Meeting Aunt E!

Aunt E finally got to meet her nephew! We had lots of fun...she got lots of practice for her own little bear! And, Lolly & Poppy came over too!

Labor Day

Jack celebrated his first Labor Day with the UD Crew! Matt, Michele, and Izzie came down from Chicago and Dan, Amy, and Olivia came down from Wadsworth! It was a different Labor Day celebration than we've had in years past. Instead of high bar tabs and hangovers we had stroller walks and nap time!

1 month old

Wow! It really is hard to believe Jack is a month old. I am so in love with the little man I could stare at him for hours in awe!

We went for his 1 month check up today! We knew he'd gotten bigger! He's weighing in at 11 lbs 10 oz and is 23" long! He's in the 90th percentile! I can't imagine what our grocery bills will be like if he keeps this up! He is getting stronger every day and is ready to be snuggled in Daddy's arms when he walks in the door! (Or maybe I'm just imaging that!) He still loves to be held, although we're trying to break him of that by actually letting him fuss some. And, we're starting to get on a routine. I thought we were doing really well for a few days last week when Donna was down, but somehow we get off kilter and hopefully are starting to get back on.

We've had a busy couple of weeks! We made our first overnight trip to Coldwater to meet the newest member of the Bruns Family, Avery! She seems so small and fragile compared to Jack! Maybe we were more gentle because she's a girl, and she's not ours!

And, football season has begun and we ventured out to our first football game. Jack found it very exiting - getting some love from the other wives, taking a cat nap, and then drinking a bottle!

Jack is 3 weeks old today! He is getting bigger - I can't wait until his Drs appointment to find out how much he weighs. Mark and I have both commented that he seems MUCH heavier. I've given up nursing and Jack and I both seem to be a bit happier. I have a bit more freedom (and someone else can feed him), and Jack is definitely getting a full belly so the time in between feedings is stretching itself out on its own. And, we've gone on a few outings now. Plus, with bottle feeding him I feel like I have the freedom to be able to leave the house without worrying about having to rush home because he's hungry!

Getting big and strong! Daddy's going to start a workout regimine soon!

suns out guns out

(you'd think these boys don't have any shirts)

It's been two weeks since Jack arrived and we've definitely been in survival mode. I've only left the house a few times and am still wondering if I'll ever be able to leave for more than an hour again! I've been feeding every 2 hours and it has been quite exhausting. (I'm starting to try to stretch feedings as I type.) We are still doing a lot of learning and figuring things out. Jack is a bit stubborn when it comes to eating he tends to put up a bit of a fight. I'm wondering if he's going to be a boxer instead of a football player! He still likes to be curled in a ball and his best naps are taken either in his carseat or on Mark's chest. And at night we swaddle him tight in a SwaddleMe. We've been initiated into parenthood by being peed on, spit up on, and pooped on. Infact, Mark jumped the gun changing a poopy diaper yesterday and ended up catching it his hand. I still giggle when I think about it!

Both Grandma's have been down for a few days to help which has been great. Our deep freezer is full and I haven't had to clean a bathroom in a couple of weeks! (I can certainly get used to having a cleaning lady, although, being my Father's Daughter, I'm pretty sure I don't want to pay for one!)

Hopefully week 3 gets easier! I keep hearing it will...

Jack Chapter 1:1 First Week Home

1st Car Ride

1st Nap in Cradle

Meeting Uncle Hube, Aunt Katie, and Cousin Maddie

1st Pedatrician Appointment with Dr. Fix

1st Bath (Mommy & Daddy need to get a whole lot better at this bath thing =)!)

Jack: Chapter 1

In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth. Many years later, Jack Matthew Bruns arrived on that earth! The best day of our lives!

We went to my 40 week Drs appointment with high hopes that I'd had significantly more progress towards the arrival of our little man than the previous week. Much to my dismay, it was very limited. However, once again, my blood pressure was high and for the first time the Drs became concerned. (Frankly, I'd wondered why it hadn't been an issue the week before.) Anyway, after taking my blood pressure numerous times the Dr sent me home, told me to not get off the couch (well, actually she said out of bed unless necessary) all night and to come back in the morning to get my BP checked again. We had an appointment scheduled for the following Tuesday for another ultrasound because I was measuring big. Friday morning I got myself ready for work, hoping I wouldn't be going in and would either have to go home to remain on the couch or be sent to the hospital. The Dr told me to go to the hospital. Of course, I had to stop at Target on my way home because I'd procrastinated purchasing nursing bras and figured I'd pick up a few magazines while I was at it! A little Cosmo is always a great source of entertainment!
We arrived at the hospital around noon and got situated in a room. My nurse, Amy came in, got my saline IV started and finished checking me in. Two hours later...yes TWO HOURS LATER the Dr on call finally came in. (Side note: The Dr on call was one of the Drs I didn't particularly care for...) He came in and asked what I wanted to do. Umm...hello...I was told to come to L&D, I'm checked in, IVed, what do you mean what do I want to do? Lets get this baby out!!!! He'd asked about my BP being high at previous appointments and Dr. Ding-a-Ling didn't seem to remember that he saw me the previous week, when it was high and I had a bit of protein in my urine, and he wasn't concerned at all.

A few hours later (after we were able to eat "lunch") they came in to get the induction process started. A drug called Cervidal (I think ;)!) was inserted behind my cervix and I was told it stays in for 12 hours. This drug is supposed to help soften the cervix. Not long after I started having contractions. An hour later, I was having non-stop contractions. We'd called for our nurse to find out how "normal" this was. After witnessing back-to-back contractions she decided to check my progress. I'd dilated to 4 cm and she told me she'd call the anesthesiologist for my epidural. He showed up not long after she'd called and minutes after the Cervidal was taken out (my water broke during the process as well) and we had to work through contractions to get the epidural administered. Moments later, my legs were numb and I was thanking him for providing such sweet relief! I told him he was my favorite person of the day thus far! (I'm sure he hears that a lot!) An hour later I'd progressed to 8 cm and by the time things were set up in my room it was time to push. The next hour and a half was quite exhausting and at 10:27 I saw the sweet face I'd been imagining for the past 9 months! A little boy with a head full of dark hair, beautiful big blue eyes, and huge feet was placed on my chest for Mark and me to admire. And all the angels rejoiced!