See Jacks Smile!!!

Our little guy is starting to smile.

Christmas Drum Circle.

On Christmas night we all got together and formed an awesome Drum Circle.  

The video says it all.  

A big thank you to all those that participated.

4 Weeks Old

Jack is now 4 weeks old. He's a growing boy too. He now weighs about 9lbs and is 21" long. So since he was born he has gained a little over 1lb and has grown 1". He is getting stronger and stronger by the day. He can lift his head and support it for a few seconds. 

He is very alert and loves to be in the light. 

When he yawns he makes a little sigh. 

He loves to be snuggled in tight.

He makes many different funny faces. The funniest faces usually come after he eats and when he is gassy.

Me-(AKA The Mommy)

First let me start by saying that I love being a mom. It's 100% a full time job. It's even more than a full time job, it's 24/7. You never get a break or time off from your child. It's tiring and frustrating and everyday you learn something new. You not only learn about how to take care of a growing human being but you also learn more about yourself and you realise that you're still growing too. Sometimes it's scary to realise that you're responsible for this little human being and not just for a day or two but forever. Breastfeeding is one of the best things that you can do for your child. I'm scared to think that I might be too impatient for breastfeeding. Women know that breastfeeding is way better for a baby than formula and gives your baby a healthy start in life. You feel guilty when you decide to give him formula because it's faster and easier. Isn't that the world that we grew up in? Fast and easy, you don't have to wait: you can have whatever you want when you want. It's hard to change that mentality when you become a mom nothing is quick and easy.

That's the number one thing that I have learned through this whole experience. 10 months ago I found out I was pregnant with Jack. I felt like I had been carrying him my whole life. 9 months felt like forever. I couldn't wait for him to be out of my belly and I could have my body back. I couldn't wait to be able to sleep on my stomach and eat whatever I wanted. Finally the 9 months went by and then it was time for him to come out. I waited...and waited for him to come out. Wednesday morning I woke up with Braxton Hicks (contractions). All day I was in pain. The pain got worse and worse and we finally went to the hospital. Jack wasn't born until Thursday morning. When you're in pain for 24 hours it feel like eternity. It's all on his time though, not mine. That's what I'm learning. I can't control when he wakes, sleeps or is hungry. I just have to learn to put aside my needs for his.

It's an amazing lesson. My whole life has slowed way down. Although I'm still busy, it's a different kind of busy. The most strange thing is not leaving the house. The first few weeks they suggest that you don't take him outside around people. His system isn't strong enough yet and he could get sick. I would hate for him to get sick. I hate to see him in pain or discomfort. His little face scrunches up and he let's out the saddest cries ever. I've never had so much responsibility placed on me. Sometimes I want to quit (especially at 3 in the morning when he won't go back to sleep because he's still hungry even though he just ate for the past 2 hours). Other times I feel like super mom, cooking dinner, baking bread, doing laundry for my husband and I and Jack, feeding Jack, changing his poopy diaper, cleaning etc...Anyway, from the moment I held Jack in my arms I knew my whole life was going to change. I gladly except my new role as mother and I look forward to the future. I'm excited to be apart of Jacks life...

Jack's First Halloween

Jack's First Halloween was pretty exciting. Of course he was only two weeks old so there wasn't a whole lot we could do with him. But mommy did buy a pumpkin for a little bit of fun. The plan was to carve it but that didn't end up happening. What did end up happening was the usual, changing diapers, feeding, and rocking to sleep. Once he was down for a nap Dom and I headed straight for the kitchen where we cooked up a storm. Dom made pulled pork and I made a Carmel apple cake. Both were absolutely amazing. By the time we were done cooking Jack was awake and we were up for another round of diaper change, feed and rock.

Although Jack didn't really know it was Halloween He took very adorable pictures. I have never taken pictures of an infant but it was a little challenging. After every take he would start to cry so Dom would hurry and pick him up and rock him until he was calm. He would set him down on the blanket and I would take a few pics and then we would be fussy again : )  I have many pictures of him crying and I was only able to get a few with him calm.

The lying on the stomach pose seemed to be the best. He almost fell asleep with this one. Of course this is the last pose that we tried.

I liked this one. This one really captured him in the moment. Towards the end of his photo shoot he was getting a little sleepy. Nothing is cuter than when Jack is about to fall asleep.

First Time Dad

This is our first time being parents. We have read many books and listened to everyone's advice and now we are putting all the theories to the test. Being a mother has been wonderful and watching Dom become a father has been amazing. However, it comes as no surprise to me that Dom is an amazing father. From the very beginning Dom has always been extremely selfless. While I was going through labor in the hospital he was always by my side. Labor begun Wednesday October 13th at around 8:00 p.m. We arrived at the hospital around 10:45 and I got my epidural at 12:00 a.m. I highly recommend getting an epidural! I mean props to anyone who does it without drugs but I wouldn't do it any other way. Labor lasted through the night but I didn't feel the contractions thanks to the epidural. I didn't sleep but I wasn't in pain. In the morning the doctor came in around 8:30 and broke my water. I started pushing and before I knew it little Jack was in my arms looking straight at me and reaching for me with his little hands. With tears of Joy I looked up at my husband and saw that he was smiling and crying right there along with me. I can't believe that it only took 9 months to create this little person. Our little family just got a little bigger... our new adventure has begun...and what an adventure it has been so far.

Jack is almost 1 month old. Time has gone by pretty fast. It seems that my days are filled with feeding, changing diapers, and rocking side to side. Dom has accepted his role as a dad by helping with all the activities. Even the late nights with very little sleep.  He works from 8:30a.m.-5:00p.m. comes home and takes our son out of my arms and feeds him with a bottle and puts him down for a nap. It's amazing, I really do have the most wonderful husband. I couldn't do it without him and Jack is so lucky to have such a wonderful father.

All little boys need a father who loves them and can devote time out of each day to them. I have no doubt that as Jack grows older Dom will continue to strengthen their relationship through spending quality time together. Jack and Dom already have a bond that existed even before Jack was officially in this world. While I was pregnant Dom would read to him, play guitar and beat on my belly as if it were a drum. Dom still plays guitar and reads to him. Jack recognises the familiar sound and is calmed by his dad. The first thing I noticed when I saw Jack was that he looked just like Dom. He has his hands, his legs, his feet, his hair and his eyes. They even have similar personalities. I love my boys! I just can't get enough of them....