Yesterday you had your first pediatrician's appointment. You saw Dr Kaplan, who was the first doctor to check you out in the hospital. Aunt Elizabeth offered to go with us to the appointment since your daddy couldn't be there, and we were glad to have her help. You weighed 7 lbs, 2 oz; almost back to your birth weight! Go Trip! All the pumping and nursing is paying off. You were pretty good at the appointment, and you didn't cry too much, even though you had to be naked a lot. Mommy forgives you for peeing a little on her leg and will try to get "things" positioned better in your diaper so that doesn't happen again. The doctor said you looked great. We go back in a week.
Today you turned one week old. We celebrated by giving you your first bath at home, in the kitchen. At first you didn't like it too much, but once Daddy got the sprayer on your head, you quieted right down. You loved all that warm water on your little naked body. Then Daddy brushed your hair, which you also loved. And let me tell you how good you smelled after that bath. Delicious baby smell x 100! Mommy snuggled you all night just to smell that precious smell.
Here's your first bath (If you can't see this one and want to, email me for permission.)
Aunt E Star and Uncle Bobby brought Lily over to meet you. She seemed pretty unimpressed, although perhaps you just look like a tasty snack to her.
Today you are 5 days old. You made your arrival on Tuesday, February 17th at 10:23 AM after about 31 hours of labor, most of which was not too bad. Mommy woke up at 3:42 AM to her water breaking. I woke up your dad, who asked, "What do we do now?" and when I told him, "sleep," he did not hesitate to follow orders. I stayed up, too excited to meet you to sleep anymore. We took a long walk in the park by our house to get things going. It's the same place we took our engagement pictures and it overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge and Pacific Ocean. I thought how lucky you are to be born in such a beautiful place.
At about 4:30 PM we went to the hospital and we spent the night waiting for you to be ready to join the world. You arrived at 10:23 the next morning, mostly bald, but beautiful and crying and very alert. Having you laid on my chest was one of the most incredible things I have ever experienced and after daddy cut the cord we just stared at you and at each other in disbelief. I said, "Woah...we just had a baby!" You weighed 7 lb 5 oz and you were 20 inches long. You have big long feet and a little bit of hair and the cutest little chin and a sweet, juicy, kissable heart shaped mouth.
Mommy had some complications and spent the next couple of hours in the OR, but Daddy stayed with you in the nursery while you got checked out and had a bath and then came to the recovery room so we could have some time as a new family. I was so happy to see you both. Watching your daddy talk to you and love on you was so amazing.
We named you Joseph Farrell Clifton, III after your daddy, and we will call you Trip, our triple threat, trifecta baby.
We came home on Friday and are adjusting to having you at home with us. We are definitely tired, and we are trying top learn how to nurse you, keep you happy and still remember to eat and maybe shower ourselves (hey, we can dream). In between, we stare at you and smile (well, Momma cries a lot) and feel so lucky to be your parents.
Here you are, this little creature that lived inside of me for 40 weeks - Who kicked me and hiccuped and rolled around in my belly. We wondered what you would look like, how you would be, how we would be, and yet we had no idea. It is so much better than we could have dreamed, and still so different. We love you so much it hurts. And the thought of anything bad happening to you is utterly heartbreaking. I think we could spend hours just staring at you while you sleep; making little faces, pursing your kissable lips and smiling those little baby gas smiles. And gazing into your big eyes...I just don't have the words.
So, thanks little baby, for showing us love in an entirely new stratosphere. And also for letting us love each other even more than we did before.
Yes, little boy. You have no name. For the record, this is because your daddy, who likes to take his time making decisions, feels he needs to meet you before we decide. Your mommy, being the type to appreciate having these things decided (and maybe being prone to rash decisions when allowed) would have decided long ago. But she is humoring your daddy.
Today you are officially overdue, having skipped out on your Valentine's Day due date. While everyone seems to think a Valentine baby would have been great, I had pictures of some pre-pubescent mean girl breaking your heart and ruining your birthday in the same sweep, so I am OK with missing that particular day. But really kid, it is now time to make an appearance. The ultrasound tech thought you might be 9 pounds at delivery, and that is frightening enough without an extra week or two in me to grow.
But mostly we are just dying to meet you. To see what you look like, to snuggle you and to start this new adventure with you. So chop chop, baby No Name. It'll be nice out here (mostly), we promise.
Until you arrive, here are a few pics we snuck from the inside to keep us all intrigued.
31 weeks
18 weeks
11 weeks
7 weeks
And here are some videos for your friends who really have time to kill...
