever since. The home care nurse came for a visit yesterday morning, and Colin weighed in at 8 pounds, 1/2 ounce, so he's almost back to his birth weight. His umbilical cord stump fell off yesterday morning before the nurse visit, and his circumcision is looking well-healed already. We're all doing well, and quickly getting reacquainted with our old friend, sleep deprivation.

Annalise has been really helpful, and is being such a good listener for Daddy. She is really enjoying playing with the Calico Critters of Cloverleaf Corners baby care set that Colin got for her and Bennett as a present. She was really excited to present Mommy and Colin with a gift that she chose all by herself at Target- a "just chillin" penguin bib, and a "my first Christmas" bib and Santa mittens, along with a card that she thought was quite funny. It was the classic drawing of a kid picking his nose, with the caption being, 'couldn't have picked a better brother than you. Happy Birthday!'

Bennett, on the other hand, is having some trouble adjusting to the new addition to the family, and that is being manifested as some trouble listening to directions, taking toys from his sister, and general whining. We are going to shower the love on our dear second born, and remind him how special he is to us. More on Bennett adventures sure to come...

That's it for now...thanks for all of your well wishes prior to delivery, and your congratulations. Sorry I've been out of communication for the rest of last week. I guess my excuse is, I'm a mother of THREE!

We are excited to FINALLY announce.....

..the birth of our son, Colin August. Colin took his sweet time (due date 11/1), but when he finally was ready to meet us, he didn't waste any time. It took only six hours, from first "real" contraction at 3 pm, to holding him in my arms at 9 pm, on Tuesday, November 11th. Colin surprised us all, weighing in at 8 pounds, 4 ounces. He was 20 1/2 inches long, with a 14 inch head circumference, and lots of dark hair. His birth was an absolutely amazing experience for me, as I am proud to say I achieved my goal of giving birth to him without any pain medication or medical interventions.

Grandpa and Grandma Jacques were extremely helpful, managing the homefront while Mike and I were getting to know our new son at the hospital. From packing lunches and getting kids off to school, to Grandma being a guest lecturer at the parents' topic of temperment during Bennett's ECFE class on Wednesday, we couldn't have done it without them! They brought the kids by on Wednesday after school, and it was great to see how excited they were to meet their brother Colin. I got some great pictures of Annalise holding her youngest brother, simply beaming with pride.

The new Party of Five

Happy Saturday!

Laidback Katie

I am a new woman! After having a very difficult, frustrating, tense, and anxious beginning of the week, I am now back to enjoying the here and now, and not thinking about when this baby will come. My days have been filled with non-stress tests, midwife appointments, and ultrasound, as well as walking the stairs, power walking to and from the clinic from the remote parking lot, and having insomnia-filled nights. We're going over to Bridget and Steve's tonight for pizza, and the cousins are pretty excited to play together. Beyond that, we have no plans for the weekend. We gave away our gopher football tickets for Saturday.

I'll be in touch.....sometime soon. Keep us in your prayers.

Productive Weekend

Madeline and The Wizard had a fun time at the Pumpkin Party on Saturday morning. The bunk bed finally came in, and I picked it up on Saturday afternoon. We then stopped by Blooma's first birthday party, and then on to dinner at the Convention Grill. Saturday night was spent assembling the bunk beds, so Madeline could sleep in her new bed that night (I don't know where the other eleven slept, but I'm sure it was in two straight lines)!

Baby Update

I had an appointment with the midwife on Friday, during which she detected an irregular heartbeat with the Doppler. I had a NST (non-stress test) where we listened to a longer segment of baby's heartbeat, and the midwife was pleased with it. I'm measuring right on, and everything else is looking good. Today we went for an ultrasound, where they were specifically looking for any structural abnormalities in the heart. Baby had several PACs (premature atrial contractions) [which are very common, and usually resolve on their own], but the cardiac chambers and vessels all looked normal. I then had another NST, and the radiologist wants me to have another on Friday (and weekly until baby is born). One really cool thing the sonographer pointed out was that #3 has hair. I could have told you that with the intensity of my heartburn, but nice to be validated.