3 Months!

Monroe,

You have just reached the 3 month milestone in your journey, which I found out means you've had to give up your newborn title and move onto the very progressive title of infant. We are so glad that we were chosen to be your parents.

This month you learned to stick out your tongue, grasp and hold objects (with a much stronger left hand currently) and you've started to move yourself when placed on your tummy. A little wriggle if you will. We'll find you halfway up your crib from where we placed you and sometimes even sideways.

This month your dad and I got to go on a belated 5 year anniversary dinner while you stayed with our friends Paul & Alisha. They have 4 little girls who like to just smile and coo over you.

This month has had some very hard times as well.
Your great grandfather suffered a massive stroke while away in Halifax and when your grandma, and great aunts rushed out to be with him and your great-Nanny. You and I headed over to grandma's house to run her dog kennel and keep an eye on your grumpa. This proved quite tough with you and up to a dozen dogs to look after. We managed somehow.
Unfortunately your great-grandpa passed away a week later. I am so happy he got to meet you and hold you!
During the funeral your Aunt Kristy offered to take the day off of work to watch you. You did great and made all that pumping worth it knowing you were managing just fine.

Your dad had a trip to Calgary and you and I went and stayed with your great-Nanny. It was a fun visit where she snuggled and held you lots and helped me when I couldn't seem to comfort you.

You met some other aunties of yours this month for the first time, lydia and andrea and kyla, you also got to meet grandma bev and gord. They just loved you the moment they saw and held you. You are so beautiful and smile so easily with a grin that lights up your entire face.

We had a brunch with your auntie jennie bess and josh during our thanksgiving weekend, in which you behaved perfectly as you always seem to! Than we were off to Aunt Jackie's for a family thanksgiving, where you got to meet poppy for the first time.

You're getting better and better in your carseat and stroller. i have hope that one day we'll be able to complete walks without you screaming the entire time. We bought you some new clothes this month and everyone who sees you comment son how absolutely handsome you are.

We love seeing you grow and find new things such as your hands and feet and the way you grin so very much.

we love you,
mommy & daddy

2 months old. Wow.
In the last 4.5 weeks you’ve changed from this tiny blob, into a good sized little man.

Just a week ago I had to go up a size in your diaper snap sizes, and put away all your newborn sleepers and switch you to 0-3 month and some 3-6 month clothing!

In late August we went and visited with your grumpa and gammy while your dad went away on a boys weekend to the cottage. This time on our drive down gammy met us halfway and sat with you in the back to help soothe you during the drive, you seem to hate your car seat and begin to scream about 10 minutes into any drive unless someone is rocking your seat, holding you hands and comforting you, which is very hard for your mommy to do while driving alone! Thankfully your dad is a pro at this and while comfort you on nay drive that he is there for.

the first time you stayed asleep in your stroller! (lasted about 1.5 hours)

The Friday night that we got there you slept for 6 hours straight! I woke up a half hour before you did and stared at you anticipating when you’d wake up. We had some fun going to the Zurich Beanfest and looking at the classic cars, as well as going for an evening walk with gammy in downtown Bayfield. We also went to church in the park to see your grandma and grandpa and meet up with some friends of ours who got to snuggle and hold you.

roe, auntie anita & mommy

You continued to smile at us and about a week after you first grinned at me, your dad got his first real big smile out of you. He was SO excited! Since than you’ve begun to coo while smiling and you’ve begun to smile, coo and gaze at the hangy things over your bouncy chair, which keeps you entertained. We adore seeing you smile and hearing you coo.

We headed to the cottage for labor day weekend where you met lots of cousins and great aunts and uncles and your great grandma. It was a bit chilly and you were snuggled all weekend and kept warm by your aunties.

We went for our 6 week check-up where it was confirmed by our midwife that you were teething ( & that you were up to 9lbs 9 oz.)! It is rare, but hey so are you. So I bear through the biting you’ve started doing. When I sternly tell you no and pull away, you become quite upset, so hopefully you’ll soon start to remember not to bite!

Your great Aunt Gloria and Uncle Darren hosted an amazing shower for you and your cousin Tieler ( born 2 weeks after you) last weekend. It was a great day full of friends and family, who were so excited to meet you. You were amazing smiling and flirting with everyone in sight. Everyone loves you so much and we were so very blessed!

This last week you surprised us by sleeping 8 HOURS. That is right you celebrated turning 8 weeks old by doing 8 consecutive hours of sleep. What a gift! You’d been doing 6 hours straight, a half hour feeding than another 2 hours of sleep for a few weeks and we felt so blessed by that. Then last night and the night before you did 7.5 and 8 hours again. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that this is your new sleep pattern!
You’re awake more during the day now and we’re trying to get you to enjoy your stroller and carseat combo. So far you despise them. The only way you’re happy on a walk is when you’re in a sling or your babyhawk, which truth be told can get a bit heavy. And going for a 1/2 hour walk while you scream the whole way is none too enticing!

Your daddy and I have started up our badminton again and we bring you along switching off who gets to play as well as mommy has started up swimming again. Your daddy comes with you to the pool and encourages mommy while you and him hang out.

We love you so very much and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us!
Love mommy

one month.

You were one month old yesterday.

Where did that time go? Somewhere in between the 3 am feedings and the burpings and gripe water and multiple outfit changes you grew, quickly.

I am guessing your now at least 8 lbs (we have a midwife appt this week to confirm), which seems huge to me, but small when I think about how I was 8lbs 13 oz. at birth (thanks mom!). You still look the same to me, but I can see little changes, like chunkier thighs, and little man boobies forming as well as a double chin.


We've settled into a routine where you'll choose a routine for a few days that change it! Thankfully you've been sticking to a night time routine pretty well, it is the daytime we've gotta figure out. You've been sleeping 4 hours with a 1/2 hour feeding than another 3-4 hours. Which we love! And your daddy is such a HUGE help, he does diaper duty while I set up the milk shoppe. I don't know what I'd do without him.

You enjoy your tummy time, you are already lifting your head straight up (you did within an hour of being born) but you're now able to switch it from side to side and lift it off of my shoulder to look me in the eyes. One day while I left you on your blanket for a minute I came back and you had rotated your whole body 90*. You are one string little man!

You outgrew your first sleeper!
More your arms outgrew it. Your legs will still fit but you've got 3/4 length sleeves, you've definitely inherited your daddy's long arms and fingers. You're still fitting into your newborn stuff, but I think we've only got a couple more weeks and than we'll fully be into the 0-3 month range, and man do I have some cute clothes for you.

We switched over from disposable diapers to cloth last Saturday, so we've been cd'ing you for over a week now and so far so good. It has definitely increased your booty size! but the diapers are just so cute and knowing we're doing our little part makes me feel good. Thankfully we have enough diapers that I only need to do 2 loads a week. I love using our clothesline, but this week the weather has not been co-operating.

I LOVE seeing you with our family and friends. And they are ENAMORED with you! You've met so many people this last month that it would be mind boggling to list them all, it reminds us just how absolutely loved you are.

Decker has adjusted quite well to you and now instead of jumping away from you when you reach out, he gives you little kisses and snuggles up with us while you're feeding.

And you smiled for the first time (without me thinking it was gas) on Friday (august 20th), and again a huge grin today when I was talking with you. I love seeing those smiles! and your eyes seem to twinkle along with your grin.

One of the best things this month has been seeing your dad fall so hard in love with you. He loves to come home from work, cuddle you and all asleep with you; While singing you a random variety of bon jovi songs (bed of roses was a huge favorite our first night in the hospital). You are a lucky boy to have a daddy like him.

There has been tough times this month, such as nights 2 and 3 of your life, where your nights and days were mixed up. We kept you awake one evening to re-adjust your schedule and thankfully you straightened your sleep times out! And I am so so very thankful for that.

we love you roe!
love mommy

Church Time

This morning we got you all ready and took you to our home church.
We have had so much love and support from our church through the last 3 years of attendance and most especially during this pregnancy and your arrival(I have 2 freezers brimming with meals to prove it).

We of course arrived late (a very bad habit of ours!) and we were rushed with welcomers for you. Eventually the pastor had to ask everyone to return to their seats and your dad was asked to bring you to the front where everyone saw your adorableness and cooed over you, as well as applauded your arrival.

You were fabulous and we were able to stay for our bbq after-wards where your dad wore you in your sling and snuggled you while everyone took peaks at you :)

Now it is nap time :)

1 week old

my tiny roe.
you are one week old (almost 2 hours ago today).

I can hardly believe that you've been here a full seven days. Seven days that have gone by too quickly. You've changed your father says, but I still see the same little man i met seven days ago. Not so much has changed to me.

Day 1
of your life started at 5:07 pm on July 22, 2010.
You were here.
We cuddled and snuggled and your dad stared at you for hours on end. Enamored. In love. We could hardly grasp that you were ours, a gift. How could it not be from God.

That night was not so long and feeding you was something so new and different to me and you, it was a lot of snacking and trying for both of us. Your dad walked with you and sang to you and held you for a lot of the night. You are loved.

Day 2
We had some visitors early on who loved on you and took pictures with you and joined with us in celebrating your new life. We were shown how to bathe you and take care of your diaper changes and umbilical stub (which freaked me out).

Feeding went a bit better and I was able to grab a nap while you were loved and cuddled by grandma's and great grandma's and cousins and grandpa's and uncles.

That night was much longer and you were hungry every 30 minutes it seemed. Eventually we got a little more sleep and than it was time to head home.

Day 3
We came home!
You met 2 of your 'aunties' and snuggled like a pro.

You also met tiny D, who is obsessed with you! He is ever protective and loves to snuggle up to your feet. It is adorable. We weren't sure how he'd do. But he and you seem to be getting along very well :)

We took our first family walk tonight, just down to the lake and back, and showed you off to some of our neighbors. They were all in love immediately with you.

You were up much of the night and mommy and daddy had very very little sleep (maybe 3 hours total).

Day 4
You met your cousins and aunt and uncle on this day and your grandpa and grandma stopped by as well.

Our midwife stopped by and let us know that you were doing great!

Than we tried a new night time routine and were rewarded with two 4 hour increments of much needed sleep. This helped me to get out of my stupor and begin adjusting to your feeding schedule.

Day 5
Feeding and snuggling were what we did. And your little umbilical stub came off! Making mommy feel much better about giving you a bath.

Day 6
You saw your midwife again and she let us know that you were eating like a champ and had gained 3 oz. in 2 days :)

You cluster fed on this day. seriously you fed from 11 am to 5 pm with a 1 hour break and a couple 10-20 minute breaks. Your dad kept you occupied while i stole some time for a bath. It was luxurious for the 15 minutes it lasted :)

Day 7
You've fed for a lot of today and have been adjusting even more to a steadier feeding/sleeping schedule. You're snoozing right now and daddy is working on some house stuff. I think this is when I am supposed to nap, but I still feel that adrenaline rush :)

That is your first week. You have been loved, snuggled, kissed, cuddled and introduced to many new people. We love you tiny Roe

Monroe Micheal Kenneth

So here's a little of our birth story for you :)

Due to all of the issues with my kidney we headed in for an induction on July 15th. Where the doctors attempted for 36 hours to induce labor. It didn't work and to say I was frustrated was an understatement.

We met with the OB on Monday and discussed whether to try again the next week or to wait 2 weeks. I opted to try again the next week.

So we headed in Wednesday night (July 21st) to try again. This time they tried a completely different approach to induction and we were sent home, only to return about an hour later dilated to 2 cm. We than stayed overnight, Paul slept I had some slight contractions throughout the night.

The next morning at 9:30 am the OB broke my water and began pitocin 2 ml/half hour and by 11:30 am I was dilated to 4 cm, which is when the epidural came in handy. (found out after that the baby had been posterior as well)

I was checked at 1 pm and had not progressed much further. Than at 3 pm I advised the nurse I was feeling some pressure. She checked and I was fully dilated. She suggested I do some passive pushing for a bit so as not to be intensely pushing for the average 2-3 hours for a first time mom. So with the support of my mom, Paul and my doula April I did this.

At 4:15 pm the nurse came in and advised me that she just had to finish prepping the OR for another lady and than would be back to begin the final stage! At 4:30 pm she came in and at 5:07 pm Monroe Micheal Kenneth was welcomed into the world. Weighing in at 6 lbs 13 oz. and measuring 19 inches long.

It was shocking to me how quickly everything happened and a bit overwhelming. We've been home since Saturday afternoon now and are slowly adjusting to all that is baby and feeding and trying to sleep, which a cold I got is not helping.

Monroe's name was because I loved it, Micheal is after my father and Zaide (grandfather) and Kenneth is after Paul's grandfather.

We're so thankful for our little man and for all the love and support we've received from everyone!

Hydronephrosis

http://www.medicinenet.com/hydronephrosis/article.htm
a little explanation on what the specific's of the infections have been.