Getting Big

Things with Joey are going great! He still has his fussy moments, but nothing someones pinky can't cure (he refuses to take a binky). He is still on his every three hour feeding schedule and occassionally that will stretch during the night to about 4-4.5 hours. He has started oohing and ahhing which is really cute to hear. He has also found his hands (which he loves to stick in his mouth). Frankie celebrated his 32nd birthday this past weekend. We went out to Shane's house and hung out. We cooked out, played pool, the boys had some drinks, and the kids had a blast playing together. It was nice. The next day we went to dinner with his parents and the boys. We also found a church that we love! We have been wanting to go for quite sometime but we knew it would be hard with Frankie working every other Sunday. With his new job he is off every Sunday. We decided to attend a church that our good friends the Vargos attend. We had such a great time we plan on becoming members =o) It's nice to know that Joey will be brought up in the church. Nana and Pawpaw are here for a few days. Joey has found a new resting spot on my dad's belly and he loves it =o) We've also discovered that my dads trick of singing/humming in a deep voice seems to work. Every time my dad does it Joey quits fussing. Wish I had the ability to do that lol. We are excited to take Joey on his first vacation in a couple of weeks. We will be going to the beach with Nana and Pawpaw... I can't wait! Below are some of Joey's one month photos and a video of him smiling =o) If you tickle his mouth with your finger or a cloth, he gets the biggest grin. I love seeing that everyday.

Long Overdue

Wow... I don't even know where to begin. Things have been kinda hectic. Joey has entered the one month crying phase lol. We thought he was colicky but after switching him to strickly formula he is doing much better. According to a piece of paper I got at the doctor... babies this age tend to cry more and may only be quiet during feedings and naps. Guess I should be thankful for the times I can get him to sit in his vibrating chair happily for 15-30 minutes lol.
Frankie got a job! He started a week after my mom left so she turned around and came back towards the end of the week. We are so thankful that he was able to find a job so fast but boy is he exhausted =o) He works 10+ hour days but its a job. I, of course, am still on the hunt for one so hopefully that will work out soon.
I had my postpartum doctor visit and everything was a-okay. Joey had his one month visit this past Friday. It's hard to believe he is already a month old! Other than the thrush returning (which led to a yeast infection on his lil bootie) he is a healthy baby! He is now 8lbs 13oz and 22in. long... he is getting so big. I'm starting to wonder where this height is coming from haha.
Today we are getting Joey's one month pictures taken and we plan to do a family picture as well. Other than that there is not much to share... Pawpaw is coming down in a few days hopefully so it will be nice for Joey to spend some time with him.
Below are some pictures. The Easter Bunny pic will always bring back memories... Joey was sleeping so I decided that would be a good time to take the picture... Nana decided she would help by getting Joey out of his stroller... needless to say she bonked him in the head with his glow worm and he woke up screaming... and continued screaming during his photo session... Thanks Nana lol

Coo Coo Ca-Chew

The other morning after being fed, Joey cooed himself to sleep in my lap. I thought it was cute so I grabbed the camera and caught a little bit of it before he drifted off to sleep =o)





His thrush has also cleared up =o)

Time Flies

It's hard to believe Joey will be two weeks old tomorrow. I swear it feels like we were just at the hospital to deliver him. He is now used to his feeding schedule of every 3 hours and is waking up on his own during the night. It's nice not having to set an alarm now =o) I was having some issues with the "baby blues" but his adju stment has helped that tremendously. We still hate having our diaper changed but I'm sure with time he will get used to it. We have been fortunate enough to have a diaper change here and there with no tears.
Joey ended up developing thrush (which we noticed last Thursday) but that is clearing up with the help of his antibiotic. He also lost him umbilical cord stump today. I know it's not supposed to be painful but I think it is. Anytime he would bump it within the last 24hrs. he would scream so it's a relief that it is off now.
Joey also had his first bath at home on Saturday. He loved it =o) I think the warm water and stimulation was a plus for him. He didn't fuss one bit. Other than that he has been enjoying time in his vibrating chair and on his play mat.
Nana left today but she plans to come back soon. Even though she didn't help out much with baby care, it was extremely helpful having her here to help with the household chores and dinner. It also helped having some extra moral support. I was able to catch on some sleep too while she watched Joey if Frankie was out of the house.

Presenting... Joseph Douglas

He's here!!! My water broke early Tuesday morning. We went to the doctors office and I was dilated 5 centimeters already so they had me head over to the hospital. When I got in my room I had dilated another 2 centimeters and my contractions were already 2-3 minutes apart... OWWW. I can't honestly say I remember what they felt like but I will say I remember it hurting. I requested the epidural =o) and was in heaven once it kicked in. A short time later I was able to start pushing and a little over an hour later he was born... 2:59 PM... 7lbs 11oz... 20.5 inches. It was quite uncomfortable pushing but completely worth it once he arrived. It's amazing how much love you can have for someone you just met. We were discharged from the hospital Thursday, even though his bilirubin level was slightly high. The doctors weren't too concerned at his newborn checkup so now we go back in a month for his next visit. We're having a rough time with our night time schedule but over all Joey is a great baby. Mom is here helping out during the day so that we can try to catch up on sleep (yeah right!!). Right now Joey really seems to like using his play mat when he is awake. His eyes go all over the place while the music plays. I placed him on his stomach today for some tummy time and within a minute he already rolled over. Pretty strong for a newborn baby =o) Below are a few pictures of Joey and you know there will be more to come... as for now I'm going to nap while Joey sleeps =o)

Making Progress =o)

Our baby appointment went well today. Joey's heartbeat was 136 and he still appears to be measuring just right. I found out that I am 2 centimeters dilated and 90% effaced so I've made some good progress so far. Because of the new update my grandmother will be booking a flight to Charlotte in the next day or two so that she can be here for the birth of her first great-grandson =o). Everyone I've spoken to feels that I will deliver within the next week... I guess we'll see. Below is my 38 week belly pic.

Getting closer... and definately READY!!

Well as of tomorrow I will be 38 weeks pregnant... and I must say (as excited as I am to have the baby) I'm ready for him to be in my arms rather than my belly =o) It's been fun but these last couple weeks (especially the last week) have been kind of miserable. My back/rib/hip pains are getting more intense and my swelling is getting worse. I try to stay in bed or on the couch for the most part but I don't like sitting still. I'm trying to behave though because we've noticed that the swelling is in my entire leg now, not just my feet. We tried to called the doctor's office just to be safe... the nurse was going to call back with in the hour. Well that was 4:30 PM yesterday and still no word. We have a doctor appointment Tuesday so I'll just talk to him then I guess. I'll post a new belly pic with that update =o)

Thursday night mom and I went to dinner with the nursing girls. It was fun getting together and catching up one more time before the baby comes (although I know we will still be getting together afterwards). They are all convinced that I will go early... one friend Kerri is convinced I will go in the next week =o) I hope so. Her instinct is pretty good... after all, her mother and she were the only ones who predicted I would have a boy. I'm hoping she's right with this too!