Sweet Baby Jude

Little baby Jude is really settling into our family.

It's hard to remember life without him. But with this lack of sleep - it's hard to remember much of anything!

Drew is still off work and we are all getting quite used to having him around! It's going to be a serious reality check next week when I'm home alone with 2 KIDS!!

Normally, newborns lose weight after birth and then need to be back to their birth weight by 2 weeks of age.

Well, Jude turned 2 weeks old on New Years Day and he shocked us all by weighing in at 9lbs 1 oz! That's 1 pound OVER birth weight at 2 weeks!!!

Unbelievable!

Ellie seems to truly be loving being a big sis. If he's in his bouncy seat and starts to cry - she'll come running over to him yelling "It's OK baby Jude, I'm coming!"

Then she sings him songs or makes silly faces at him.

Do you think he realizes he's going to be one of her dolls until he gets big enough to throw a real fit??!!

He's such a little snuggler - I'm trying to soak up all the newborn sweetness I can!

Siblings!

So far, most everyone who has meets baby Jude thinks he looks just like his sister.

Ellie at 10 days old

Jude at 10 days old.

What do you think?

Joy

Merry Christmas everyone!

We had a lovely day at my parents house (the first time I've been out of the house since Jude was born!). Drew's parents came over and we opened presents for about 6 hours straight!

Jude was in heaven - being passed from one set of loving arms to another.

Ellie loved her pillow pet - she named Lulu

The Nobles - a family of FOUR!

All season, Ellie has been saying - (and I quote)

"Dear Santa, what do I want for Christmas you ask?

I want a train set and a dolly.

I've been a very good girl.

Love, Ellie" Well, she was ecstatic to wake up Christmas morning to find a Thomas train set puttering around the tree. She's been playing with it all day.

We had fun starting traditions this year. We left reindeer food (oatmeal and sprinkles) on the front lawn and, of course, cookies for Santa.

Merry Christmas Eve!

A little bit of reality is setting in everyday.

For example, our mellow little guy seems to have found his voice and has lost his patience a few times when the breast isn't in close enough proximity!

And he must be having a growth spurt because he nursed from about midnight to 5 am straight last night.

But of course, he's sleeping very soundly today :)

He's just so sweet, who could be annoyed? Even if I'm measuring my sleep in minutes instead of hours.

Ellie seems to have moved on to playing with the cat since Baby Jude really doesn't interact very much.

Kids! I can't believe I have kidS!

Big Sis loves to hold him all the time and does such a good job holding his head and staying *relatively* still.

We have decided BaPop is the baby whisperer. When he holds Baby Jude he just relaxes and immediately falls asleep. The excitement is building around here as Christmas Eve approaches. I think Ellie is going to finally "get" Christmas when she realizes there are really cool toys inside those wrapped packages!

So Merry Christmas to all and to us a good nights sleep!

Slow motion

"What day is it?" doesn't even cover it!

DADT was repealed! A war narrowly averted in North Korea!

I know Christmas is right around the corner but I have no idea if it's tomorrow or next week!

I haven't left the house since last Friday and our days consist of nursing, naps and visitors so it's been hard to imagine there is any world outside our living room.

So far, Jude is proving to be a very mellow guy! He literally has ONLY cries during diaper changes! And is already sleeping better than Ellie did!

It's amazing that this time last week we didn't know what he looked like and yet I feel like I've known this face forever!

Sleep, what sleep?

Too tired to write any funny anecdotes about the first few days with a newborn.

Maybe, next week :)

Welcome . . .

Jude Owen Noble Jude has finally made his arrival after being 8 days overdue!

He was born at home on December 18th, 2010 at 9:26am.

He weighs 8lbs and is 21 inches long!

Much bigger than Ellie who was a mere 6lb 9oz and 19 inches.

My labor was much longer and tougher than I expected, probably because he was so big!!

But I'm so happy he's here, healthy and that I never have to do that again! ;)

Ellie has amazed me with how tender and sweet she has been to her new baby brother.

Here are a few pics.

Birth story and millions more photos to follow.

Ellie thought is was pretty cool that he was holding on to her finger.

All cozy after his first bath.

Student Midwife, Christine, and Midwife Extraordinaire, Val Having a home birth was the best experience! I was so supported and comfortable. He was born in our living room!!!

We've decided he really looks like Drew! Drew even shaved off his goatee this morning to find he has the same little cleft in his chin.

We're very, very thankful for grandparents right now!