Sunday, May 20, 2012

Thursday, May 17, 2012

2 weeks, 1 day old

Reid's napping in his luxury crib (pack-n-play), so I could have an hour or mere seconds to post something.

How about a picture?  If you follow me on Instagram (theconleyfam is my name), you've seen my obsessive documentation of Reid's first 15 days.  Here is today's beauty...



Tuesday, May 15, 2012

1 week, 6 days

Dad's Perspective

Nearly two weeks in... on one hand, I'm a completely different person. On another, I still feel like I'm seventeen.

I've said all along and I will say it again: Julie and I are always welcome to unsolicited advice. There are a lot of people, not just (young) parents, who don't heed advice of others. Sure, we all think we know what's best, but what's better than someone who's walked in your (similar) shoes. (It's hard for a lot of people to walk in my 16s, especially really little kids).

Think of it this way, there are over six billion people on earth. Many of those are still kids, quite a few of which are members of multi-child families. On a low estimate, there are roughly one billion parents on earth. There are at least one billion different experiences out there and I'd love to hear from a fraction of you. The purpose of the blog is interaction... I must say, we have a lot of wallflower readers (with a few exceptions).

Back to the matter at hand, here's my birth experience in a nutshell (abbreviated due to lack of concentration, irritability, eye twitches, hand, foot and mouth disease that is attributed to lack of sleep). Only one of those am I not suffering from... but we're still in the early phases of baby life.

* I did exit the hospital at 10mph for the first 300 yards.

* I did drive the legal speed limit the remainder of the way home.

* I did un-install the car seat the weekend prior and left it undone for the discharge nurse to see.

* I did learn why men live an average of 3-5 years less than women.

* I did gain a newfound respect for my wife.

* I did cut the cord. Twice. (No one told me that they gave you the scissors they issue to first graders)

* I did not have the reaction I expected at the sight of the birth. I expected to be overcome with emotion (read: tears), but I was more in awe than anything and concerned with Julie's well-being.

* I thought it would be cool if Reid came about 14 hours earlier when we had a severe thunderstorm come through.

* I feel so guilty watching Julie day-in and day-out, getting by on no more than ninety minutes of uninterrupted sleep.

* I felt really guilty sleeping nine hours on the second night we were home.

* I have a better sense of purpose in life after becoming a dad.

* I have never looked forward to seeing two faces more than I do each day when I come home.

ac

1 week, 6 days old

Tomorrow my baby boy will be two weeks old.  I am shocked by this.  I can't believe how quickly the two weeks have gone by, and it makes me nervous for how fast his babyhood may pass by.  As much as I want to see him grow, I'd love for him to stay squishy and cuddly forever.

Things that have surprised me in the last 2 weeks:
-When the pedi office calls, they ask for "Reid's mom"
-Reid can already hold his head up pretty well and makes eye contact.
-Newborns do have a personality!
-Reid makes a lot of the same faces as his daddy.
-Getting peed on happens daily, and although annoying, it isn't gross.

We went in to the pedi this morning for Reid's two-week check.  He is up to 7lbs 13oz (birth weight 8lbs 3 oz) and 20 1/2 inches long (birth 20 in).  I really like our pedi as she seems to adore baby boy.  :)

Reid's pretty photogenic--here are a few pictures to prove my point.  Enjoy!


Being held by Auntie Shlie. Reid's cuddling the sock monkey that Uncle Nickus got him.



Snuggled up in his SnuggaBunny chair.



So comfy.




First cloth diaper (12 days old)!  Reid's wearing a Kissas Newborn All in One.  It seemed a little big around the legs, but didn't leak.




The same pose we saw in his 20 week ultrasound and 30 week 3D/4D ultrasounds.




Soooo excited to see more of our naked baby newborn shots... this was a preview posted on FB by our photographer.  YUM!!




Saturday, May 12, 2012

1 week, 3 days

Sleep deprivation has taken away my desire to write full paragraphs.  To keep you up to speed...

Day 1: Reid was born via c-section--8lbs, 3oz/ 20 inches long/ 1:22pm
Day 2: Bella Baby took pictures, I took my first shower in days.
Day 3: Reid passed his hearing test, proud dad posted his graduation certificate on the hospital bulletin board
Day 4: We all went home.  Adam drove really slow.
Day 5:  Newborn pictures with Sweet Bloom Photography (I can't wait to see these!!)
Day 6: Took our first trip to the pediatrician and received great reports
Day 7: Took a trip to the lactation consultant and received great reports
Day 8: Adam went back to work, Grammy Pammy came down to help.  Follow up appointment at the pedi--Reid gained 7 oz since Monday (day 6). Dang!  Reid's cord stump fell off... now he has an outie.
Day 9: Reid got circumsized (poor guy!)
Day 10: Adam passed his EMT state assessment (!!),  Reid's beginning to hold his head up when he's on his tummy.

I also realized that I never posted my last belly bump picture.  This was taken just before we left for the hospital...

Friday, May 11, 2012

1 Week, 2 Days (really 38 weeks, 6 days)

Editors Note: This was intended to be posted prior to birth... never really got around to it!

Letters from Pa (Part X)

Monday April 30, 2012

Little fella,

Good morning. I write this over breakfast, something I look forward to doing face-to-face next week at this time. Hope you had a good last weekend!

Nothing too exciting in our world... yeah, right!! Last weekend, your Mom mentioned the need for a new computer. So, with some on-line browsing and assistance from Grammy P., we bought a laptop. Yesterday, I sold the little two-door Civic and we decided to go shopping for a replacement Civic (at least I did). Five hours and several dollars later, we arrived home with a new Accord. Hopefully that thing lasts until you're ready for a new car.

I wrapped up my next-to-last long Saturday class. I hope I can keep my head on straight over the first few weeks of May... they are going to be jam-packed with other stuff, in addition to adapting to you.

Grandma C. is coming down to stay with your sister this evening, they are sure to have a good time. I think all the grandparents are really looking forward to meeting you, so the sooner you come out, the better.

Reds have been playing decent of late, won their last three series, albeit sub-standard competition, but they're just getting ready to make their push to make your inaugural season a memorable one. The Browns (I mentioned earlier, you don't HAVE to be a fan, even though we have some nice garb for you (including cool pacifiers)) continue to mystify me. Though I wasn't impressed with their first round, they added eleven guys through the draft that may play a small role in making them likeable for you.

Want to do anything cool when you come home? Be thinking about stuff we can do, I'm pretty new to this game. I've babysat over the years, but never really thought about what I'd do with one of my own.

Mom proposed that I do one push-up for each day your born. That means on you can't drive off on your sixteenth birthday until you've witnessed your then 46-year-old dad do 5844 push-ups. Deal?!

Here's a few random facts about your Dad, if you haven't been paying attention in utero. These will come in handy when you wonder why you are the way you are.

* I like cereal WAY to much. If I could eat different variations of cereal for three meals a day and a snack, I would. This is an advantage for you, as Mom and I don't mess around on buying cereal.

* I eat a lot of peanut butter. If I could give up this vice, I'd probably be twenty pounds slimmer. We always have two big jars of Jif stocked in the house. You'll never find another brand... we Conley's are only name-brand snobs when it comes to our PB, condiments and your mom's hair supplies.

* I have a hard time waking up, so be sure to cry REALLY hard if you want me to wake up. Maybe this will change...

* I make way too many lists and spend more time worrying about the lists than actually doing the stuff I want to accomplish. Be sure to help me improve on this.

* Your Mom and I have a pretty good system in place since we've been married. We do equal amounts of work around the house. I'm certain that I will bear the brunt of the load for the foreseeable future, and I'm find with that. I do however, really hate dusting! Be sure to get some solid naps in to free up mommy's time to do that chore!

* I am going to be really busy your first couple weeks of life, it may seem like I'm neglecting you but rest assured, I am making myself a better parent with all that I am learning and hope I never have to use any of the skills I've picked up since last September with my own family.

As they say in the old country... (I don't know what we define as the 'old country', West Virginia/Kentucky? Ireland? Germany? any of the 'ia' countries in eastern Europe?). Well, goodbye little fetus son. I hope to write you next time as a neonate!

Love Always,
Dad

Monday, May 7, 2012

0 Years, 5 Days

And finally the moment we've all been waiting for--

...drumroll please...

Reid William Conley was born on Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012!

Some of Reid's birthday stats:
  • Reid arrived after two failed inductions (otherwise known as nearly 48 hours of labor) and a successful c-section.
  • He was born at 39 weeks, 1 day
  • He was born at 1:22 pm by Dr. Frederickson, who wore skinny jeans and ballet flats under her scrubs.
  • Several fantastic musicians were featured during the surgical birth, including No Doubt, Alanis Morrissette, and Blues Traveler.
  • He was 20 inches long and a no-so-monstrous 8 lbs, 3 oz
  • He had (has) some fine dark hair and dark slate blue eyes.
  • He was born with his fist in his mouth.
  • All of his grandparents were at the hospital, Miami Valley Hospital, when he was born.
I know it's been a while since I posted, but let's be honest, I've been a little busy.  In fact, you might notice that my first available moment (now) happens to be 3:15 in the morning.  I just got finished feeding baby boy.  He's sleeping soundly right next to me, and he is perfection.  Adam and I are 100% taken by Reid, and we can't stop looking at the tiny product of our love.  I know, that's a total gag-me kind of comment. I'm sorry, I can't help it right now.  Blame it on the hormones (can't blame it on being pregnant anymore!)

Our birth story, went something like this:
Sunday (4/29) we decided to really sell Puss, our two door Honda Civic to the neighbor across the street.  We promptly deposited the check and drove to Kings Honda amd bought a brand-spanking new Accord.  That car is what made us feel a little more like official adults... parents... grown ups who would choose a safe sedan over a sporty, fast little car.  We did opt for the fully loaded (read heated leather seats) version, so we're not total duds.

On Monday (4/30) I slept in a little, finished some last minute chores, then went to the "surprise" shower at school that my students threw me.  It was SO sweet and over the top.  They made an owl cake and cupcakes, a cake and cookies with swedish fish, baby shower games, decorations, mood music (they chose Carrie Underwood), and there was a full table of gifts.  I was pretty blown away.  That evening we drove away from our house as a family of two for the last time.  We checked into the hospital at 8, were moved upstairs by 8:30, and a long stream of IVs, questions, and nursing staff took over by 9.

Monday night through Wednesday morning consisted of gels applied to my uterus (to ripen it), IV bags of Pitocin (to several painful contractions).  After the first induction was considered failed on Tuesday, we were given the option to start over and try again, go straight to c-section, or go home and try again later in the week.  I was definitely NOT going home without a baby, and I wasn't ready to jump into surgery, so we decided to try again.  The only positive out of that was that they let me get some food in my belly.  (I had half a pepperoni calzone from Milanos, if you wondered.) After I ate, we started everything over again.  I made it up to 1 minute apart contractions and was pretty miserable with pain.  I about died when my final check showed my progress was only 2, almost 3.  I was given the choices again, and decided for the c-section.  After the long 2 days, the c-section happened pretty quick.  In less than 15 minutes, I was prepped and wheeled into a freezing cold room where I began to shake violently (probably from cold, anxiety, and excitement).

And the rest has just been a whirlwind of elation, love, and learning.  Adam and I have both been pinching ourselves, although tonight most of the pinching is to just stay awake.

Below are some of the pictures we purchased from the hospital newborn shoot.  Enjoy!