Bump to Baby Boy

Here's a photo dump of my baby bump from beginning to end.  We love having you on the outside world baby Noah!

A Month of FIRSTS for baby Noah

Noah has had a lot of FIRSTS over his first month of life and I love documenting every single one of them.  Here's a photo dump of some of my favorite FIRSTS we have shared with our sweet boy...

Your FIRST time at home

FIRST time meeting your four-legged brother, Cooper

Your FIRST playdate at home with your FIRST friend, Molly

FIRST night sleeping at home in your rock and play

FIRST doctor's appointment

Your FIRST visit to Starbucks 

Addie & Grandma giving you your FIRST bath at home

FIRST time meeting your crazy Uncle Brian

Going on your FIRST walk in the stroller

FIRST visit to the beach

Memorial Day was your FIRST holiday

FIRST trip to one of our favorite spots, the Botanical Gardens

Your FIRST visit to the neighborhood pool

Your FIRST trip to Busch Gardens

Addie helping with your FIRST bottle

Toes in the water for the FIRST time with Miss Molly

How you changed over your FIRST 3 weeks

Noah Ryan - Month 1

Here are your numbers from your 2 week well check

WEIGHT: 9 pounds 8 ounces (70th percentile)
at birth - 9 pounds 5 ounces

LENGTH: 22.4 inches (95th percentile)
at birth - 21 3/4 inches

HEAD: 36 centimeters (26th percentile)

AT ONE MONTH YOU ARE:

-much more alert when you are awake

-working really hard to hold your head up

-starting to "coo" or tell stories, especially to your big sisters

HEALTH
You surpassed your birth weight at your two week appointment and are growing right on schedule, which makes me one happy momma.  At the end of this month we have to take you to the urologist to check your kidneys based on some information that was found at my 20 week ultra sound, so fingers crossed it has corrected itself and you pass your tests.  Over these last couple of days, you've been fighting a little bit of a stuffy nose, but our humidifier is working it's magic and helping you through the night.  Hopefully, it will completely clear up soon because you are one noisy sleeper right now just like your daddy!

EAT
This boy loves to eat and is pretty good at it.  We had a solid start to our breastfeeding journey because my milk started coming in before I even left the hospital.  When we got home from the hospital you were eating every 2-3 hours during the day and night, but since then you have been able to trade out your frequent night time feedings for some clustering in the evenings which allows you to last much longer at night, usually 6+ hours.   You are very efficient and only nurses 15-20 minutes at a time and love a good burp before I lay you back down.  We did have a little hiccup in our journey when I got a very painful crack in my left side that eventually led to only being able to pump from that side and feed you from the other.  When I was ready to nurse you on the left side again, you must not have been eating as efficiently as I needed you to and it led to a very rough 2 days of mastitis.  Luckily, it went away as quickly as it came on and we are all back to normal.  We introduced you to the bottle a few days ago and so far so good!  Daddy or Aunt Kristen give you your evening bottle and you usually eat 4-5 ounces at a time. 

SLEEP
We are still loving the sleepy newborn phase of you sleeping anywhere at anytime.  It's glorious :)  I have noticed recently that you seem to take a pretty solid nap about 2 times a day, late morning and late afternoon, with several cat naps in between.  You love to sleep in your swing, lay on a blanket (preferably at the beach), or your current favorite nap time spot is Aunt Kristen's arms.  At night time you are all about being swaddled tightly in your swaddle me blankets and getting cozy in your rock and play.  You usually nurse for the last time between 9-10pm and then sleep until 4-5am.  You go back to bed until anywhere between 8-10am, depending on what we are doing and if I have to wake you up to eat before we leave for the morning.

LIKES & DISLIKES
You love your pacifier, being held and swaddled, your swing, and momma's milk.  Right now, bath time is not your favorite, but I hope that changes soon.  You are also not a fan of having your nose suctioned out when needed.

PERSONALITY
I'm actually afraid to put this in writing, but you are such an easy baby.  You fit right into our crazy family and I am lucky that you are willing to just go with the flow.  As long as you have a full belly, you are one chill little guy and I love that about you!

FAVORITE MOMENTS

-It was love at first sight from the moment I laid eyes on you!  You had the chubbiest little cheeks and a full head of dark hair, such a handsome little man and I'm lucky to call you my son.
-My heart exploded the first time I saw you and your sisters together.  Addie and Bella were so excited to meet you and they couldn't get enough of you, they still can't!  I love how Addie tells you good morning every single day and is always willing to help.  She gets you your pacifier, loves to hold you, helps me burp you, and is even willing to help change and throw away a dirty diaper.  She is your second little mommy and it is adorable.  Bella loves to point and smile at you.  She is also a big helper, especially with your pacifier.  I love it when Bella walks up to you and says "tickle, tickle, tickle" as she tickles your toes.  You are a lucky little guy to have such loving little ladies in your life!
-I've loved showing you off to anyone and everyone I can.  We've been spoiled with family visitors, your Grandma and Pap, Aunt Kristen, and Uncle Brian all came to meet you, as well as lots of friends and neighbors.  Everyone you meet is as obsessed with you as I am...and I don't blame them.  You're pretty awesome! 

Fresh 48 - The Girls Meet Baby Noah

Our sweet boy made his grand entrance 3 weeks ago and as I think about that day I can't help but get emotional.  It was like a dream come true from start to finish.  I will never forget when I saw Noah for the very first time.  I will never forget holding him and smelling that sweet newborn smell.  I will never forget how my heart burst with joy when we introduced Addie and Bella to their baby brother.  Nothing beats having all of your kids in one room for the very first time, it is a moment that I will never forget and I am so happy that our photographer and sweet friend, Erin, was there to capture such a beautiful moment for our family.

We had been talking about it for months.  We talked about how mommy and daddy would go to the hospital and the doctors would help us have baby Noah.  We talked about how Pap and  Aunt T would bring them to the hospital to see us and meet baby Noah.  Every time we talked about Addie got so excited and said that she was going to yell "Surprise! I'm here!" when she met baby Noah for the first time.  Bella, who isn't even 2, listened to me talk about Noah but I wasn't quite sure how much she was understanding about what was about to happen.  No matter how much you try to prepare them though, you never know exactly how they are going to react that very first time they see their new sibling, but I will say in this case that it was even more perfect than I ever could have imagined.

I heard the knock at the door and saw the pitter patter of their little feet behind the curtain.  Addie was beaming from ear to ear and immediately spotted her baby brother.  Bella was equally excited as she spotted me.  As they moved closer Addie was so cute and you could tell her little mind was taking it all in.  It took Bella a little longer to warm up to the idea, but once she did she was equally interested in her baby brother.  The girls took turns holding baby Noah and were so very curious.  They held his hands, pointed out his tiny little nose and toes, and smothered him with lots of kisses.  Between her time with Noah, Addie was very concerned about me.  She watched at the nurses checked me and asked lots of questions.  She held my hand and told me to be brave and it was so sweet.  Then, after she realized I was okay, she went back to check out her baby brother.

These hospital pictures beautifully captured one of my favorite moments of all time and I can't wait to share them with Noah and the girls when they get older.  Welcome to our crew baby Noah, you are loved more than you will ever know!