He SMILES!

Yep that's right... our cute little man smiled at us! I got out my camera just to take a few pictures... so Chris and I both were leaning over him and talking to him just trying to get him to look at the camera...and this is what we got instead. Not a smirk but a SMILE and we actually got several in a row, so I know it wasn't an accident. I am so excited he actually did it and that I had the camera out too! Isn't it adorable? I just keep saying ..."that is so CUTE!"

Pictures from the 4th of July

Here are a few pics I've been meaning to post from Chris' family reunion on July 4th & 5th. It was Mason's first overnight trip and first trip to the lake. He was just 2 1/2 weeks old.

Chris just had to take Mason in the boat. They didn't actually go out on the lake, but they did sit in it. I will say ... it made me a little nervous. Mason is sure to have many more chances to go out in the boat with daddy.

Uncle Chad and Aunt Falon were in from NYC. It was their first time to see baby Mason.

Proud Daddy

Uncle Kyle, Chris, Mason and Uncle Chad

Mason's 4th of July outfit... such a cutie!

Shopping will never be the same

So today my mom and I decided would try to load up Mason and go shopping. We started out the day going to Grapevine Mills Mall. We shopped very little and Mason cried...a lot! It's amazing how people stare at you when you have a crying baby. They either look at you like...awww that poor girl don't you feel sorry for her... OR...man can't you make that thing be quiet. The only time he was somewhat content was when we were in a children's clothing store...it was like he knew we were shopping for him...so he thought he'd let us have some time. Otherwise we were holding him, changing him, feeding him, scrambling for the pacifier, or just shaking our heads because we had no idea what was wrong. He didn't sleep not one single minute and we were gone like 7 hours. Man he better sleep tonight!

Sleep Deprived

I am tired! Yep I said it...I need sleep. Not just any sleep, but 4 to 5 continuous hours would be heaven. I really started doing the math... I've been telling everyone he wakes up about every 3 to 4 hours to eat which is true, BUT...if it takes me anywhere from 30-45 minutes to feed him, change his diaper (and sometimes his clothes), get him back to sleep and pump, then I've lost an hour and he'll be up again in 2 very short hours. Yuck!

Since I tend to vent on the few baby blogs I have posted, I want to share my "happy thoughts" too. I promise they are here, even at the wee hours of the morning.

It's so great to be a mom, and I think I'm getting better at it every day. I am definitely getting better at understanding his cries, it sounds crazy at first, but it's true they do differ a little. Mason is so strong...he can hold his head up very well and can almost roll over completely over if he really tries. He is very much a wiggle worm. He is also developing such a cute personality. He is cooing more and gazes back so deeply into your eyes when you look at him. I thought he smiled back at me today, but I'd have to see it again to be convinced. It'll be way more fun when he can smile. Mason is defiant too. He hates to be swaddled or covered-up at all...he just kicks them off. Oh and when he's hungry, he wants to eat right then. He does not want to wait! It has been totally amazing getting to know him over the last 5 weeks. I love him so much.....even if he doesn't sleep too long!

One month old

Wow how time flies, Mason is one month old today! I thought I would have posted many more blogs during this month but I have also been way busier and way more tired than I ever imagined. Mason is doing well. For July 4th we spent 5 days at Chris' parents lakehouse. They hosted a family reunion on Saturday the 5th, so we got to show Mason off to lots of people. On July 7th we took Mason back for his first check-up. He weighed exactly 8 pounds on that visit and had surpassed his birth weight like he was supposed to. The doctor said he looked great and that we were doing a good job. That was nice to hear of course. Otherwise Chris and I have spent the last few weeks tending to little Mason. Having Chris home with me has been so helpful. It has definitely not been easy and in fact very frustrating at times, but we love him. He wants to be held 24/7 which makes getting anything else done virtually impossible. They say you can't spoil a newborn, but I'm not entirely convinced. He keeps us very busy!

Baby Mason is here

Exactly one week ago at about exactly this time, our little man entered the world.

Mason Christopher Jones

born June 16, 2008

at 7:01 pm

Weight 7 lbs. 8 oz.

20 1/2 in. long

I actually started having contractions at about 4:30 am that morning and we were scheduled to be there for the induction at 7:30 am. So I just waited to leave as we had planned. In the car on the way the contractions were about 5 minutes apart. We arrived and my mom had already put balloons and goodies in my room. I was quickly asked to put on a gown and they would start my IV. After 5 attempts by 2 nurses and a CRNA, they called the anesthesiologist who on the 6th try was able to finally get it in. He put it in the bend of my elbow on my right arm, which come to find out is the worst place to have an IV. I suffered with that IV a little over 24 hours and it was awful. I couldn't bend my arm without the IV pump beeping...it sucked. They started the pitocin and at 1:30 pm I got my epidural. Wow...how incredible is the miracle of medicine. It was absolute heaven.

I progressed to only about 6 cm and Mason started having some decelerations of his heart rate. One of which was so significant that 4 nurses came running in the room and told me to put the oxygen on and turn over onto all fours. Besides being incredibly terrifying, it was not an easy task for someone who couldn't feel her legs and couldn't bend her right arm. At that point, they were rushing around, calling the doctor and rubbing my belly trying to stimulate the baby. It improved, but I was a complete mess at this point and so scared for my baby.

The doctor came in shortly after and basically said that since I had not progressed past 6 cm and he likely had cord around his neck causing the decel's, she wanted to go ahead with a c-section. Within 10 minutes I was lying on the OR table exposed to the world and having my belly cut open. It was a lot to take in within only minutes.

Chris was fascinated with actually watching the surgery and got to see his son be taken from my tummy. Mason cried almost immediately and the doctor commented on how blonde his hair was. She also said there was no cord wrapped anywhere, so that is still a mystery. They didn't show him to me immediately but he did great, and Chris took lots of pictures. In the recovery room my family took turns coming back to see us. So comments were:

"His hair is so blonde"

"His fingers are so long"

"He is so cute"

"He looks like Chris with blonde hair"

"He's got Randi's nose"

We stayed in the hospital until Thursday and overall I did pretty well. The surgery makes you very, very sore. Hurts to sit up, hurts get up, hurts to sit down, hurts to move in general, really hurts to laugh, hurts to cough, hurts to stand-up straight, hurts to walk. You get the idea...lots of hurting. Oh and breastfeeding = more hurting...just in a different area.

Today is really the first day I have felt somewhat normal and had some energy. My stomach has been very queasy and I have eaten very little since arriving home. Just trying to stay hydrated. Definitely very tired and very blah! They say it takes 4-6 weeks to recover from a c-section and I can see why. So the short of this incredibly long post is...it has been a long hard week but we have a beautiful healthy baby boy and we couldn't be happier!

Still pregnant

Yep it's true... the little man does not want to come out and play. I am 5 days past my due date and still no action. So at my last OB visit she scheduled me to be induced on Monday June 16th. I am supposed to be there at 7:30 am to get this party started. So I officially have 2 days, today and tomorrow, to get anything done that I need to get done.

I am so nervous about the labor & delivery but everyone assures me it will be fine. I am trying to focus on the end result and not the means of getting there. Yikes. Well the bags are packed and yes today we are finally going to put the car-seat in the car... after we figure out how to do it.

Well wish us luck and we'll keep you posted!

PS - Interesting how the baby ticker started counting back up!?!