Seth holding Sara for the first time

Seth holding Sara for the first time

Finally, a picture!

Here is Sara in the hospital. 1 Day old.

All Night Long

Sara was wide awake a good bit of last night. Or at least it seemed like it. She didn't really fuss much, she was just awake. For about Three hours. After Debbie fed her and held her and walked her for a long time I took over and did the same, except for the feeding part. In the end Debbie fed her again and she went to sleep about 4:30 or so.

Most of the time that I had her she was wide awake and gazing around. I can't say that she was actually looking at things because I'm not sure how far see can see, but she appeared to be watching out the living room window for a while. I did some laps around the kitchen/living room/dining room, sat on the couch, up the stairs, changed the diaper; the whole routine. Still, she stayed wide awake.

If she had been crying the whole time it would have been really hard, but because she was content to just hang out it wasn't all that bad.

One week old

Yesterday Sara was one week old. I decided to look back at what I wrote when Seth was a week old just to compare my thoughts and they are remarkably the same. I have been back to work a little longer, but this is my first day to be in Silver Spring. I couldn't work at home then like I can now.

We constantly try to compare Seth and Sara. I suppose that is because it Seth is our only frame of reference for what Sara is doing. We think we remember what Seth was like at this age, but all I really remember is how happy we were to have him. We feel the same way about Sara. I suppose they are fairly comparable as newborns. What is most remarkable is that Seth went from being really small to comparatively big overnight.

The most noticeable thing is that Seth talks, which we have kind of gotten used to, and Sara doesn't. I mean Seth really talks: Tells stories, expresses ideas, challenges us, asks questions, gives answers. Sara does not. Sara sleeps, grunts when she wants to eat, cries when she needs a new diaper, gazes around the room when she is awake. She is more and more alert every day which is interesting. You can actually see her vision getting better as she locks on to things that are farther from her.

Last evening I sat on the couch and read to Seth while holding Sara. I plan to do that a lot more.

Back to Work

I am back to work today. Nothing caught fire while I was out, so things are running smoothly after a little email and voice mail catch-up.

Sara is doing very well. We took her for the first Doctor visit on Monday. The pediatrician said that she is a textbook example of what a healthy baby should look like. That is exactly what I like to hear.

Seth is doing very well with his new sister. so far we haven't had any real issues and I think he is going to adjust without any trouble. He went to the library with Nana today.

Mother's Day

We had a big gathering for Mother's Day this year, what with new baby and all. The whole family was home along with Mrs. Young, Ted and Peggy. We spent the entire afternoon at Mom and Dad's. Seth went the whole day with no nap and was really good. No major melt downs. He went right to sleep when I put him to bed.

We are getting more comfortable with another baby in the house: finding the swing of things. It is still going to take a little more adjustment, but so far, so good.

Announcing!

Sara Beth was born Thursday, May 10 at 11:59 pm. She was 9lbs 8oz and 21.5 inches long. All went well with the c-section and both Mom and Baby are doing fine. We brought them home from the hospital today. It was a good Mother's day present I think.

Seth was very excite to meet his sister. He climbed right into the car to get a closer look. Then he helped carry her into the house by holding the handle of the car seat with Dad.

The Big Day!

Today is the big day. Debbie is puttering around gathering things up and getting ready to go. We will leave for the hospital in about an hour. I have the camera all ready.

Ted and Peggy are going to take Seth to Mom and Dad's for lunch. He will have his nap there and they will wait to hear from us. It is a lot different than last time when everybody sat in the hospital all day. I am getting excited and nervous.

It feels like we are setting out on another big adventure.

Into The Home Stretch

We are really getting close to the time for the new baby to come. I will work tomorrow and then Thursday morning we go to the hospital. I am looking forward to it because I am ready to move on to the "we have a new baby" time from the "we are having a new baby" time. I am also ready for a few days off from work. That is kind of a nice by-product for me.

All is Ready

The baby's room is painted. The house is generally cleaned up. Tomorrow morning I will mow the lawn. Debbie's parents arrive around noon.