Routine

Though I can't say that we are actually on any kind of a routine, and things are far from normal here (what is normal, anyway?!), it's starting to feel like 'regular' kind of.

Gavin woke up twice last night after I laid him down at 11 and went to bed myself.  I fed him at 2 and 5am, he went back to sleep easily both times, and then slept until 8:30!  Bryan got up with the big boys at 7ish and let me sleep until the buffet needed to be opened for Gavin, so I felt well rested even.

Speaking of the buffet, just a side note:  I had forgotten the *ahem* huge feeling of breastfeeding.  Seriously.  These babies are enormous.  I feel like I have had a botched implant job.  Crossing my fingers that this issue will resolve itself quickly, because frankly, it's embarrassing.

Ian is a little wild.  We've been trying to make sure that he has special things to do with Daddy every day, and that he gets to do important big brother things (like carry the dirty diapers to the diaper pail...), but I think that secretly he needs more attention than that.  He's just wound up, and I feel badly for getting frustrated with him (haven't I TOLD you not to sit on your brother until he cries?!?!) but I don't want him to think he can get away with murder just because there is a new baby here.  Other times he is the sweetest brother ever, showing Gavin his Nerf gun and piling baby toys on top of him as he is snuggled in the baby papasan chair.  So, yeah, he still needs some time to adjust.

Chase is kind of oblivious to everything, I think.  He is happy, loves to pet Gavin when he is awake, but is also happy completely avoiding him.  My only issue with him is that I have orders not to lift him for 2 weeks, and it is very hard to say no to his little hands reaching up to me.  Oh, yeah, and when he climbs on me, he has a knack of stabbing me with a well-placed elbow or knee on tender areas.

I fear jinxing myself at this point, but Gavin is a really laid back, quiet, happy little guy.  He's observant and content, crying only when he discovers that he is hungry.  He's a good nurser and sleeper...I'm hoping that this isn't the calm before the storm.  Crossing my fingers...

So, overall, things are good here.  Thanks for asking :)

Photo Dump!

Just a few hours old

Proud Daddy of 3!  Ack!

Look at Chase's face..."Um, what are we supposed to do with THAT?"

Gavin has rock star hair from the get-go.  All the nurses and doctors commented on it.

I love it, but HALP!

Chase makes peace with Gavin.  And then eats his hair.

We just introduced Gavin to Brown Monkey.  Ian was a little disappointed because he really wanted him to have a Blue Dog just like his.  (he's 3 days old here)

Doul-o

I have to take a moment (while Chase is sleeping and Gavin is snoozing on my chest-- seriously, is there any better feeling than a newborn warm and content and cuddly on you?!) and brag on my husband.

I know that he is a pretty good PR person for himself, and he has been known to let everyone know how great a birthing coach he is...but honestly, he really is telling the truth!  Those who know him may believe that he is being his usual sarcarstic self in all of his boastings of being the best coach ever, but I come here to tell you that he truly, truly is.  And if there is ever a niche in the market for male doulas (doulo?), I would highly recommend him.

We went to one 'class' on birthing before Ian was born, and he must have some kind of steel-trap memory, because he remembers specific phrases that she told us and visualizations that she used.  He talked me through every single contraction, advocated for me with the nurses and the doctors about going drug-free, walked me up and down the hallways and wasn't afraid to coach me in front of everyone in creation, helped me relax every muscle in my body, encouraged me when I was about ready to give up, and cheered me on the entire time.  I think there was only one time that I almost hit him... and I think he was purposely being a smart ass:)  Seriously, I would not have been able to do it without him by my side.  And that goes for all three of the boys' births.

And services don't stop there.  I didn't change one diaper in the hospital.  He slept on the really uncomfortable pull-out chair thing in the room and woke up whenever I needed something.  He took me on a lunch date to the cafeteria on our last day there, and was ever ever attentive to me.  When we got home, he told Ian that it was their job to tell me to sit down whenever they saw me trying to do something, and to help Mommy out with everything that needed to be done.  And, if that wasn't enough, he and Ian are at this very moment, "surprising" me by taking the van to the gas station to clean and vacuum it all out (believe me, that is a job and a half, since at least half of everything I give to Chase to eat ends up in every crevice of the carpet and upholstry in there).

He is so incredible, and entirely deserving of partial credit for the awesome birth experience that I had (he can't have it all, because let's face it- I did push an almost 9 pound watermelon out of parts-that-must-not-be-named).

To the best doulo ever!  Love you, honey :)  MCH!  

Gavin Elijah Maddex

Gavin Elijah Maddex was born at 12:32am this morning weighing in at 8 lbs and 13 oz! He is 22 inches long and doing just great!!

Mom was a champ and delivered her third son all naturally without any drugs and also is doing great! (What a great coach she must have!)

Gavin couldn't wait to get here! Contractions started at about 7pm and he kept the hospital staff on their toes until his quick arrival. In all fairness I did warn them that I was keeping a tight schedule. I had predicted his birth by midnight, and will blame the 32 minute delay on the lack of rooms available.

Side note, I am gently reminding Laurie that she needs to rename her blog. Feel free to submit your recomendations, along with an official entry form and $5 entry fee. All proceeds will benefit the "Laurie is looking forward to a glass of wine fund". The winner will be allowed to donate said bottle of wine. :)

Bryan

Change Change

Chase has a new trick.  He is almost always telling me when he needs a change, and not only will he sign it, but he goes to his little diaper basket, takes out the changing mat, unfolds it, and lays down.  It is super cute because when he lays down on it, he almost always misses, so he kind of ends up laying next to it.

He also occassionally thinks it's funny to go through all those steps except for the laying down part, then he waits for me to get on the floor ready to change him, and then he runs away laughing.  

Supreme Court Case RE: special education

In case you want to keep up with the Supreme Court rulings regarding education for students with special needs, my husband sent this to me.  Good to know, even if we are not quite at this point yet.

They ruled that the public school district had to reimburse a family for private school tuition because they failed to provide free and appropriate public education.  From what I am reading, it is a landmark case because the student, T.A., was never actually in the public school system.  I guess before this case, you were expected to at least give the school a chance to provide FAPE, and if it failed, then you could take your child to private school on the school district's dime.  With this case, you can opt to go straight to private school...?  

Jesus Take the Wheel!

I'm having the carpets cleaned this morning.  The guy that is here doing it is a very very southern older man, nice, chatty, and just kind of bumpkinny in a sweetheart kind of way.  

When I told him that I was 4 days overdue, he said, "Well, if anything happens while I'm here, I'll just throw up my hands and say, 'Jesus, take the wheel!', 'cause I wouldn't know what to do!"

Let's hope Gavin can hold out one more hour.