Welcome Home Ethan!

(Left: Ethan's First Meeting)

Sorry about my nearly 3 week sabbatical from posting, but as you can imagine i've had so much going on! Ethan was born Tuesday night, August 23rd and every day since then has been full of people, activities and most importantly - bonding!

I've been burning up my camera taking photos. I now finally understand the millions of photos parents take of their kids! I used to get slightly bored looking at what seemed like the hundredth photo of the same face - but as a parent you notice the ever-so-subtle differences in facial expressions - and want to capture each and every one of them.

I have a million photos of Ethan already, and to anyone else he probably looks somewhat the same in all of them. But after staring at his sweet face for hours, I notice every little look and expression from him and want to save them all in my mind - this is the sweetest time of his life...and mine.

Here are a few of my favorites...

Just waking up from a nap....i love his little furrowed brow!

Content and happy baby....

Baby eyes - so cute!

So i want every one to know i was nice to shaphan during my labor. No crazy yelling or swearing stories....although I will say he tested me. :)

So when i got to the hospital Monday night they gave me a gown to wear - open in the back of course. I, knowing all to well the faulty design of hospital gowns, bought a cute robe to wear for the duel purpose of protecting my dignity as well as attempting to look normal whilst in labor.

I donned the gown and my robe before going out into the hallway to take a walk (speeds up the labor). Before exiting my room i asked my husband if i was "all covered up" in the back. His reply was an eager yes. We took a stroll twice down the hallway. On our way back to my room my friend and my mom came onto the floor walking towards us from behind. As i turned to say hello, i saw my friends face become wide-eyed and her hand go over her mouth...as she sped up towards me pulling my robe down in back.

Apparently, my husband didn't take a good enough look in all the excitement because i was baring some skin back there.

That was the only time i lost it. And i can't even blame it on the labor. Thanks a lot Shaphan!!!! Well, i will say, after going through labor and delivery, there isn't any part of me the whole nursing staff hasn't seen. And they don't seem to care. :)

Ethan's first week home has been good. The first few days were hard as we were all adjusting...but now he's sleeping through most of the nigh - and so are we!!!!

We took Ethan to his first meeting and he was calm, sleeping in the car seat most of the time, and we also took him out in service on Saturday. He seemed to like the car seat, i'm assuming because of the subtle vibration - probably reminds him of his home. :)

I read some literature by a Dr. Harvey Karp in which he explains that the first 3 months outside the womb should be termed the "Fourth Trimester." This is the time in which the baby transitions from womb to world....and the most you can copy the womb experience the happier the baby will be during this transition time. He explained there are 4 S's related to the womb experience:

Sound - The baby is used to hearing sounds all day long, so no need to keep the house silent as this is more upsetting to the baby.

Swinging - The movement you created as you walked lulled the baby, so rocking and swinging is soothing outside the womb as well.

Swaddling - Baby is used to being swaddled in the womb so creating the same effect with a swaddle blanket provides security to baby.

Sucking - a Natural reflex that baby performed in utero and soothes baby on the outside either with breast or pacifier.

So we've been practicing the 4 S's and they really do work!!! My baby is not fussy and is easily soothed using any combination of the above 4 techniques.

There's so much i've been reading about newborns, and the more i read the more i learn and realize i didn't know. They are truly fascinating!

Stay tuned for more pics and stories!