A Weekend

I used to love the weekends, because it was a break from my crazy work schedule. Now I love the weekends because we get to spend time together as a family, and Damen gets a break from his crazy work schedule!

Here are a few photos of Mason from the 24th of July. No big celebrations, just resting at home!

Feeding

So, Mason and I have had our ups and downs with feeding. The things he pulls while trying to eat usually make me laugh pretty hard. It is when he makes his best faces and pulls his funniest stunts. Today I tried to capture some of his feeding faces...but this is as close as I got.


Here is what I call the "Ooh" face. He gives me this face mostly after bottle feeding, or when he is tired. Not sure how he expects to get food in there with such a small opening.



After he is fully awake and unsuccessful, he gets angry! Sometimes he cries, but he is now learning to grunt loudly to let me know he is frustrated. That way he can keep trying to eat while protesting.



This is the "I'm done" face. Sometimes it looks a lot more indifferent, with closed eyes, a wrinkled forehead, and pursed lips.


And, if I'm lucky...this is the face I get when he's done eating. This face was just in time for our 2 - 4 naptime.

Sleepy Man

This is the face of a boy who kept his mom up all night.


In return, his mother tried to keep him up most of the next day.

And he's looked a lot like this ever since.

4th of July

Having a new baby, I enjoy every chance I have to get out of the house...even if it's just going to the grocery store, or picking up the mail. So, I thoroughly enjoyed the 4th of July this year. We went to my dad's house for a delicious dinner. Afterward, we headed across the street to Uncle Jeff's house and set up our newly acquired hammock. (Yay for Damen and free work schwag!)



This was Mason's first time being out of the house, except traveling to and from the car in his car seat. It took him a minute to adjust to the bright light, but he was soon unconcerned and asleep.



The sky was overcast and the weather was just perfect. It was so nice to relax for a bit in the breeze. I went to bed well before any fireworks or festivities started last night, but all in all it was a great day.

Mason Clayton

Two weeks ago yesterday, Damen and I were sent to the hospital after a checkup with my doctor. The baby was at 41 weeks and was under some stress. It was time for him to make his way into the world.

Two weeks ago today, life as we knew it was changed.


Mason Clayton Burnham was born on June 17, 2011 at 5:39 pm, 21.5" long and weighing in at 8 lbs 9 oz! He didn't cry much, but made this angry face instead...


Which was pretty understandable. He had a huge bruise on the back of his head from pushing so long, and the cord wrapped around him twice. Thankfully he was healthy otherwise.

It is hard to describe the experience. Falling instantly in love with someone you've never seen before. Seeing the face behind the discomfort of the past 9 months. Amazement. Uncertainty. Love.

Aside from his big bruised head, the nurses kept commenting on his funny toes. They were the first part of him that I could identify that looked like me. Oddly enough, this was somehow reassuring. As for the rest of him, we'll have to wait and see. I can't tell who he looks like most.


We spent two days in the hospital, which meant we were there on Father's Day. I have to say, Damen has been an AMAZING father. He keeps Mason calm, and he keeps me calm. I couldn't have imagined it, but I love him even more after going through this experience together.

It has been an exciting and exhausting two weeks. Mason is the first grandchild on either side of our family. It has been so fun having family and friends around to support us.

Damen's parents came into town for the birth, and spent nearly a week with us. It has been a painful recovery, so it was nice to have them around to cook, clean, and keep an eye on the baby.

Oh yeah, and they made us a wonderful anniversary dinner, and let us take a romantic walk around the block that night. :)


Apparently they also had some fun while I was sleeping...trying to take some "Old Timey" photos.





And sadly, this is probably one of the better photos I have with Damen and Kade...


During the first week, Mason had jaundice so we had to keep him on lights and take him into the lab each day to get his blood tested. Oh how I hated that light! It kept him up, it kept me up, and it made moving him around a pain.



The second week, my mom took time off while Damen went back to work. It was so great to have her around...more cooking, more cleaning, and more watching the baby so I could sleep!



We also took an outing for my dad's 60th birthday! Here are a few photos with him and Mason.


Mason's first bath at home...as you can see he LOVED it.

Here is his smiley face. Probably because he just pooped on me...again.


Full body shot of our little man.


All in all, it has been quite the two weeks! I am exhausted, tired of bodily fluids already, but completely in love with my boys.