6 weeks new

Nap time!

Here are a few pictures from the last week. Yesterday Jameson and I made a trip to SAMS club. We got tons of compliments ("he's so cute", etc) but there was one mom who asked me how old he was. When I told her, she said that at 6 weeks she always thought "Phew! We made it!". That kind of made me laugh, but I agree. The last few nights have been better, and the random crying for no reason has faded. And, though it's becoming a distant memory, it's still pretty dominant in my mind and won't soon be forgotten.

I'm not sure how my parents made it through the first year of my life, or ever decided to have another baby. My dad says that I cried for the first year and was very colicky. My mom even said it was pretty bad and they would drive me around in the car to put me to sleep. My grandma will agree with them. You know if your grandma agrees and my mom comments that it was bad. So I will take the six weeks of crying occasionally over that!  Okay, back to my kiddos :) here are some pictures from our last week! 

Getting ready to pick up Abby from Pam's

Cute chubby cheeks

Sibling love!

Sleeping peacefully

Jameson's Newborn Pictures

When Jameson was 11 days old we had his newborn pictures taken by the lovely Linsay of Linsay Hammett Photography. She did a phenomenal job and we are so excited to have her photograph Jameson, and our family, for the first year of his life!

She also put together a slide show, which you can view here.
Here are a few of our favorites from his newborn shoot...

Such a proud big sister!

A close up of his pouty lips

I think this has to be one of my favorites!

He looks like such a little man in this one!

One Month

Here are the pictures, as promised :)

Our little man is one month old...

Sweet Boy ~ One month old

And, I'm done!

I couldn't resist adding this last picture. It's actually from the 4th of July, but I thought it needed to be on the blog... his first smile! 

First Smile

Month 1...

Is already done, and it was kind of a blur. I'm pretty sure that lack of sleep is the cause of it flying by, but the last month has seriously flown. This morning Jameson had his one month check up and here are his stats:

~ 10lb 7oz (75 percentile) ~ 21in (35 percentile) ~

I knew he'd gained weight, but it really seems like he's longer than the 35 percentile, but that's what they tell me, so thus far we are chunky and short :)

A few things we've learned, or I just want to remember for the future...
* Abigail adores her little brother. She would kiss and hug him 24/7 if we'd let her, I think. She loves showing him off to everyone everywhere we go.

My beautiful babies

* We call Jameson either "Jay" or "Jameson", and Abigail calls him "baby brother". She also asked to be called "sissy".

* Jameson is a spitter. Abigail was not, so this is uncharted territory for me. If he doesn't burp (which is difficult) he'll spit up, and it always seems like he's spitting up everything he ate. I realize that a little liquid looks like a lot, so he truly isn't spitting everything up, but many times my shirt, the burp cloth, Jameson and whatever is around us (chair/bed/boppy) has gotten soaked.

*  He is also a crier. Again, Abigail was not, or at least not as much as he is. He is not a "cry 7 hours a day" crier, but we typically have at least an hour every day where nothing soothes him.

* Gripe water is amazing. One of my friends suggested we try it for his crying and wow ~ the first night we tried it we thought we'd found a miracle drug. It is all natural and really seems to help sooth him. It definitely doesn't work 100% of the time, but if you dip his pacifier in it in the middle of the night when he won't calm down and go back to sleep, he'll suck away and next thing you know he's out.

* Jameson has a love/hate relationship with his pacifier... there are moments when it's the best thing ever, but it is often rejected!
* SwaddleMe wraps and Halo SleepSack Swaddles are awesome. Jameson needs to be swaddled to sleep well and both of these really take the guess work out of the process. I love the Aiden and Anias swaddle blankets, but they require skills and in the middle of the night (in my half asleep state) it's easier to just velcro him up than to worry about wether I've pulled one side tight enough to get him wrapped well.
* Jameson can hold his head up incrediby well. He prefers that you hold him so he can look around and takes every chance he gets to hold his head up.
* Little man eats a lot. During the day he is eating about every 2.5 hours. At night he will usually go 3, with one stretch of 3.5 hours. Oh, and that's from the start of one feeding to the next. I would hate for anyone to think we are sleeping for more than 3 hours :)
* He has been sleeping (at night) in his room since he was about 2 weeks old. I was getting little-to-no sleep, so Jordan convinced me this was best (it didn't take too much convincing). He does great and our video monitor allows me to check in on him randomly.
* I absolutely love cuddling this little guy and during his first month many days were spend snuggling in the recliner together!

Tomorrow I will have pictures of him in his monthly onesie... I just didn't get the pictures taken, uploaded and edited (what little editing I do!) tonight.

Jameson's Birth day

Jameson's birth story starts on June 18th... I know, a whole week before he was born...

Jordan and I decided that we needed to mop the floors and really finish up our deep cleaning. I mopped the dining room floor and part of the living room floor and was really tired. So about 8:45ish, I went to bed. I had one contraction before I went up to bed, and then another about an hour later... the contractions continued at about 1 every 40min, then 30min, then 20... about 3AM my contractions were 15min apart and fairly regular. Sometimes they were painful, but mostly they were just there. About 5AM something changed and things got painful... my pelvic bone felt like it was going to split in half. Since I had been up all night, and thought I was in labor, I called into work and said I wouldn't be in. I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for 3:45 that afternoon, and I called my doctor's office to see if I could get in earlier, just so I'd know ~ yes labor, or no labor. They got me in at 9:45 and the answer was - likely not labor. Dang! Why was I in pain?? My doctor said to go home , relax, take a bath, if the pain went away, then no baby, if it continued or got worse, then maybe a baby.

Fast forward a week to my induction date. As much as I did not want to be induced, I'm thankful that I was, and that the 26th was the day. Jordan and I dropped Abigail off at Pam's house at 6:30 and she was so excited to meet her baby brother! We had spent all day Monday with her (movie, lunch date, etc), and she had her "big sister camera" with her at Pam's.

We checked into the hospital at 7AM, and were one of 5 couples being induced that day ~ wow! My name was finally called (at the same time as another mommy-to-be) and as we walked up to our nurse, we found out that the other mommy-to-be went with our nurse. Once the switch was made and we had the right nurse we went back and got everything going.

First thing ~ take a picture of Jordan and I :)

Us! (I'm 40 weeks + 4 days pregnant)

Then I got into my awesome gown and settled into the hospital bed. For whatever reason the computer was still showing that I wasn't checked in, so my nurse, Lisanne, went to check on things. She came back, solved the problem, got my IV started (just fluids) and at this point it was almost 8am. A little after 8 the pitocin was started and about 8:20 Dr. Eckert came in. She checked me (at about a 3 and 70% effaced) and broke my water. She told my nurse that I could have an epidural whenever I was ready for it (yea!).

Lisanne, Jordan and I started talking and we had an instant connection ~ she was awesome #1, but her brother is the DA here, so I knew him and he's great, so that was a relief. Anyway, she said she was going to get my epidural meds, as she could see that my contractions were getting more intense, even though I said I was okay. She was wonderful, telling me that it was the breaking of my water, not the pitocin that was progressing me so quickly (the contractions were immediately pretty intense and causing me to dilate). Well, she and Jordan started talking about medications... meanwhile my contractions were getting more painful and I knew I would want the epidural fairly soon ~ the contractions were every 2-3min. I got Jordan's attention and Lisanne was off to get my medication. The anesthesiologist came in and got my epidural in and I was all comfortable again.

About 1PM Lisanne checked me and I was dilated to a 5. A half hour later she checked me again, because she could tell that my contractions were intensifying and I was starting to feel things again. I was at a 7! I had dilated 2cm in a half hour. She got ahold of anastesia and had them give me a "boost" in my epidural, because she could tell things were going quick and we didn't want the epidural to wear off.

Anyway, about 3:00 Lisanne checked me again ~ I could feel pressure with my contractions and she immediately called Dr. Eckert and told Jordan not to make me laugh, because when I was contracting she was literally holding his head in. Once Dr. Eckert arrived, she quickly got gowned up and 1.5 pushes later (seriously) Jameson was here!

Holding him for the first time

Father and Son

Our first family photo

~ Our family of four ~

Big sister holding Jameson for the first time

His birth experience was so different from Abigail's. I was more relaxed, since I had already given birth once, but also because my nurse was amazing! She reassured us, comforted us, kept us in the know, and overall was just wonderful. I actually got to watch my son be born. Not something I ever thought I'd want to see (and trust me, I couldn't see everything), but I saw his little head come out and one push later he was here. Jordan cut the cord and he was immediately placed on my chest. It was such an amazing experience!! Abigail was instantly in love with him and has been such a great big sister. She told us the other day that she loves him the most - more than mommy and daddy. Lovely, and I'm sure that'll change as he takes her toys and pulls her hair, tries to date her friends and they fight. But, one thing is for sure, our family couldn't be happier and little Jameson is a wonderful addition to our family!!

A few more pictures from the first couple days...

So tiny!

Sleeping peacefully swaddled in his "box"

Us with Lisanne

Mommy with her babies

Jameson Robert

One week ago - Tuesday, June 26 at 3:23PM, Jameson Robert Clark entered this world and filled my heart with more love than I thought possible. He weighed 7lbs 9.6 oz (so just a little less than his sister) and was 19.5in long.

His big sister can't get enough of him ~ always wanting to give him hugs and kisses and his daddy and I already can't imagine our lives without him. He eats more than any newborn I've known, but luckily I'm keeping up, though sleep deprived. He's a great sleeper, at least during the day! Haha ~ we're getting the hang of things, but last night was a bit rough.

Yesterday we had his follow-up doctor's appointment and he is back up to (and even a little past) his birth weight. He got a great review and the doctor doesn't want to see us again until he is a month old. His cord stump fell off on Sunday, but that looks good (I was a little concerned because it seemed way too soon), and is healing normally.

I had forgotten how much I love to cuddle newborns! Or my babies, at least. There is nothing better than napping with a sweet baby on your chest!! I'm definitely soaking up this time with him and I foresee lots of afternoon naps during the next 8 1/2 weeks (is that really all that's left?!)!

I will write his "birth story" soon, but for now, I'll leave you with pictures of our adorable little guy!

First picture ~ 7lb 9.6oz

Father and Son

Brand NEW!

PROUD big sister!!

 

Ready to go home in his scrubs

 

 

 

40 weeks...

My due date is here. Will it come and go with no baby? At this point I'm going to guess yes, just like it came and went with Abigail.

I truly thought (and there is still time) that this little guy would come on his own. I've definitely had more symptoms this time, and I'm already farther progressed than I was the night before I was induced (an entire week late) with Abby.

Tuesday will be his birthday if he decides not to come before then. I realize that is 4 days away, and I have big plans to walk a lot between now and then. But, I've been doing that for some time now and nothin'. Only time will tell and one thing is for sure - this little man will be welcomed into this world with so much love! His big sister is so excited to meet him - and very concerned that he doesn't have a name yet. I am so looking forward to watching her with him. She is already very protective of him and his things, and really likes looking at the baby monitor to see his (empty) crib.



40 weeks ~ on my way to work
I promise, my belly sticks out pretty far, it's just hard to tell in scrubs!

How far along? 40 weeks!
Maternity Clothes? Mostly scrubs, but I love my maternity capris and am very comfortable in all comfy clothes. I have to wear Jordan's t-shirts if I'm going that route, most of mine do not cover (see above picture in scrubs!)
Stretch Marks? My belly button is ruined... there are very distinct stretch marks on the top and on the bottom of it.
Sleep? It comes and goes.
Best moments this week? Today was my last day of work!
Miss Anything? Wine...
Movement? He is still SO wiggly!! I'm actually pretty shocked he has much room to move at all. Some times I think he is going to bust out of my belly button (which is, I'm sure, why it's all stretched out).
Food Cravings? Not really
Anything make you queasy or sick? Nope!
Symptoms? I'm dilated to 2cm and am 70% effaced. Monday night into Tuesday morning I thought I was in labor... my contractions, though not all of them were painful, were about 10min apart consistently for awhile, but no baby!
Belly button in or out? Out
Linea Nigra? There is maybe a faint line very low...
Wedding ring on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time? I'm definitely happier than I was. I know I have my mood swings, though!
Looking forward to? Tuesday... if this little guy does not come before then, we are being induced on Tuesday. I'm honestly hoping for tomorrow ~ it's my BFF, Jenilee's birthday.

Reflecting back on this pregnancy I just can't believe how quickly it's gone by. This pregnancy has definitely been rougher than the first. Of course, I've had a 3-year-old to chase around, but I think that after having one baby, your uterus has sensitive spots or something. This guy will find places and push and it really hurts, a lot. I don't remember that with Abigail. Not to mention the fact that I was sick in the beginning and the heartburn! I'm pretty sure he is going to look like a little monkey when he is born, with dark hair all over his body. It's okay, I'll love him just the same, but I'm pretty sure that if the wives tale about heartburn is true, he's going to ~ Abby will even talk about heart burn. It's pretty funny! I haven't gained near as much weight this time, and for the most part it's all in my belly. At my appointment on Tuesday I was actually right on the upper edge of the "normal" weight gain, versus gaining way too much with Abigail! Jordan would tell you I've been extremely moody and mean. I know that to some extent I have been quicker to jump on certain things, but I'm also not as rested and I blame it on the testosterone :)

My bag is all packed and Abigail's gift is all ready to go, so little Mr. can come at any time!!