two weeks and counting

It is hard to believe that Hudson is already two weeks old!

At our doctor's appointment this morning, he had put on 12 oz. since the appointment last Monday (this exceeds the expected 1 oz. per day weight gain expected). The doctor said I could increase the time between feedings from every 3 hours to every 4. We'll see how that goes - I might just try for 3.5 hour feedings. The nice thing is that our little Hudson does sleep for 5 hours straight at night which allows me (and Dave) to get some needed sleep!

I still can't believe that this was me two and a half weeks ago - patiently (or not so patiently) awaiting Hudson's arrival.

And then he finally came...

It's amazing how much he has grown already. He really has filled out and is getting cuter everyday (who knew it was possible?!)!

little turkey

It was nice to have my parents in for Thanksgiving this year. We still managed to have all the fixings, with Dave's and Mom's help. We did a turkey breast which was delicious and had the requisite cherry and sausage stuffing, Brussels sprouts, and roasted sweet potatoes and butternut squash.

My dad helped watch Hudson while we were finishing up in the kitchen:

Hudson was particularly cute as well. He was our little turkey for the day:

Hudson enjoyed meeting his Oma and Opa. I think they were pretty happy to meet their 10th grandchild as well.

one week old

Today, Hudson turns 1 week old. We had our first pediatrician visit this morning bright and early at 8am. The doctor said that he is doing well - he is down to 6lbs 14 oz, but that is expected. We go back next week for a follow up.

He just gets cuter each day!

making faces

Hudson is so expressive already:

 

I wonder what he is thinking...

first outing

So Saturday I was up to getting outside and walking around a bit. We decided to go to the farmer's market to get some apples for a pie and some kale. Dave got to break in the new ergobaby carrier - quite the fashion statement:

Hudson was snugly tucked in, and it was really great to get some fresh air.

hospital stay

So little Hudson was born Monday evening. It took a while to get a room - we were waiting until after 10pm. The nice thing is that we lucked out with a private room without the extra charge ($500 per night) as all the shared rooms were full. The room was small, but it was nice to have the privacy. Below are images of us holding Hudson on his first full day.

   

   

 

big foot

Hudson is living up to the Mother Goose nursery rhyme: 'Monday's child is full of face...'

He really is a beautiful little guy. The only thing that isn't little about him is his feet:

We are going to have to skip the footed pajamas and do separate socks because although he fits body-wise, his feet won't fit in the footed part.

it's a....

Hudson William was born at 6:21pm on Monday, November 15. He was 7 lbs 1 oz. and 21 inches long.

We are thankful that he is healthy and happy! We took the following picture on the ride home - our friends with a car and a car seat were generous enough to drive us home from the hospital this afternoon. Hudson is happy to be home where he is no longer poked and prodded twice a day by nurses and doctors.

And here he is asleep in his own crib...at last!

four days... and counting

The good news is that all pregnancies do end one way or another. Our little one will be here within the next four days. So even if nothing happens this weekend, I'll be induced bright and early Monday morning. Taking the day off tomorrow to enjoy the beautiful weather. Or perhaps this little one will decide to come before Monday...We'll keep you posted!

still pregnant

So our baby is perfectly happy in its warm dark cocoon (I know- it's a picture of a chrysalis, but it's much prettier than a picture of a cocoon).  The 'non-stress' test today showed a healthy baby under 7.5 lbs (yes, that makes me happy even though ultra-sounds are proven to be pretty inaccurate) that just isn't ready to come out yet. This baby is no dummy - it's cold outside and the baby is currently warm and hooked up to an on-demand food source. Once you are born, there is work involved! So no real contractions building to labor...yet.

Going to work tomorrow will not be fun with all the questions or exclamations: "You're still here??!?" "Have you tried...." Yes, I am still here and have tried just about everything legal and natural that is recommended to 'encourage labor.' Unfortunately, you cannot control labor, and this baby is going to come when it is ready.  It's pretty obvious that it is not ready yet.

Being overdue is no fun -  people expect you and your baby to hold to a schedule. I found this list of 'what not to say to an overdue woman' that everyone should  memorize.  In the meantime, I am going back to drinking my red raspberry leaf tea, taking my primrose oil, and eating spicy food while walking another 10 miles.

marathon baby?

The NYC marathon is quickly approaching and the question is, will this baby come before or after? The book I've been reading on birth, The Big Book of Birth, talks about the birthing process being like a marathon:  it requires physical, emotional and spiritual endurance it is much easier when you prepare and have people encouraging you. Thankfully, I have a very supportive husband and medical providers that I trust.

So the question remains as to whether we will be cheering the runners from the sidelines this Sunday, or whether Dave will be cheering me on in a different kind of marathon.

pin cushion

So the baby is two days late so far. On recommendation from our midwives, we decided to try acupuncture to 'help things along' naturally. After a quick check that our insurance does in fact cover acupuncture, we decided it couldn't hurt. Or could it? Our good friend Hannah, who is currently going to acupuncture school, recommended her favorite teacher, Patsy. So last night we went to the West Village after work to try it out.

We happened to pass by Murray's Cheese Shop on our way to the appointment and couldn't resist getting some Drunken Goat Cheese from Spain. It is delicious! It was fun to try Murray's out as they give free samples (no worries - all the samples we tried were pasteurized)!

The appointment was really relaxing. The needles weren't painful (they were really thin), it felt more like I had had a pressure point massage after the fact. Patsy was really great and showed Dave pressure points that he should work on and told me to keep my lower extremities warm. Not an easy task since I love going sock-less and it is cold outside!

No labor today yet, but I have been having more contractions which is good. And now I have an excuse for Dave to give me a foot massage every day!