2 Weeks Old

Charlie is 2 weeks old today!

Charlie is 2 weeks old. He has gained 1 lb since coming home from the hospital. He is in the 75% for height, 25% for weight and head circumference. We have loved our time with him. It was sad to see my parents leave. I am going to be sad David goes back to work this week, I like us all hanging out together. We have successfully gotten out of the house a few times, going out to eat twice and taking walks in the neighborhood and parks. We have tried out our different carriers and stroller, all received good reviews. I love taking naps with Charlie. We might not get a full night of sleep but that is a good excuse to take an afternoon nap together.

With Mom and Dad in Wash Park

I love this picture

Feet hanging out of the sling

Awake and Alert

The sling has been great for feedings and around the house.

David wearing the Ergo

Relaxing

 The Moby = Sleep

Taking a nap together.

 

 

Charlie is Here!!! Born April 7th, 2012

Charlie's Birth Story

Charlie was born April 7th, 2012 at 3:57 am. His birth was wonderful, fast, and perfect. A delivery could not have gone better. We went to the hospital around midnight, our Midwife Jessica Breese was there and waiting for us. The room was dimly lit, votive candles, music and the tub for a water birth. We had wonderful care throughout. David, Jessica Breese (Midwife/coworker/friend), Krista Blanton (Midwife/coworker/friend) and Jane Cleveland (RN/coworker/friend) were all amazing getting me through labor. I delivered in water, Charlie was perfect, vigorous and crying, Apgars 9/9. Wt 7 lb 4 oz, 20 inches long. No needles, no IV, no drugs, minimal fetal monitoring, I am still amazed. I could not have planned a better birth and I owe a ton of thanks to my support team with me.

Jane putting Charlie's 1st hat on.

 Right after delivery, Jessica Breese checking on Charlie after handing him to me.

 Proud Dad and an awesome Husband!

Aunt Erin and Nana meeting Charlie for the 1st time.

My Midwives and friends Krista and Jessica.

Charlie getting his 1st bath. Michelle (newborn admit nurse) teaching David what to do.

 

Aunt Erin

Nana

Ready to go home!

Charlie ready for his 1st car ride.

Saying goodbye at the nurses station before we leave.

Charlie's 1st Days at Home

Charlie came home on Easter Day. He has been awesome. Between David, Aunt Erin, Pop (My Dad), Nana (My Mom) and I he has been held since birth. Charlie is awesome at cuddling, pooping, peeing, and eating. We have had a lot of help around the house and I have been able to just chill out with Charlie 24/7. I am happy I have newborn nursing experience and an awesome family to help. We are all doing great.

Erin Pfeifer holding Charlie on Easter his 1st day at home.   

Sitting in my lap, a little smile

Chillin

1st Doctor's Visit

Aunt Erin didn't stop knitting for Charlie. This is one of her many hats she made for him.

Amy is Awesome: A Post From a Proud Husband and Father

I liken child birth and the days after to an ultramarathon, where one person runs for 50 miles and they have a support team giving them encouragement and supplies along the way. In the fitting-for-Colorado analogy, Amy would be the ultramarathoner and I (along with many others) would be her support team. Before experiencing Amy going through labor, I knew how strong and determined she can be when she wants something. I also knew that she wanted to have an unmedicated water birth, but wasn't sure if she would be able to do it. I believed that she could, but I knew she was not as convinced that she could. So, much like a person running when they are tired or hurting, I knew all Amy needed was support and encouragement to push her through difficult contractions and through the transition portion of her labor. We were both so lucky to have midwives Jessica and Krista present for Amy's labor and delivery. The provided a great balance of encouragement and motivation and allowed Amy to be the patient instead of the provider. Even as Amy asked (read: demanded) for an epidural at the crux of her labor, we (her labor support team) were able to calm her down and keep her motivated. But the funny thing is, reading her post above, it doesn't convey how amazing and awesome she was through the entire experience. As she experienced intense pain each contraction, she was able to trust herself and those around her and focus on each contraction. It was much easier for me say she can do it then for her to believe it. My most vivid memory of her labor is how proud I was of her. Her midwife Jessica said that Amy's delivery was amazing, but I would add that both Amy and her delivery were amazing. 

Now, as Amy and Charlie are learning one another, her "support team" have news roles. We are now trying to allow Mom and baby to spend as much time bonding as possible, which means we are doing many loads of laundry (Charlie is quite the ninja pee-er and pooper), make meals, and make Amy and Charlie comfortable. It has been great to both see them bond, but also to have some bonding time myself (Mom's got to sleep some time). As Amy and I reflect on the entire birth experience, we both can't believe how amazing it was and how lucky we are to have Charlie. We are grateful for all the support we have received from our friends and family in Colorado and from all those in Ohio, California, Oregon, Florida, New Jersey, England and beyond. Life Is Good!

REI Trip/Our Unborn Child has a lifetime membership to REI

REI annual member 20% Discount/Dividend Time of Year

I purchased our B.O.B Revolution Stroller with my REI coupon, dividend and family gift card. I ordered it online and had it sent to the store. We went tonight to REI to simply pick up our already made purchases. For anyone unaware of the B.O.B. it is a "must have" stroller for the active parents. In Denver you can go to any park, walk in the neighborhood or bike path and see B.O.B.s everywhere. 

With David's member coupon and dividend we purchased our child carrier for hiking. The must have Ergo, all of our parent/friends tell us about.

The last outdoor child gear purchase we have been contemplating is the Chariot Cougar 2 (fits 1 or 2 children). To preference this purchase, about once a week in the summer we ride bikes with our friends Keri, Dan and their son Oli to go on fun bike rides, dinner and a beer or two, or Jazz in the Park utilizing their Chariot to pull Oliver. I have been looking for the best deal on a Chariot for some time. This is a fancy multi-purpose child carrier/buggy; attach it to your bike,  put skis on the bottom of it and snow shoe or cross country ski with it harnessed to your body, it can be pushed as a stroller and finally as a jogger. It is also an investment. I have been watching Craigslist for the best deal out there, to buy used (they hold their value). While in REI this evening we strolled by the Chariot section and the lovely REI lady came by to help. We discovered of the 20% off member coupons REI gives throughout the year, this is the only time of year you can use the coupon on the Chariot (excluded otherwise). We explained we had already used our coupons and she went onto say that we could get our unborn child a lifetime membership today while in utero and consequently 20% off the Chariot. I quickly concluded this was the best option for us and in time for our Charlie's arrival and spring/summertime fun.

Hopefully Charlie will join us sooner rather than later to enjoy his new toys. Next year at this time Charlie will get his REI dividend in the mail along with his 20% coupon, just in time for his 1 year birthday :)

David and I might have a problem with outdoor gear purchases. Thank you for reading my post on child outdoor gear/justification of the money we just spent at REI.

As for me I am due on Saturday. About 5% of people actually deliver on their due date so I am planning on seeing the day come and go while still being pregnant as I see many 1st time mothers do. I will be pleasantly surprised if I deliver before then. I was sick last week with an Upper Respiratory Infection and concluded that term pregnant women should not be allowed to get sick. I have recovered, thankfully. I have 2 shifts left working then start my maternity leave on my due date. I have been excited that I will have April, May and June to spend with Charlie. Hopefully we can try out some of our new gear during that time :)

A Post From A Dad-To-Be

Things are about to get real. Really real. Amy is 38 weeks tomorrow and if science had invented a baby-thermometer, right now it would be reading DONE. This is very exciting news and Amy and I are both really excited about how close we are to meeting our little guy. However, being the husband of a midwife, I am aware of the many things that could go wrong with a delivery, as well as all the things that can go right. If I had a birth plan it would have two bullet points: healthy mom, healthy baby. I feel like I'm back in college (oh, wait, I'm technically still in "college") cramming before a big test, reading through a stack of delivery and newborn baby books. I've watched numerous "birth videos" on YouTube, so I feel I'm adequately prepared for what to expect when Charlie is born. I definitely don't think I will feel like I am totally prepared when the time comes, but my goal is not to feel like a deer caught in headlights.

As a first-time father, I've definitely gone through different stages of emotions throughout Amy's pregnancy. I was initially hesitant about this whole parenthood thing. However, I knew how much Amy wanted a baby and I knew that I wanted a family, I just didn't know what was the right time. However, I now believe that there is never a right time for big life events, and sometimes you just have to have faith that you'll be up to the challenges as they come. Throughout the pregnancy, I feel like my mindset has slowly changed from self-focus to that of a Dad. Lately I have had this mantra of 'this will be the last time I  __________', focusing on what I will no longer being able to do once we have a newborn. I think this is easy to do, because some of the changes that come with a new child are much more tangible. However, I have slowly realized that some of the most rewarding parts of parenthood seem abstract to me, and thus hard to balance with the things that I've focused on what I will be 'giving up'. Amy has been really supportive through my own acclimation to parenthood and I'm grateful for that. I feel fortunate that Amy and I have such a wonderful and supportive group of friends in Denver, who are great examples of how to keep an active life with a newborn. I plan to be the Dad at the local brewpub wearing my child swaddled in a Moby wrap.

As for Amy, she's doing great! She has had no trouble sleeping and has been able to exercise without any trouble. We actually went on a 5 mile hike outside of Breckenridge (in the snow) and were passing people who were going too slow! She is counting down her shifts at work and is looking forward to her maternity leave and all the time she will be able to spend with Charlie. Amy has almost run out of nesting activities, as all the newborn clothes are washed (and sorted), nursery is all put together, and we will be putting in the base for the car seat today. Yesterday we practiced putting on newborn cloth diapers and swaddling. On a stuffed Moose.

As for Mabel, we both feel like she aware change is on the horizon. She seems to be more down when we leave and seems more excited every time we come home. She is also been suspicious whenever she walks into the nursery. Especially with all the stuffed animals that are off limits. We think she will be a great big sister for Charlie, and undoubtedly be the beneficiary of food thrown down by Charlie in the years to come. We have already had the big talk with her (see below), so I think she will be ready for the new addition to the family.

Getting Ready

The Crib

David put the crib together tonight. There is something nostalgic about the crib. I don't have any intention of having Charlie sleep in it for awhile. I recently bought our co-sleeper, so he will sleep next to us initially. However I still wanted to get the crib together.

 

Mabel wanted to help too

  Finished Product

Baby Shower

We are narrowing down the essentials we need before he is here. Hand-me-down's are awesome and we have been very lucky to get clothes and baby items from our friends and family. In addition my friends Keri and Jocelyn had a shower for us last week that was awesome. We are very grateful for everything everyone has done for us :)

 Zoo Passes from Keri, Dan and Oli :)

 CHARLIE letters Jocelyn made for us, we are going to hang above the crib.

 Maggie holding Ryan, one of Charlie's soon to be sidekicks.

 Yummy Charlie cupcakes from Allison and Jim

  Mom wanted to see "the bump" one more time before Charlie was here, she was able to come to the shower :) Plus Erin Pfeifer was there, it was nice to have some of my Ohio family in Colorado :)

 Leigh made a beautiful quilt

Jen made Ethan's onsie he is wearing, which said "Charlie's side-kick"

 Allison with her beautiful Charley. She made our Charlie a cute picture frame.

Henna

Here is a picture of the Henna after the paste was removed.