2-week checkup

VJ and I are going to the doctor's today for his 2-week check-up. We are hoping that he has gained a little weight this week and is at least back up to his birth weight of 7lbs 10 oz.

I'm actually hopeful that he has gained even a little more weight than that. This week we noticed that the little monkey has gained a bit of double chin. Hopefully that is a good sign that he is aready plumping out and starting to grow up nice and healthfully.

Getting to the doctor's is going to be my first real challenge without Dad, who went back to work on Tuesday (3 days ago). After giving birth, the hospital recommended that I not drive for two weeks - that is, until this past Tuesday. Today will be my first time driving since then - trying to manage getting the baby in the car seat all by myself, driving alone with the baby in the back, and then carrying him in the carrier/sling into the doc's office.

I don't think it will be that hard, but probably will take more time that I expect. We'll keep you posted. The picture here, by the way, is VJ on Dad's lap last night. We just learned in a book called Happiest Baby on the Block that holding the baby on his side or stomach is a good way to soothe him. (Not a good idea for putting the baby down to sleep though, just for when he is awake and alert)

VJ's First Week in the World

To see a full-screen version of this slideshow, plus two home videos
(as part of the slideshow), click here!

The Eyes Have It.

These are Daddy's eyes for sure.

a lymerick written for vj by grandpa bernie

VINCENT JULIAN

Vincent Julian was born the other day.
A warm "Welcome" to him we say.
We wish him health and happiness
And plenty of love and success
All along his way.

VJ is here!!

VJ was born this week on Tuesday morning at 1 am. Mom went into early labor during her sleep before waking up on Monday morning. (She didn't know she was having contractions, but was tossing and turning all night long) At 6 am her water suddenly broke, so she and Dad went to the hospital. Everything checked out fine, so Dad and I were allowed to return home to wait for full labor

Everyone said it, but nothing can prepare you for how much time and energy it takes to care for a newborn. It's so overwhelming (lots of feelings of love, worry, concern, fatigue - both physical and mental, etc)! This "parenting-a-newborn thing" sure is one hell of a roller coaster ride. So so so much work.

But the little one is doing pretty well. He has a small case of jaundice, so we might have to admit him into the hospital this week-end... We hope to send more details about VJ and his birthday when things settle down. Dad and I are both feeling very proud and are already completely smitten over the little guy.

Here is his first picture:

36-week belly

 

It was bound to happen eventually: my new breast pump

A big purchase that we made recently was a breast pump. Once again, I am proud to say that we got a great deal off of craigslist. I bought the hospital grade double breast pump from Medela for about $85 (New, I think they cost around $300). At first Dad and I were skeptical about buying something so special second-hand; we were mostly worried about hygiene. But our birthing class instructor - and my sister-in-law - taught us that none of the parts of the breast pump one buys ever touch the milk or breast. When you buy a breast pump like the one we did, it does not include the tubing and bottles that come into contact with your own milk/body. These extra parts you buy separately - and new, so the consumer can rest assured that everything is clean.

In any event, in commemoration of the big buy, here are some pictures of our new purchase. Now, to figure out how to use this thing (I think we still need to get the accessories before we can actually really see it up and running - not to mention that I'm not making milk yet, so there really is no way to test it on me yet, at least). Doesn't this thing look crazy complicated?

Great Thread on OBs in LA area

It's too late for us now, because we have already settled with the mid-wives at UCLA (which on the whole we think are pretty great), but I found this great thread on mothering.com offering some useful insights on supportive obstetricians of natural childbirth in the area. I'm putting the link here for my own records:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=419487

I found this on-line when I was actually looking for tips/suggestions on a good pediatrician in LA for our soon-to-be-born baby boy. I still haven't found that yet... and am a total loss on where to start (none of my friends have babies). If anyone out there has any suggests, we'd love to hear from you. Thanks!

My Belly at about 26 weeks!

We took this picture at the West LA Obon Festival this year, already more than 8 weeks ago (on July 26). To see our pictures from that day, have a look at our google photo album! I just fixed this pic up (blurring out the edges) with picasa. You can tell my extremities are kind of swollen (lot of typical pregnancy bloating) by just looking at my hands...

Incidentally, I think this photo proves that my stomach was already pretty big, even before that picture, down below, was taken around 30 weeks.

Around 30 weeks?

We found this picture on Scott's phone, and I like it a lot. Scott and I just figured out that it was taken more than 4 weeks ago, around August 17. I am convinced that when this was taken, my belly was already much bigger than it looks in this picture... I am carrying the baby low (everyone says this is because the baby is a boy), so maybe there is a chance that my right leg is covering up some of the bellly bulge in the picture. In any event, this pic shows how happy Dad and I are relaxing on a beach in Redondo. We had just picked up a crib that a friend of Scott's gave to us (his friend's kid has already outgrown it)!!! After we met Scott's friend, we went to the beach for about an hour to kill time before heading to one of our final Bradley birthing classes.