Mr. Monkey has a new throne!

Thanks Harold and Virginia, what a cute chair!

Happy 3 week Birthday Calvin

Actually it was yesterday, but we're still celebrating ;-)

What a busy first week for us

Calvin and I have been keeping very busy. Monday afternoon we finally ventured out of the house, and visited with friends at 'GBH. It was a very brief encounter, as I did not want Calvin to wake up from his nap there just yet. Tuesday, Auntie V came over and went to lunch at Panera, and Target with us for a diaper run, and yesterday, Calvin and I attended a 'Mommy and Me' new moms group for children from birth to 12 months, and it was fantastic. It was really fun seeing all the children and comparing their development. Calvin was the youngest at 3 weeks, but there were some other 1 month olds there. One child had just turned 12 months and graduated from the group the same day. I plan to go back to this group as often as I can. Also we are taking long walks every afternoon, and friends keep visiting in the evenings to get a closer look at Mr. Monkey, who is getting cuter and cuter each day.

Dan's first day back at work

Dan went back to work today, and Calvin & I are doing well so far considering. I attempted to pump for the fist time, although it didnt last long after Monkey soiled his clothes and began to cry. After wheeling the bassinet into the bathroom, I actually even took a shower, all before 10 am. Not bad for the first day alone I say.

Naked Boy

Activities enjoyed so far

Lots of long walks, eating out a few times, swinging & swaddling, sleeping, and lots of cuddling

Getting used to limited time

I am finding that even with Dan home this week helping out, that with nursing & diaper changes, there is much more limited free time. By the time I go to the bathroom and stretch my legs, it is either time to feed, change diapers, or both, and thats with Dan doing the bulk of diaper duty. We had a big day out of the house today shopping and running errands, and Calvin did great on the road. He also gained another 12 ounces this week since last Wednesday, and he's about 8 pounds now!

Baby's First Weekend Home

We had a really nice relaxing weekend. He was incredibly hungry seemingly all day Friday, so we were basically on the couch for the day. Saturday we had lots of visitors, including cousins, friends, Aunt Rena, and Uncle Ari. Then today we finally took Calvin for his first official walk around the neighborhood, and he seemed to like it, although he didn't sleep like we expected. We also had plenty of leftovers to keep all of us well fed which was nice. Although Dan and I are a bit tired from the new sleep schedule Calvin has us on, we are doing great, and very much in love with our new addition. Not that we're anymore biased than other parents, but we think he is just the most handsome, gorgeous, best behaved, smartest, amazing baby ever. A real keeper! ;-)

The Bris

Whew! We all survived without even a whimper from Calvin. He was a real trooper, not only did he allow lots of people to hold him, continuously, but he sat through the circumcision without a peep. Mom too survived, though I thought I was going to have to hold her for a few moments during the ceremony, which I gladly did, but she too pulled through buoyed by the example her brave son set!

Day 6

We have been very busy learning how to play with Calvin, nurse, burp, change diapers, and live on little sleep. Today was our second full day home from the hospital, and we first learned there is no red button to press that calls a complete staff of experts to your room to help when in doubt. Bummer! Yesterday, we laid low, Dan did about 3 loads of laundry, and as soon as he thought he was done, Calivin peed on our bed, so tired Dan did yet another. Then, Cal snuggled onto Dan's chest on the couch, and began the loudest wet doody we ever heard. Dan not only jumped, but then held the monkey as far away as possible while we both leaped into laughter. Today was a big day. We gave Calvin his first sponge wipedown, then went out to lunch at our fave chinese food place, and then off to first visit to the pediatrician. Calvin is eating like a champ, and gained 6 ounces since Monday! Average weight gain is an ounce a day, so way to go baby! Then off to Target for more diapers, and then exhausted, back home. Were doing great considering, and Calvin the little angel is resting sound asleep in his swaddling blanket.

We're Home

We have had an incredible few days here. I never knew how connected I would feel right away, he is the most beautiful, perfect, amazing thing I have ever seen, felt and kissed. We ended up having a hard delivery - we were in the hospital by 7:00 am, and just starting to push by 11:30 pm. I pushed for over 2 and a half hours, and he just wasn't budging, so then after emergency c-section, Calvin was born into this world with the most incredible cone head I have ever seen! I will post my complete birth story later on after more energy and sleep, but I am so proud of my little monkey I can't even begin to explain right now anyways. Here's more pictures...`

Presenting... Calvin Jacob Kirsch

He's here, for those that missed the announcement, Amy gave birth on Thursday September 8th at 2:25am to a 7lb 9.5oz, 21in long bouncing baby Calvin. And now without further adieu:

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho...

...It's off to work we go.
Still no new news, we are back to work today. We tried a 3 mile walk yesterday around the Watertown Parks and Recreation duck pond, but still no action. I am getting lots of Braxton-Hicks contractions, but nothing at regular intervals. Each day we wake up and wonder, will today be the day?

Baby Room Updates

So it's official, the baby countdown has stopped working now that we have passed our due date. We have spent this labor day weekend mostly relaxing and eating well with friends. We also added a few more updates to the baby room since our last baby room post. Behold, the bassinet from Mike & Margorie, the rocking chair from Steve and Calli, the stuffed vehicles from Julia and Jason, and the cute cargo ottoman we purchased this morning. Later we plan to hang a stuffed fishie, and then go eat some more good food with friends. So, we may not be in Labor, but we're enjoying the weekend! ;-)

Parents needlessly Stressed by "Non Stress" Test. . .

Well little Calvin has done a great job of stressing his soon-to-be parents!  Today we had Amy's last scheduled doctor's appointment.  At the appointment the doctor was unable to hear Calvin's heartbeat enough for her fetal heart monitor to catch it, so we were bundled off to the Hospital so that they could put Amy on a fetal monitor to check things out.  This test is aptly named the "Non Stress Test" as apparently the baby is not stressed by it at all.  However, the dad to be, me and the mom to be, Amy were plenty stressed for everyone!  (A "Stress Test", for those that wish to know, is when they give the mom trace amounts of a drug to induce labor a bit and then monitor how the baby reacts)

Long story short, both Baby and parents-to-be are all doing fine.  Calvin's heartbeat is doing great and other than me not feeding Amy breakfast everything is on track.  (yeah, apparently one of my newest jobs is to force feed the mom-to-be even when she is not hungry ...who knew?!)

Date Night

I plan to work right up until in labor, so when I get home, I am pretty much exhausted, and first thing that needs to happen is my swollen feet need higher ground. Last night, this picture was taken after Dan and I came back from really nice dinner out at Porcini's. I don't think the glass of wine helped my energy level, but I was very content laying out on the couch afterwards.