One Week Old

It is hard to believe it's already been one week since Hudson joined our family. In some ways it's been a long week, and in other ways the time has flown by. Being in the middle of the "hard to do anything but take care of my newborn and occasionally myself" (today I showered at 12:30 pm and ate lunch at 2:30), it's hard to remember life before having a newborn. Heck, it's hard enough to remember when I last took my medications and what side I nursed on, and both of those things aren't usually more than 3-4 hours apart!

So many joys in having a baby, and so many challenges. Lots of ups and downs in a 24-hour period.  This was one of the ups today...

Husdon is a very chill baby as long as he's been fed, changed, and has all his burps out, of which there are MANY.  I can't yet tell for sure if he has reflux like Coop did, or if he's just still adjusting to breastmilk, or if things I'm eating are bothering him. Such a guessing game.

When he's happy he's such a little sweetie, and loves to look around.  I know they say it's too early, but I swear he smiled back at me twice today.

Hudson's facial features are already changing, and he's looking more and more like Cooper every day.  I hope these days slow down a little. These newborn moments are so fleeting, and I cherish each one.

Perfect Bill of Health

Yesterday during Hudson's well-baby visit to check his jaundice levels, the pediatrician said, "He's just perfect, and looks great. Keep doing what you're doing."  Those are a few words every mother loves to hear.

Hudson's birth stats:

Height: 20.25"

Weight: 8 lbs. 11 oz.

Head Circumferance: 14"

 

Five day stats:

Height: 20.25" (actually they didn't

measure him, but used his birth length) - 50th percentile

Weight: 8 lbs. 1 oz. - 50th percentile

Head Circ.: 14" - 50th percentile

Basically this baby is long and lean with a small head; quite the opposite of his brother who at this age was 90th for weight (9 lbs 1 oz), 50th for height (20-1/2") and 50th for head circ. (14-1/2").  The stats look similar, but that extra 1/2 lb weight and 1/2" head made such a chubbier baby. Cooper was chubby from the get-go, so Hudson seems very small and skinny to me, even though when compared with his 5-7 lb peers at the hospital, he looked quite a bit bigger. Funny how those few small things make such a difference in the size of the baby.

When we left the hospital Sunday, Hudson's weight was down to 7 lbs. 14 oz., a 9% loss. The kid was a little piggy, and still is, and ate and ate, but seemed to never get full.  In the hospital I gave him 1/2 oz formula twice because he was so hungry even after nursing almost non-stop for 24 hours.  I was glad I did so that his weight loss didn't drop below that dreaded 10%. Thankfully my milk came in Sunday night, and Hudson was finally able to get a full belly.  He eats ao well that the jaundice that was beginning to be of concern was nearly gone when we visited the doctor yesterday, and she was very pleased that in just two days he'd already gained back 3 oz. Being a little piggy has its benefits as a newborn!

I was thankful to leave the pediatrician's office with such great news.

Today these three were having a little snuggle on the bed.  Everything I love most in this world is in this picture.

Five Days, First Bath, and Family

My Mom sent me this picture the other day of Cooper, on his way to visit Hudson in the hospital. Such a cute picture; you can just see the excitement in his eyes.  This little guy seems so big all of a sudden. He's very sweet to his little brother, always eager to hold him, likes to help with the baby, and is curious about many of the things the baby does. He often talks about all the things he's going to teach Hudson to do. He is a great big brother.

Hudson hadn't had a bath since birth, and since we were going to visit the pediatrician, I decided it was time to give the little guy a bath.  He loved having his hair washed.

Then he started sucking his thumb.

Like any little boy, he was not happy to have his ears washed.

Sucking his thumb like his cousin Kate.

This kid has HUGE feet!!

Found his thumb again.

All clean. Thanks, Mom!

Since I'd put on makeup and done my hair, it was time for our first family photo, since we'd missed the opportunity to take one in the hospital. It feels like we finally have a "family" and not just a child.  Also, Cooper suddenly looks so much older with a baby in the picture.

This hard-working Grammie has been working day and night behind the scenes to ensure we are all taken care of, get rest, eat well, and have fun.  Yesterday besides cooking, laundry, cleaning, helping me with about a million little things, and accompanying me to the pediatrician, she also played bubbles and soccer with Coop. She is often the only one who can get Hudson's stubborn burps out. So many times I hand her a fussy, crying baby, and a short time later she hands me back a sleeping bundled angel. She's the baby whisperer.  I told her the other day this recovery without her, trying to take care of myself, my family, and having a sleep-depriving newborn would be nearly unbearable. But with her here, helping as she does, she makes it almost easy.  I am so thankful for her.

Four Days Old--Just Chillin'

After a really long night with our newborn, we all slept in this morning, and had a really chill day at home.

First thing this morning, Cooper was watching tv, and Hudson was asleep in his bouncy chair, while I rested in my chair, and I noticed the similarities between the looks of these two brothers for the first time. Eyes, cheeks, nose bridge--you can certainly tell they're brothers.

Later on, Hudson raised his hand...Me! I know!

Grammie took this picture of our little guy while he was wide awake and looking around. He has a wake, eat, awake, asleep routine going right now, so after he eats and we get all his bubbles out, he has periods of being very awake and alert and likes to look around.

Sweetly sleeping

Nate and Cooper were gone most of the day spending time together. They went to the John Deere tractor store to look at tractors and climb/play on them, to the library, and to the park/ playground. They came home for a rest, and spent some time with Hudson.

Then Nate and Coop went swimming before Cooper's swimming lesson, and came home ready to spend more time with the baby.

Hudson makes lots of squeaks and squeals, and Cooper says he sounds like a little puppy. He has this very high pitched squeak he often does before he cries, so we're all talking about calling him Squeaker instead of Cheese. Coop said, "Yeah--Baby Squeaker!" We love the little squeaker.

Welcome Home Baby Hudson!

Sunday morning we got ready to come home from the hospital. It felt good to sit and hold Hudson in something besides the hospital bed.

It had been a LONG night with a pretty fussy baby. I think Hudson has reflux like Cooper did. So my plans of putting on makeup and having some nice family photos before leaving were botched. It was all I could do to keep the baby from screaming.

So we snapped a few quick photos.

Nate thought I was nuts to try to take any pictures at all. I was able to get one kinda good one of Hudson in his going home outfit.

So tiny in the car seat!

Some beautiful flowers from my Dad welcomed us home on the front porch.

Cooper had been hard at work...

And welcomed us with a cute poster (front and back), and a little snuggle puppy lovey for baby Hudson.

It wasn't long before we were snuggled in bed, and big brother Cooper joined us too.

It was so nice to be home and have the hospital stay behind us. Welcome home, Hudson!

Hudson Jay Smith--Officially

A few days before Hudson's birth, Nathan all of a sudden said he wasn't sure about the name Hudson. I didn't realize how serious he was until the baby was born and they asked his name, and Nate said we didn't have a name picked out. I was like--what?!  He was worried about the shortened version of "Hud." That was the biggest thing.

So for two days he kept suggesting names. His top pick was Cormack. Hmmm--no. Other suggestions: Atticus, Dillon, Harper, Noah, Riley, Taylor, Porter, and several others I'm too tired to remember at this moment. I liked Noah, but it's #8 in the US this year so far, so that was out.

Meanwhile, I was genuinely upset about this possile name change, seeing as we've been calling the kid Hudson since sometime around Jan/Feb. It felt totally wrong to me to change his name.

Last night he asked if I felt like Hudson is a strong enough name for a grown man. Of course!  And then this morning the nurse came in and asked if we'd picked a name yet, and he said, "Yes, it's Hudson Jay Smith," and they went to work filling out the birth certificate.  I breathed such a huge sigh of relief, so glad to have our son officially named, after not realizing it was going to be such a topic of discussion.

A few photos from today...

Check out those cheeks!

Don't mind my crazy hair--he looked so cute clutching my shirt with both hands. Reminded me of a baby koala bear.

Precious mother/son time--all snuggled together. Also first pacifier. He's a voracious eater, and also loves to suck his hands and whatever else, so I went with my gut and gave him a paci late tonight. He seemed very happy. Maybe he'll be a paci-baby, another difference from Cooper.

It was a great day with lots of rest. We go home in the morning, and then the real games begin. I can't wait to have a minute (and a full-size keyboard instead of my phone) to share the story of Hudson's birth.

One Day Old

A few photos from today...

Father and Son

Brothers!

Aunt Denise

Cousin Allison

Grammie's holding me