He's Here!

Porter Patrick Ericson, 8 lbs, 0.6 oz, 21 inches. We welcomed our healthy baby boy on September 11, 2011 at 4:15 pm, three days past his due date. He is a total dream and a wonderful addition to our family. It's taken me a while to get on to the computer to update, but better late than never, right? We just had P's one month check up. He is now 23.5 inches and 9 lbs, 11 oz...big boy!

Here are some photos of our first month (I can't believe he's a month old already):

One of Porter's very first photos, minutes after birth.



Daddy & Porter: love at first sight

Our first family photos...so happy.

Porter & his Mimi, still just minutes old

Grandma E & Porter

Ready to go home from the hospital

All set!

Just like Dad

First smiles, so sweet

Mr. P after his first doctor's appointment

With his doggy and his Pop

One week old:

Beautiful boy

Tonka has adjusted so well, despite not being the only baby anymore. He gives the sweetest, most gentle kisses to little P.

Bean has hardly taken notice.

And...all of the sudden...........One month old!

39 Weeks

I can't believe it's finally here - September...the month in which our lives will change forever. We are 39 weeks and 1 day today. I've been a little awful about updating the blog - but Katharine insists that if I do it, baby will come. I am still very comfortable except for an aching back when I get up in the morning. At this point, we are just eager (it's 6am - I can't sleep). I have so enjoyed having him be a part of me, but I am ready to hold and snuggle him and finally see Pat do the same.

Here's what baby looks like this week:

We celebrated our 1-year wedding anniversary this month. We thought about going away, but decided to stay close to home for obvious reasons. We had a great day - a long walk in Woodstock, some shopping and we cooked an amazing meal together at home. It's crazy to think about how different our lives were a year ago. Our summer was action-packed - this summer has been very tame compared to last, though our house has changed...A LOT. (See next post to come).

July and August were great months. Amongst other things, July brought us:

 

A red sox game:

A lovely day in Salem, MA (34 weeks):

My baby shower:

While August brought us:

A fire right by our house (which P dragged us to - pj's and all):

Our anniversary:

Margaret & Jeff's wonderful wedding:

(photo booths are so much fun)

...and more work on the house, cleaning, work and relaxing. My last day of work was last Friday - so i've been enjoying my time at home...lots of walks and bouncing on my birthing ball.



September promises:

A bigger belly: this photo taken at 39 weeks

...and a baby to cuddle, soon!

The Nursery

Here it is! We are pretty much done - more pics to come once we have a baby to fill it with. My husband did a fantastic job, didn't he?

33 Weeks

This week baby E should weigh a little over 4 pounds and measure at around 17 inches from head to toe....not our baby boy! We had an ultrasound on Monday that revealed a cooperative, but squirmy, 5 pound baby boy. At first, the ultrasound tech said six-and-a-half pounds. He certainly knows how to scare a pregnant lady - I could not believe my ears, so I made him check again. He went and ran the numbers and measurements in the computer and apologized for frightening me. Baby really weighed about 4 lbs 13 oz (last Monday). Of course, there is some room for inconsistencies when trying to determine weight of baby by ultrasound - but regardless, my belly is still growing and I often have a big baby foot sticking out of my right side and a bum, just to the left of my midline.

Baby is in perfect position for birth (head down facing my back), so hopefully he stays right where he is.

Every night, Pat and I get into bed and watch him - and daddy chats with baby. He squirms and squiggles so much it's incredible. Every evening, Tonka walks around and fluffs his pillow several times to make sure it is comfortable for sleeping - we call it "making his bed"...I think baby E might be doing that in there, too. He also does morning stretches. It's funny, he's woken me up a few times during the night, but for the most part, we wake together...for instance, when I get up to pee (two hours after i've gone to bed) I lay back down and he is squirming. I lay in bed after waking each morning to watch and feel him doing his stretches and then I start my day. If it's a work day, he typically will stay up for about half of the 40-minute car ride (still stretching and sticking his little fit in my side or ribs), then he naps - does some somersaulting, or kickboxing - I can't really tell...and repeat. He is so active - I hope he's a good sleeper once he's born! And the hiccups...goodness - he gets them as little as three and as many as six times per day.

We're eager for him to be here, but know he still needs time to grow and develop - (a week early wouldn't be bad, little one!). Still, it's crazy to think that our due date is just around the corner.

We had our labor and delivery class last weekend. It was great. A bit of the day was focused on relaxation techniques - using pillows, blankets, birthing balls (which I now have - fabulous!) and touch. I can tell that Pat is going to be an awesome support system. He is so caring and supportive and is a really great masseuse when he wants to be. He makes me so relaxed and comfortable - he soothes me more than any other person can without even saying a word. So happy I have him to take care of me. He's going to be such a great Dad.

I'm hoping - when it comes time - to do most of my laboring at home. Though the hospital has every little resource you could possibly need, we've decided that we'd rather wait to check in so that I can be comfortable and relaxed at home (of course, some of this is up to my midwives - and no, I do not want to actually give birth at home).

Typically, we survive the summer without much use of an AC - though this summer, I think it's been on and off every day for a couple of weeks. I really haven't got much to complain about. The days when it is really hot, I go in to work. Then, I take the days off that are more mild and that Pat and I can spend together. This week we went blueberry picking (on the hottest day of the year). But it was great! We picked 5lbs of blueberries before it was "time" to go. I.e. contractions and sweltering heat. Not a great combo.

Stay cool :)



Baby E's Nursery

Finally, it's done - (all except a closet door). It looks so beautiful and we're starting to fill it with some little things that we've collected for our little man. Most importantly, his bed and dresser--gifts from his Grandma and Grandpa Ericson--and my gorgeous (first) mother's day gift from Patrick - a glider...I have a great husband. I can't wait to rock our little guy in it. Every night for the past few nights i've gone up and sat in my new chair. I think it's my favorite part of the room. Here are some photos and i'll be sure to post more.

Daddy assembling the crib.

One of my favorite books - "Pat the Bunny"...and my favorite page.

Baby's really awesome light fixture.

There is a story here. We tried to make a light fixture similar to this...epic fail (we bought this one). Isn't it beautiful?