Time

We are quickly approaching October... which means several things in the Griffin household:

1) My birthday! I'm going to be 28 years old! We had homecoming at church today and some family friends I haven't seen in quite some time came. They brought us a gift hearkening back to the day I was born... they had kept the "It's a girl" cigar that my dad had given Anthony nearly 28 years ago now! Quite impressive, mainly because I have a hard time remembering where my keys are, and I only put them down a few hours ago. Remembering where you put something 28 years ago? Wow! Thank you to the Bright family~

2) Kaleb will be 1 month old! Time is flying by... we've already departed from counting his age in days and have moved onto weeks. In no time it'll be months and then years! Meanwhile... as I know how many weeks old Kaleb is, I had to do a little math to remember how old I was going to be this year...

3) I have to go back to work :( which is very sad! I'm not worried about leaving Kaleb, as he'll be with Grandma and probably happier there than he would be most anywhere else. I spent many of my childhood days with her and always said I wanted her to keep my kids if I ever had them... I'm just glad she is able and willing! The sad part is the part about me having to do any kind of work outside of my house. Too bad we aren't wealthy enough for me to stay home... but I am working on it, as I have started cutting coupons. Hey... one step at a time, right?

4) Ashley's due date! I cannot wait for Ashton to be born... firstly for Ashley, because the misery of the last few weeks of pregnancy is still fresh in my mind; but also because I'm excited to have a nephew. It's interesting to experience someone close to me having a baby so close behind Kaleb being born. I'm now getting to experience what everyone else experienced while waiting for Kaleb~

5) Halloween- I get to go trick or treating again! Granted this year we'll probably just go to Nana & Grandpas, GG's, and Grandmas... but still... it'll be fun taking our little chili pepper trick or treating~

So it should be a busy month. Full of lots of good stuff, some stuff that'll be a little more difficult, and plenty of stuff we don't even know to expect. Regardless... time is flying and we're just trying to enjoy it as it goes by.

SG

3 weeks

Kaleb will be three weeks old tomorrow. It's amazing how much can happen and how much can change in 3 weeks. Kaleb looks different now than he did when he was born. When he was first born he was puffy and swollen. Now his face is thinning out (even though he still has my chubby cheeks) and his body is growing!

We went to the doctor last week, and Kaleb is above birth weight and growing fast! This was very good news, as it took him just a little bit longer to get there than usual. My guess now is that he is about 8 1/2 lbs!

When he stays awake, Scott is playing lots of music for him and I'm reading to him everyday. As the days go by he is getting more and more responsive... his favorite thing to do right now is lay on his changing table and watch himself in the mirror!

Unfortunately our little guy is confused about days and nights. I guess he's confused since I sleep at night and Scott sleeps during the day. He's not sure what he's supposed to do! He's a perfect little angel during the day, and a perfectly little sleepless angel at night! I'll be excited when he figures out that he is supposed to sleep when it's dark... it'll certainly make mine and Scott's life easier!

I have 3 more weeks at home with him, and then I have to go back to work. I'm hoping the time passes slowly... as I'm not ready to go back yet! I'm also hoping Kaleb learns to sleep at night a little better by then!

For now, I'm enjoying watching him rock in his chair... perfectly content. I'll post more picture soon.

SG

Regressing... a good thing!

I used to wake up every morning to say; "hey honey... is my tummy any bigger today?".

Now it has become; "hey honey... has my tummy gotten any smaller?".

Takes 9 months to grow that big... I gained 21 lbs. I lost 11 of those lbs overnight after Kaleb was born. 10 left to go... let's hope those 10 don't take the 9 months it took me to gain them!

Life with Kaleb

Its been a week since Kaleb was born. He'll officially be a week old in about 20 minutes... and it seems hard to believe! After such a long wait, we finally have our little guy, and he is (of course) just perfect.

I had all intentions of giving more updates, but as those of you who have kids probably could have told me before I figured it out for myself, there is little time left in the day when you have a little one to care for.

Kaleb did not want to make his grand entrance easy... there is that hard headed nature again! But he made it here safe after just over 12 hours of labor. Scott and I were very lucky to have WONDERFUL nursing staff and a phenomenal midwife. They made what could have been a very stressful situation easy (relatively, of course) on us.

Kaleb decided that he did not want to turn into the correct position. He was supposed to be facing up or down, but instead he was facing sideways. Turns out he cannot fit out sideways! Made for extra work on the part of himself, his mommy, as well as his medical team, but he finally straitened out. We also had a little scare of a dropped heart rate, but again the nursing and midwife team handled it without a word and got our little guy here safe. No worries besides some stitches for mommy (ouch) and he was in the world safe and sound. I don't think I've ever seen Scott Griffin as happy as he was when Kaleb arrived. Biggest smile I've ever seen on that mans face... watching his little boy be born and knowing we were all healthy!

Kaleb Scott Griffin was born at 6:30, Wednesday September 2, 2009. He weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz, had a big ol' 13 3/4 inches head, and was right about 20 inches long.

We spent a few days in the hospital and then came home Friday afternoon. My mom came and spent the rest of the week with us, which was a God-send. Amidst visitors, doctors appointments, phone calls about paternity leave for Scott, setting up Kaleb's insurance and trips to the hospital... we tried to learn how to care for a baby. Luckily my mom was there to help and Scott was an old pro from the days of being a big brother to 3! They've been very patient with me as I learned to change diapers, feed a baby, and do all those other little things that need to be taken care of.

We did have a little setback as Kaleb was jaundice. He spent a good 4 days or so on a bili blanket to get rid of his yellow color... something to do with his liver processing things that I used to do for him?!?!? Not really sure, I just know that the doctor called today and said his latest blood work showed he was better! So after 5 trips to the hospital to have his heel pricked for blood work, he's home for good!

After a week I'm starting to heal. Moving around is getting easier, although I'm still slow. Scott and I are doing our best to nap when we can... but we still look like the walking dead! We are getting better and better at taking care of our little guy. And we love him more than we ever could have thought possible!

I am continually amazed at how much more God knows than I do! I can't imagine not wanting this little man in our lives. In a week he has already enhanced our lives more that I'd ever have thought possible. How anyone could watch their tummy grown for 9 months... see pictures on ultrasounds that look like nothing more than a bean... and then give birth to a perfect little baby and not believe there is a God is beyond me. Only He could have done this... this is no accident of nature!

So with a sleepy 1 week old cuddled in my lap, I'll leave you for now. As I learn my new routine as a mom and find some extra time, I'll be back to share more. In the meantime, I'll leave you with a picture of our precious Kaleb.

Sarah

Happy Birthday Daddy Griffin!

I'm back... and as promised I have news! Turns out I didn't even have to ask... the offered to induce. An idea with which, of course, I did not argue!

Scott and I spent his birthday morning at the doctor's office. After they checked me they said they felt like if I was ready to have this baby they were ready for me to! So the midwife offered to schedule an induction, and we're to be at the hospital at 5:30 AM tomorrow!

I don't know how long it'll take me to get back to a computer with pictures and news, but I'll be sure to share as soon as I can.

Say lots of prayers for us all... although we are excited it is also a nervous time for us! Prayers for a happy healthy baby, and safe delivery, and a well rested family would be wonderful! Thank you to all of you for all of your support, and I look forward to coming back to share more once baby Griffin has arrived!

SG