Catching up

This month has FLOWN by, and I'm just now figuring out how to do things with one hand (Anderson still prefers to be in the other). So, laundry is slowly but surely getting done, thank you notes are being worked on, and the Blog has begun!  It's only thanks to helpful grandparents that the floor was ever swept and the baby book was ever begun during the first few weeks.  I can't imagine life is planning on slowing down anytime soon, so with this post I'll do my best to catch up, with some of my favorite highlights.

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Anderson is growing! He came home at 5 lbs. 10 oz., and he's been a growing-machine ever since.  Our measurement formula of (mom+Anderson)-mom= 9 lbs. at 1 month. Check out this bath babe at 1 week and at one month:

1 week

1 month

And because these are some of my favorite pics so far, more bath time at one month:

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Anderson loves to snuggle!  It took us about 3 weeks before we figured out how to get him to really sleep without being held.  Now, thanks to the wonderful Summer Swaddleme blanket/ swaddle-things, Anderson is sleeping between 4 - 6 hour stretches (usually for a total of 7 or 8 hours) just about every night.  Hallelujah!  Mommy is much more fun with some sleep.  I hope he's always a cuddle bug.

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Chris, Sarah, and Liam Casson (our cousins) came to meet Anderson.  Liam is such a fun 8 month old- it's amazing how much he can do!  Spending time with them was a great preview to all we have to look forward to.  Here's Liam: 

 Group shot: (Anderson slept just about ALL day the first day of their visit.)

The boys went to a Flying Squirrels game which was ultimately rained out.  That freed up the mommas (including mine) and babies for Hobby Lobby and Red Robin.  Shopping and eating- rain or shine.  :)

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Here are a few more "action shots" of Anderson's daily life.  I'm trying to soak up every minute of these lazy days with Anderson while I can.  Even after nights with little to no sleep (hopefully a thing of the past...?), I know I am so lucky and blessed to be Anderson's mom.

Love at first sight

Nobody was more surprised than I was to find myself in a labor and delivery room on Sunday, June 26.  My doctor (who was on vacation until July 2) and I were quite confident that Anderson would make his debut in July.  But our little June bug was all ready to go.  Upon learning that this wasn't a false alarm, Ryan and I called our parents to let them know that today was the day!!

We were also visited by Brandon, Heather, and Augy (who was very eager to meet the baby) and Steven and Kelly throughout the day.  It was wonderful to be surrounded by so much love- the day flew by!

My very normal pregnancy became a little more complicated in the delivery room that evening.  First, I found out that my anesthesiologist was also the parent of one of my former students.  We had several one-on-one conferences the previous year, and my modest self was very hesitant to become his patient.  Any modesty I maintained throughout the epidural was completely lost later...We ended up needing a c-section because Anderson didn't like labor.  Ryan and I were nervous- okay, I couldn't stop shaking- especially because we could hear them rushing my c-section over the one that was scheduled to be next.  Thank God that was as scary as it got. At 10:51 our perfect baby boy was born.  5 lbs. 15 oz., 18 3/4 "- I was surprised to have a little baby!  He was in Ryan's arms and in my view by 11:00.  It turned out to be nice knowing the anesthesiologist, as he talked us through the operation and provided much more personal attention than I felt the "on-call" OB ever did.  (I really missed Dr. Dausch!!- She said she'll schedule vacations around my pregnancy the next time around. Ha)

All 4 grandparents had stayed upon finding out about the c/s, so they all got to come spend some time with Anderson before he was brought up to the nursery.  It was definitely LOVE at first sight for everyone! 

That night (early morning) all of the stress of delivering a baby disappeared and I was overjoyed knowing Anderson was with us.  Ryan was THRILLED too, but his adrenaline was wearing off before mine, and he was ready for a little nap.  :)  Here's what all of the excitement was about:  

 In Mama's arms!  Heaven for Mom!!

 Look how little he is!  His eyelashes, hands, and feet were the only things that seemed big to any of us.

This was how Anderson traveled back and forth from the nursery.  Those big, blueberry eyes were ready to see the world.

 Ryan was a champ at making a "baby burrito".  This is an art still lost on me.

Throughout the next 3 days, we were visited by so many friends and family.  Anderson learned right away how many people love him.  Ryan and I were reminded again how blessed we are- now more than ever!