1 month

Our little baby boy is 1 month old!

It's so cliche to say 'time goes so fast' but it really does!

Life has changed so drastically from having a kid to having KIDS! When I look back on this month through a sleep deprived haze - a few good moments stand out . . . The blissful, exhausted, triumphant moments after birth, Ellie patting and shhing her little brother to sleep, Jude's sweet milk breath . . .

But there's been a few bad days too . . . Jude puking more than it seems possible for a newborn to puke and then Ellie slipping in it! An incident forever known as the 'puke-and-slide'!

We are starting to see the first glimpses of smiles crossing his lips. Can't wait to post a photo of him beaming from ear to ear!

Why doula?

One of the biggest questions I was asked during this pregnancy was . . .

"Why are you having a doula?"

Even natural childbirth supporters often didn't understand the difference between a doula and a midwife.

Drew and I never questioned the fact that we would hire a doula for this birth and I'm so glad we had one of the best!

For Jude's birth we were lucky enough to have Penny Simkin as our doula. She has been a doula and childbirth educator for over 40 years and is internationally renowned and recognized!

Penny arrived at our house at about 2am, just a few hours into labor and she was with me for every contraction. She suggested specific coping techniques for the different stages of labor and engaged Drew and my mum to help with these techniques.

The role of a doula and midwife are so vastly different and yet compliment each other perfectly. Our midwife, while very nurturing, was there to manage the health of both me and Jude. She was often using a Doppler to listen to Jude's heart rate and constantly making observations to monitor my labor's progress. Penny was able to look directly in my eyes and be present with me during the toughest contractions.

It's amazing how every person at my birth filled a specific and supportive role. I can't imagine it without Penny!

Penny and Jude, nearly 4 weeks old.

Growing Boy!

We are used to petite babies in this family! Ellie was so little but her little brother Jude won't be little for long!

Yesterday, at our midwife appointment he weighed in at 10 pounds!!

Here he is at 2 days old. He has some of the newborn puffiness but he still looked relatively lean for an 8 lb baby.

And here's our 10 pounder.

Getting very chubby!

Double chin and rolls everywhere!

Days

Our days have been filled with playdates lately.

It's so great to have friends with kids the same age. They understand that when I'm slurring my words at 11am it's because I'm sleep deprived . . . not drunk.

Ellie and Ali are 2 peas in a pod. Both big sisters to newborn baby brothers.

Baby boy's first pair of jeans!

Even when he's pissed cuz I'm taking photos instead of picking him up - he's still the cutest little bean.

3 cheers!

for grandparents!

Today was Drew's first day back to work so the grandma's came over to help out!

Bath time is still a 2 man job. But luckily baby Jude loves it.

MaMop has spent the night the last 2 nights and taken Jude for a 4-5 hour stretch. Ahhhh, sweet sleep!

Direct Ellie quote: "Being a grandma is hard work! Cuz first you have to be a mommy."

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?