crew | two weeks

I'm obviously a little late in posting this as Crew's two week birthday was last Thursday. I never imagined how difficult it would be to find time to blog with a newborn. If Crew's awake, I'm either nursing him or entertaining him and if he's asleep, then I'm trying to get some shut-eye too! I'm sure we'll get things balanced out soon enough.

I think Remi was asking for some attention, what do you think?

  
Crew is growing faster than I would like! I can't believe it's already been two (and a half) weeks since we welcomed him into our family. I'm sure I'll be saying that as each week goes by.

Crew's cord fell off on day 11 so he had his first real bath this past week and didn't seem to mind it at all. I wasn't sure how he would react to it, but he's so easy-going and it went great. I think we kept our nose attached to him for the next day because he smelled so good!

Crew loves his sleeper and new swing/glider, being swaddled, cuddling, eating, making sweet noises when he sleeps
He doesn't like changing clothes or having his diaper changed

We went to his two-week check up and he did great! The doctor said the goal was for him to be back to his birth weight and he was! He weighs 9lbs 12oz and is now 21 1/4 inches long. I was glad to hear that he was getting enough from breastfeeding.

We are still breastfeeding. I feel better about than I did at this time last week. I'm still a little sore, but I also started pumping this week and that makes it easier when Will can give Crew a bottle one or two times a day. (I'll post about his first bottle later!)

Crew slept better in his first week than he did in the second. At night he has been going about two hours in between feedings (start to start). And when I nurse him for 45-an hour, it makes the time to sleep even shorter. We think he has his days and nights mixed up. He'll wake up around 4am and then be wide awake after eating. He manages to stay awake for hours and hours, though I'm not sure how! Somedays he won't go back to sleep until after 7 or 8. It was almost 10 one day this week! I didn't even think it was possible for a newborn to stay awake that long! During the day I try and wake him up every three hours, but like I said before, he's SO easy-going that not much bothers him which means it's hard to get him to wake up!

Our first week without Will was a little rough, mainly because of those early morning hours that Crew's awake. Will is still great about helping throughout the night, but I try not to wake him up too much after 4am, since he gets up around 6 to start getting ready for work. My mom came over on her 2 days off last week to watch Crew while I got some much-needed rest. My dad also came by one afternoon so I could nap. The word exhaustion has a whole new meaning with a newborn in our lives now, but every little thing is so worth it for our precious baby boy!

Tired of Mommy's kisses already?!

We have been getting meals every other night for two weeks from the couples in our small group. (Thank you, Amanda, for organizing it!) It has been such a blessing to not have to worry about what's for dinner. We are so grateful for our friends and family!

Crew has still been having frequent visitors. He is so loved!

I still am planning on sharing Crew's birth story, birth photos and nursery reveal. It will be posted sooner rather than later hopefully!

crew | one week

How is my baby already a week old?! This week has gone by entirely too fast with his one week birthday being on Thursday. Will goes back to work on Monday, a day that we are both dreading. He doesn't want to leave his family and I'm scared of our first day at home without Daddy there to help. I sense a whole new level of exhaustion coming on. 

Crew is absolutely perfect. Our first week with him has been as great as it could be as we adjust to our new life. He hardly ever cries. If he does, it's usually one loud scream because he's hungry or if he's naked. He sleeps really well too. Noises like the dogs barking don't phase him one bit, which is awesome or we'd be in trouble. He's been sleeping in our room in the Rock 'n Play and he loves it. His nightly sleep schedule varies. He'll go anywhere between 2-4 hours usually. I love those 4 hour stretches. Will has been so great getting up to help in the middle of the night. He will get up to hand Crew to me to nurse and then usually change his diaper before putting him back down to sleep. It helps so much having him awake (usually) with me during the middle of the night feedings.

We've been exclusively breastfeeding and I honestly still have mixed feelings about it. Breastfeeding is hard (at least so far). I'm ready for the tenderness to go away and for it to be easier. The middle of the night cluster feedings are what really wear me out. I know everything is an adjustment and I'm just trying to stick it out for Crew's sake. Crew hasn't had a pacifier yet...really hasn't needed one. He's always so content. We'll probably try a bottle in this next week so hopefully Will can start feeding him too.

Speaking of Will, have I mentioned how great he is?! I love seeing him with Crew. I didn't think it was possible to love him any more than I already do, but seeing him loving our son just pulls on my heartstrings! Crew and his daddy are going to have a pretty awesome relationship.

I've been so emotional this past week. These postpartum hormones give the pregnancy hormones a run for their money. I've cried about everything. I've also cried about nothing. There have been lots of tears from exhaustion or just being so thankful for this life we now have a part of our family. The middle of the night feedings are usually spent silently praying over my son, which usually lead me to tears too! I pray for his health, for who he'll grow up to be, for his faith one day, and for God to give us rest despite the hours of missed sleep.

The dogs have done so well with Crew. I think they've finally realized that this baby's here to stay. They like sniffing him and are always checking out what he's doing. On the rare occasion that Crew does cry, Ginger will start whimpering too. She even gave Crew his first kiss on the top of his head today. NEVER expected that from our diva dog, Ginger!

Postpartum recovery, to me, was worse than the actual birthing process. It's all worth it though and we are so thankful for the most perfect baby we have! It's still hard to believe he's ours. I am so happy and get so excited for all the adventures to be had with our sweet Crew. 

Crew had his first outing on Day 8 for his newborn photos with Kelly Ginn. She came to our house first and then we went to The Grove. I can't wait to see them!

I'm still planning on posting Crew's birth story, but I wanted to wait to get the birth photos back from Kelly first. I've never been so anxious/excited to see photos before in my life! I am so glad she was there to document Crew's debut!

meet our son

Crew William Kassner

October 3, 2013

3:43 PM

9 lbs, 5 oz

21 in

We are so excited to welcome our sweet baby into the world and into our family. Yesterday was one of the greatest days of our lives and I can't wait to share his birth story!

One thing I am so happy we did was have our great friend and favorite photographer in the room during delivery. Kelly has already posted 3 preview pics and I am so in love with them. Go 'Like' her Facebook page to see what I'm talking about!

39 weeks...the LAST bumpdate!

As you read this, we'll be in the hospital waiting to meet our sweet baby! Be sure to follow me on Instagram for updates and to see when Crew makes his debut into the world! @courtkassner

How far along are you?

39 weeks! It's so hard to believe we'll be meeting our son TODAY!!

How big is Baby?

He's the size of a watermelon - His brain is still rapidly developing - His fingernails may extend past his fingertips - We'll find out his exact weight today!

Weight Gain? 

32 lbs.

I'm ready to start working towards my pre-baby body!

 Gender?

a boy!

Maternity Clothes?

Yep

Stretch Marks?

A few on the bottom of my belly since about 35 weeks

 Sleep?

I haven't been sleeping well through the night, but that's nothing new. I'm sure it's just nerves mixed with being so large and uncomfortable! Since being off work for a week now, I've been able to sleep in every morning and try and stock up on some sleep hours!

Symptoms?

Nausea - reflux - face breakouts - cramping

Movement?

He's had his feet crammed up against my ribs this past week and it's been so uncomfortable! I've got to sit up extra straight to try and give myself some more breathing room!

Food Cravings/Aversions?

neither

Labor Signs?

Right now...yes!

Belly Button in or out?

Out

What I miss?

Being mobile!

What I am looking forward to?

Meeting our son TODAY!

Best moment of the week?

Obviously, we're having Crew today

Daddy's feeling?
"Holy moly! This is really happening! I keep trying to think about what its going to be like to hold Crew for the first time...but I don't know what to think because I know that actually holding him will be more awesome than anything I can imagine. I can't wait to meet our son. I can't wait to be a dad with the most amazing mom in the world. What a blessing!" 

I’m feeling?

I'm nervous about how labor will go. I'm anxious. I'm just ready to hold Crew in my arms. It's so crazy to think about how one minute he'll be in my belly and the next we'll be holding him and kissing him. I can't wait!

maternity photos | part two

Part One

All photos courtesy of Kelly Ginn Photography