*YAWN*

Nathan went to the doctor yesterday for his 2-week checkup (although he was already 3 weeks old). His pediatrician says he looks great! All of those middle-of-the-night feedings are starting to show up on the scale! Nathan now weighs 5 lbs, 4 oz (his mama's birthweight!) and is measuring 18 1/2 inches long. Did he shrink, you ask?? We wonder, too! :-) At his 1-week appointment, the nurse measured him at 18 1/4 inches...and I asked if a baby could shrink?! She asked if he'd had a conehead; to which I replied no. Both Ben and I think that perhaps he was 18, not 19, inches at birth...either way, it doesn't really matter, of course...but, Nathan is 18 1/2 inches now - I saw it myself!


*YAWN* Nathan started out his first 2 weeks of life as a great sleeper! But that has drastically changed this past week! Wanting to eat every 2 hours and fussing between feedings is exhausting mommy and daddy! Thankfully, Megan doesn't seem bothered by her brother's crying and hasn't had her rest disturbed. I'm hoping it's just those every-few-weeks growth spurts and that we can get back to a LITTLE bit of sleep soon!

A few pictures for you! Megan has discovered shoes...and loves to walk around the house with only ONE. She loves to clomp around in daddy's shoes...but, here she is modeling one of mommy's flip flops:



Learning to drive:

Having fun with new crayons and a coloring book at Grandpa and Grandma P's:


Giggling and playing with Grandpa P:

Today was the day!

It's hard to believe that TODAY was my scheduled c-section...and Nathan is already 2 weeks and one day old! Time goes by so quickly!

Grandma W left Wednesday morning to go back home. Her help was soo appreciated! Mom, thank you for EVERYTHING you did!! We miss your help and, most of all, your company!


Managing on my own hasn't been too difficult -- although, I'm only making sure the kids are surviving. As for the house (dishes, laundry, toys, etc!), it was a disaster almost as soon as mom walked out of the door and will probably be that way for quite a while! lol! I have MADE myself lie down on the couch when Megan goes down for her afternoon nap and as soon as Nathan is fed. I've managed to fall asleep for at least 20 minutes the last 3 days!! Bliss!

For those of you praying, I've had normal blood pressure readings the last 2 days! YAY!! My OB isn't changing any of my meds...just having me continue to keep track of my bp at least once a day. I'm hoping I won't have to stay on the meds too much longer, either!

Many thanks to all who have stocked my cupboards with chocolate! I couldn't wait for the baby to be born so I could have sweets...and, now my cupboard overfloweth! Here's a picture of some fancy-schmancy stuff that my sister sent down with my mom: (If you like chocolate, and have never tried Lindt truffles...you MUST! They're delicious!!)

Ok, a few more pictures for you! Megan helping with Nathan's first sponge bath at home:


Unhappy time:


Daddy and kids:


Dressed for church:

Another happy big sister/little brother moment:

Hope you're all doing well! Thank you for all the congratulations emails and cards we have received! I hope to catch up with you all...someday! :-)

Time to post!

I've been trying to post for the last couple of days...but, anyone with a baby knows that free time is few and far between! I really can't complain - Nathan is a good baby so far! Eats well and sleeps well...and, only cries during diaper or clothes changes. Megan has also seemed to be adjusting quite well. She loves to help throw out dirty diapers or put clothes in the hamper. Oh, we've had some not-so-helpful moments - but, most of them are because she wants mama to hold her or pick her up when I just can't because of my incision. So far, she hasn't really shown any jealousy toward the baby and is just having regular 19-mos old naughtiness! :-) Megan actually seems to like baby Nathan and is always giving him kisses without being prompted.

Yesterday, I let her hold Nathan (*New Video*), and she was so proud of herself! She became quite possessive and didn't want to let him go. She smooched him and hugged him and giggled at him. This morning, Megan came to sit next to me and motioned to hold him -- it's funny, I could tell exactly what she wanted! So, I got her situated and put Nathan in her arms again...she was so happy. She is being a great big sister.

Nathan had a 1 week checkup yesterday and according to the pediatrician , he looks great. No weight gain yet, but that will come quickly enough! Nathan has already shown himself to be a bit of a piggy!

I had my staples removed today. Yay! My blood pressure is still very high. My OB gave me more medicine to take and is having me come back in a week to see if my blood pressure has gone down. I would appreciate prayers that it WILL! I know worrying about it certainly won't help!

Enjoy the pictures and video...and have a great weekend!

First Full Day Home!!

We came home from the hospital late yesterday afternoon. Ben went back to work this morning, while Megan adjusted to having a little brother around. I would say that our first day went just fine. So far, Nathan is pretty easy going (except for diaper changes - he hates them! - and, mama is still figuring out a baby boy! :-) and, it has been a wonderful thing to have Grandma W here to help us all!

I was sent home on blood pressure medicine and will have a follow-up appointment later this week to check on that whole issue. Nathan was sent home, happy and healthy! He left the hospital at 4 lbs, 7 oz -- 2 oz heavier than his big sister was! He has been a good eater and sleeper these first few days -- we hope that continues!

Just leaving you with one picture tonight. Hoping I can post more later this week. Just wanted you all to know that we're home safe and adjusting! Thank you for your prayers!

Pictures

Here are a couple pictures of little Nathan that their pastor's wife took. Thanks for sending them Rachael.

What a little cutie!

Stephanie is doing much better today. Her blood pressure is going down. She will be out of the ICU, and back to her regular room sometime today. Thank you for your prayers!

Baby Peck Has Arrived!

Congratulations Ben, Stephanie, & Megan on the birth of

Nathan Alan
February 7, 2008
4 lbs. 11 oz.
19 in. long

Stephanie went in this morning for her scheduled non-stress test, and her blood pressure was still pretty high. Her doctor thought the safest thing for her and the baby were to go ahead and deliver. She went in for her c-section at 7 pm tonight (Thursday). I'm not sure what his exact time of birth is yet. The surgery went well, and all looks good with the baby. Grandpa says he is a little cutie and he has some hair. I am anxiously awaiting pictures!!!

Stephanie's blood pressure has still not gone down after delivering, so they are having her stay in the ICU overnight. I am told one of the nurses and Ben were taking little Nathan to Stephanie's room so she could at least see him for a little while.

Please keep them in your prayers tonight, that Stephanie's blood pressure will go down and there won't be any further complications.

I will update with pictures and of Stephanie's progress tomorrow.

Crayons and blood pressure...

Megan just LOVES to color! She's discovered that crayons not only work on her coloring books... but on just about any other surface in the house! Megan hasn't drawn any major wall artwork yet, but mama has caught some scribbles on the kitchen floor as well as the fridge and a few other places. I have "Mr. Clean Magic Eraser" written on my next shopping list!

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. My OB says that my blood pressure is getting a little high. So, I need to go back to the hospital tomorrow for some lab work as well as a non-stress test (NST). The NST is just a half hour or so of monitoring. I have to push a little button every time I feel the baby move while my blood pressure, the baby's heartbeat, and any contractions are being watched.

So far, my blood pressure isn't too high to be in the "immediate delivery" stage -- but, made me realize once again how very quickly things can change and how this baby could come at any time now! I spent some of last night rehearsing with Ben which bags to grab, which lists to read, and what phone numbers to call... :-)

*For Elizabeth and Heidi... Yes, a name is pretty much picked out. But, we're keeping it quiet until he's born. Gives us time to change our minds -- as well as not have to hear others' well-meaning opinions! LOL!*

Icky Icky!

The weather is just nasty here today! Cold, windy, sleet, freezing rain....yuck! Supposed to turn to regular rain, then snow, later tonight. Eww! Glad I don't have to go anywhere. I hope Ben doesn't have too many deliveries today! It would not be fun to be out and about in this yuckiness!

Today is February 1st! Can you believe it?! I'm pretty surprised that I've just about met my get-everything-ready-for-baby-by-the-first-of-February goal! One of the things I wanted to get done that I wasn't sure I would was: our taxes!! YAY! Actually, they've been done for a few weeks! Ben brought his W-2 home one Friday night...and, I had everything signed and in the mail by the following Friday. Other things done...

• clean baby clothes, folded and in dresser
• carseat, installed and ready
• bottles, washed and sterilized
• pack n' play, clean sheeted :-)
• suitcase, packed
• instruction lists printed for Mom and Ben

Things that still need to get done, but probably never will: clean the house! :-) I've been in a bit of a panic each night as I go to bed - realizing that there are clothes to be folded, toys to be picked up...vaccuuming, dusting, etc, etc! However, I know that in reality, even if I spent all day today cleaning the house from top to bottom, it'd be a mess again as soon as Megan gets into her toys and eats in her high chair! And, I'll be too exhausted to clean it all up again...so, I'll leave it a few days, and we'll be right back where we started! If I go to my scheduled c-section day, it shouldn't be a problem. BUT...if I go early...ay! I know I'll be horrified that my house is a mess. Oh well!

Megan's still coughing, and I now seem to have caught it! Sore throat and cough. :-( I'm just praying it doesn't last long! The thought of it hanging on and coughing or sneezing with a c-section incision just makes me cringe!

When my parents were here a few weeks ago, my dad brought a cd full of old pictures that he'd scanned for my grandma's Christmas present. I've been looking through them...and, thought I'd share 2 with you. Overall, Megan certainly looks more like daddy's baby pictures than mine, but most people agree that she has my SOBER baby face (we've seen this look before, eh?):

And, this picture always brings back special memories. My grandma would rock us girls ALL the time (Stacey was often squished there in the middle!). And, grandma would always be singing while rocking. Songs I've sung to Megan... "There was a little doggie...", "The horse with the lavendar eyes...", and a few others that I've only ever heard grandma sing. We loved rocking time with grandma!

Hope you all are staying inside...keeping warm from the nasty weather! Have a good weekend!