More Christmas Pictures

Speechless in Houston

Day after Christmas
Oliver woke us up at 4:15, he ate a small amount and we relaxed a few then packed up for the road. I think we made good time - we aimed for 6:00 and got out by 7:00. Not bad!
It's overwhelming when you see Kiran's room right now, You wouldn't know there were two beds in there with all the toys stacked on one of them! I have a few days to get through them all and find homes.
This may have been my best Christmas ever having two beautiful children to get excited over.

He cracked up!

Last night was the first time I got to witness Oliver cracking up OUTSIDE of his sleep. It sounds exactly the same, and his face jiggled the whole time. Right as we got home from Christmas shopping, he and I were sitting on the couch having a conversations. Example: "Oliver, what do we call the stuff that holds things together?" "glooooo" "YEAH! That's right"

Anyways, I have been really desparate to get a laugh out of him now that I've mastered getting smiles so I decided to start tickling him. Sure enough as soon as two of my fingers made their way under his chin, he started cracking up! He's tickelish there! It was the cutest thing, we were nearly in tears; evan had to drop what he was doing in the kitchen and come running in.

So, despite this nasty cold he has put up with for 2 weeks now, Oliver laughed for his loving parents. I am so happy. So in love.

Oliver found baby love! <3

Here is a pictures of Oliver's cyber girlfriend! Isn't she the cutest thing EVER?!

Oliver, you've grown!

So he's a healthy 12 pounds and some change now! Oliver had an unscheduled doctors visit for his pitiful cough and congestion. When we go in for our actual check up next week, I'll eagerly ask about percentiles and stuff! Kiran was just 110th for so long and I really think he'll be around there too!
He's

All I want for Christmas

This blog is just turning into a vehicle for my massive photo album.

From my mommies!

This is the cute *siggy* that sharon made - it's so cute : )

Anyone got the chills?

This will warm you up

All Smiles All the Time

This is killer and you know it! I just love him so much!

Blast from the past!

Taking you back to the day Oliver was born. As you know, he was basically self-induced at 38 weeks because I couldn't stand the thought of pushing out a chunky baby. You see, I feared he was really large, as did my doctor. Not to say, it wasn't natural and that my body couldn't handle it...but the fear still set in.

This pic, borrowed from daddy's blog, will expose the horrid reaction i had to my castor oil cocktail that generated timetable contractions sending me to the labor room.

It was either that, or use up my guest list spot for the Paris Falls show that night. Once a rockstar, always a rockstar.

Shocked Baby

Anyone else love the look on this SHOCKED babies face?!

politics at the dinner table

Tonight, we were discussing something or another, and the United States came into the picture. I asked Kiran if she knew the name of our country. She confidently repied, "Kroger".
Jeez, there is neither a U, S,...OR A in "Kroger". We have a long way to go. Luckily there is some time ahead of us.

I'm going to consider tonight my REAL first smile from Oliver. This time, during our playing, Oliver smiled, giggled, and smiled more lots. It occured enough for me to pay attention what he responded to each time. And it was ME...and my COOS. Yesterday this wouldn't have happened at all. I will not think of all the firsts I'll miss because he is in daycare so much.

6 weeks Post-Partum check-in!

I really should have made this update about a month ago because I feel absolutely the same. I have a sad 15 lbs to lose, but I had it here a month ago as well. But lets not obsess about weight when I have two very small children. : )

Kiran is adjusting well, and I'm completly okay if she just lets it all out somewhere down the road. I know this must be hard for her as she gets a little less attention and has bigger responsibilities these days. But the more I thought about it, this is just the family dynamic. Families are capable of adjusting to these types of things without it being traumatizing. The exact same way I was able to adjust to not being able to attend to myself as much once I had kids. Initially you wouldn't choose to go without that attention, but you just move on once it happens, learning slowly how to raise that unattended spotlight until it returns. So we don't need to worry as much as I thought. Everyone will be okay.

Oliver is the sweetest little boy in the whole world. He's sleeping great at night, getting good 5 and 6 hour stretches and eating like a champ. We're working on the "pooping like a champ" still, though.
He stays seated in that absorbed state, making sense of the muddled living, loved, and so... flourished. Safe, guarded, never left uncertain, when such small days are all he's had. We know how unfair it would be to have to live up to the toughness that we think we must as adults. If its possible we will help him learn the weakness inside is just as momentus as the illusive courage. When reaching out to your soft underbelly, oliver,offering the commited chance, you can make that mental muscle valid. A lifetime could descend before you've won. A brave migration, all the same, celebrates all your sustained legwork. Get that, and you're set.

So there is long term goals, condensed, employed for short term goals.

As of his 6 weeks check up yesterday, he's 11lbs and over 23 inches. I bet he stays up in the 110th percentile for height just like Kiran did. And I'm still certain his "gunmetal" eyes will settle.

If you haven't rubbed eyeballs with this newborn force, please feel free to come take a gander.

It's love.

So, just when getting back to work for the first week was tough, I got a pleasant 11%raise today. Someone paid attention to my growing belly I guess. I like the fact that I still got it even though I show up late with spit-up on my clothes every day. I lowered the bar!

But even with the raise, I'd rather be at home with Oliver way more, or at least in school. What countries make this possible? I'll MOVE!

the fair

"you can go next time. you can go tomorrow"

picture overload

i'm so behind

new

[grabs cuffs]

we snuck off for the weekend

i can confirm

he is still growing!

a poem titled september 30th

in between diaper changes, preparing lunch, and making the lesson for his class, evan wrote a cute poem for his 5th graders. he did a lot with 5 minutes of improv:

We walked through the hospital past midnight,

my wife and I, my hand on her back,

stopping to find her breath on each corner.

Such a quiet place at night – lights off, doors shut,

the waiting rooms empty, the coffee pots cleaned.

Soreness crept up our legs, her back; we'd already walked that morning.

Anticipation fluttered with disbelief –

It can't be time, they'll send us home, I should have eaten.

And fatigue, as midnight gave way to Sunday –

I told you to eat.



Until a table and the doctor came in, two more nurses, and Erica pushed.

I remember the colors – the cherry wood floor, the starched white sheets,

her thin blue gown, the lights bright like noon had settled indoors.



His first cries cut through like a clock's chimes through sleep –

strong and clear – and his gunmetal eyes locked onto our faces,

onto our voices – clear, no longer muffled –

those voices he'd heard for so long.

purrr

and another comparison of my kiddos!
K I R A N N I C O L E

O L I V E R J U D E

brother/sister

time to compare. we keep hearing that kiran and oliver look much alike. and i've been instructed to locate my baby pics and we'll find and answer to all this - aparently we looked a lot alike too. what do you think?

olivers first word

"eh"

a feast of fotos!

i know, he makes you hungry, right? you could just eat him up?!
more pics if you click around through daddy's blog, too. but i warn you, go slow.
www.countingtozero.blogspot.com

legend on the 3rd floor

Yes, we are somewhat of a legend on the 3rd floor. 3rd floor of Texas Women's Hospital is the labor and delivery. We indeed made it to the hospital in active labor the day I suspected all along: sept. 29th. The day evan and I became engaged one year ago. Oliver was not born, however until 3:39am the following morning.

I craved my baby and some control over the timing of this whole thing. We very bravely went and bought castor oil. I didn't bravely drink the recommended dose though. But I got enough down to get my contractions 3 minutes apart by 8pm. I was in disbelief that stuff would work so well. I did hear it was very good at helping labor along for someone 4 cm dilated like myself.

When we arrived at the hospital that got us walking the halls to see if I was really in labor. If you are, then some dilation (usually 1 cm) will occur in 1 hour. BINGO! We got all checked in and they sent the doctor on call up to see me. He broke my water around 1am because he didn't really believe my labor would go as fast as I warned. We ended up going so fast I didn't get my 2nd dose of antibiotics. I was so nervous once my water broke - there was no going back. It was so quiet at the hospital. 1:30 came and they recommended an epidural if I was really to dilate as fast as I said. I willingly accepted even though I was enjoying feeling the labor progress, nearly textbook style. It was difficult getting my epidural because I kept twitching from nervousness. That twitching soon turned into shaking as the medicine rushed in. I thought I was getting more nervous but aparently it's just the medicine.

We were so excited though! Our baby was coming, and coming fast!

PART TWO: PUSHING

The nurse was incredibly shocked when I got to 8, then 9, then 10 probably in a matter of minutes. She called the doctor to head on in and said we could do three practice pushes since I was at 10. This gets the doctor ready to deliver and ensures it will go quickly and successfully. Daddy held onto my legs and I followed my instructions even though I could hardly feel what was going on! Counted to 3, pushed....WHOA, SLOW DOWN! Their eyes got wide when they saw Oliver start crowning. Needless to say, I didn't have to practice. They pushed him back in.

When the doctor arrived, we then made our first real push in attempt to bring him out. Perfect. We began our second and once again was asked to ease back because he was ready to jump into daddy's arms. With half of that push we had our oliver. Me being the old pro, was given my camera which I tried so deligently to teach others to use! I snapped the first 3 pictures of daddy cutting the "string". (Umb. cord).


It was all pretty surreal and kind of funny to me. We talked like normal people waiting on a child, but not one's having to do the work of getting him here. Just as I remember things with the labor of my daughter - making jokes and having a great time. Oliver was given to me within a minute and I calmed his first cries with my famous butt pats.

We were a very happy and close little family. The next few days went perfectly. I was up running around like an idiot. I should have been recovering but I was on such a high. I visited my friends on the 3rd floor who were also in labor. It was like a block party in that place!

Big sister was the most impressive for her work though. She has been the most nurturing and sensitive girl in the world. I'm so proud that all of the planning had paid off so well. She understands I have to take care of him so I sense no jealousy. I'm sure this is because she really feels he is hers too! She wants him fed!

PART 3: MASTER THE BREASTFEEDING

sadly to have to stop so I can return to work. Gotta buy those diapers. And well, I guess all that formula too. What a vicious cycle!

We are so in love with our Oliver Jude

9.30.07
7lbs 13.7oz
20 inches