Weeks 5 & 6

Here are the ways Luke is changing this week:
- He is smiling! We don't think these are fluke smiles anymore-- he smiles when we blow on his belly, when you talk in a high voice (Leah Hunt found this out :), after he is fed and full (this indicates that in about 2 minutes later, we can put him in bed and he is out).
- He is growing! We moved from the infant sling in his bathtub to the tub tub-- he sits in water now and really likes bath time; we took the infant padding out of his car seat (tear), his arms are long like daddy's and don't fit some of his newborn clothes anymore.
- He is vocal! The coo's have begun and they are so sweet. We can also distinguish his cry's (I had always heard this and never understood "different" cries). The 'feed me' cry is pouty with an occasional "Uh-huh" in there, the 'I am wet' is an all out wail, and the 'hold me' cry is a whimper. We don't have many other cries... he is a really good baby.
- We had our first 6 hour sleeping stretch last night- I think is was a fluke, we will see tonight, but it was GLORIOUS!

Pictures from this week:

Proud Parents:

B35 Sunday School babies (our Treat twins were not there, so pretend there are 2 more in the line-up :):

Granna spends the night:

Meeting Great Aunts and Honey visits:

Meeting Cousin, Lindsay:

I think we have "Crossed Over"

Somewhere, there is a line delineating fancy free "young adult" and "adult". I think we have found that line and possibly crossed it... what do you think?!!!

-- When Connor, the 16 year old popcorn guy, at the movie theater saw Brent's Death Cab for Cutie t-shirt and asked if we were going to their upcoming concert to which he said, "No, but we went a few months ago". Connor asked if we liked it and I started telling him that I was pregnant when we went and I just wanted to sit at the concert but all of the teenagers were standing up in front of us-- I think I crossed us over on that one :)

-- When our daily conversations discuss poopy diapers in some form or fashion

-- When we get IN from a date by 8:30

-- When mom tells us to go back out for coffee and I decline (Again all me on that cross over)

-- When we go to a department store and look for "our section" and don't know what "our section" is anymore

-- When I put off my pedicures but insist on Luke's manicures (this is mainly so he doesn't claw his eyes out though...)

-- When I don't get carded for buying NyQuil at Walmart... seriously?!!!

-- When we trade in Allie for Luke, poor thing:

Happy Thanksgiving!

We went over to my aunt and uncle's house for Thanksgiving... I think this year was the best food yet! Lindsay and Dean fried the turkey-- Paula Dean would be so proud! And all of the sides were yummy twists to old favorites- from the chipotle sweet potatoes to the roasted rosemary corn- we were stuffed!
Happy Host and Hostess:

Proud Parents:

Great Grandmother:

Cousins:

Granna and Pops:

Allie gets turkey too!

Our Shantung Maple tree made it's debut too- it will be completely red in a few more days!

Packing it on!

Our little Luke is getting bigger! Our trip to his pediatrician told us he is 7 pounds 11 ounces-- up from last week's 6 pounds 15 ounces! He really wants to eat from 5:00 at night to bedtime-- Last night, Brent asked me if I feed Luke during the day in the middle of one of Luke's feeding frenzies... you wouldn't think so!

1 Month

Luke is 1 month old this week, which just happens to be Thanksgiving-- we enter this week with full hearts, giving thanks for our little one!

Luke, you entered our lives at the proper time. You have changed our lives in such a wonderful way and we look forward to all that is to come. You are teaching me so much~

1. Patience- you are making me slow down and enjoy the little moments I usually fly through or take for granted- like visiting Daddy at work to take him out to lunch or welcoming when the seasons change from summer to fall to winter. At 2 am after an hour and a half of feeding you, you are teaching me to stay calm and be your mom first-- you challenge me to give you my best, no matter the hour or circumstance. It is my hope that you never get left overs from my day and that you always feel loved and safe in your home.
2. Listening- you are showing me how to really listen when someone talks. Your eyes show me you are focusing on whatever silly thing I am telling you as if you are hanging on every word, no matter how insignificant. You are teaching me to listen more closely to what people say to not miss a lesson or opportunity.
3. Unconditional love- Since you arrived, this instant, indescribable love for you has been our biggest joy! I hope you know we will always be your biggest fans- dreaming big with you, praying hard for you, and providing all we can for you. You remind us that God is doing the same for us, His children, to promote us, teach us, lead us, humble us, challenge us. We hope to imitate His love with you too, Luke.
4. Dependence- Your dependence on us to meet your every need is intense. It is a rewarding feeling to fill up your bottomless pit stomach before bedtime, rock you to sleep, watch you relax during bath time, and bundle you up for a cold night's sleep. We don't take your dependence on us lightly and know you need us to work with all our hearts at our jobs to provide for your needs now and in the future when your needs change as you grow. You encourage me to look at each new day as a new opportunity.

~We know this is just the beginning to many great lessons we will learn and many fun times ahead for our family. We thank God for you and pray his continued blessings over you and our family.

Pictures from this week:
Luke's first play date with Drew Carpenter, his elder by 5 days:

Proud Papas:

All the kiddos:

Getting crazy!

Luke's first tummy time:

(lasted about 1 minute!)

Sweet boy- waking up stretches:

Meeting Daddy at the office and taking him to lunch:

Luke's Visitors - Ginny and Kalli (due Christmas Day!). Tiffany and Sarah S., we forgot to snap a picture when you were here... next time :)

Week 3

We are turning a corner with the jaundice which means a more alert baby and better feedings! Luke is growing out of his smallest clothes (getting long like Daddy) and newborn diapers are becomming snug! I hope to drop the extra formula next week after a follow up lactation consult-- the formula is smelly and Luke's tummy doesn't process it as easily, so he makes a crinkely face when he first tastes it, but even that is getting better.

Brent's parents were nice enough to give us a date night this Saturday, so we took full advantage and went shopping at Banana Republic and DSW (for me to cash in on our pumpkin carving bet!), then had dinner at Carrabbas... it was a much needed night, but we sure enjoyed walking through the front door to our sweet Luke!

Our babysitters:

My prize for winning the pumpkin carving contest that went to a vote on our blog! It is good to be the WINNER!

Yesterday, Nov. 17, marked Luke's original due date... glad we got him 3 weeks earlier! That was also my first day alone, just me and Luke, without either Grandma's help. I felt 2 hands short when changing a dirty diaper and not covering him up fast enough-- poor thing peed on his face before his mom realized what was going on! I'll get better, Luke, I promise!

More Pictures from this week:

Luke has shelves above his changing table-- he always looks up at the Astro's Rally Monkey feet, so Brent took the monkey down for Luke to see up close and personal-- lifesize!

Week 2

Luke is 2 weeks old! Time is flying. Debbie is with me this week, so she is loving on Luke and helping me with housework, dinners, driving to appointments, etc. We visited the pediatrician yesterday and Luke is not gaining enough weight, so we are beginning supplementing with formula in addition to regular feedings to bulk him up. We go back Thursday to weigh in and hopefully show progress. He still has jaundice with elevated bilirubin levels, so the Doctor thinks that may be contributing to sleepy feedings. We are not to start a schedule until he gets bigger, and primarily focus on eating and sleeping right now. The supplementing is going okay-- he doesn't eat as much as they want him to- not sure if he is just full or doesn't like the taste of formula. We have an appointment today with a Lactation Consultant to see how much he is getting from me at each feeding and get other pointers to help him get all he needs. He seems content now to go to sleep, which helps me be okay with supplementing to see a happy baby drifting off to sleep with a sweet smile on his face.

Luke's cord fell off, so we were able to finally take a real bath!

Swinging while Mom and Dad eat dinner:

Aunt Jamie teaching Luke how to be an Aggie fan even when we know they won't win!

Grandma Lovies:

Mud Run 2008

Brent and some friends from work participated in a Mud Run this past weekend... Mud Run is a combination of regular citizens, Civil Servants, companies, teams, colleges and some military personnel competing together through a series of boot camp styled obstacles that have been surrounded by (or consist entirely of) mud. The race is 10K and really dirty! They had a great time, but Brent's chiropractor has his work cut out for him this week! Brent is already talking about the Spring sign ups, so I think this will become a regular event for them.

http://www.mudrundfw.com/

The Fire Department hosing them down:

Blue Steel Baby

Luke's uncle Chris lovingly gave Luke his first nickname this past weekend... "Blue Steel". I didn't know what this was either, until they refreshed me on the movie Zoolander-- Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson are runway models and when Ben Stiller strikes his pose during their "walk off", he makes this face:

1st Week

This first week has been amazing... the love we have for our little boy is hard to explain. My Grandmother sent Luke a book that sums up this feeling so well, called Through and Through. It says "I love your top side, I love your bottom side, I love your inside, and outside... it goes through fingers and toes, etc. and ends with the sweetest last page: "I love you through and through... yesterday, today, and tomorrow, too." It is so amazing to love this little guy more and more every day as we learn more about each other. We didn't understand how life would change with a baby and loved the season of life Brent and I were in enjoying our marriage and each other, but I have to say, life just got more full and meaningful for us both. Luke is a sweet little boy- his deep blue eyes are so calming and thoughtful, his pudgy legs are so kissable and touchable, and his hair is so fluffy and soft. Luke recognises our voices and calms when we hold him... it is such a rewarding feeling to have his trust.

We have been struggling this week with elevated bilirubin levels that started with treatment at the hospital, but levels rose again over the weekend. We are all physically tired and feeding is our first priority right now to get the jaundice under control. Luke's pediatrician thinks the worst is behind us, so we pray that is true-- I feel extremely helpless when my baby gets so tired, he can't get through a feeding without falling asleep, but trust with extra pumping and God's lead, Luke will be strong in no time. My mom has been a HUGE help this week teaching me baby how to's, driving us to doctors, making dinner (every other night that our wonderful Sunday School friends don't), running errands, and constantly doing laundry... learning from the best is one of the things I am thankful for this week :)

Luke's Pediatrician (first check up):

Watching Dancing With The Stars with Granna:

Playtime:

Dinner Time:

Naptime: