Home life - First two weeks

We were all spoiled! The first two weeks were filled with visitors and gifts.

• Kyla and Jake got a house cleaner to come before I got home.
• My parents watched Brice for the days I was in the hospital and made some meals to freeze and desserts!
• Grandma Ethel and Grandpa Jack came with food and gifts for Nathan.
• Janey and Steve dropped off a lasagna, and gift for Nathan.
• Nikki, Rob and the girls dropped off pasta and dessert and a gift for Brice and Nathan.
• Jerri and her son came by with lasagna and presents for Brice.
• Steph, Elise and the boys came over with a car for Brice and cupcakes.
• Jenny came with Peyton with a box of chocolates.
• John and Katrina came with coffee, soup and gifts.
• Ernie, Veronica and there family came to visit with cute clothes.

Darren also came home with a gift almost everynight for a week from co-workers.
So yes the entire family was spoiled with generosity! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Family of Four

Yup we now fit the typical American family. A family of four. And it is wonderful, difficult, exciting, stressful, joyful... OK it is a mix of emotions! Brice is a great big brother. He asks about Nathan all the time, gives him kisses and wants to "hold my hand" as he says. The first month he gave Darren and I a run for our money with the tantrums and crying, but i would rather that then him not liking Nathan. He has since adjusted and we are doing great. After two days in the hospital with staff that took great care of me and delicious hospital food, we headed home. Brice and Darren came to pick up Nathan and I at the hospital and we headed home to start our new normal. Darren took off two weeks this time around and it was exaclty what I needed!

Things about Nathan

• He is a handsome baby
• He was a little jaundice (but nothing a little sunlight couldn't take care of)
• He has big hands
• He has long eyelashes
• I swear he giggled in the hospital
• He has big eyes
• He had no problem eating
• He has gas (which could be why he giggled and smiled)
• He can sleep through noise

Sleeping
Nathan right away went a 4 hour stretch in sleeping which was amazing! He also seemed to know night from day right away, Hallelujah! With Nathan we did the swing for night time, we didn't want to fight the crib or co-sleeper just yet and figured sleep was more important right now.

Second time around

So here is the story of my second birth...
After a very hot summer and an AC bill that was much higher then average lets just say I was ready for Nathan to arrive. On September 29th my parents, Darren and I took Brice to a small fair in my parents complex. I was having what I thought were fake contractions all day off and on. I tried to nap when we got home, but I was still uncomfortable. That night I tried to watch a movie once Brice was in bed, but couldn't make it through. I told Darren the contractions needed to come on or stop, because it was getting obnoxious. Sure enough at midnight I called my parents because contractions were getting stronger. By the time they got to the house I was in pain and we took off to the hospital. By the time we arrived to the time I got the epidural I thought hours had passed, but Darren told me it was only an hour. At check-in I was already 7cm and they had to do blood work to make sure my platelets were in normal range. The entire staff cheered once they came back normal. I had a great anesthesiologist and once the epidural kicked in I was feeling great! Just had to get to 10 cm, which took only a half hour or so. They called Dr. Newman (who was not my OBGYN, but was great.) After 45 minutes of pushing, Nathan arrived big, handsome and healthy! It was exactly how I wanted it to go and it was amazing to hold that little one in my arms finally.

 

Visitors

 

Nathan Guy McCollem

Our handsome boy has arrived!

 

Nathan Guy McCollem

Arrived on September 30, 2012 at 4:47am

8lbs 15oz

20 inches long

 

He is as cute as can be with a perfectly round little head.

 

 

 

 

"Before you were conceived I wanted you. Before you were born I loved you. Before you were here an hour I would die for you. This is the miracle of love."

Maureen Hawkins