Nolan's First Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving this year was full of lots of firsts: it was Nolan's first Thanksgiving, and our first time hosting Thanksgiving at our house!  I love, love, love cooking and entertaining, so I was so excited to host our son's first at our house.  Of course, getting prepared took a bit more time and planning this year, but it was worth it.  Besides, all I do is sit and watch Food Network all day, so I was ready to cook something! :)

My Dad, Leslee, Paige, and Cade all came down on Thursday afternoon, and we had a "mini meal" for actual Thanksgiving day.  We left the "big meal" for Friday so that I could have some help in the kitchen.  It was so awesome to have lots of extra hands around to hold Nolan and love on him while I concentrated on the cooking.  He is one loved little boy for sure!

I even had two separate table settings for each day (I am telling you; I love this stuff!)

Thursday's setting:

 

Friday's Setting: 

 

It was exciting to write "Mommy" and "Daddy" on our place cards this year!

 



Our meal Thursday was roast pork loin with mustard cider glaze, wild rice casserole, Caesar salad, and apple gallette with goat cheese and cranberries.  I tried out a couple of new recipes, and luckily they were all great!  It's always a toss up when you try that many new dishes at one time, but I was so happy it was all great and I got to cook for my family.  It was the first Thanksgiving in more years than anyone could remember that we weren't at my Dad's house, and that was a nice change.

Nolan didn't hardly nap at all that day, which really had me worried about how he would sleep that night.  However, we had our FIRST EVER 4-hour stretch that night, and it was glorious! I actually awoke with a start once I realized how much time had gone by, but he was snoozing away!

We managed to make a quick trip to the mall for Black Friday, around all of the cooking of course :)  Anthony and my brother both worked on Friday and Saturday, so my Dad got to enjoy a couple of  naps while us girls had some good time together.  Nolan just toted along with us, and was such a good boy!

Our dinner Friday night was the usual Thanksgiving meal: Roast turkey and gravy, brown sugar ham, Brussels sprouts, cornbread sage stuffing, and mashed potatoes.  I also tried a Salted Caramel Chocolate Pecan Pie, which tasted great, but needed some tweaking - ha.  My homemade caramel sauce came out great, but I think the pie itself needed some more cooking.  We reheated it the next day though, and it was great!  I still want to make it again to fully redeem myself though :)

I can't even begin to express how thankful I am for all we have experienced this year; we have gone from losing a pregnancy in January to being blessed with the most precious little boy by Thanksgiving - such a wild ride but I am thankful for every minute and for every experience we have had.  We are beyond blessed and we can't thank Him enough for all of our blessings!

He sure knows how to draw an audience!



With his turkey day bib - compliments of Ms. Sheila from my office

Nolan loves his Papa!

He slept like this in Paige's arms for forever...he has the most beautiful Auntie!

Overall, it was a wonderful long weekend with family.  I can't wait for the day when we may be closer to enjoy all of these moments more often.  We were also pooped :)

Nolan: 7 Weeks!

Nolan turned 7 weeks on Thanksgiving Day this year!  I will do his Thanksgiving update instead of his normal update, because honestly, this week was a blur and I can't remember much :)

Nolan's Hip Ultrasound

Apparently it is very common for babies that are born breech to have some hip problems (I guess spending all that time with their feet over their heads can lead to hip dysplasia and things like that).  I learned this while pregnant, so I wasn't surprised when Nolan's Pediatrician wanted to schedule an ultrasound once he hit six weeks old.

At his initial appointment she felt around and didn't seem very concerned that he would have any issues, but it's still protocol just in case.

Our ultrasound was scheduled at Scottish Rite Hospital; one of the best children's hospitals in Atlanta.  I have heard from other parents that they would take their children straight there for any reason, so I was comfortable in going there.  Plus, I knew that the ultrasound was a very easy exam and wouldn't cause him any pain.

But boy, I didn't even think about what it would be like to actually walk through the hospital.  I had no butterflies or anything since we were pretty sure to get good results that day.  It hit me that there are so many parents and children that head into that hospital terrified of the results they may learn.  There are children that basically live there and are facing so many scary sicknesses.  I almost cried just being thankful that this should be our first - and last - trip to this hospital (God willing).

It was a new feeling for me since I have become a parent.  I could never relate to those feelings before, and now my heart aches for those parents and children.  Again, just as I say all the time, having a healthy child is such a blessing.

Luckily, Anthony took the day off to go with me.  Nolan was a bit of a wiggle worm during his exam (and of course grunted the entire time - ha).  The nurse had to put some sugar water on his pacifier to get him still enough to get the pictures she needed.  When you have a six week old that doesn't take a pacifier, isn't on bottles yet, and doesn't understand what "hold still" means, you don't have many options :)

He got his own wrist band and everything...

 The hospital had a really cool train set and was very well designed for children

 

 His kissy face (or he was pushing something out!)

 

My little chunk with his wristband on...

 

 

We got a call the following Wednesday that his results were normal, so he is clear and we don't have to worry about anything!

Nolan: 6 Weeks!

This week has been a little rough.  Poor guy has been going through a bit of a growth spurt, and that means he wants to eat - a lot!  He can feed every hour sometimes, and that makes for one tired mama!  Thankfully, our nights are still pretty much on schedule, so at least we get to sleep- a little!

His nightly schedule usually goes something like this (not growth spurt schedule - ha): 

11:00 p.m. - Last feeding after his jammies and nighttime lotion.

1:00 a.m. - Feeding

3:00 a.m. - Feeding (and hopefully he settles back down quickly)

5:00 or so - Feeding, and then lots of grunting and noises before he goes back to sleep!

After 5:00 a.m., it's pretty much a toss up as to how he will sleep.  If he goes back down after he eats, then he will begin to stir around 7:00 or 7:30.  That's usually when I scoop him up and let him sleep on my chest to at least get another couple of hours!  I know I shouldn't do that, but oh it's the sweetest thing to have him sleep there, and that's about the best uninterrupted sleep I get all night!

N = (Now weighs)  No clue, but man is he a chunky monkey!

O = (Oomph!)  Growth spurts are rough - enough said.

L = (Loves) Laying on his changing pad - so funny!  He will just lay there and stretch and hang out and just be content

A = (About this week)  It's pretty common for growth spurts to happen around this time, so I guess he is right on target :)

N = (Not a fan of) Being gassy, and life this week.

My 6 Week Appointment

I was on my own to make it to the hospital this week for my 6-week appointment, and I am happy to say I made it - and early too!  But seriously, I don't know if I will ever be able to make it out of the house without it looking like a tornado hit!

Nolan did great, until I actually got into the exam room, and even then he didn't do too bad!  The doctor was running a bit behind, which meant Nolan got hungry and I had to feed him in the exam room - ha.  Dr. Woods walked in and I was like, "sorry, be done in a second!"  It's amazing though how many people are so supportive of breastfeeding, and are just like okay, when you are ready!

Dr. Woods really surprised me too.  I have always liked him, but he was never a very mushy or charismatic guy; more matter of fact type.  But today, he gushed over Nolan and asked to hold him when he was fussing - so funny!  Even after my exam was done he asked to hold him in the hallway while I got dressed - it surprised the heck out of me!

Ok, on to my exam.  I actually had a ton of questions I meant to ask, but was so distracted with Nolan in the room that I really just got that I am healing just fine.  I am not cleared for very heavy exercise yet (about another month), but let's be honest; I don't have time for that anyway!

My incision is healing slowly but surely.  Dr. Woods assured me that everything I was feeling was normal, and luckily since hitting the 6-week mark I don't have as much pain as I used to.

They didn't check my blood pressure or anything else, but I do know that I lost another 9 pounds!  That means that I have lost 27 pounds since Nolan was born, and I only gained 14 with him.  However, it's only because I just don't have time to eat and don't have much of an appetite.  I need to work on that though, because I want to make sure I am eating healthy for Nolan.  I hope Thanksgiving will help solve all of that!

I don't have to go back anymore - crazy that my pregnancy journey is officially done with the hospital - aww!

Nolan: 5 Weeks!

My the time has passed by very quickly this week!  Nolan is doing a bit better with his sleeping at night.  Meaning, he goes down usually by himself after each feeding (except in the early morning hours).  Sometimes it works out that Anthony has just gotten up for work and can take him for a bit, but there is still no rest for the weary! :)

A new development this week was that I learned that the TWO daycares that we had him on the waitlist for (since May, BTW), have no availability for him when I have to return to work!  One doesn't have a space for him until June, and the other one has no room until August.  Talk about a panic attack!  Anthony and I toured one other daycare here in Smyrna just to see what it was like, and there is no way he is going there.  Thankfully, there was another daycare (which is the same franchise as the one I really wanted him to go to) had availability for January.  The catch is that they are the complete opposite direction of my job, and depending on Atlanta traffic, could add about an hour and half to my commute each day :(  But it will be worth it to know my baby is in a place that I feel comfortable with, even though I am already dreading the day I have to leave him to go back to work!

 

(He may or may not be losing some of his hair - I can't tell because I see him everyday!)

N = (Now weighs)  I need to do an update on his one month doctor's appointment, but he now weighs 9 lbs. 10 oz.!

O = (Oomph!)  I knew I was someone that really needed my sleep, but good gravy I am learning that I can function on a lot less - by no choice of my own, mind you :)  I also discovered the other night that Nolan's little monkey toes catch a lot of lint - haha!  I spent a good 10 minutes trying to get the little lint balls out from between his little clenched toes - oh my I could just eat them up!

L = (Loves)  Black and white objects, and eating still :)

A = (About this week)  Nolan should be discovering his fingers and toes right about now.  I know he knows where his hands are, because he goes for his hands when he is hungry.  I don't think he knows his legs are connected to his body yet, but that will come in time!  Since he was a week early, I think some of the e-mails I get about his development may be a bit early.

N = (Not a fan of) Can't think of much this week.  He is a really good baby, and not much makes him cry.  He still suffers from a lot of gas pains which break my heart, but doesn't cry all that much unless he needs something (and then stops immediately).  Oh my, I love this little guy!

Nolan's One Month Doctor's Appointment

Nolan's one-month appointment went great!  Anthony took the day off to go with me since I thought he was going to get shots that day, but luckily he didn't have to get any shots (oops).

We had a good list of questions for the doctor, mainly associated with his gas issues and some other random stuff.  All of our questions were answered and we felt much better and sort of felt like we knew what we were doing!

He checked out perfectly, and the blood test we had started in the hospital that tests for a myriad of health issues came back completely normal.

Some stats:

Weight: 9 lbs., 10 oz. (41st percentile)

Height/Length: 21 in. (26th percentile).  We aren't expecting to have a basketball player, but the doctor said she will just keep an eye to make sure he is growing over time (she has no concern right now).

Head circumference: 15.25 in. (59th percentile)

Nolan: One Month Old

I totally forgot that I didn't add this post back in early November, and here we are at almost two months now!  Oops.  I will have to refer to all my weekly updates for what little man has been doing lately.  Guess I will just share pictures instead!

 

Around the House

I wonder how many pictures over the course of this kid's life I will take?!  There are just too many cute moments that I don't want to miss!

 

 

 

Nolan: 4 Weeks!

I can tell Nolan is beginning to stay awake for longer periods of time this week.  He is also becoming more observant on his play mat, and will occasionally follow toys and stuff with his eyes.  He is so sweet, and my favorite thing is when we get a smile out of him without trying.  In the middle of the night while I am exhausted and feeding him, he will smile and it makes it all worthwhile!

I finally busted out of the house this week, and it made a world of difference for me!  I got out two days before I was officially at the 4-week mark, but who's counting?!  We took a quick trip to Target and the grocery store, and he slept the whole time.  It's definitely interesting getting him out of the car and into his stroller, but I did it!  It will be even more fun once he is at the 6-week mark and we feel more comfortable taking him other places.  I am looking forward to going out to eat dinner for sure :)

N = (Now weighs)  Not sure, but he has his one-month appointment on Tuesday, so I am excited to see!  I think he is a chunk for sure though :)

O = (Oomph!)  My doll sleeps like the dead during the day, but does not at night - makes for one tired Momma!  However, I realize that this time in our life will go by SO fast, that we just take it in stride.  Sure it's tough at 3:00 a.m., but we always survive and if the worst thing that happens is that we are tired, then so be it.

L = (Loves)  Staring at lights.  This is common for all infants, and he is no exception.  It will be exciting to see him develop other "loves" as he gets older and his personality begins to shine through.

A = (About this week)  Nolan is slowly developing his "voice" more, with grunts being especially popular!  Most of the grunts we think are associated with gas, but he is also becoming more vocal.  He doesn't really cry much, and I can't wait for more coos and sounds.

N = (Not a fan of) Still being hungry, and having a dirty diaper - same ol' thing!

Nolan's Newborn Photos

I was so excited to work with Lisa Matthis, the lady that took our maternity pictures for Nolan's newborn photos.  Nolan, on the other hand, had different ideas :)  You are supposed to keep them awake for 2 hours before the shoot - how do you keep a 12-day-old awake for 2 hours?!  We also had a 30 minute car ride, so that was a no-go.

Anyway, besides the fact that he was up most of the time and had to feed like 3 times, we ended up with some beautiful photos that I will cherish forever.  This woman is seriously talented - I wish I could take photos like that!

Some of our favorites...

 

We think he as Anthony's top lip and my bottom lip :)