3 weeks

Kyle, you are 3 weeks old! 

We celebrated with a mini photo shoot with our friend Jill. You were a pro! I can't wait to send out announcements to all our friends & family!

This was our first week home all alone during the days, just Kyle and his mama. I focused on improving our feedings and just giving you lots of love and kisses. Dad would bring home dinner when he got off work and we'd spend evenings as a new family of 3. I think the week went great :)

Most nights this week you slept two 4-hour stretches at night. Let's hope this is our normal schedule for a while, because mommy was trying hard to run on empty but it's a challenge!

You went back to the doctor this week for a weight check and he said you were doing great. Grandma Suzie came with us and hung out in the back seat with you to make sure you were ok. It made me feel better because I hate when you're back there all alone, out of reach.

You do the cutest thing with your hands when you eat. Every time you nurse or suck on a bottle or pacifier you clench your fists and bring them to your chin. It makes me smile every time.

My favorite time with you is in the morning after you have breakfast. You'll snuggle with me in bed for a couple hours and I'll talk to you and cuddle you until you fall asleep again. You'll sleep a couple hours, and that's when I get dressed, eat breakfast and do (a little) housework. I already know I'll miss this sweet, sleepy newborn phase and am loving every minute.

We took this picture for your auntie, who was sick and couldn't visit! She missed you.

home alone

Since we brought Kyle home I've been so lucky to have Brian and my mom with me to help out. Brian took a week off work, and my mom took 2 weeks off. My mom brought me lunch every day and made us dinner. She would watch Kyle while we ate, then do the dishes and head home. Yesterday, the two of them spent hours cleaning our house and doing laundry so I would have nothing to worry about this week except taking care of my son. It was heaven on earth.

But today is the first day of my new life. My mom is back to work, and Brian is back to his normal schedule. It's just me and this little guy home all day, trying to figure things out on our own. It's scary, but also exciting. At this point, my days pretty much consist of feeding him, changing him, watching him sleep and doing it all over again. Eventually I'll need to start functioning outside of the house, figure out a schedule and put on makeup (ugh), but for now I'm happy just soaking him in and living in this amazing temporary world with my 2 week old baby.

2 weeks

Kyle, you are 2 weeks old!

You love sitting up and holding up your head like a big boy already.

Since your umbilical cord fell off this week you had your first big boy bath and hated every second. But you did stop crying the second you were wrapped in the warm towel, so maybe feeling clean isn't so bad.

You braved the rain/hail with mommy for your 2 week check up with Dr. Kramer. Mommy was a nervous wreck driving the Xterra on the 91 by herself with you in the back seat, but you were an angel the whole way there and back! Thank you!

You got your first taste of the pacifier and you're not sure what to make of it. You love to suck but would much rather have the real thing ;)

You are enjoying being awake during the day a little more this week than last week. Week 1, if your eyes were open you were crying. Week 2, you like to sit up and look around, soaking in the colors and lights around you. You like to open your eyes really big and take it all in.

You are fussiest in the evening when mommy and daddy attempt to eat dinner.

You are sleeping better during the night and made it 4 hours last night! Mommy was happy to get a good stretch of sleep but of course woke up almost every hour to make sure you were ok.

Your favorite place to sleep is mommy's chest. She loves it too.

You usually like to be in your stroller and take walks with Penny, mommy and daddy in the park.

You are not a fan of diaper changes or getting in/out of clothes, but you do like to be rocked and you love the feel of soft blankets on your skin.

You like to keep your hands in tight fists, or have them up by your face when you're eating.

Next week, you go back to the doctor to make sure you're gaining weight... eat up, little man!

1 week

Only 7 days ago my sweet baby was in my tummy, and now he is sound asleep on my chest. I'm soaking up every second of this newborn phase, knowing that in just a few short days, weeks, months he will never be this young again. 

It feels like yesterday I was getting ready to head to the hospital to meet our baby, but then again it feels like I've been a mama forever. I'm surprised how naturally some things came once Kyle was in my arms, and how hard it's been at the same time. We're still getting to know each other and figure things out, but we've finally settled into a nice groove of eating, sleeping and snuggling. And watching my husband be a daddy has got to be the sweetest thing in the world.

I've never been so tired, or so in love, in my life.

sweet dreams, Kyle Martin!

The Easy Job

Our little guy is hanging tough! Krista isn't getting any significant contractions, so it's pretty much a waiting game. My job is just to help her stay comfortable, keep her company, and not turn on the T.V.

Hey! Finally feeling something! Maybe we're getting somewhere...