Two Week Check Up

Ok, first of all, I'm not intending to only do once a week posts!  However, given my lack of sleep, Christmas, and adjusting to two kids, finding time to sit and type more than one sentence on here has not been easy!  (though, can I tell you this post has taken Four Hours, between interruptions in typing and Blogger not liking my photos today.  Argh!)

Given that....Hey, everyone, Ryan had his two week check up on Thursday!  And the kid is doing great!

He's already up to 7 lbs, 5 oz - which is 25th percentile.

He's 21 1/2 inches long - 75th percentile.

And I can't remember how big his head is, but it was 50th percentile.  

SO...he's tall and skinny like his brother, but thankfully doesn't have quite the mellon that his big bro sports!  

Here's my long skinny boy, at the doctor's office.

Notice he still has his umbilical cord.

Look at those Bright Eyes!

The kid eats constantly, but not too much at one time.  I'd love it if he ate more in one sitting and then gave me a bit more time (especially at night!), but I know that will come in time.  

Speaking of nights....We're improving!  I figured a few things out - I think we're dealing with warmth issues.  I can get this kid to sleep 4-5 hours at night, if he's nestled in my arms, as we sleep on the couch!  Unfortunately, this is not a long term solution, and my back is killing me from sleeping slumped over with a baby in my arms.  So we're using a heat bag and heating pad to warm up his bassinet when he's not in it, so that it's nice and cozy when he gets in.  There has been some improvement since we started this a few nights ago. 

I also lined his bed with one of my shirts - not sure if that's helping, but at least he's getting my scent even though I'm not right next to him.  He doesn't full out scream and cry, it's more constant wimpering, until he eventually falls asleep.  The progress is slow...but it's progress.  I see relief in my future.

Ryan's umbilical cord fell off the evening after his doctor's visit!  Sean's took a full four weeks, Ryan only two.  So I decided it was a good time to for his first bath.  Which he loved!

Can't you just see the Joy on his face!

Oh, that's better, Momma!  

A few other things...Ryan's hair has really lightened up, and frequently has a reddish hue to it.  More than once I've looked at him and seen myself as an old man!  Other times he looks exactly like Sean.  But in all, I believe he is very much his own little guy in looks.  He seems to be pretty laid back still, not overly fussy and rarely screams full out.  Unless, of course, he's partially undressed.  He hates getting his diaper changed, and as you saw above, hated being nekkid in the bathroom.  

All in all...it's been a good two weeks, just tiring.  It is an adjustment having two, but not nearly as difficult as I expected (honestly, it's just the lack of sleep right now.)  I'm realizing that the difficulty will be when Ryan gets older and has opinions on things.  Right now, he just eat, sleeps and poops.  Period.  What happens when he actually wants to do something?  :-)

In the meantime, here's another photo of my cute little guy!

Baby Ryan

Our First Week

Ryan was born one week ago this morning.  Really, it could have been a lifetime ago!  What they say is true - your heart just grows bigger with each child, I love this little creature with everything I have, just as I do with Sean and Isabella.  

I will say, however.....I am tired.  Ryan is a bit confused on daytime vs. nighttime.  He's not fussy at all, and is an excellent sleeper.  He just prefers to sleep during the day.  Yesterday, he slept six straight hours!  From Noon till dinner time.  Oh, I tried to wake him up.  I let Sean yelp and run around all he wanted.  I even snuck in a feeding or two.  But nary an eyeball did I see.  

But life with Ryan has not been too difficult as of yet.  He's a good kid, so that always helps.  Sean has been a struggle - he digs the new baby, but is definitely upset with Momma for not giving him her 100%.  And I've always been one to let Sean go on his own, I'm not the Mom who coddles and hovers over.  He's just that much of a Momma's Boy!  He'd been tantruming more before Ryan came, and we've seen a definite increase in the past week.  So we've got some room to work on there.

Otherwise, we've seen lots of visitors and had lots of help.  In the hospital, Grandma Fran was there when Ryan was born; and we were visited by Grandpa Phil & Oma Annie; Grammy & Isabella; Poppa Latta & Nana Roxy; Trey's cousin Sam and his wife Debby; playgroup friend Lindsey and Belinda & her husband Darden.  I'd love to show you pictures of everyone, except you really just aren't on it as much with the second one!  Ha!  Then Aunt Jessica came and visited over the weekend, and Grammy stayed with us from Monday morning until late yesterday afternoon.  

And the meals - let me tell you, I did not have this with Sean, and it has been just awesome!  I have not had to think about dinner (or lunch for that matter.)  Papa Z made dinner Saturday, Roxy cooked Sunday, and the Playgroup meals kicked in this week - so we have a homemade meal delivered to us every Monday, Wednesday & Friday for the next four weeks.  Plus, I have MOPS moms who are ready to deliver any meals once those run out.   I have tears in my eyes right now - I could not be more blessed!  

Other thoughts about this week....

*  God has a funny sense of humor and has given Trey, Sean and I all a little something to add to the fun.  Sean and I have been battling a cold since a few days before Ryan was born, and Trey had a 24 hour stomach bug earlier this week.  It just adds to the excitement around here!

*  Ryan has a bit of schmutz in his left eye - clogged tear duct no doubt - so I'm already that mom who has her hands all over her kids face, bugging the crap out of them.  But he really doesn't seem to mind, just grunts at me.

*  Speaking of grunting, Ryan's my Little Piglet - he squeals, squeaks and grunts like a little piggie when he's awake!  I'll have to get some video of it, you know, in my spare time.

*  I've never been a germaphobe, but have to admit I'm a bit freaked out to have such a vulnerable newborn baby during cold and flu season.  So don't mind me if I get anal on you, avoid large crowds or prefer that you stay away or wear a mask if you're sick.  My hands are raw from all the handwashing!  

*  I can't even list all of the things that don't bother with the 2nd kid that I obsessed over with the 1st - there's such comfort in knowing that I managed to keep Sean alive for 2 1/2 years, so I know that Ryan will be just fine!  That doesn't mean I don't have worries or concerns, I'm just so much more relaxed about it this go round.  For instance, I still remember sitting in my house with 3 week old Sean, in the baby seat for an hour and half, trying to get the courage to go to Target by myself with him.  This past Saturday, on the way home from the Pediatrician, I didn't think twice about swinging by Target to pick up a few things (only to have to turn around because Ryan decided he was starving.)  You just don't worry as much.

*  I had more insightful musings over this past week.  But sleep deprivation won't allow me to remember them at this time...

So, here are some more pics - if you even bothered to read all of the above, I know what you're here for!

Sweet Precious Boy

My long, skinny boy. Check out those Monkey Toes - just like his brother!

Like everything else Momma packed, Ryan's going home outfit was ginormous on him!

Don't cry, little guy, we're going home!

Momma's Little Bean (his other nickname)

Hey, Ryan's sleeping!  Hey, it's the middle of the afternoon!

(But too cute how that sleeper is wearing him!  He's so tiny!)

Ryan says:  "Funny how Mom thinks this will put me to sleep."

Introducing Ryan Conley

Trey & Amy proudly introduce you to our newest family member!

Ryan Conley

December 4, 2008

6:32 a.m.

7 pounds 0 ounces

20 inches long

Our new baby boy, Ryan

   
Momma & Ryan

Daddy & Ryan

Dad and his babies

Week 39 - Reality

You were thinking I birthed a baby, weren't you?  I know, I've been quiet since last week, surely by now there'd be news of a kid by now!

Well, the Reality of motherhood, babies, and nature has set in.  As of last Tuesday, I was still 2-3 cm dilated, 80% effaced.  But on Wednesday, I started having fairly intense, longer contractions.  I happily indulged in many speed-things-along techniques - which apparently only give me wonderfully strong contractions that make me think that I'm in labor! Walking, sex (sorry mom and dad!), spicy foods, etc. - oh, they bring on the contractions!  Friday, after doing 3/4 of my Christmas shopping online (in jammies, drinking coffee!), I dusted and vacuumed, decorated the house for Christmas - by that evening, the contractions were kickin'!  So much so, before Trey and I went to bed, I gave him a heads up - "I don't want to freak you out, honey, but they are hitting with some consistency, here, so let's go to bed and get some rest...I think this could be the beginning!"

Poor Trey.  While I slept like a rock for five good hours (because the contractions completely stopped!), he slept with one eye open, freaking out over every sleeping sigh to come out of me.  But even when I woke up Saturday morning, the contractions started back up again for a short time.  And then nothing.  At all.  All day.

And last night...they started to hit with some regularity again.  Humorously (well, funny in one of those Parenthood kind of ways), I was thinking that labor may be a reality around 3 and 4 am this morning, when Sean started to cry around 4:30.  I peeked in to see what was up - and chaos ensued for the next two hours.  Sean, for the first time ever, was throwing up - four times in about an hour and a half.  Mommy-mode kicked in - get him cleaned up, changing jammies three times, eventually went to towels for blankets.  

And you know what?  The contractions stopped.  As if Ryan knew - "Big bro needs Momma right now, I better wait."  Or more likely, he was never coming this morning anyway, and he decided to stop f'in with me while I cleaned up my Lil Boo of head to toe pukey!  (Can I throw in an aside that I had my stepdad make his awesome Eggplant Parmesan for dinner last night?  That's what Sean was covered in at 4:30 am this morning!)

So here it is, after 9am on December 1st, seven days left on that baby ticker to the right.  I'm a bit more content this morning than I thought I would be.  While I don't want to stay in this state forever, I'm not really that uncomfortable - certainly not the misery I experienced in the last few weeks of my pregnancy with Sean.  My 39 week appointment is in one hour, and we'll see what the Doc says.  Either way - it won't matter.  Ryan will come when he is ready.  All these signs are only signs of the inevitable, but not necessarily the imminent.  

So enjoy these belly shots - taken Right Now!  Let me enjoy these last minutes, hours or days of life growing inside of me, as I am most likely never doing this again, and I will miss the wonderful feelings of a baby growing and kicking me from the inside.  I will cherish these last moments as long as Ryan gives them to me.  And then I will cherish the lifetime of love ahead!

Week 39 Belly Shot

Week 39 Naked Belly Shot