5 weeks old!

Let me start off by saying... this is and will be the longest blog I will ever write. I decided to include a lot of pictures since so many of you haven't been able to see David.

Yes, I know... I have received several "hate" emails and phone calls because I have not updated my blog in a whole month!! I am terrible... I know! At least now, I have alot to talk about! :) Sadly enough, I have gotten on the computer a couple of times to pay bills, but I just signed on tonight to actually read emails and "play" while the little man is asleep! I am sure he will wake up any second for his 10:30 feeding.

Let's start from week one and move forward...(there's so much to tell!)

Well, David's first week home was so much fun... very interesting, but fun. My mom stayed with us for the first two weeks, so that was so much help! I couldn't have done it without her. You don't realize how much you appreciate your own mother until you have one of your own. I will forever regret anything negative I have ever said about my own mom in regards to "moving slow" or "not getting things done." From someone who went by a strict schedule, checked her email every day, balanced her checkbook weekly, showered every day, cleaned EVERY DAY and loved it, never paid a bill late... things have SURELY changed! I have now experienced what they call "motherhood."

So, back to the first week... I had to learn how not to go by a schedule and how to expect the unexpected. Being a mother is a wonderful thing, but my best bit of advice is don't do it unless you are ready! I love David more than words can say, but it isn't hard to see how people could get frustrated and become depressed. Don't get me wrong... I am not and was never even close to feeling that way, but it is hard, very hard and a HUGE adjustment to life before a baby. I couldn't imagine having to raise a child, especially a newborn on my own or without family around. So, kudos to anyone out there who has had to endure this. I have a new respect for anyone who has ever been a mother, is a mother or had to raise a child. I now understand why mothers don't answer their phones, return phone calls and/or emails, and can't get to places on time. (Could someone please explain that to my husband!)

Let me preface this with a little information...Matthew and I had a bet going. I knew it was a boy and he knew it was a girl. Whoever was right, would have to change the first 20 poopy diapers. Well, guess what... I won! So, the first night home, Matthew got to experience a poopy diaper to the fullest extent. I couldn't post this blog without a picture of the unforgettable event...




In case you can't tell from the pictures... as soon as Matthew took the diaper off, David shot poop all over Matthew's hand and arm! It was great!

That same day,we experienced bath time! What a fun time that was...there were so many people over here. If you got a birth announcement, that picture was from our first bath. David was so worn out from screaming that I grabbed him up in his bunny hooded towel and Gina Gunnin (a good friend of ours) snapped that picture. I swear... it was NOT posed! The child LOVES his hands...even in the womb he always had his hands in front of his face and now I don't have many pictures without his hands near his face!



The first week was so much fun, very hectic, and quite an adjustment, but we made it through!
I must say, the first night home, was a rough one. Let me paint the scene for you...I think anyone who has ever had a child will relate with me! I woke up to the first cry around 12 a.m. I picked up David, walked into the nursery, sat in my glider and attempted to nurse David. Meanwhile, David is screaming his head off and my mom peeks her head in the door to see if I need some help. Well, the screaming continued...we tried everything. We changed the diaper, I tried to nurse again, we fixed a bottle, I tried his paci, I rocked him...NOTHING worked. I sat in my glider and sobbed my eyes out to my mom because I had no idea what to do. It was the most helpless feeling having my son cry uncontrollably and nothing I would do would help. Well, God took over and thankfully that was the last night that happened. Since then, David only gets up once a night...usualy around 3 or 4 a.m. Now that, I can handle!
The second week home was a lot like the first...except that Mom left us. There again...I sobbed my eyes out. I felt like I was being dropped off at camp (which I hated when I was little because I was always homesick). How on earth would I know what to do with David with her gone? How would I nurse him first thing in the morning and not have someone to bring me my glass of milk so I didn't faint? Who would grab the phone for me when I couldn't or change the T.V. station for me? Who would tell me, "it's okay." ? Well, for those of you out there wondering the same thing... we survived!!!
Over the 4th of July, we packed up and headed to the lake. Wow, I thought it took me forever to just pack for myself...but, it literally took me hours to pack for David and for me. I really felt like I was moving my house. I had to pack for me and then clothes for David (we go through about 2 outfits per day and sometimes 2 at night), bottles, bottle warmer, formula, diapers, wipes, the boppy, the bouncer seat, the pack-n-play, the bassinet, burp cloths, blankets, swaddle blankets, the bath tub, lotions, diaper cream, shampoo... well, literally everything. We finally made it to the lake and here a few of the highlights of the long weekend (Wednesday-Monday).
David got to meet Gain... my grandmother, (mom's mom), who passed away a couple of years ago.


David also got to meet his first cousin, Will. Will is Blake and Laura (Matthew's older brother and his wife) son. Will is 17 months old.


David also enjoyed the fireworks on the 4th of July!


The next week home...we took it pretty easy! We went for David's two week weight check and he was back to his birth weight at 6 lbs. 6 1/2 oz. (actually a little over) which was great! We headed back to the lake for the weekend where David met his new best friend Harlie (Mandie, my best friends, little girl). Here are a few pictures from the weekend:
David and Harlie racked out in the car

David and Harlie

David enjoying a day in the sun...or shade!

David and "Big" (my dad)

David showing off his new "thing"...Smiling!

David sucking his favorite fingers


During the midst of all of this, David was one month! We went for his one month check up and he has grown an inch and a 1/2 and weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz.! I am so proud of my big boy! :) Everything looked great too!

This week David is 5 weeks. Since David was three weeks old, I have made a point to get out of the house almost everyday. Some think I am crazy, but it really hasn't been too bad! He is SO good when we run errands. Once he hits the car, he racks out and sleeps the entire time. I have come to realize how much I took advantage of running errands. Just "running in" somewhere has taken on a whole new meaning. In 100 degree heat it isn't easy to find a close parking spot, climb in the back seat and lug around a heavy carrier. It now takes twice as long to do things, but that's okay. Over the last two weeks, here are a few things David did.
David now LOVES bath time!



David loves to sleep in his Boppy while mom "jumps" in the shower!

We started "tummy time," but David would rather sleep!

David hung out with Gainie

We had lunch with Nana and David enjoyed hanging out with his great-grandmother!

David started looking like his dad...


Well... that's about it for now! I know this was SO long and I do apologize, but I wanted to redeem myself from not posting in over a month! Enjoy reading!