Brainwashing Our Child

Brent's family is full of Chicago Cubs fans. Opening Day of the baseball season is kind of a holiday in the family. In fact, Blake is destined to become a fifth generation Cubs fan once the brainwashing process is complete. It shouldn't take long for that to happen with events like this taking place in our house. Hopefully the birth of Blake will spur the team on to its first World Series win since his great-great grandfather was seven years old, 100 years ago.

Daddy and Blake have high hopes before the season begins.

Watching the Cubs lose exhaused the poor little guy. He should probably get used to the feeling!

My First Two Weeks as a Dad

Sorry for the length...I've been stuck in a house with strange thoughts running through my head for two weeks.

I was having a conversation with one of my relatives the other day about what I had learned since Blake's birth. As many of you can imagine, it has been a lot.

Let me start with my background with babies. I didn't have much of one. As in, I had never changed a diaper in my life. Not even a simple wet one. Any of the few times I held a baby, it would generally scream as if I was trying to pull its fingernails out. I would then promptly hand the bundle of joy off to one of my female relatives who could properly handle the situation. It isn't as if I didn't want to play with the kids, it was just scary having everyone in Kim's very large family staring at me as if I busted something (of course, they weren't really doing that, it just seemed that way).

I tried to prepare myself for what life would be like with a little person around the house. A little person who would be depending on me for everything short of breathing. Not a fun feeling for a guy who is pretty lazy by most standards. I just tried to heed the words of my very wise brothers-in-law who told me that EVERYTHING in my life would change. Yeah, right. Thanks for trying to scare me with your exaggerations, guys.

So, March 14, 2008 came along. I was then plunged into this world many of you know very well as parenthood. As it turns out, Joe and Chris were right. EVERYTHING did change. The first few days were a strange haze. Time didn't really exist. It felt as if we were sitting on LOST island (in the hospital) while the world went on without us. Once we went home, it didn't feel like things would ever get back to anything resembling normal life.

Since I have taken the 1-3 a.m. shift as my personal duty (who knew our kid would be noctournal?), it has given me a chance to learn new things. For instance, I have an expanded vocabulary now. I use new words like passie, diapie, wipie, and poopy. (Apparently, you have to add a "y" sound onto every word when taking care of a baby.) I have now changed over 100 diapers and I have reduced my wet diaper change PR (personal record) to under one minute. In addition, I have become very comfortable with spit-up and poop on my hands. Sleep is also completely overrated. You can really live on two hours of sleep if need be.

Here's the thing- two weeks later, I can't imagine life without Blake. Sure it is tough, but there is nothing in the world like the feeling of holding my son with him looking back at me with those big blue eyes. He is truely a gift from God, and there is no way I would ever want to go back.

Blake and Millie

Several people have asked about how Millie is handling the transition from being an only child to having a crying baby around. She is actually doing really well. At first, it was tough for her to understand why we were getting up a few times a night for this noisy little thing that smells funny. Brent actually had to go into "her" room a couple of times and calm her down because she was getting so upset. Now it looks as though she has accepted his arrival and even seems to be taking to him a little bit. Just these past couple of days, Millie follows which ever one of us has him around the house and keeps an eye on what is going on. We are looking forward to when Blake finally notices this big hairy thing that keeps staring at him. I'm sure they are going to be the best of friends someday!

First family walk

Millie guarding Blake in the bouncy.

She's not really sure what that smell is...

Which one is more tired?

First Day Out!

Blake had his first adventure out today. To get ready for the big day, we gave Blake his first sponge down. He wasn't very excited with the washing but quickly became content with the snuggling for drying. Our outing was to his first dr. appt. Everything went really well. Blake is currently back up to 8lbs 4 oz and he still is 21 1'2 inches tall despite his lessening cone head. His stats put him in the 75 % for weight and 90% for height. The dr. was very pleased with his overall condition and she even used the word "perfect" to describe him :) Something we already knew he was. Brent and I could not be happier with our precious boy!

We Are Home!

Kim and Blake were released from the hospital Monday afternoon. Both are doing well. Kim is getting along much better the last couple of days and we were even able to get out for a short walk this afternoon. Blake has slept all day, which stands to reason because he was awake all night. Who knew we had a nocturnal baby? I know everyone with a newborn has gone through this, so we are in good company. Let us know if you have any tips on surviving the next few weeks while we get his schedule in order! Finally leaving the hospital

Too cute for his own good

First car ride!

Poppy Nieter did a great job with the sign!

Mawmaw and Bobble are so proud of #6!

Chillin' on the couch

Blake Has Arrived!!!

Brent blogging alert! I am taking a quick break from the hospital to grab dinner, so I figured I would post a few pictures of our "little" guy for the world to see. Blake was born at 6:37 p.m. on March 14. He was 8lbs. 12oz. and 21.5" long. No wonder Kim had such a hard time with him! She did a great job. I am so proud of her. More photos to come later!

Still pregnant!

Well as of this moment I am still pregnant. I am 39 1/2 wks preggo and so ready to meet little Blake. We went to the doctor yesterday and still no real progression so the doctor recommended us to set up an induction date for early next week. So it looks like Blake will have to make his arrival soon ready or not. I really think he is so cozy he just doesn't want to come out :) Please keep us in your prayers and pray that Blake will arrive this weekend sometime on his own. We will keep you all posted!

How Pathetic Is This?

Millie was running around in the back yard last night and cut her paw on something. It is a pretty good size slice and it is having a hard time closing. We were forced to wrap it up so she wouldn't get blood all over the house. She is definetly not a big fan of the treatment required to get her better, but it isn't nearly as bad as the look on her face is trying to portray.