Gunney is smiling!

And it is the cutest thing we"ve ever seen! Can't wait to capture a picture of his sweet little grin!

Gunney's first road trip!

Labor Day weekend, we headed down to Charlotte for Shaun and Erin's wedding. We stayed with Amanda and John at their new house (though we didn't get to see John, he was working, sad). They moved in about 3 days before we got there... but you wouldn't have known it- it looks amazing! We really enjoyed our stay- thanks guys!

Shaun and Erin got married on Sunday evening, so after a quick visit with Amanda, we made our way to the Roof With a View, a beautiful venue, with the city as a backdrop. Their wedding was beautiful, perfect and 100% them!

Gunney was SO well behaved at the wedding- a perfect angel! I wore him in our Moby Wrap (thanks Deere!) Everyone kept asking if it was part of my dress.... and were completely amazed that we had a 3 week old at a wedding! (PS- Looking back on it, so am I).

Such a fun trip!

The hookup from Aunt Angie!

We went home to Winston for the weekend to hang out with the fam... and Angie hooked Gunney up with some of Creed's hand me downs (and some new things that are too small for the big guy). We got a bathing suit and this super cute matching hat...

A halloween hat, Christmas outfit, checkered hat and dun, dun dun... a BOUNCY SEAT! The G man LOVES to bounce... and this seat vibrates and bounces with the touch of a finger... AWE-SOME! Thanks Aunt Angie and Uncle Dave!

Smith Mountain Lake with Kerry and Brad

Last weekend, Kerry and Brad invited us to their lake house at Smith Mountain Lake, for a fun, relaxing weekend! We got there around 6pm and enjoyed Mexican for dinner at a "local" Mexican place... It is about a 30 minute drive from their house. It was nice to catch up, the food was tasty, and I even had a margarita (yum!).

Saturday's weather wasn't the sunny day that we'd hoped for... but it was so nice to relax in the beautiful house. We watched football, Kerry and I got to rest while the boys went fishing and then and Kerry watched Gunney so that Mike and I could spend time at the lake together.

On Sunday the weather was gorgeous- Mike fished in the morning while Kerry and Brad played in the kayaks and Gunney and I slept in. We enjoyed a nice brunch at the marina and headed back home.

Great weekend- Gunney loves the lake already! Thanks Kerry and Brad!

GGC is one month old!

So, I haven't been very good at posting... but this week will be a week of catch up!

For now, here is his one month shot that Mike took.

(Thanks Aunt Leah for the giraffe date marker)

He is an awesome baby! He is pretty calm, unless he is hungry, stinky or sleepy, at which point he screams at us until we make it better. He loves to be bounced... really bounced... up and down, out in front of your body. It puts him to sleep and gives us a great workout. Mike is working from home, so we get to spend some quality time together. We get up for all of his feedings together- Mike changes his diapers and burps him, I feed him. He has gotten so good at nursing... we are almost old pros at this point.

Mike and I are an awesome team and love having Gunney in our life!

 

STATS: 10lbs. Didn’t measure length… oops.

SLEEPING: Completely at his own will  during the day, basically revolves around eating- both of which he does constantly. Sleeps for two 4 hour periods at night

EATING: Nursing every 2-4 hours

CLOTHES: Newborn and some 0-3. Newborn diapers, on the verge of size 1

DEVELOPMENTS:

Can lift his head and turn side to side

Can fold his sweet little fingers/hands together

Coos and makes noises and faces

We have a grabber!

Mommy's hair, Daddy's shirt, toys, LuLu, whatever he can get his little hands on! Too cute!

Week 2

Week 2's pictures are still trapped in the camera... but I'll post some of the highlights.

Week 2 started off with a visit from Maw Maw and Paw Paw

Our first trip to Goodberrys and Chick fil A- thanks to the Bakers for the gift cards and free meals at Chick fil A!

Our 2 week Dr. appt.- A+ check up... strong, growing boy!

Our second trip to Goodberrys!

Gunney and I went to Mikey's softball game- he was a big hit! And Mike's team brought home their first win!

Week 2 also involved a little projectile pee, poop and vomit... ahh, the joys of parenthood!

Breastfeeding

I'm pretty much the first of our friends to have a baby... so we are figuring this out as we go. I'm going to post about breastfeeding... if you're not interested... you may want to skip this one, I promise, my feelings wont be hurt. 

I chose to breastfeed primarily because my Mom did (Mom, yet again, you are an inspiration). I read a lot about it, knew it was the best choice for us... and wanted to do what I could for the little Gunney meister. Mom and I went to a class at Wake Med, I went to a La Leche meeting, read a couple of books and called in Lactation while I was in the hospital.

I will tell you that it isn't easy. Especially getting started. They show you the video in the class of a little baby (minutes old), crawling towards his momma's teet and suckling away... That isn't how it worked for us in real life! (Until Friday, September 3rd... mind you my baby was almost 3 weeks old at this point... not minutes old like they show in the video). We put him skin to skin right away... and showed him what he was "supposed to do". He hung out there for a little while.. but there was no instant recognition for him... heck, I'd just pushed for 3 hours... the little munchkin was recovering still.

Regardless... I hope that when you're pregnant, you'll do everything you can to inform yourself about breastfeeding. Read the books, go to the classes, talk to everyone you can. Because I was so informed, I had the confidence and determination to work through the issues we had in the beginning.

If I have one piece of advice... it is that your body can and will provide perfectly for your baby...

We struggled a little in the hospital... as my milk hadn't come in yet (note, no one's has... until 2-4 days... so hang in there)

We struggled the night we got home... (Gunney sucked like a little vampire baby for about 12 hours... again, he was priming my body for the milk to come in).

I was really sore, and yes, it hurt. Cracking, bleeding, etc... The lactation specialist likened it to the overuse of a beginning guitar player. Once you build up the "calluses" you can play for hours... (no, there are not real calluses)

Gunney spit up a blood clot in at 6 days old.... talk about a scary sight! We read the book, checked the internet, called a lactation consultant... and figured out that it was "normal" (read- not normal, but not bad either... it happens due to trauma to the mama sometimes... we shared blood for 9 months and he is totally fine)

The doctor's office wanted us to supplement with formula... let me reiterate... your body can and will provide perfectly for your baby... we did not supplement. My milk came in, I fed the munchkin twice as much, and he put on 5 ounces in two days (they wanted half an ounce a day)

I got really frustrated during a few middle of the night feedings. And felt terrible about it... Heck, he is two weeks old... he isn't hurting me on purpose... When I talked to Mike about it, he reassured me, and woke up with me for every feeding after that. We go into Gunney's room where the light is a little better... and we are working it out!

We met with Lactation at Wake Med at 8 days old. You get one FREE consultation (its a $400 value). Anne met with us for over an hour... and helped give us the confidence to work through a few issues.

So, if you struggle when its your turn... call Mike or my Mom. Hehe, just kidding... but please do have a support person. It is not the easiest thing in the world... but it is REALLY rewarding!

Seeing this sweet little face staring up at me makes it 100% worth it!

All because two people fell in love...

Happy Anniversary to my WONDERFUL husband... I don't know what in the world I'd do without you!

I love you!

First week

Guenther was born Sunday evening at 7:41pm. We spent Sunday and Monday in the hospital, and left on Tuesday, shortly after lunch. The food in the hospital was so-so... immediately after delivery they gave me a turkey sandwich. I told them I didn't eat meat, so they brought me Jello. Hmm. Someone needs to have a talk with "Nutrition" at the hospital. (They also don't have a Recycling program... note to self... write letter).

They occasionally sent someone in to check on us/meet with us/etc. But honestly, we were kinda on our own. Gunney slept most of the time... and we really enjoyed hanging out, just the three of us. I requested Lactation, and met with Anne one day, and Kim the next. They were both helpful and I highly recommend to anyone planning to breastfeed to go ahead and call them in.

Tuesday morning was a challenge. Gunney had his heel stick, circumcision and final check up all that morning. He was also struggling to breastfeed, and didn't feel very well. He slept like a rock on the way home and once we got home though...

Mom and Dad brought Lu over on Tuesday evening, we introduced her to Gunney and they did great! Daddy brought home his first hat and she had that tied it to her collar... So stinkin' cute! Mom and Dad stayed with me and brought over dinner so that Mike could go to his first softball game.

That night is when it got tough. Mike had to go to Charlotte the next day to put in his two week notice.... so it was just Gunney and I during the night. ALL he wanted to do was nurse. He wouldn't go to sleep for anything.. and he acted like he was starving his guts out. Hence the nickname Monster Baby. He sucked and screamed all night. I fell asleep with him in the glider... woke up terrified and felt like a terrible mother. That morning after Mike left (in tears, because he felt terrible leaving us)... I fell asleep with Gunney on my chest in the bed. I woke up when Mom came over, and handed him to her and started bawling. I scared myself, not knowing what would've happened if I'd dropped him, etc. I needed my Mom, and was SO THANKFUL to have her here. She made everything better, bathed Gunney, let me sleep (waking me up to feed) and scurried around cleaning the house and feeding me and holding the sweet baby. (I can't explain how much it meant to me to have Mom here... Mom, you are my hero!)

When Mike got home on Wednesday night, we had a great time talking about his Boy Scouts memories. He started his career there five years ago and has made some incredible friends and memories there. They threw him a going away party, complete with gifts, cake and sweet cards and letters. He brought home his many commendations and awards, patches he's worked on, etc. We both cried, a lot, all the time knowing that the very best is ahead of us.

Thursday and Friday got easier and better. After our Thursday Dr. appt, they asked us to wake him up every 2.5 hours to feed, and feed twice as much to put some weight on him. They were looking for .5-1oz/day... we put on 5 ounces in 2 days... booyah!

Saturday Aunt Leah and Uncle Kyle came from Atlanta to visit. It was GREAT to see them! Amanda and Mrs. DeMaster also came over! Gunney did awesome... and I was pretty stinkin proud of Mike and I for getting out of the house at 6 days old.

When I got home I was feeling pretty yucky... we realized later that is was most likely the beginnings of mastitis, an infection caused by breastfeeding. Mikey put me in the shower right away, got me warmed up, put warm clothes on me and pumped me full of fluids. He woke me up every 2 hours to nurse and let me sleep for about 12 hours. I also started pumping... which isn't the most fun... but I know that its best for the munchkin...

By Sunday, I was feeling better... and really enjoyed having Mike's family come visit. Sissy brought a ton of food (which we've been enjoying for the past two weeks). The kids were AWESOME with Gunney... and really enjoyed meeting their new cousin. Angie's baby, Creed, seemed like a giant compared to Gunney.

So... that's a summary of week 1... highlights from week 2 to come!

Love these sweet feet!