the last 12 days

It's crazy that my baby is 12 days old...and yet I feel like I've had him longer than that. I have learned soooo much since the first time I held him in my arms and am so thankful that my mom has been here to help me!

Joseph had his first doctor's appointment yesterday and it went really well. He fell asleep in his carseat (typical) on the way there but we had to take his clothes off to weigh him and he was suddenly awake and cold. Then he pooped his diaper. We had just finished changing his diaper when a nurse came in to take his blood...he did not appreciate being pricked in the heel and he was getting hungry so things were going downhill quickly. We waited and waited for the doctor and finally I decided I was just going to feed him. In the exam room. When she came it was pretty perfect timing because he had gotten just enough to make him a happy baby and a good patient!

Joseph gained 5 ounces from his birth weight and is now 8 pounds 5 ounces! I knew he was eating well but not THAT well! He was healthy from head to toe and our biggest concern was how to get him to sleep in that crib! Since the first night home Joey has not slept in his crib for more than 15 minutes. As soon as he realizes he isn't being held he wakes up and cries. After listening to the doctor's advice and trying it out last night he slept for 2.5 hours in the crib at night and again 2 hours in the early early morning! Which means mommy got over 4 hours of good sleep in my bed :)

I absolutely love our pediatrician and am so thankful that our friends at church recommended her. She never made me feel stupid and took the time to explain everything she was doing and answer all my questions. I was really pretty embarassed that I would sleep with my baby in a chair all night long because I couldn't get him to go down in his crib but she was so reassuring and helpful it was amazing. Just one more reason I wish we weren't moving in a year...

On the flip side...I am glad I won't be having another baby in Houston because my ob never gave me the time of day. His biggest concern during my pregnancy was my weight gain. He would mention that I had gained 3 pounds since I last came in (which had been 4 weeks) and ask me if I was still working out. I told him I was walking and doing light elipticizing but not running like I used to. He told me that as long as I could hold a conversation that I could do pretty much any exercise...hint.hint. As I started going more frequently I would average a pound or less a week and he always mentioned how much I'd gained. One appointment I lost a pound and he said "that's good". really?? Over my whole pregnancy I gained 30 pounds. Most of which was swelling. Every part of me was so swollen that when I got home from the hospital I could already put my rings back on and wear pants that had been too tight in the thighs just because my swelling went away. I've lost 23 of the 30 pounds I gained. I can't wait to go see him at my 6 week check up for the last time. He'll probably tell me that it's ok to start working out again.