Friday, November 27, 2009

Our 1st Thanksgiving



Before the baby was born we had decided to have Thanksgiving at our house. I know this was a lofty goal seeing as we would have few hands to juggle both turkey and baby. However, with careful planning, extra hands, a moby wrap, and quick recipes, our Thanksgiving was successful!

After a month of living off freezer food, cooking was a privilege I enjoyed--even though I was up until 4 am preparing food and feeding a fussy baby (who clearly sensed the excitement in the air). However, even with a few hours of sleep I rolled out of bed excited to begin our feasting day.

Our menu:
Oven Roasted Butterflied Turkey
Apple-Cider Glazed Ham
Orange-Balsamic Roasted Beets & Carrots
Zucchini Gratin
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potato Pie
Candied Yams
Roasted Green Beans
Brussel Sprouts
Mac & Cheese
Cole Slaw
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Rolls
Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Cheese Plates
and so much more....

Whew.....I cant believe I fit all that in my belly (this is where no longer being pregnant had its clear disadvantage as I no longer have room to eat like a horse). Granted, everyone took part in preparing the Thanksgiving feast whether it was preparing a dish or holding a baby, and this year, the food was extra special.

Thanksgiving wouldn't be what it was if it wasn't for the few mishaps that can cause laughter, chaos, and sometimes a tear. Even with our confidence and expertise, we weren't protected from the usual T-day hiccups. Our 26.6 pound turkey didn't fit in the oven as planned. We had a few small grease fires (quickly put out and prevented with our newly converted muffin pan for grease trapping). We forgot the stuffing in an oven downstairs and left the cranberry sauce in the fridge...ooops. The disposable plates were too flimsy and somehow I ended up shoving mashed potatoes up my nose (only to be caught by everyone who saw me racing across the room for a napkin).

All in all, everything came out great. We sat in camp chairs. Drank beer from plastic cups and used our sleeves for drippings. The turkey was perfectly moist and cooked evenly (butterflied, roasted at 425 for 3 hours). There was no shortage of beer or wine. Listening to everyone compliment the food made the effort worth while. The best part was the pumpkin cheesecake topped with eggnog ice cream and pared with some Irish coffee.

By 9 pm, our house was empty, our fridge full, and our bellies working on their second wind. Unfortunately, we were headed to bed to wake up for the famous black Friday sale, all the while Kannon slept peacefully in the arms of family and friends.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Breakthrough!



Kannon slept in his crib last night for the first time!!! He was going through his usual fussy hour (between 8-midnight) and I put him in the MOBY wrap until he passed out. A few minutes later, we put him in the crib with some Bob Marley on the radio and we didnt hear a peep.

5 hours went by and Dale woke me up in panic, "go check the baby, he hasnt waken up yet"....of course, I raced out of the bedroom, heart pounding to see Kannon sleeping soundly. I stared at him longingly and returned to bed so proud of our little one! Another hour later, he finally woke up to be fed and passed out in his crib for another 4 hours! It was the most solid sleep yet!

Apparently, our little man likes room to stretch! All this time, I thought it would be such a traumatic transition and as it turns out, he sleeps better in his crib! We finally have our bedroom back and hopefully the sleep habits will keep up!

I think I was the one holding the process back. I really wanted Kannon to learn to sleep solo, but something about it seems so wrong....Our dog sleeps in our bed, but our baby cant???? However, since Kannon slept so well last night, I dont think we will be turning back (as much as it breaks my heart).

PS Listening to the baby monitor last night had Dale and me in hysterics. About every 20 minutes we heard a few grunts, coos, and even laughter (!!!) out of this sleeping child. Dale is convinced that if Kannon could talk he clearly would be talking about boobs in his sleep. Talk about sweet dreams. Hehehe.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

I left my heart.....at home



Last night I was given an opportunity to go see the Twilight "New Moon" movie--an outing that I had been looking forward to for over a week. It was my first time out without baby and I thought I would love the three hours to relax. Wrong.

My heart ached, my soul empty, and I was lonely--I wanted nothing more than to be at home holding the hand of my husband and my son.

Even though the movie was quite entertaining, my heart ached the entire time. I longed to be at home so badly that I contemplated leaving halfway through the film. All I could think about was Kannon. I could almost smell the newborn fuzzy hair and hear little cries in the back of my head.

My three hours away ended uneventfully and I raced home to return to my family. I arrived to find Kannon all dressed up and wide awake, eager to see his mommy. Dale had fun bonding with the baby and shared with me all of his stories that made me love him even more.

I cant believe that love is such a strong emotion. Of course I love Dale and have "missed" him before while I was away on vacation or trainings, but never this much, a feeling so deep it caught me off-guard. I was crying during the movie but for my own reasons. I cant believe how much I missed my two boys while only gone for 3 short hours. That being said, I am dreading my return to work in only 10 days, where undoubtedly little work will get done because I will be dreaming of little hands and feet.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Lovely Limoncello!



It may seem like I should have no free time to even think about cooking or blogging but the truth is, when this baby sleeps I am busy! While I know I should be sleeping myself, Kannon's naptime seems like the only time I can do things for MYSELF, like eat, get dressed, catch up on internet etc. Of course, now that I making ample use of the MOBY wrap it seems like I can do just about anything with a baby strapped to my chest (although, washing dishes is still fairly precarious, unless you dont mind bathing your baby with dirty dishwater!)

That said, Dale and I finally got a chance to master a limoncello recipe that we have meaning to try since LAST year. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be, so I thought I would pass the recipe along as limoncello makes a great Christmas gift!

Limoncello

1.75 liters of Vodka (cheap Vodka will work, we went with Potter's)
Roughly 17 lemons (we got the 5 pound bags from Costco, so numbers were tricky)
3.5 cups of sugar
5 cups of water

1.) Scrub those lemons and peel the skins using a vegetable peeler (try to avoid getting any of the white pith mixed in)

***You will have a bunch of skinless lemons lying around, I would suggest juicing them and freezing in ice cubes tray for later uses or if you feel motivated make lemon bars!

2.) Add the peels to a big airtight pitcher. Then add the vodka.

3.) Put the pitcher away somewhere dark where its out-of-sight, out-of-mind and let it rest for 4 weeks. (If you get really antsy like I do, feel free to give it a gentle shake about half way through, to get the oils distributed)

***You will know when its done, when the peels have turned white and are brittle.

4.) Mix the sugar and water in a pot and bring to boil for 5 minutes. Let it cool completely.

5.) Strain your vodka into another pitcher big enough to add the sugar/water mixture. Add the sugar/water and bottle (we used Grolsch bottles) and send out for gifts or place in your freezer for drinking pleasure.

6.) Limoncello is sweet and lemony and could be served simply chilled over ice or mixed in an a variety of adult drinks.


Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Lessons Learned



These 3 weeks have flown by and I still cant believe that we have a baby. Sometimes, I wish I was still pregnant, where taking care of a baby was a little easier but than I get that whiff of newborn hair and fall in love all over again.

Kannon is growing bigger every day and is gradually adjusting to a regular day/night schedule (thank god!). He is most alert at 8 am and again at 8 pm giving us just a glimpse of his personality and charm. We have spending most of those alert hours cuddling in bed and watching him discover his world.

At 3 weeks old, I sadly have to say that our little one is finally outgrowing his newborn clothes. The sleepers that I loved to dress him in are now stretched out in the feet and his long sleeves are beginning to look like 3/4 lengths. So, out with old and in with new, I started Kannon in the 0-3 month clothes which have plenty of room to grow.

I keep meaning to take note of all the things I would do differently next time around and have so far come up with a pretty extensive list. I remember sharing with my dad that I was eager to have this baby so I could figure out our routine. We spent the last 9 months reading every childbirth and parenting book on the planet to discover that we threw it all out the window and have set our own agenda instead. Some lessons learned:

1.) Skip the onesies. We got 18 onesies from baby showers and we have yet to use a single one. Kannon hates have stuff pulled over his head and we have been unable to figure out how to pull them over his delicate head without causing mass hysteria. So, we tossed the onesies in a box.



2.) Stock up on sleeper suits that button or zip. We started out with 3 of these and now we have a dozen. They are perfect for Montana--keeping our babe's arms, legs, and feet completely covered without worrying about disappearing socks. It also makes for easy diaper changes as we can unzip/unbutton half of the outfit with him getting cold. Now that he is outgrowing the newborn sizes, we will have to stock up with more 0-3 months, as I am in love with these things, plus you don't have to pull them over any one's head.

3.) Always use a changing table. For a minute there, Dale and contemplated the necessity of a changing table. Diapers can be changed anywhere, the floor, the bed, etc. But, our baby seems to like pooping the second the diaper comes off, and in almost every case, misses the back up diaper underneath. So the changing pad has been cleaned almost daily. I cant imagine having to clean up baby shi* on my bed.

4.) Bring a baby sling or wrap wherever you go! For the most part, Kannon falls fast asleep in his carseat wherever we go making errands easy and fuss-free. However, when he does wake up, shi* hits the fan. He wants to be held, fed, and taken care of in minutes whether you are standing in line at Costco or waiting for your bill at a restaurant. Having the wrap nearby makes for an easy transfer--just pop the baby in, give him the boob and he can live without a diaper change until we get home.

5.) Develop good sleeping habits. We started Kannon off in a bassinet in our room. That worked for 2 days and then he started fussing every night. We discovered that he loves sleeping his stroller (great investment!) and it is convenient because we can wheel him around without him even noticing. However, at 3 weeks, we are starting to transition him into his own crib, and we are failing miserably! So unless, you plan to co-sleep forever, get them started in their cribs early on!

6.) While we are at it, get a lazy-boy for the baby's room so Dad has a place to rest while he is on pacifier replacement duty. Dale's back is sore from the nights he has spent sleeping on the floor, arched over the crib. Perhaps, I will put this one on a Christmas list.

7.) Don't let the music stop! Kannon likes sleeping with noise--tv, music, the fan, you name it. We had just spent an hour getting him to sleep and we forgot to hit the repeat setting on our cd player. Sure enough, the second the cd stopped, Kannon wailed for another hour!

8.) Buy more mirrors. Mirrors are great distraction for our little one and as an added bonus they help ensure that moms don't walk out with spit up in their hair.

9.) Always keep batteries on hand. Our baby monitor stopped working and we didn't have batteries to replace it and spent the night with the baby because we cant hear a peep through our thick walls.

10.) Breast feeding moms--pump a supply for Dad. As much as I love breast feeding and bonding with Kannon, after zero sleep and a baby who feels compelled to nurse on the hour during the night, it is understandable to roll-over and say "I quit". Of course, you remember that its not an option unless you have some milk stored away. Since Dale has taken over some nighttime feedings it has given me a chance to sleep and given Dale more confidence in soothing those nighttime cries.

11.) Stock up on many different types of pacifiers. We didn't want our kid to be the one of those pacified pacifier babies but after 3 weeks of soothing Kannon with our pinky fingers we gave in. It took 4 different types of pacifiers to find one that Kannon likes--the soothie brand we came home from the hospital with. Now, our pinky nails have a chance to grow back and Kannon is happily fulfilling his sucking need.

12.) Glass bottles rock! We were given both and have decided that glass bottles are our favorite. They heat up much faster when you are trying to soothe baby and warm a bottle one handed. As an added benefit, they handle the dishwasher with ease.



13.) Go Cloth! If you can, use cloth diapers. We have been so surprised at our success with cloth diapering. It is sooooo much easier to run a load of laundry then run to the store for more diapers. We still have had NO blowout with our cloth unlike the disposables that disappointed us before. We spent $75 for 24 prefolds, 3 covers, and 4 gDiapers, I cant imagine what we would have spent buying disposables. They are cute, warm, and take just a few minutes to change. (I plan on doing a cloth diapering blog soon, for those of you who have been curious)

14.) They all say "sleep when baby sleeps" but make sure to use this time for "us". This is so hard to do, when you are staring a pile of dishes and unopened mail but you have to do it. If you don't want to sleep while baby sleeps, do something with your husband like watch a movie, or cuddle, or go for a walk. I felt like I hadn't seen Dale in days, then we took a nap together and cuddled for the first time in weeks. It truly elevated my day. Since then, we have been trying to make sure to use sleep time for "us" time, whether we sleep, walk, cook, whatever.

15.) Get dressed first. Those first few day my robe was my uniform. Finally, I started passing the baby to Dale for an hour each morning so I could get dressed, washed, and clean. I felt better, looked better, and smelled better meaning my day was off to a good start. So while those dishes could be washed while daddy is holding the baby, make sure you get dressed first. Plus, it is so great to feel pretty when you have a baby spitting up down your shirt.

Alrighty, these were quite a few lessons learned and I am sure they wont be the last. I am sorry to bore you with any of the details but for those new parents that read my blog, I am sure you can relate! There have been so many challenges but it is so worth it. We love parenthood and have enjoyed every day with our son, who shows us how big your hearts can grow and how wonderful the world is. Kannon is starting to stir so ta-ta for now!

Famous Last Words



"Its okay, I dont need a burp rag." Seconds later, my perfect baby expels the entire contents of his stomach into my hair, lap, sheets, and of course, himself.

The lesson here, always use a burp rag, unless you have just given up on staying dry--which lets face it here, I have.

The sad part, I was too tired to change the sheets, so I just put a towel down and slept over it. Three days later, I still havent changed the sheets, but at least I did take a shower!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The Boob Shark.


My boob shark.

You have heard it before, the unmistakable sound from "Jaws", the 'da-duh' that triggers goosebumps and forces you to look around and check your back and make sure there isnt a feeding frenzy taking place.

That sound has been replaced by "wa-wah's" echoing in our bedroom, requiring me to pull out my boob and bite my lips as my little "boob-shark" latches on in an all too familiar frenzy.

The mere smell of milk sets him off and he begins to root around furiously in search of his target--the ever so forgiving nipple. God forbid, he loses sight of his target in the darkened room, as he will latch onto anything--a finger, a shirt, the sheet-- only to spit it out with anger and rage.

For whatever reason, my little angel who nurses so peacefully during the day turns into "Jaws" at night. Hence the reason we have started calling him, "the boob shark", so nursing mothers and sore nipples beware because when the lights go down, the boob shark is on the prowl.

Two Week Wonders...



Today little Kannon turned 2 weeks old. I know its only 2 weeks but after waiting 9 months to meet this little bugger, 2 weeks is an important milestone. I am not going to get cake and ice cream to celebrate but I will at least spend a few hours cuddling and staring with amazement at the wonders of life.



It still seems like a miracle to me that this little creature has eyes, ears, and toes after seeing what first looked like a blob on the ultrasound screen. Kannon has gone from sleeping all day, to becoming more and more alert, allowing us a few hours each day to gaze into his curious eyes.

We had our 2 week doctors appointment and Kannon is perfect (which we already knew!) and healthy. We were worried those first few days about breastfeeding, whether he was eating enough, as he was done to 6 lbs 10 oz when we left the hospital (totally normal) but had worries soothed when the scale topped off at 7 lbs 7 oz. Kannon gained 13 oz in 8 days!!! Even the doctor was amazed and complimented my milk supply--which has so far been receiving no complaints from little man. After a quick once over, we got the green light to go and will not go back until December 29, when this little man reaches 2 months!!!



We are still sleeping in shifts as it appears Kannon only likes to sleep when held or nursed to la-la land, which means Dale and I get 2-3 hours of sleep at a time until we make the baby exchange. We are starting to think more about setting sleep habits but are not yet ready to take the plunge.

Kannon is getting more tummy time and proving himself to be iron man as he can hold his up to get a view of the world and is starting to pull himself up. His legs are growing, stretching, and strong as he knocks our box of wipes over with nearly every diaper change!



We love being parents and even amongst the sacrifices and challenges, we share more love for this child than we ever thought possible. However, I will admit that last night, I had a "holy shit" moment as I realized the responsibility never ends. There are no days off. You cant call in sick. You cant just roll over and ignore it. There is no snooze button. But, its worth it to see little baby smiles, to smell newborn hair, and hold those little fingers knowing that this child shares an insurmountable bond with you. Its a responsibility well worth doing.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Whats in a Name?



Dale and I argued for 9 months over what to name our son. We had names we loved but both feared our families reaction to the non-traditional. When we finally decided on Kannon for a name there was no going back--it just fit him. I know that in five years he might hate me for this but lets face it, kids are cruel and even "johns", "adams" and "scotts" get made fun of. (Even my name served up some pretty cruel name-calling!)

So, it was no surprise when I noticed on Facebook, that several people have started calling my son "Kannon-ball". I couldn't be prouder. There are worse nicknames in the world and its true, this little bundle of love is my little Kannon-ball. What is worse, is that I have jumped on the bandwagon and have started calling him my little Kol-Kannon (irish stoup) and my little Kannon-in-D (great orchestral piece).

Thank god, we gave him a middle name so he can at least go by "KC" if the jokes get too severe.

I feel that I should explain a little history behind his name, because we are so proud of the name we chose.

Last December, when we made the momentous decision to start trying to concieve, Dale and I stayed up late sharing our excitement, reservations, and fears. We shared our favorite names, both agreeing immediately that we like Kannon for a boy and Cora for a girl. Of course, when I actually got pregnant our naming game became much more critical as we were now naming a real child, not the one we invented in our imagination. I was afraid Kannon would be a recipe for torture but couldnt agree on any other name.

So I did some research and starting investigating the meanings of Kannon and every other name out there. Here are some tidbits I found.

"Kannon" (Kan-en) alt variations include "Kannen", "Kannan"--Orgin Japanese, Polynesian/Hawaiian--def: Variation of Krishna, Buddhist Diety of Mercy, "Enlightened One", "Free-Spirited", "Free", "Independent"

Things sounding like "Kannon" include: Cannon (weapon), Canon (fiction) genuine, perfect, Canon (music), Canon (culture) materials that have been essential in shaping Western Culture.

When Dale and I talked about the type of child we hoped to some day raise many of these previous words and ideas came to mind. We couldn't find any other name that accomplished such and it became clear that "Kannon" was our ideal name. It dawned on me on a bus ride in Seattle that if we named our son Kannon Charles, he could always go by "KC" or Kannon, or god-forbid he goes by whatever nickname we pass down (lets hope its not Peanut!).

So, when our son was born, we proudly announced the name we had been keeping secret all these months and it so far fits our little man perfectly.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

My Mommy Moment



I lounged around yesterday in my bathrobe. It was really the first day I didn't brush my teeth, change my clothes, or even wash my face. I took a nap, fed Kannon, relaxed etc.

I got up and noticed I had babyshi* all over my lap. Apparently, Kannon had a blow out and I didn't notice. The sad part, I checked his diaper and it was still clean from the previous diaper change a few hours before. So, who knows how long I walked around with babyshi* on my robe.

The best part, I still wore the robe because I was too tired to put on clothes.

It was a true mommy moment.

Our Firsts...



Everyone remembers their first kiss, their first love, their first car and usually remember such with fondness and nostalgia. This past week, Dale and I have shared many firsts with our son, firsts that we will always remember, even if our little one forgets.

It is amazing that in only 11 days Kannon has grown up so much. He is more alert with each passing day, gazing into the world around him. He spends much of his tummy-time exercising his head and neck muscles and even more of his time smiling, although fairly spontaneous, its still adorable.

Our Firsts for this week include:


(He looked something like this)

1.) First trip to the doctor. The nurse thought it was hilarious that even though he was stripped to his diaper on a cold mat, he still slept, completely stretched out!



2.) First trip out of the house. We went to the brewery, where yet again, he slept. Then we went to Target and the Mall for a few supplies.



3.) First bath! He LOOOOVVEED his bath. He especially loved having his face and hair washed. So, bath time will soon become an evening ritual.



4.) First stroll to the park. We made this a family affair and carted the dogs along (we had to kick the cat out of the stroller though!). The long walk apparently made him hungry as he wanted to nurse as soon as we arrived!

5.) First trip to the bar! We celebrated the last night of family in town by going to James Bar. He slept. No one would have guessed that we had a baby in a bar.

6.) First cloth diaper change! We made the switch yesterday to cloth diapers. He had so many blow outs in disposables and now, we are (so far) blow-out free! Plus, we love the fluffy bum!

7.) First stretch of sleep! Kannon slept for 5 hours straight last night!



8.) First time in a baby sling. We went hands free and put Kannon in our Moby wrap...he slept the whole time while I got caught up on emails and Dale cleaned the house!

9.) First night of gas....This broke our heart! Kannon was not and could not get comfortable. His face turned red, he was crying hysterically and refused breast, swaddle, swing, and everything! Finally he let out this HUGE fart and passed out. I think the french onion soup I ate for dinner may have hurt his little tummy.



These are only some of the many firsts that we will experience. I get emotional peeking ahead in our baby book at the spaces for "1st day of school" or "1st tooth". I cherish our time with our son as any mother and father will admit, they grow so fast!

Friday, November 6, 2009

The Big Sky Baby!



As many of know Big Sky Brewery has played a tremendous part in our lives. For whatever reason, we have always been drawn to the brewery--its relaxing elixir providing pure enjoyment and contentment for our mind, body, and soul. It only seemed natural that our first outing with the baby include the brewery!

We headed to the brewery, our quick trip now taking longer as we have to get the baby fed, diapered, and car-seated up. Nonetheless, we arrived at the brewery greeted by familiar faces all excited to see our adorable, yet sleeping, baby.

It was first time really able to drink (granted in moderation as I am breastfeeding) and I was perplexed with all the choices. Moose Drool, Powder Hound, IPA all tickled my taste buds, yet I settle with the all familiar IPA that sparkles in my belly and on my lips. I shared our story with my aunt about Big Sky's influence in our lives and stared at my husband joyfully.



Of course, minutes later, Dale joined us and asked me to look at our son, sleeping peacefully in his stroller with a ring-box in his hand! I couldn't believe my eyes! Inside the ring-box, contained my great-grandma Pete's diamond ring in a beautiful white-gold setting. We had been intending to get this ring set but with my pregnancy induced swollen man-hands, we decided to wait. Now, I stare at my beautiful son, husband, and glitter on my hand!



Once again, Big Sky plays a responsible part in our happy life together. We hope to make many more trips there, baby in tow, until he is old enough to enjoy the brew.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Kannon Charles is Here--Our Birth Story


Kannon Charles
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Time: 9:24 p.m.
Weight: 7 pounds, 2 ounces
Length: 19 inches

As many of you know, we decided that it was time to be induced and I had several fears about this process as for 9 months I have been imagining the perfect natural childbirth. Now, I realize that every birth is the perfect birth as long as you keep your mind open and take one step at a time!

Our alarm clock buzzed at 4:00 am on Wednesday morning alerting us that it was time to go--of course, Dale and I were already awake, staring at the ceiling contemplating what was ahead of us. We showered, ate, packed the car and headed to hospital to start our induction. Nothing can compare to our excitement and nervousness, perhaps it was like the first day of school or leaving for a big trip. We met our nurses, checked in, and started Pitocin at 6:30 am. At this point, I was still 2 cm and 60% effaced.

The contractions started off great, they were nothing more than a mild stomach ache. We watched TV and were excited to see that a Top Chef marathon would be starting soon! At 9 am the doctor came by and broke my water, at this point I was 2cm and 75% effaced. We were making progress!!!

The contractions got super strong at this point and it took all my focus to work through them. I labored against a wall, as standing was the only position that took the pressure off! Dale massaged my back and coached me through each contraction. The pain was surreal but still manageable. At 12:20pm my doctor officially declared me in "labor", as I was 3cm.

By 2:30 pm my contractions were off the chart. Pitocin increases the strength and effectiveness of contractions, usually showing up at around 100 on the scale, mine were 300 (I cant remember what scale they use...) !! They were coming every 2 minutes and after having made little progress, I decided it was time for an epidural so I could allow my mind and body to relax.

At 3 pm, the epidural brought instant relief, however, it had its hitches, as I could no longer leave the bed and needed a catheter. The pay off was worth it. I fell asleep at 3 cm and work up a few hours later at 6 cm and 80% effaced.

Dale and I were watching Top Chef, excited that the new episode was premiering at 8pm and that we would actually be able to watch it instead of having to wait. At 7:30, I was having bloody show and was checked at 8 cm and almost 100% effaced, I had one little lip that was in the way. The nurse stepped out for a minute and I had a big urge to push. She checked me again at 8 pm and I was 10 cm!!! At this point, I was working through each contraction, trying hard to to wait until that lip cleared and the pressure was intense--even with the epidural! (It really is like having to shit a watermelon!)

We started pushing at 8:40 pm, the doctor arrived just barely in time, as he was still putting his scrubs on as he raced into the delivery room. At 9:24pm, Kannon Charles was born, absolutely perfect, scoring a 9 on both APGARS. Dale and I both cried in amazement and disbelief that we now had a baby resting on my chest. I had a second degree tear that the doctor stitched while we bonded, Dale cut the umbilical cord, and even though I was exhausted, I was flying high with love.

My birth experience was nothing like I imagined it would be---it was better! The contractions were super strong. The epidural allowed me to relax and make progress and I still had the urge to push, which I wasn't expecting! Pushing was the best part, a relief in fact, and I was glad it was only 30 minutes of effort. All in all, we labored for 9 hours (from the time doc declared labor) and needless to say we never did see the new episode of Top Chef.

We are home now enjoying life with our new son, who even in 4 days of life is growing up faster than I can believe. We are loving getting to know him, his personality and needs and are quickly creating a routine for ourselves. Kannon is breastfeeding like a champ and sleeping countless hours! He loves being held, hates being swaddled, and prefers his swing to his bouncer. And, oops, we forgot to cover up, and he peed on our wall!! We cant wait to share more on our adventures!