Waking Up!

Well, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that first thing in the morning (or after a little rest), MP2's baby acne looks better and gives us hope for the day that it will be no longer. The bad news, as soon as he gets upset about something, it's like someone turned on pimples. I am not going to lie...I still think he's insanely cute. We're not going to send him back or anything.


Max still has a #1 favorite activity...and he looks super cute doing it!

Sometimes MP joins him. Even though I know I should as well, I find it difficult to relax during the day. When MP2 takes a nap, I want to be able to get a few uninterruped moments on the internet or else do a chore or two.

We have always thought that MP2 is pretty alert for a newborn (I am sure all parents think things like this about their kiddos as well...at least we're normal :)), but in his third week of life on the outside, I really feel like he's becoming so interactive.

He's looking right at us,

...about ready to start bench pressing (I think we'll start with a rattle),

...he's doing some cooing,

...and giving us great facial expressions!

I really think his favorite thing is bathtime. We have only taken two more baths this week (and only one involved soap). One of them was actually just to pass the time with an activity that would keep him awake before his newborn photos were taken on Friday morning (which came out so great!!)

On Friday afternoon, Grandma Franma and Grandpa Grand-Dan arrived from Connecticut to meet MP2. Here is Franma first seeing MP2. They both fell in love immediately (as evidenced below)

We've had a great visit so far, and they will be in town for a few more days yet. In addition to getting to know MP2, they are also taking really good care of MP and I. Franma has done so much grocery shopping, cooking, and helping with chores around the house that I am not sure I will be able to let her leave on Tuesday!

We love that MP2 has been able to spend so much time with so much of his extended family and friends already. We're looking foward to welcoming his aunt and uncle next weekend!

Max's Second Week

Well, week two with Max has been as wonderful as week one was. We were fortunate enough to have Nana here until this past Wednesday, and on the same day as her departure was Margaret's arrival. It's continued to be great having extra hands around the house - whether to hold Max, cook a meal, help me with chores, etc. Starting today though, we are officially on our own. Hopefully we won't screw up too badly. Just in case, we have Grandma and Grandpa arriving next weekend for a visit (and if needed, bailout!).

We feel like we're seeing Max's personality develop more and more every day. He's still eating really well - we are eager to visit both the midwife and the doctor this week to have him all checked out and insure he's gaining weight, etc. He is sleeping really well. He wakes up twice each night, and is a great sleeper in between. We all feel pretty well rested considering.

In other news, we had a very unfortunate development during week two. One mad case of baby acne on our hands...

We're hopeful it will be short lived, and we start every day optimistic that it's "not as bad" as yesterday. Then each day ends finding us wondering what we'd been thinking that morning. Since we're already completely in love with the little man, a few pimples don't bother us. Just don't look for any birth announcements in your mailbox anytime soon.


To make up for the picture above, here are a few super cute pics of Max engaged in his very favorite activity...

He is one cute little bear. Don't think that Max is the only one getting his naps in. MP likes to double up on baby duty and catch some zzzz's at the same time. He is just efficient that way!

The other thing we learned about this week was that the swing is pretty fun. At first, Max wasn't sure what this thing was...

...but quickly discovered the comforts of rocking and nature sounds. (Thanks to Hil for letting us borrow this puppy. It's certainly given us a bit more free time, and I can actually check email at least once each day!)

We've also been spending some QT in the nursery. We have play time and some naps in the crib.

MP is especially good at working with MP2 on Tummy Time. We're not biased or anything, but he seems really strong to us!

Having fun with Daddy!

On Max's two week birthday, we decided we had to bite the bullet and give him a bath. We were very worried about a slippery wet baby with no head control, coupled with either a porcelain bath sink or granite countertops. As you can see, we all survived. Max's hair even turned out super puffy. With one bath under our belts, we will be sure not to wait so long for the next one.

With Margaret here visiting, we also went on a couple of outings which was super fun. This one was to a brew pub/restaurant in Jefferson City called Prison Brews. MP fed Margaret and I a line that the brew pub was in an old state prison (I actually had heard this too, but it sounds better to blame him!). Upon arrival, we discovered that it actually is simply down the street from the historic state pen. Hmmm, oh well. The IPA sure was tasty, and Max seemed to have a fun time too.

On that note, I guess I am off to make some dinner, since there's no one here to do it for us! :)

Getting Our Sea Legs

We've survived week one of parenthood - mostly unscathed. Really, we don't have any complaints. Max has been a delightful baby. We realize we are still in the honeymoon period where he's making us fall completely in love (done.) before he may get more difficult. I am feeling a mixture of cautious optimism tempered by waiting for the other shoe to drop.

The week has been filled with lots of love, joy, downtime, and many firsts. Here's Max with us at two days old - our first family photo. I think this may be the first picture (post unpublishable birth pictures) of Max and I.

Following in his Daddy's footsteps, Max is already rooting for the Yankees. In fact, when we found out we were pregnant with Max was on Halloween night, and MP was watching the Yankees play in the world series. I think he was irritated that I called him into our room, interrupting the game. Though as soon as I shared the news, he forgot all about it...well at least he acted like he had. Max can't wait to see them play someday (once he can stay awake for more than a half hour at a time).

We pretty much can't stand to put Max down during this first week. He's pretty into snuggling up with us. (Note: Please do not call CPS...while it looks like I am asleep in this photo, I am not.)

Admittedly, there is not much to chronicle right now, other than some super cute sleeping positions such as the one below. This is likely boring to my three blog readers, but I love taking these pictures, so until he starts doing something, this is what y'all are going to get. :)

See, he does wake up sometimes.

And, I think this gorgeous head of hair may be beginning to thin out. We love it, and wonder how long he'll keep some of it and/or how long he'll be bald after it goes.

More of not putting him down...ever. Thank goodness all these books say you can't spoil a brand new baby...at our house, it's not for a lack of trying!

Nana and Papa got to come in on Max's birthday. Papa stayed until Monday, and then had to head home, but we've gotten to keep Nana here. She'll be heading home in a few days, and we're not sure what we're going to do without the Max Silencer (she's sure got the magic touch with him) and the extra pair of hands to help in the kitchen, with laundry, errands, and anything else that needs doing that we can't get to. We are so fortunate to have family available to help us. It's really been a lifesaver. I think Nana has certainly enjoyed the time with Max as well.

We also had our first outing on day five. We went to the farmers market - one of my favorite places. It was pretty hot, so we didn't stay long. We got what we needed though.

Since things went so well at the market, we followed up with a trip to Flat Branch. Again, we didn't stay too long...but we had fun showing our little man off around town.

Here's the Max Silencer in action - Part one requires lots of rocking

Part two result is a sleeping baby.

This is just a morning sleeping picture that I can't help but include - since I haven't put enough pictures of Max sleeping in this post :)

So, you can see we're surviving...even thriving. I can't lie and say we haven't had some fussy evenings, or we haven't tried to overdo it a little bit getting out and about. Slowly but surely, we're learning our limits (and Max's) and adjusting to (and getting immense enjoyment from) this whole new world.

Introducing Maxwell Edward Pulle

The wait is over - and it has been for a week now, but I've been a little busy for blogging!!! We finally got to meet BBP, aka Max, last Friday morning, July 9th at 4:32am. As Gary already pointed out, apparently Max likes to keep similar hours as his momma.

I feel fortunate to have had a really great labor. It was long (about 24 hours), but the really hard part was only for the last 4 or so. Getting to have one of my oldest and dearest friends attend the birth means more to me than she'll ever really know. My midwives were fantastic and MP was the best labor coach of all (i.e. staying really patient with me as I got more and more crazy leading up to the final moments). It was a special experience having Max born at home, and we would not trade it for anything in the world.

He's already the center of our universe and we are completely smitten.

MP and MP2 just a few minutes after his birth. Where's mom, you wonder? Well certainly in no condition for photo ops!

About an hour after birth, Max was weighed (8lbs 6oz) and measured (21 inches), and given back to me for lots of snuggling and nursing time.

After MP, MP2 and I had a little nap, we did more cuddling while we waited on the arrival of Nana and Papa from Nashville.

MP2 made a statement with his first t-shirt.

...and he did lots of hard sleeping (this he gets from his daddy).

Auntie Amy got some snuggles in too (and got us all some pizza for lunch)

Finally, Nana and Papa got here and were super excited to meet MP2.

All in all, we had a great birthday.