He's a month old!

He is falling asleep and holding his own pacifier... doesn't happen often!


He was cooing and smiling, but would get this confused look on his face everytime I put my phone in front of him to take a picture!


Helping hold his bottle. You can't see that I am holding the end of it. He's good, but not THAT good!


Silas and I took a field trip out of the house to babies r us... isn't the greatest picture, but you can see his bright blue eyes!


I had to show one so you could see how big he is getting!

I can hardly believe that exactly a month has gone by since Silas has been born! We started off the day by going to the pediatrician because Silas has a really dry rash on his face, scalp and ears. Apparently he has Seborrheic Dermatitis... pretty much we have to use very mild soap (Cetaphil) and rub Hydrocortizone cream and Aquaphor on him... no big deal. I am glad that we know how to get rid of it, though.

Silas now weighs 11lb. 13oz. and is 23 1/4in long... that's my growing boy! He coos a lot, smiles like crazy, even at daddy now :) He is SUPER strong and is starting to recognize his hands. He holds his head up, and prefers to be held sitting upright- he knows he's a big boy! Oh, and we bought him some cute little shoes at Target- we had to buy the 3-6month size... they are a smidgebig, but will probably fit in a week or two.

Bath time!

Silas had his first real bath when he was 8 days old... he wasn't a big fan and was happy to get out!


This was Silas' 3rd bath, and he loved it, he looked like he was going to fall asleep while I was bathing him... I think it was nice and warm for him, so getting out wasn't so awesome. Once he got out though, he went right to sleep, which was nice for me because he was cranky for an hour or two before. He is still an incredible baby, but he is a little fussier than he had been- still no complaints here!



We tried to do tummy time... but someone got sleepy.


Such a cute 'little' boy!

already a week old...

You always hear people say they grow up fast- and it's true. I mean we are only celebrating the one week milestone, and boy is he different! He looks much different than he did the first day- getting bigger and getting older. Silas is sleeping quite a bit so I cherish the moments that he is awake and loves to stare back at our faces... such cute little eyes :) He slept trhough the night one night (8 hours) and other nights is waking up once... I can handle that!

He went to two Dr. appointments this week due to a newborn rash that was on his stomach. On Tuesday, his weight had dropped down to 9lb 14oz. Matt was a little concerned we had done something wrong but I assured him that all babies lose weight and shouldbe back at their birth weight by two weeks. Well, we went to the dr again on Thursday to recheck his rash (it looked great, btw) and he weighed 10lb. 10oz. an ounce above his birth weight (with a diaper on). So I guess we aren't having any problems feeding!

In other news, we had the experience of having to change his clothes about 8 times on Thursday- he spit up once and peed on himself all of the other times... even at the dr office ;) His cord fell off that same day, so we are giving him his first real bath today... pictures to come, I am sure.




We finally got a picture with his eyes open... as it does not happen often!

My Boy :)

I sit in bed as my sweet husband and precious son sleep- so cute!

I haven't blogged in a while, but I figured I should start using this thing again to hopefully keep people updated on little (giant) Silas!

I was anxiously awaiting the birth of my son and being able to tell Matt that it was time to go to the hospital. Silas had measured big (about 2 weeks ahead) at the ultrasounds at 23 and 32 weeks, based on their weight estimations. Since this was the case, we all thought he would come early, but my Dr. didn't change my due date. My mom thought he would come around the 5th, which would have been 2 weeks early. The 5th came and went, so I just kept looking out for the 19th- his due date. That came and went, too. The 22nd is my birthday so I hoped for that day... no bday gift from Silas. The 25th is my father in law's birthday (he had been rooting for Silas to come on that day!) and that came and went too. At my last appointment, she told me I would be induced on the 27th at 8:30- finally I knew that this could would be coming out!

The entire time I was eagerly awaiting him, I had never felt any contractions. I had cramps, but nothing I could call contractions or even time. I would progress a little in the last 3 weeks at each appointment, as far as dilating, but still no signs of the little man coming.

We got to the hospital at 8:30 as planned, but things didnt get started right away. I had been checked and was already 4-5 cm dilated, and apparently having regular contractions 5 mins apart that I didn't even feel. When she hooked up the monitor she said they were pretty strong and was surprised I couldn't feel them. I never knew I had a pain tolerance... I always thought I was pretty wussy. I just stayed in bed pretty comfortable. They came in and broke my water at 11:15, and at 12:15 they started the pitocin so that my contractions would be stronger and 2-3 apart to get the show on the road. She said that I would have the baby by the following afternoon. WHAT? I came in to have a baby that day!! I got an epidural at 1:45. I still wasn't feeling anything really, except some occasional pressure in my back, so I decided to get the epidural then, in fear of thinking it would be too late if I just stuck it out or that the anesthesiologist would take forever to get to me.

I sat in the room with many different people coming in and chatting with me- only 3 people at a time. At about 3:30ish, there was a shift change, so the new nurse checked me and said that I was at a 5... what? NO progression? In hearing this, we knew it would be a while, so Matt and his dad left to go get some dinner and bring it back. The room was nice and calm. The lights were low, and Shea, Patience and Cathy were in the room and we were just chatting away. Then, a nurse came up to me and said "I need you to put on this oxygen mask and turn on your side, the baby's heart rate has dropped a little bit so we want to make him a little more comfortable". As I am moving and holding the mask up, next thing I know is a doctor is checking me and says "How long has she been clotting like this?". At that moment, it was a whirlwind! In a matter of about 30 seconds there was about 12 people around me all telling me different things. "we're going to have to get the baby out NOW" "you're going to get a shot of in your arm to help stop contractions, it will make you shaky" "move your hips and slide on this other bed".... I mean, I don't know how I was bale to follow so many commands being told to me and still hear Shea right next to me calling Matt and telling him to get back to the hospital ASAP because the baby's heart rate dropped and I needed an emergency c-section. That was at 4:17. And in the midst of this, I was completely calm. I just followed whatever they said. I don't know how I stayed that calm, because a c-section was my biggest fear. I did NOT want one, as I mostly feared the recovery. I could hardly sit up after having my belly button pierced... pfft. Matt panicked and rushed back to the hospital and pulled up to the curb leaving his dad to park the car. He ran inside and somehow got all ready and dressed to come into the operating room. I was told on the way being wheeled into the secondary, small OR (they had JUST finished a c-section in the regular OR) that nobody would be allowed in because it was an emergency. Still at that news, I was just calm and at peace. I said a little prayer and got ready for things to begin. All of a sudden, the Dr. had let go of my hand and Matt was there :) Somehow he was allowed to be in there. I could see the panic in his eyes, and especially for me, because he knew I did not want a c-section. I knew, though, that it had to be done, and that I couldn't freak out because it would make things worse for the baby and myself. I told Matt that I was at peace with the whole thing, and I think it shocked him, but helped to comfort him. after 4 mins, Silas was born at 4:31pm :) As soon as they pulled him out, everyone in the room said "oh my God, he's HUGE!" at that very moment, I said the same thing. The rested him on my legs for a second while they suctioned his mouth and I said, "wow, he's BIG". He weighed 10 lbs and 9oz and was 22in long. I later found out that the circumference of his head was 15! They told Matt that I would have ended up with a c-section anyway, as there was NO way I would have been able to push that out! I am glad that I do not have to recover from attempting to!

My little man is here and I can not be happier. I learned that my placenta had abrupted and that is why I was clotting and why he was in distress. I read up on it just a pinch and learned, apparently, that it is really dangerous and most people lose their babies in that process. I was glad that everything worked out in the timing it did. getting that epidural was a good choice at that time otherwise they would have had to put me under general anesthesia.

Silas is perfect in every way, and truly a wonderful baby. He cries when he needs something and stops as soon as we fix the problem.... He sleeps well and is eating well also. Matt is a wonderful father, and things come pretty naturally to him. He loves talking to his son, and is especially glad when Silas grabs onto his finger. Silas loves to move his hands a lot and likes holding onto something at all times, even if it is his other hand, or cheek, or nose- I think it comforts him :)

Sorry this was such a novel, but I wanted a way to share with people about our experience.