What were they thinking?

They sent him home with us? Alone!? What were they thinking?!

Sometimes when I stop and think about it - I wonder how the heck new parents survive. I mean, they just send you out in to the world with this brand new, tiny, completely dependent-on-you human. They really tell you nothing, give you nothing, and really, the most well-read, well-researched, well-practiced parent is just thrown into the ring with hardly so much as a boxing glove or mouth piece.

And yet... people do this. People do this and have done this with much less stuff and knowledge and rules and checklists. We're doing it too - with a whole lot of love, support, and God in our life. =)

This is another photo bomb post that is also out of order.

We were fortunate enough that Dac could take two weeks off when Reid was born. This was a major blessing - it would have been anyway but since I ended up having a c-section, I needed the extra help. He was such a trooper. I knew he would be - Reid and I couldn't have been better taken care of.

The boys spent lots of time like this during those first days.

This was when the newborn 'puff' wore off and his weight was dropping...

This needs to be on a wall somewhere in our house. I love it to pieces. Definitely one of the best photos I've ever taken. =) Even if just for the subjects and the happy it brings to my heart.

Holding hands.

He was apparently looking a little Asian that day. haha. This was taken the day of his first appointment with Dr. D. He was just a few days old.

This is about as real as it gets folks. Half wet hair. Bloat. Exhaustion. Oh - and that big smile on my face is 100% real too. I'm glad Reid will have this to see some day.

Like I said - way out of order. This was the day after Christmas when my Cousin Courtney (Auntie Boo) came to visit. She flew in just to meet Reid and help me around the house. She did too! The next morning, she fixed oatmeal for me. =) That may not sound like much to you but it was a real breakfast that I had not been getting. I felt like a pampered princess. I also got to take a bath! She went to the store for me and made us a yummy dinner too. =) So thankful for her and all her help. (By the way, lots of people brought dinner and helped us out! We felt pretty loved!)

Snuggles

First hair-washin' at home.

Before taking Courtney back to the airport.

A boy after my own heart - sportin' a hoodie. =) Maybe it doesn't count when I'm the one who dressed him. haha!

He always sucked those two middle fingers at first.

He and his lady friends. =)

My Boo and I

Grump. 1-month old.

This is one of my most favorite faces of his. He made it constantly. It's pretty well been replaced by a huge grin, so that's ok too - but I do kinda miss it.

No baby ears were harmed in the making of this photo. =) They weren't plugged in but Reid sure does love music - just like mom and dad.

=)

This was taken after a very long day. Dac was back to work and little man was going through a bit of a growth spurt. He insisted on being held all day and I was beat. Dac took him into the kitchen with him while he made some dinner. Reid continued to cry so Dac attached the iPad to the bassinet and played some Mumford & Sons. =) Reid quieted right down and went to sleep.

Cori's mom sent us these great changing mats!

Tarl. =) I sure hope Reid grows up with a great group of guy friends like Dac has. I also hope they all marry cool girls like Dac and his friends have! =)

As I mentioned, Erica visited and brought lunch along with the bassinet. Here's here little man!

Once the baby acne hit...

As much as he loved movement, he kind of fought the swing. He ended up liking it though!

John and Anna!! =) These sweet friends came to make lunch and I kid you not, 15 minutes before they showed up Dac got sick with the mega stomach flu. They stayed for a bit and held Reid anyway but then had to just turn right around and go home. We felt awful!

Oh how I love these guys.

Dr. A holding him at my two-week checkup. She just loved him! =)

He hated those stinkin' baths for weeks!

Tarl's wife Joy!! So glad we got to see them!

More snuggles.

I'm a big Criminal Minds fan. Heather thought he had to have this... =) It couldn't have been more perfect!

Erica

Not impressed with having his picture taken...

The first month was a good one. They sure have been flying by!

A Dog and His Boy

You all know Peety. Peety is a 6 year-old love pug. He was our only "child" for the past 5 years (we adopted him when he was almost a year old). He's a good dog and is fantastic with kids but we were worried he'd be jealous when Reid came home. Dac's parents kept him for a couple nights once we got home so we could get settled. Then Dac brought him home to meet his little brother.

Is he not beautiful!?

Easing into it...

Giving him the ol' lickaroo...

He is protective of Reid... especially at first. He'd always follow us around and let me know when Reid was crying! (Like I couldn't hear it.)

All-n-all Peety has been a great big fur brother. He has had some behavior issues but he's wonderful with Reid.

New Family

I wanted to share some more pictures from when we were at the hospital. If you're a facebook friend, you've already seen these but I wanted them here too so they'd be part of our scrapbook. They're not all in order but - we'll live. =)

Our hospital stay was painful and exhausting but for the most part we received great care. Trying to nurse Reid was also painful and exhausting. It got to where it hurt to even hold him but oh how I loved to cuddle him. Dac was pretty amazing (after that first zombie night - haha) and did everything while I couldn't get up. Reid was a sleepy newborn of course and did well at night too. Even when he did cry, I didn't mind. Oddly enough I kind of liked that sound for a while. I can't remember if it was our second or third night in there, but Reid stayed in the nursery that night because he was choking a lot (c-section babies have more junk in their lungs). The nurse suggested it and we felt more comfortable with that... we were afraid we may not wake up to help him and plus I couldn't get to him very fast anyway in my condition. 

Oh that sweet, chunky face. He looks so different now. I was certain he was the most beautiful thing to have ever lived... still am. =)

He was born Friday night and Saturday was a BUSY day. Lots of visits from doctors, etc..., family, friends...

Auntie Heather and Daniel

Oy. love this one.

With Auntie Cori!

This was one of my first real times out of bed I think.

Pastor Ben

Sweet boy

Big guy! =)

Great Grandma Jo.

He had super dark blue/grey eyes.

Dad snuggles.

Grumplestilkson. =)

Our beloved nurse Jackie insisted on taking this. I'm glad she did. And of course it was while Iooked my best. =)

Great Grandma Millie

Aunt Debbie

Cousin Darci

With Auntie Kayla

Aunt Darla

I'm so happy to have pictures like this.

On our last day, I was an emotional wreck. The hormones were definitely in overdrive. At one point the nurse came in and looked at me like "oh no, we probably shouldn't send a baby home with you..." but I assured her they were happy tears. And they were... mostly. Happy tears and crazy tears but no tears of sadness (other than all the nursing trouble). It was all just overwhelming. I was overwhelmed with happy, and love, and my heart may have just burst if I didn't cry a little. =)

Attempting his first going home outfit (tooooo big).

There, that's better! =)

His socks didn't fit. =) You'll notice he had his neck problem from the beginning. I'm certain it was from the way he was positioned inside (super low and cramped) for so long. He looked so teeny tiny in his seat.

We drove the slowest we'd ever driven with me crammed in the backseat alongside little man. I couldn't have been more uncomfortable but there was no stopping me from being right there with him. =) When we got home, I sat in the chair... barely able to do a thing while Dac ran to get me more pain meds. I just soaked in the quiet of the house and watched Reid sleep. Oh... and cried. =) A lot. Again - mostly happy tears! =) We had him and he was home with us. It doesn't get much more perfect than that!

We had set up a nice pack-n-play and of course Reid wanted NOTHING to do with it. He refused to lay on his back for more than 5 minutes. Dac spent much of the night holding him on the couch. The second night was even worse - we eventually just put him in his carseat and let him sleep there for a couple hours. I'm not proud of that but I don't regret it either. He was in a safe spot and all three of us needed that sleep. The next day, Dac's cousin Erica brought down a bassinet with an incline (Fisher Price Rock-n-Play) and suddenly life was better. Reid spent his nights (and plenty of days too) there for the next six weeks. It saved us! 

The next few days were full of appointments, cuddles, visitors, trying to figure it all out, and find our new normal. =) Oh - and more cuddles.

**I also want to add that Reid passed his newborn tests/screenings like a champ! He was a little jaundiced but he never needed the bili lights.