Success!

Since our Saturday appointment with a lactation consultant, I've been really good about taking an herbal supplement - fenugreek - to help with my supply. Along with that, Dan's been making me raspberry leaf tea which the LC recommended along with the fenugreek. Well, today I went to my new moms group and the guest speaker was a lactation consultant. She had her baby scale with her so I weighed our little man. And he gained 11 ounces since Saturday! That's 11 ounces in 4 days and Owen weighs 9 pounds, 15 ounces. He's finally up over his birth weight and in a big way!

He's been so calm and happy lately. We've really been enjoying his awake time. In fact, two days ago he didn't nap all day! The little guy was exhausted by bed time, but he had a good day. He has been fighting sleep more and more, but like his mom, he's a good sleeper when he finally falls asleep. In fact, he and I took a 3 hour nap this afternoon. It was like heaven! And now it's bed time...

3 Weeks Old

Another week has passed and I'm feeling pretty good. My appetite is in full force, my milk production seems to be up, Owen is awake and happy more often, and Dan and I are figuring out sleeping and eating for ourselves a little better. These pictures from this week include Owen's first and second baths, sleeping and eating with Daddy, and hanging out with Mommy. So fun!

Another Weight Check

Owen is back up to 9 pounds! He gained 4 ounces last week. That's not quite enough for his pediatrician's comfort though, so we're starting up a new supplementation schedule. On one hand, I'm pretty bummed that breastfeeding isn't working out like we were imagining or planning. On the other, it will be good to know for sure that he's eating enough and gaining weight. I am going to start pumping after feedings too to see if I can increase my supply. It's going to be even more work than now but Owen's health definitely comes before my convenience. I am looking forward to him sleeping better though. There have been a few evenings that we've boosted his dinner with some formula and he sleeps pretty well those nights. Last night, I gave him boob only and he was up at 1:30 and never settled back down. I definitely can't do another night like that tonight. Not two in a row...

Oh, and we gave Owen his first tub bath today! We took some pictures so I'll post them soon. He loved it except the getting out part. He's just so stinkin' cute!

Two Weeks Old

Owen is two whole weeks old today! In some ways, it seems like he's been here much longer (e.g. the lack-of-sleep department) and in others it seems like he just got here. His umbilical cord stump fell off today, so that means we get to start bath time!!

Owen has developed a little bit of baby acne, but nothing that time won't fix. It's too bad that babies have to go through this stage, but it's totally normal and doesn't bother him at all.

His favorite toy so far is his papasan baby swing. We turn up the rocking and put on some music, and he can sit in there for a while. Sometimes it puts him to sleep, and other times he sits there wide-eyed enjoying the ride. I think personally it would make me sea sick, but he must have inherited his Daddy's strong stomach along with his good looks.

Owen is also quite the snuggle bug. He loves to be held and rocked and will nuzzle into our necks when we're burping him. His neck is getting a little stronger so he'll sit up and look around when he's resting against our chests. He's also eating like a champ so hopefully he'll start packing on the pounds soon (though even at 9-ish pounds, he's already a really good workout - especially with the diaper changing station upstairs!).

Anyway, this new parenthood is quite the emotional roller coaster. Dan and I are doing really well as a team, and we're gaining some confidence. I can only imagine how much more Owen will develop over the next two weeks, but I'm not in a huge hurry to find out. Our baby is growing up so fast!!

Spring Is Here

Technically it has been here for weeks, but Spring seems to have finally arrived here in Seattle. This is the third sunny day in a row and it's amazing how much that helps me emotionally. It's easier to function on not enough sleep and we've been able to take short walks around the block. Owen likes to be on the move, so Dan straps him into our baby carrier and off we go!

I was feeling sick for the past 5 days. I was nauseous and had no appetite, making breastfeeding impossible and wreaking havoc on my mind. I've been a worried, weepy mess for almost a week. Getting out of the house, even for a doctor's appointment, has worked wonders for my mood. I joined a new moms group that started yesterday, so I have that to look forward to for the next 8 weeks. And I also went to a breastfeeding support group. Unfortunately, that wasn't as helpful so we're going to call a lactation consultant just to make sure that we're doing everything possible to keep baby Owen healthy and growing.

Well, it looks like our snuggle bug is ready for a nap so Dan and I might try to sleep too.

Happy Belated Easter

Dan, Owen and I spent a (not-so) quiet Easter at home yesterday. The picture of him crying is much cuter now that he's over it, but that was how our day went. It turns out I was having some withdrawal side effects from the pain killers I was taking last week for my c-section, and it took a while to figure out what to do. In the mean time, it was affecting my milk production, so our little man was having a tough time. We warmed up some formula and he had a little, and that seemed to be enough for him to feel better. I got a ton of sleep last night and managed to eat a lot today, so I'm feeling better and Owen's getting plenty to eat now. Phew! Here are some new pictures of our not-so-little man. What a cutie!!

8 Days Old

I can't believe that Owen's first week of life has come and gone already. In this newborn haze we're living in, time is really flying. We're getting some sleep, but I keep waking up thinking Owen needs me, whether or not he's actually up. Feeding seems to be going well too. He eats like a champ and hopefully is gaining back some of the weight he lost right away after his birth. We have another weight check appointment with his pediatrician on Tuesday to make sure he's headed up.

Dan has been incredible this whole time, which should come as no surprise to anyone who knows him. Owen and he have a great bond, and Dan has been going out of his way to take care of every little errand and chore so that I can focus on eating, sleeping and feeding. I didn't really get out of bed until 1:30 today (with a few feedings in there), which was some much needed sleep that I wasn't able to get last night.

Dan and I have been working really well together as a team. It's really really hard work caring for a newborn - which of course we knew would be the case, but until you're in it you have no idea! And my postpartum hormones are going nuts so I'm crying about everything. Most of my tears are of happiness and pride, but poor Dan spends his days with two crying family members! I think what I cry about most is Dan going in to work next week. Hopefully he'll be able to work part-time from home, but since it's our company's busy season right now, it's hard to be as productive at home as it is from the office. But I'll leave this topic alone from here, so as not to send myself into fits.

Thanks to everyone who has brought us food and sent gifts that we haven't sent thank you cards for yet. We appreciate all of the love and support you have all shown, even if we haven't been able to communicate that to you yet. Everything that you have done has made this huge transition in our lives a little bit easier, and we can't begin to thank you for how much that means to us.