Birthday

You're 1 month old!

Celebrating in the morning with Mom and Grandma.
You didn't like the crown, and screamed a bit.

Birthday present: first bath

Verdict: totally enthralled
Nicknames: the van man, vaninator, kicky-pants, smelly, little man
Weight: 4,440 grams (9.79 pounds)
Starting to smile
Rolling onto side
Coo's that are heavenly
Enjoys movement, especially the car
Ultra soft skin
Prefers stomach sleeping
Loves frische luft (fresh air)/being outside
Super alert
And completely loved

Happy birthday, wonderful Van.

Your first month

What you did, what you liked and the changes of each week. You are learning, growing and doing so much now, it's amazing to watch you week to week. I love being a part of your life, and can't wait to spend each day with you.

Just after birth

1 week:
- you have dark midnight blue eyes with brown flecks
- dad has changed 99% of your diapers
- on day 3, you had already started to regain your weight and were up 40 grams
- you hate diaper changes
- you can pucker your lips into a 'kissy face', just like daddy, and it's soooo cute
- you were born with dark locks, but your hair has slowly turned a lighter shade of brown
- you love to have your head and cheeks lightly stroked

2 weeks:
- you like to face daddy when you sleep at night
- your eyes have changed to an ocean blue with less brown
- mommy got very sick with a mastitis and daddy continued to take care of both you and me
- you started to drop weight again, due to lack of milk supply from mommy
- daddy has introduced you to cycling - you like your legs played with
- we took you for your first outing to mommy's doctor, then to dinner. You slept straight through both.
- your umbilical cord fell off, looks like your belly button will be mostly flat (but could become an inny)

3 weeks:
- mommy is on the mend, and started to get milk back, but we're supplementing you with formula so you can grow big, strong and healthy
- you chose daddy as your valentine this year
- mommy has given you baby acne through the hormones in her breastmilk, sorry little man!
- things you like: your black & white picture book, looking out the window, being held on an arm infront of someone so you can look up/back at them, grandma, sleeping on your stomach, the sleep sheep, and movement

4 weeks:
- you gained 300 grams in a week, so we're now off the formula and going back to only breastmilk
- you have discovered and love your gymini play gym from aunt christie (at least, you love it for about 10-15 minutes)
- we officially give in, you do not like your fancy, dancy natursutten pacifier
- you have started to like diaper changes, as long as it doesn't accompany a sponge bath
- you prefer to be carried facing out, so you can see what's going on

There's so much more to your days... the way you have become alert and love to look around the house, at our faces or out the window. Your development of your voice - most noticeably when you get a sponge bath. And sadly, you seem to have developed gas. We're conflicted on whether to give you drops/medicine or try to see if it clears on it's own - but we hate to see you uncomfortable. Other than the gas, you are a happy, fairly mellow baby. And we have officially become the parents who love to stare at their baby - you are so darn cute!

We love you little man. Keep growing, growing, growing, and being the fun, full of wonder baby that we love!

Learning to Parent

As Tim is picking up a fussy Van from his crib, I'm listening to the following dialogue:

Grandma: This kid needs to learn it's a hard world.
Tim: But (said with a sadness)... he's only 4 weeks old. He's so little.
Grandma: He has it too easy right now.
Tim: Shouldn't it be easy? He can't even wipe his own butt. And he's so cute.
Grandma: He is cute.

Baby wins, every time.

Hearing

The word 'perfect' is a little misleading... everything is in the eye of the beholder. Van is absolutely perfect in my mind and heart. Was from the second he was conceived and will be forevermore.

At the hospital however, he failed his hearing test. To the outside world, that would be 'not so perfect'. But as I said, to us, he was and is perfect.

The doctor didn't tell us that the test has a very high false positive rate, and simply said we were going to need to see a hearing specialist within the next couple weeks. His bed-side manner needs work. Babies can fail the test for a variety of reasons - vernix in the ears, their ear canal being too small, etc. Completely freaked us out though, wondering what Van's life would be like with hearing issues. Our society and world mainly cater to it's view of 'perfect' people.

We got over it. Van would jump at random sounds and would react to our voices/'shhhh' sounds. We weren't sure what to expect at the specialists office, but we knew Van was perfect (hearing or not) and it would work out.

As it turns out, Tim's at-home tests proved more accurate than the hospital. Today Van passed his hearing tests at the specialist's appointment, and seems to have perfect hearing. From the 4 tests he took, he still failed the same test from the hospital, but the specialist thinks it's due to small ear canals.

If you run up against something daunting in the hospital, or something throws you for a loop, most of the time, try to relax. Babies are still developing, and no matter what, they're always perfect.

Winner

Congratulations are in order, for Lisa! You won the day/time contest for Van's birth day.

I hope I did my math right, because it was neck and neck between Lisa and Chria. Both guessed 1 day off Van's due date, and Chria guessed 22.75 hours off, while Lisa's winning time was 22.5 hours off. Again, really hope I did my math right. Ay, yay, yay.

Lisa, look for my email...

(more pics, delivery story, etc coming soon!)