Just Some Photos

Mason just has so many faces that I love. Maybe it's because I am his mother, but I think he's just the most precious thing in the world!!

A Smile

They say any smile before 6 weeks is either gas or coincidence. I say it's a smile. To hell with what they say!!

BRRRRR!!!!!!

It's been snowing here in Denver since Tuesday evening. We have 23 inches in Aurora so far, and they say we'll get another couple of inches tonight before it's all said and done. Here are a few photos to show what our yard looks like. Mason has been pretty unimpressed by all of the snow. If he only knew about snow angels and sledding he'd be sad he missed it!!

One Month Today

Mason is one month old today. He celebrated by taking a trip to the pediatrician. He weighs an impressive 8 pounds 10 ounces!! I can't believe he's the same kid, who, one month ago, I was so worried about putting weight on!! He also grew an inch and is now 21 inches tall. He's in the 25% for weight and 30% for height.

He also celebrated with a bath. We've been using the bathroom sink, instead of the tub, and he seems pretty content to just hang out in the warm water.

We are supposed to get snow tonight, so after his bath, we bundled him up in one of his warm sleep sacks. I could just crawl up in there with him and cuddle all night long.

Happy One Month Birthday my son.

A Quick Update

It's hard to believe I am in my 4th week of maternity leave already!! I know that Chris really misses Mason during the day and wishes he could have had more time to spend with us. He's such a great dad when he comes home - he feeds and plays with Mason while I make dinner and even changes poopy diapers.

Mason has his 1 month check up on Tuesday. I haven't tried to weigh him here at the house, but he's out grown a pair of new born pj's, so I know he's packing on the pounds. I can't believe that my little baby will be a month old on Tuesday. Where does the time go??

Mason is finally sleeping better at night. Once he had re-gained his birth weight, we were able to let him sleep at night as long as he wanted, without having to wake him every 3 hours to eat. Well, that was fine, except he had his days and nights mixed up, and so he would slept great til about 1 am. He'd get up at 1 to have a bottle, but then he'd stay up. Til like 4am!! He would lay in his bassinet and fuss and groan and keep Chris and I awake all night. He wasn't wet, or hungry or anything like that. He was just wide awake. So, the pediatrician suggested keeping him awake as much as possible during the day, which I've done the last 2 days, and he's slept great the last 2 nights. Poor Chris was sneaking naps in every morning before work he was so tired.

I am feeling pretty good, and will be released from all of my post surgery restrictions this weekend. I have been able to drive myself and carry Mason for the last 2 weeks, but I had a 4 week limit of not lifting anything heavier than 10 pounds. While it's been nice to have Chris do the vacuuming, I am looking forward to getting all of my independence back.

Mason's Birth Story

After dinner with my parents, we checked into the hospital on Saturday, the 19th, at 7pm. Chris commented on the lack of excitement in the drive to the hospital since it was planned and not a spur of the moment thing. We got settled, and my parents said their goodbyes. At 9 pm, I received the first of 4 tablets that were supposed to soften my cervix and tried to get some sleep. At 5 am when the nurse checked me, I was still a 1. I had some contractions, though they were spaced really far out and seemed to stop if I sat down. So, I stood a lot, determined to get things going.

At 9 am the nurse came to check me, and my water broke on it's own. And when she checked me, I was a 2, and we all thought "this is it". She went ahead and started the petocin, and that really got my contractions going. She said that since my water had broken, she would not check me again until I got an epidural. My parents came back to the hospital at about 10 am. By 12noon, I asked for a shot in my IV for some pain relief. Chris did his best to keep my mind off of things, but those suckers really hurt!! Somewhere around 2pm, the epidural guy came in. Since I was stuck in the bed (due the petocin, and my water breaking), I decided I might as well labor in comfort and got the epidural. Chris and my dad left and my mom stayed. I was so terrified of the pain and the needle and what it would be like, I just wanted my mom there. I tell you, though, if I had to grade him, he'd of gotten an A++!! One the drugs kicked in I was able to just relax and wait and hope that my body would take over.

I labored until 5 when they checked me, and I was still a 2. I was absolutely heart broken and scared of the idea of a c-section, but I also knew in my heart that God was trying to tell me something. Mason just wasn't going to fit the other way and that was that.

So, my doc came in and we talked and decided on a c-section. We had to wait til 7 for her to have another doctor there to assist. Chris went to find some dinner (the poor guy had been living off juice and pudding cups for 24 hours) and my parents came home to let the dog out.

Just before 7 they came to get me, and filled my epidural with some pretty strong drugs. It took all of my effort and energy not to fall asleep. I said my goodbyes and they wheeled me off. A few minutes later Chris was by my side and before I knew it they were saying "it's a boy". I held my breath as I waited to hear my son cry and when he did, it was the most beautiful sound ever! Chris kept running back to the table with reports about how Mason was doing - he was so excited and such a proud papa. I cried buckets of tears of joy.

Mason Allen was born at 7:22 pm, on Sunday, September 20th. He was 6 pounds 11 ounces, and 20 inches long.

My parents were dying to know Mason's name, so once I was back in the recovery room, and they were there, we told them together. It was such a fun thing for Chris and I to finally share his name with someone.

My first night was a bit of a blur, and the next morning I was sore and stuck in bed. When Mason cried, Chris just jumped right out of bed and got him and took care of him. He is an amazing dad and I loved watching him comfort our son.

So, while it wasn't what I envisioned, or what we planned, it was absolutely perfect and I wouldn't change a thing. In the end, we had a beautiful baby boy, who is absolutely perfect in every way.

No Reason, Just a Photo

I found Mason sleeping with his "plug" in his ear and thought it was just too cute not to capture on film.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa

My parents left to drive home to Montana on Tuesday morning. It was so strange to be in the house all by myself all day with Mason. We got along great - he slept most of the day, so that helped. I miss them already! And I know Mason misses his Grandma. He had learned to recognize her voice too and would turn his head when she talked. Having my mother here for 2 weeks was SUCH a blessing - I seriously don't think Chris and I would have made it without her! Having had a c-section, it was hard to get around and having an extra pair of hands and feet was really nice. She taught us so much and really gave us the confidence to know that we can be great parents. My dad had to fly home for most of the 2 weeks that my mother was here, and I know he missed Mason (and my mom) and was sad that he couldn't spend more time with us.

We are starting to get a routine down. I love to sit on the couch with him after he's had breakfast mid morning and I just let him sleep on my chest. I look around and don't feel the least bit guilty for letting the dishes sit in the sink while I cuddle with my son. He snuggles up on me and I just watch him sleep. Chris is so great when he comes home after a long day at work he changes clothes and picks up Mason and they have some great bonding time together. I know he'd love it if he could spend the days with us and I love that since he can't, he makes Mason a priority as soon as he's home.

Cowboys v Broncos

Our 3 year wedding anniversary is Wednesday, and we all know Chris loves the Cowboys, so I bought tickets from a friend for the game on Sunday and we left Mason with Grandma to celebrate a few days early. The Cowboys lost in the last few seconds of the game, but we had a great time and really amazing seats! I've certainly never sat at the lower level before.

Mason's First Bath

Yes, he screamed THE ENTIRE TIME!! I am not sure how my son could be so against water, but he was clearly unhappy with us. We'll try it again this week when he's had some dinner so his tummy is full and he's a little more awake. Poor guy. . .

Back From The Pediatrician

The last one is Mason and his dad watching their first Cowboy game together. Don't they both seem overly interested?!?!

Mason had his 10 day check up today with the pediatrician. We took bets on his weight. His birth weight was 6 pounds 11 ounces and he's been doing a great job of eating. The goal was to get him back to his birth weight. He was 6 pounds 5 ounces on Monday.

Well, I am proud to report that he was 6 pounds 12.5 ounces! My son, the over achiever!! The good news for mom and dad is that this means we can feed him about midnight or so, and then crash til he gets up around 5. I've been having to set an alarm and wake him at midnight to eat and then 3 hours later at 3 am to eat. Maybe life will seem a little less stressed if we can all get some good sleep. I was just so happy to see his weight back up there. Because he was so little when he was born and because he lost so much, he's only in the 10% for weight, so we've got a ways to go. But, we're getting there.

Mason's cord fell off yesterday, so tonight he'll get his first official bath. I'll try to add some photos of that later. We are having grandma supervise the first one to be sure we know what we're doing. It's so nice to have a nurse for a mother!

My parents leave on Tuesday. I offered to pay the fee to keep my mom's dog's boarded for another week, and when that didn't work, I threatened to throw myself against the door so she couldn't leave. I was an only child once - I still remember how to have a temper tantrum!! It scares me to be alone all of next week without anyone here, but I suppose at some point in time, it's all about sink or swim, right?!?

My own personal good news is that I am have lost all of my pregnancy weight and even a few pounds more . . . I am officially 6 pounds less than I started at when I got pregnant. Not bad for being 10 days out. And, it should be good motivation to keep it up. I feel pretty good and even get to drive myself to the grocery store tomorrow.