Taking After Mama

Anyone who has ever lived with me knows how I like to sleep. When Emerson wants to be awake and Mama wants to sleep I lay him down next to me on the bed and we usually fall asleep together. (Note the towel under Emerson in case he spits up - learned that lesson the hard way). Robert came home from work the other day to find us napping. Obviously Emerson takes after the Crandell side when it comes to sleeping.

5 Weeks Old!

Last Tuesday Emerson was five weeks old! We went to the doctor for a check up and he weighed 9 lbs 9 oz. Tuesday night we took Emerson to his first Rockies game. We were afraid that it was going to be too cold for him but when the day came the weather didn't look to bad and as it ended up he didn't even use all the warm clothes and blankets we took for him. He spent the first part of the game on Robert's chest in the baby carrier asleep. We have seats with the same friends we did last summer so once he woke up Emerson was passed around although he spent most of the time sleeping. The Rockies lost which was a bummer but hopefully they'll to better for our next game on the 12th.

Thursday we went to have lunch with Robert and some of his coworkers and afterwards we pushed Emerson around in the stroller introducing him to the other people that weren't at lunch. Everyone thought he looks like daddy. Friday Emerson and I had lunch with Grandma Monica and Auntie B and then we did some shopping at Flatirons.

Last week he also moved up to the next size of diapers - no more newborns and we realized he has already outgrown quite a few outfits. So, I'm going to start washing the next size up of clothes so we're ready when he gets here. He has also started smiling. He'll smile when you change his diaper, when Robert or I talk to him or at his musical duck or bear mobile. He's also smiled at a few other people besides us. Emerson is starting to figure out how to roll. He arches his back and gets himself on his side. He's also grasping at things - his pacifier, toys we hold out for him and handfulls of my hair while he's eating. When he's awake he continues to be more alert. He'll follow a toy with his eyes if you move it in front of him and he'll follow me as I move around the room. He turns his head when he hears a noise or a voice. Robert put pictures of family members up on the photo board in E's room and he loves to stare at them. He has also been staring at Gus more.

Everyone asks how we're sleeping. Well, last Sunday night he slept from 10:30 pm to 6 am! It was only one night but it was great! Usually he goes down sometime between 8:30 and 10:30 pm and I get up with him between 3 and 5 am. Then he's usually up again around 7 or 8 am. If I am really tired I feed him and then he lays next to me in bed while I snooze and he usually falls asleep himself. On the weekends Robert gets up with him once he's awake and I sleep in until his next feeding. All in all we're getting pretty decent sleep.

One Month Old!

Emerson turned one month old on Friday, April 24th. Robert was off of work that day so we spent the day doing things around the house and running errands. That night we went to dinner with Keith and Corrie and celebrated with a Brownie Sundae! The next day we took Emerson to Aunt Erin and Uncle Warren's house for a barbecue where he met them and the Scheherers for the first time.

Thoughts from the new Mommy

Following my husband's lead, here are my thoughts regarding being a mom:

• It was incredible to me how Emerson recognized my voice shortly after being out of the womb. He was crying and once I started talking to him he stopped. I know he could hear me while he was in there but it's still amazing.
• I miss multitasking! Everyone who knows me knows that I multitask - especially at work. Well, one of the first major adjustments was saying goodbye to this art. At the beginning I was on Emerson's schedule and what he needed got done. Now I'm still on his schedule and I manage to get things done while he's sleeping but I can't do much while holding him thus I've learned to go with the flow and I get what I need to get done later...like when Daddy gets home!
• I have never appreciated showering more in my life! I tell Robert it's a gift I get each night to reward myself for a long day. Usually Emerson cooperates and sleeps during this time otherwise Robert takes care of him.
• Getting up in the middle of the night isn't so bad once they start smiling. I will crankily get out of bed, take E into the nursery thinking "why don't you just sleep" and then he smiles and my heart melts.
• I still can't wait til we get to the 8 hour stretches of sleep.
• Yes, I know I'm lucky he's sleeping as much as he is and I do appreciate it.
• A naked little baby in the bath tub is the cutest thing ever! Forget the baby pandas!
• Okay, I take it back. Baby hands ARE the cutest thing ever. So is the way Emerson's little baby hands move around when he's awake and lay on his chest when he sleeps. So is the little nail file I use to maintain said tiny baby fingernails.
• Nursing Emerson was so time consuming at the beginning. It felt like that was all I did when we first brought him home.
• Even though it takes up a huge chunk of my day, I truly enjoy feeding my son.
• I'm also very grateful that he's learned to take a bottle from Daddy so the cow can have a break.
• I love that one of my sister-in-laws is a pediatrician. It helps having someone to call with new mom questions. I also love that she's patient with said phone calls. Love you Windy!
• I was already a germ freak but being a new mom + the swine flu has taken it to a new level. My husband can vouch for this. Thanks for putting up with me Baby.
• Getting snot out of a tiny baby nose is a challenge but it's so rewarding when you get them out with that booger sucker (aka a nasal aspirator)
• I miss my pregnant belly. I had gotten attached to it. Sometimes I miss feeling Emerson move around in there and having him all to myself. (I know Keith - I'm selfish!)
• I miss my maternity clothes. It was nice not to have to zip pants. LOL
• I miss how my old clothes used to fit.
• I guess I'm somewhere in between...LOL
• I feel bad for Gus. We try to give him attention but he's definitely second fiddle these day.
• I've never done so much stain sticking in my life. I didn't know how badly baby poop and spit up stain.
• I love watching Emerson discover the world...including his own hands.
• I love that Emerson recognizes me and that he calms down when he sees me or hears my voice.
• I love that he clings to me like a spider monkey when I hold and carry him.
• Becoming a parent makes you appreciate everything your parents have done for you. (We love our moms and dads!)
• And helps you forgive them for screwing you up.
• And makes you realize you'll screw up your own kids. Sorry Emerson.
• Being resposible for a little human can be overwheming.
• I love watching Robert with Emerson. He's such an amazing father and I can see the bond between them already.
• It's so cool having our own family.
• I would do the whole thing over again in a second. It was all worth it.
• I love being Emerson's mom and can't wait to do it for the rest of my life. I can't believe how overwhelming this feeling of love is and how I would do anything for him.
• I don't know how I'm going to leave him and go back to work....

Thoughts of the 1 month father...

Here are a few thoughts I have had in my month and few days of being a new dad.

• It feels great being a dad. Sometimes it is a little scary to know that I am responsible for a living thing that I can't put in a kennel, but it is a really neat feeling to know it too.
• It doesn't matter how long your baby lays on the couch naked for pictures and doesn't go to the bathroom, he will do it as soon as you are holding him.
• And it will get on your shirt.
• And your pants.
• And your socks.
• Strangely enough, you probably won't mind those last three things very much and your wife and the photographer will think it is hilarious.
• It's never to early to teach your baby the importance of making your free throws.
• It's never to early to teach your baby what bump drafting is. And that you don't bump draft in the corners.
• Reading to your baby makes you feel good. And if you read tongue twisters to them now, they're not old enough to know you messed up.
• Sometimes babies cry for no reason.
• Sometimes babies cry because their finger is bent backwards in their sleeve.
• Singing the multiplication tables to your baby might help put them to sleep when they are very young and fussy. You wife will think you are crazy, but it works. Plus I feel like it might help with future math grades. I'll let you know someday.
• If your baby won't stop crying, try carrying him up and down the stairs. I don't know if its the motion that they like or the knowledge that you're exhausted after only three trips, but mine stopped crying almost immediately when I did this.
• And he started crying almost immediately when I tried to take a break.
• Having a baby makes even the simplest trip to the store more complicated. But it isn't that bad.
• Most baby expressions are cute, but once they smile, it is awesome.
• Someone told me that baby's hands might be the cutest things ever; they might be right. Have you seen those tiny fingers and tiny finger nails? (Someone else once told me that science has proven that baby pandas are the cutest things ever. The debate rages on!)
• You probably don't need one of those womb bears that makes womb sounds to help your baby sleep if your dog snores loudly. It is essentially same thing.
• You never really appreciate 5 uninterrupted hours of sleep until you're not getting it.
• Natalie has been wonderful in letting me sleep through the night since I have gone back to work. Thanks, Baby.
• Natalie left the other day and ran an errand and I was home alone with Emerson. When she came back she told me she realized it was the first time she had left Emerson since we'd been home from the hospital, and subsequently, it was the first time I had been alone with him. I was glad she didn't realize that until after she left and didn't tell me until after she got home.
• Finally, It doesn't matter how many times people will tell you, before your baby arrives, that having a baby will totally change your life, and even if you truly believe them, you don't understand it until he is born. It is really really cool.

More later on. Thanks for reading.

-Robert

Who Does Emerson Look Like?

As people have been coming to meet Emerson they've been weighing in on who he looks like. We want to know what you think. Below is are photos of baby Natalie, baby Emerson and baby Robert for comparison. Please view and then vote in the top left hand corner.

Natalie

Emerson

Robert

Three Weeks Old

Okay, okay, so this is a little late. Something I've learned since becoming a mom - it takes forever to type one handed when your dear son is in your other arm! But, thanks to the snow Robert was sent home early so now I can blog!

Emerson is doing great and his personality is starting to emerge. He's quite the mellow boy - I know, surprising with the me for a mommy! He's been more awake this week and it seems like his eyes are able to focus on things better. He's doing great nursing and still only cries when he's hungry. He used to hate the hiccups and want to be held and cry until they passed but now he just sits there until they are over, which is nice since he has about 3 hiccups episodes a day! Emerson seems to enjoy music and loves the mobile over his pack and play. It's three little bears and they turn in a circle which mesmerizes him so we call them the Magic Bears. His neck continues to get stronger. We tried to do a little tummy time the other day. He enjoyed it for a few minutes and then started screaming as if to say "My neck is strong! I don't need to do this!" He's been sleeping one 5 to 6 hour stretch each night which is great for mom!

We celebrated Emerson's first Easter this past weekend. Friday night we were at Dena & Scott's to see the Tressells. Saturday we were with the Stevenson's at Grandma Monica and Grandpa Mark's house. My brother Matt, his wife Windy and their son Kolby were in town. Markus, Cerissa and Brodie were there as was Brigid. We had a great meal, dyed eggs and decorated cookies together. Emerson spent the day being passed around from one loving set of arms, to another which he handled great. Sunday we went to mass. It was Emerson's first time and it was packed! That afternoon we went to Oma Teresa & Sir's house for Easter dinner with the Crandells where Emerson met more family and was held by more people. Finally, Sunday night we went to Dena & Scott's house to say goodbye to Nonie Ger and Grandpa Bob before they headed back to Texas.

Robert went back to work on Monday. It's been weird not having him home with us but the day goes fast and it's 5:30 with him walking through the door before we know it. Grandma Monica came and kept us company Monday, Auntie B (Brigid) came on Tuesday and Oma Teresa came on Wednesday. Yesterday Emerson's baby friend Shane came with mommy Lisa for a visit in the afternoon. Can't wait until they're older and can actually play during their play dates. Last night Kate, Damion & baby Iris came over to meet Emerson and brought dinner. It's great to have Emerson's baby friends stopping by.

Two Weeks Old

Emerson is two weeks old today (Tuesday)! Yesterday we went to the peditrician for his two week check up. They checked his pulse ox and it was 99 so the doctor isn't too concerned about his breathing anymore. There have been a couple of times while Emerson is nursing that he will cough and when I look down his lips are turning blue. I sit him up and burp him to get things moving again and his lips always go back to pink quickly. I think he's trying to drink even after falling into a light sleep and that's when it happens. The doctor didn't seemed too concerned by this and told us to keep an eye on him for another week. He weighed in at 8 pounds 1 1/2 oz so he's already 2 ounces over his birth weight. Most of his umbilical cord stump came off last Wednesday. He has an innie and there's just a tiny piece remaining in there.

Emerson spent most of his first week at home sleeping. He loves to sleep. We wake him up every 2 hours during the day to eat and let him have 4 hour stretches at night. This works out most nights and Mommy and Daddy are able to get some sleep. There have been a few nights where he's wide awake and wants to be walked and held. Mommy and Daddy take turns when this happens. The last few days Emerson has been awake more during the day. He's very alert and likes to look around or study the face of the person holding him.

I'm feeling pretty good and have been getting more than decent amounts of rest. Robert and I are just enjoying little Emerson and spending time as a family. Robert is off from work again this week but will be returning to work next Monday. Grandma and Grandpa Sudar arrived from Texas this past Sunday and will be staying until next Monday. They are splitting their time between us and Emerson and Robert's sister Dena and Jack. My brother Matt, his wife Windy and their son Kolby come into town this weekend for Easter. We are excited to see them and have Emerson meet more of his family! He will also meet his Grandpa Mark this weekend which is the last grandparent he's yet to meet. We're still working on the great-grandparent introductions. We have two down and five to go. Hopefully he'll meet some more this weekend. Unfortunately he can't go to Leadville to meet Great-Grandma Carol and Great-Grandpa Bernie until he's a month old.

Completed Nursery

Emerson's dresser finally arrived about two weeks before he did. We haven't posted pictures of the completed nursery since then. Here is the finished product. Grandma Monica made all the bedding, the curtain, cushion for the rocking chair and his name banner. Daddy painted the rocking chair white (it was previously a darker wood).

Emerson's Adventure Post Birth

About an hour after Emerson was born they came to move us from the labor and delivery room to a family care room where we would be the remainder of our stay. Our room was right next to the nursery and as they wheeled me past the nursery they took Emerson to get him ready for his first bath. They came in a very short time later to tell us that they had to place Emerson under an oxygen tent because his oxygen levels were dipping. (Something that had happened during the labor as well). We were able to go in and stand next to his bassinet and hold his hand while he laid under the oxygen tent. They told us that sometimes babies have trouble adjusting to being outside and they forget to breath and after a little bit on oxygen they figure it out.

At 11 pm Tuesday night they came in to tell us Emerson was off the oxygen and they were going to give him his bath. I was exhausted but Robert went to watch and take pictures. At 12:30 they came in and said they had to put Emerson back on oxygen because his levels had dipped yet again. At 2:30 am our nurse came in and told us that they had moved Emerson to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) because he was still on oxygen (after 6 hours) and needed more supervision than they could provide in the nursery. (By the way, they just remodeled the NICU at Swedish Hospital and the new unit is amazing. The babies have their own rooms so the parents get a lot of privacy and one on one time with the baby). They told us they would come get us when we could see him. At 6:30 am they came to get me (Daddy was exhausted and passed out) and took me to the NICU where I was finally able to hold my little boy again. Emerson had an oxygen tube under his nose and was hooked up to monitors but at least we could hold him. They had done a chest xray on him which came back normal and had done some blood work which showed that he had high levels of immature white blood cells and low levels of mature blood white blood cells which might indicate that he had an infection. I went back to the room, Robert and I showered and had breakfast and then headed back to the NICU to check on Emerson. The pediatrician from the NICU was there to check him and said he didn't think Emerson had an infection and that he was just adjusting to life outside the womb and trying to figure out how to breath. They said that this happens sometimes and that he would probably be fine soon. It seemed that his oxygen would dip when he was sucking on a pacifier or a bottle. Some babies have trouble coordinating breathing, sucking, swallowing which is what they said was happening to him. At 11 am they took Emerson off oxygen because he had gone long enough without a dip. We spent the rest of the day going back and forth to the NICU each time Emerson woke up and needed to eat so that I could try nursing. He did great all day.

Unfortunately Wednesday night Emerson's oxygen levels dipped while sucking on a pacifier which meant he lost pacifier priveledges. Then it dropped again while we were there at 11:30 pm which meant he had to go back on oxygen. We spent the rest of Wednesday night going back and forth from our room to the NICU. Thursday morning I was discharged but it was obvious Emerson couldn't go home. We needed to stay at the hospital so that I could be around to feed him. Then, things got worse. Denver was going to have a blizzard by mid day. The nurses in family care and the NICU were amazing and found a room where we could stay for the night as borders. Not pay, just a place for us to stay out of the kindness of their hearts. We were so relieved that we would be able to be near Emerson and not risk being snowed in away from him. We spent all day Thursday with Emerson, feeding him and then holding him. He had an echo-cardiogram Thursday morning to make sure that his heart was okay and they said all was normal. At 5:30 pm Thursday night they took Emerson off oxygen again. They said that he would have bloodwork the next morning and if it came back fine and his oxygen didn't dip again he would be able to go home.

The next morning we learned that Emerson's bloodwork was fine and he had no more dips in his oxygen over the night. So, at 10:30 today (Friday) they gave us the good news that our baby boy could go home (and without oxygen even)! We got him dressed in his going home outfit and were at the house by 12:30! Emerson is doing great and nursing like a champ. Obviously we have to keep a very close eye on him for the next week but the doctors are convinced he just need a few extra days to coordinate his breathing. Robert and I are so happy to be home with him and are adjusting to life with him here. Lots of looking at each other going "We have a baby!" and lots of checking to see if Emerson is breathing - but what new parents don't do that.

Thanks to all of our friends and family that have supported us and prayed for us through the pregnancy, delivery and the last couple of days. We are so blessed and feel so loved. We promise to keep the blog updated with Emerson news and photos so stay tuned!

See all our Emerson photos so far at our Flickr site. http://www.flickr.com/photos/29804361@N04/

Keep in mind that they aren't really in any order.