The First 21 Days (3 weeks)

It is ASTOUNDING to think about how it has been 3 weeks since our baby got here. I admit that I am still trying to catch up as the days seemed to have blurred, especially in the first 2 weeks. So far, I think we are doing okay. Zeke is still in one piece, folks say he is a cutie, and we have even been out into the world a few times. The first week out of the hospital was a difficult one for me in some ways and Zeke and I spent a lot of time sequestered away in the nest we made in our bedroom. Last week both he and I were a little more active and in the world. This week, I am definitely catching back up and we are both more ourselves. Aaron has been a great daddy, eager to show off Zeke to everyone and very attentive to Zeke's needs and my needs. No hesitation for midnight feedings or diaper changes (or 2 AM or 4 AM or 6 AM, etc). Those two are deeply in love.

Here is the quick update for those who have been looking for it. Zeke is great. Perfectly healthy and caught up with his birth weight. It seems we got his weight checked a dozen times already, mainly because he lost 10.5% of his birthweight by the time we left the hospital and was 7 lb 13 oz. Weight gain was a little slow at first, but in his two weigh ins last week he was 8 lb 8 oz and then 8 lbs 14 oz. He still seems smaller than I ever thought a baby of mine would be! The pediatrician says we are clear to go until his 6 week visit at the end of April. Zeke also got the thumbs up when we went to the lactation specialist at Piedmont. (I went in just for a "check" to see that nursing was going well.) Zeke occasionally gets fussy and gassy and we still haven't quite worked out whether it is something in my diet or him being 3 weeks old. There just doesn't seem to be a good pattern for when he will be gassy or not and it doesn't seem to match up with what I am eating. I just hate it, though, because no one wants to see their baby cry....Between the unpredictable gassiness and still working on breast feeding, I haven't gotten really brave about going out into the world that often.

The main question we get is how is he sleeping at night. For the most part, he is a great sleeper and we would probably all sleep through the night but for needing to make sure he eats every couple of hours. Already, I think he would be glad to sleep 5-6 hours at a time.

Baby's firsts have included: first trip pediatrician, first (and second) trip to Target, first trip to a restauranta, first trip to Whole Foods, first walk around the neighborhood, first lick on the head by the dog (who is very good around the baby!), and first bath. We, of course, have had our firsts, like our first getting peed on, our first sleepless night, etc.

Here's what you are all really looking for, though -- the pictures. More soon!