First Two Weeks

As of today, we have been home for two weeks. In so many ways, time has flown by, and in so many other ways, I feel like we've been a little family forever. Carter has done such an amazing job putting weight on and sleeping. He went from 5 lb. 15 oz. and 19 inches long at his one week appointment to 6 lb. 12 oz and 20 inches long at his two week! (Picture at right is from his appointment.) We are just growing like a weed!

We have developed our little "routine" for mornings and bedtime, although we certainly don't stick to it everyday. In the mornings, Carter decides he's over the bed at around 7 or 7:30am, so we get up, change into daytime clothes, eat a bottle on the couch, and then he takes about a 2-hour nap in his bouncy chair. (We call it his baby lazy boy.)

After that, we are usually wide awake until about noon or 1pm. During that time, we eat more, "play" (which basically means stare at each other and make faces at this point), go for walks, or run errands. Around 1 or 2pm, we usually go back down for another 2-hour stretch, and we are currently trying to take this nap in our pack 'n' play. Some days it is successful (see below), other days, not so much.

We are then usually awake again from 4pm until 6 or 7pm when daddy comes home (best part of the day for us both!), and then we battle sleep until 9 or so when we begin our bedtime routine. Depending on the day, this routine includes a bath (which he LOVES!), a baby massage, a new diaper, pajamas, and a bottle in bed. We usually wake up twice during the night - the first dream feed is between 11pm and 1am, and the second dream feed is somewhere between 2am and 4am. After the first dream feed, we usually fight sleep for a little while, but we go back down like a champ after the second. We then wake up for the day sometime between 6am and 7:30am and start all over again! (Not bad for 2 weeks old!)

You make the BEST faces! Our favorites...

The Tweety Bird

 The Thinker

The Question

The Half-Smile

I could seriously stare at you all day and watch your faces. (And sometimes do.) Baby boy, you can be feisty, stubborn, and are sometimes difficult to understand, but you are a pure JOY to your mommy and daddy and really are an easy baby. You never cry without purpose (yet), love to just watch the world around you, and are such a handsome little man! It's only been 16 days, but it's already difficult to imagine life without you! We love you so much!

May 3, 2011 - He's Here!

Carter Wade Ezell was born at 2:41pm on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. The little nugget weighed just 6 pounds, 2 ounces, and was 19 inches long. He is happy, healthy, and the new love of his mommy and daddy's lives.

38 Weeks: Labor! Or not.

So, Wednesday night after work, we did our normal weeknight thing. Around 5:30, we leashed up the dog and went out for a good 30 or so minute walk like we usually do before starting dinner. Around 6, we got back home and decided to make a run to Sam's to stock up on a few staples before the baby got here. While we were walking around Sam's, all of a sudden I was struck with an excruciating crampy feeling and lots of pressure down low. It actually took my breath away and caused me to hunch over and wait for it to pass before I could continue walking. I got a few more of these as we finished our shopping and paid, so in the car, I started paying attention to the clock. I realized these little episodes were happening every five minutes. Blake very sweetly made us a simple dinner while I laid down to rest, and around 8:30, they hadn't stopped. I decided a call to the doctor was in order. After explaining my symptoms to her, she agreed that she thought I was in the beginning stages of labor. She encouraged us to stay at home until the contractions intensified (which she said could be hours or days even), so we got ready for bed, made sure our bags were ready to go, and waited.

The next morning, we were still waiting. The contractions hadn't stopped, but they also were not intensifying at all. I called in to work and told them I was not coming in and moved my afternoon appointment up to 10:45 that morning. Blake met me at the doctor, and we waited to hear how much progress I had made. And, drumroll....NOTHING. No more dilation. No more effacing. NOTHING. You would've thought she told me the baby died, I was so upset. It was such an emotional roller coaster to think you are about to meet your son and then to hear that it might be weeks longer. (Our induction isn't scheduled until the 13th, so it could be 2 more weeks until we meet the little man.) We left the doctor very defeated and went to have lunch to take our minds off it. I went back to work the next day for my last day there, and life went on as normal. Frustration does not even begin to describe it! :(

Since then, the contractions seem to have basically stopped, and we are just continuing to wait. I am done with work, so that's nice to have behind me. The waiting continues...until then, here is the week 39 picture we took last night before a wedding. Big, big boy!