First Place!

Amy has been working hard the last couple months on her invention for her school's Invention Convention. Yesterday was the judging, and she won 1st Place for "Best Use of the Design process"! Her invention is called RadiationX- it is an "over the head cell phone radiation deflector"- and we are proud to report that it really does work! Here is a picture of her demonstrating it to the crowd!

New pictures

One day at a time...

Amazing how fast time slips by, even though the day sometimes seems to drag... I can't believe Justin will be a month old on Saturday! I will try to get some pictures posted. All in all, we are doing pretty well, one day at a time...

Nursing is still going ok- he loves to stretch it out into an hour long nursing session, then lay on my chest and cuddle until he is hungry again (lather, rinse, repeat...) Of course that is his ideal day... he does get put down, and has on a few occasions surprised us by sleeping an entire hour or 2 in one stretch. I usually spend that time running around trying to get at least 1 load of laundry done, and the dishes and some basic straightening up- anything I don't like to do with a baby attached to the front of me! At least I know it does him good- he is up over 9 pounds now- we will find out his exact weight on Monday at his checkup. He has also grown over an inch and a half. We pulled out pictures of Amy at this age, and they are practically identical!

We though Amy was a cuddler when she was tiny, boy, Justin beats her by a long shot! Also, it seems like everything we used with her he doesn't care for- though he will sit in his swing for a short time, but doesn't want it to actually swing, or play music, etc- and Amy loved being carried in the sling- and I could get things done because my arms were free. Justin hates being confined- so no sling, no swaddling, etc- he just screams! Amy hated being even the least bit cold- Justin is the total opposite- even the slightest bit too warm, and he cries. For him too warm can be a long sleeve onsie- and no socks!

OK, well, that is about all the time I have- guess who is calling!

Brrr...It's cold!

Woke up this morning and looked out the back window at the thermometer- WOW! It's 20 degrees outside! The grass is covered with frost, and I sent Amy out the door this morning in her new heavy winter jacket and gloves.

Her class is doing a service project this morning- picking up trash and debris around one of the many local lakes and trails.

Justin and Amy's pediatrician made a housecall yesterday for Justin's 1 week checkup. He has been pronounced a healthy, happy, well-fed baby. His weight went down to 7# 3 ounces on the second day after he was born (that's normal) and at 8 days old, he was already back up to 7# 13 ounces- he gained 10 ounces in 6 days! Dr. Lindeman said they typically see babies regain their birth weight at about 2 weeks, so Justin is doing great!

1 Week Old!

The past week has flown by! We are all doing well- We came home from the hospital on Sunday, and are kind of settling into a routine. Justin loves to eat, and when he is finished, wants to use me as a pacifier! We have not had to supplement with any formula, and I am glad for that. I was able to get some actual sleep last night- he only woke up twice to feed! He loves to hang out with daddy!

Justin has arrived!

He was born by cesarean yesterday, October 15th at 12:56 pm- Weight is 7 pounds 14 ounces, and he is 19.5" long. He scored a perfect 10 on his apgar, has a head full of dark brown hair, and is nursing like a pro! I am feeling really well, and we will probably go home Sunday.

Still here...

Just a quick update- we're all a bit under the weather, some kind of bug- Mark brought something home from work- he says everyone there has it, and it finally caught up with him, forcing him to take off a couple days and be layed up all last weekend. I started feeling yucky Sunday evening, was lais out the last couple days, and am starting to feel a tiny bit better this morning, but am still taking it easy. Mark seemed to have the flu, but I don't have the same symptoms- I think I just picked up a cold somewhere along the way. Amy has a sore throat, but it doesn't seem to have progressed past that, and I hope it doesn't!

Justin is doing fine- really cramped, I can tell, as his movements have slowed down a lot- mostly all squiring now, except when he doesn't like what side I am laying on, then he draws back both legs and lets them both kick out really hard up into my lungs. The cool thing is that I can feel and see him practice breathing! It is really east to figure out baby parts- and you can lay your hand over his back and feel the slow, rhythmic in and out of his chest when he does it. Completely different from hiccups.

The weather has turned cold! The last 2 mornings it was onlt 30 degrees when I got up! We have actually had to turn on the furnace and are eagerly awaiting our next gas bill (yeah, right!)