Grayson's baby blessing

Grayson was blessed by Tom on January 5th. He wore the same blessing outfit that Tom wore when he was a baby. We weren't sure if it would fit at first. When we put it on it was kind of loose around the chest and tummy and we were barely able to snap it up at the bottom, but it still fit! Grayson's a long little fella I guess. He looked so cute in it. My mom and Clark were there for the blessing and my friend from work, Michelle, came too. It was a beautiful blessing and Gray slept like a little angel the whole time.

He really was a little angel all day even though he was getting over a cold.

After the blessing we came back to our apartment and had brunch - whole wheat waffles, fresh fruit and mini quiches. Mini quiches are pretty much amazing and whoever thought of using a muffin tin was a genius! My friends Sam and Brian also came to brunch to see Grayson and celebrate the special day with us. It was so nice of them to come and I loved catching up with everyone and hearing what was going on at work. Here's a few more pictures!

Michelle, Sam, & Brian

Clark & Mom

Papa Tom and Baby Tom

Dad is so funny

He's such a happy little guy, and I feel so lucky to be his mom. <3

2 months old

The only things I ever want to post now are pictures of Grayson. He's just so much cuter than Tom and I and much more interesting. And I need something to do to keep me from thinking about school starting on Tuesday...eeek! So here's a few pictures from when he turned 2 months :)

One of the many cute outfits Grandma Vaughn got him

All his Christmas gifts 

Ohio Christmas

We were so lucky to be able to spend Christmas in Ohio this year with Addie & Jamey! I was really nervous about making the 6.5 hour drive with Grayson because he doesn't really like to be in his carseat for too long. But we made it in 8 hours with only 3 stops! We had a lot of fun just hanging out and did some shopping and went to eat at Texas Roadhouse, which was amazing. Uncle Jamey and Aunt Addie were the best hosts ever, feeding us and watching Grayson for us so we could go on a little ice cream date. We all had so much fun and we are looking forward to going out again soon to meet Baby Price!!

Sleeping on Auntie Addie and cousin currently without a name

Trying out the bumbo

Watching Uncle Jamey race cars

Baby Gray picture overload

A few pictures from the last couple months. Enjoy!

First walk outside

Thanksgiving day on the way to the Delis' house

Helping me put up Christmas decorations

love my little cuddlebug

Milk drunk

He loves sleeping on dad in weird positions

I think he was pooping here

First couple months of parenthood

Grayson turned two months old last week and it went by really fast but really slow at the same time. I'm just glad we made it through! We brought Grayson home from the hospital on Sunday Nov. 3rd. We had to be in the hospital a little bit longer because he was in the NICU for a few days while they monitored his breathing. He was doing great, but we still had to bring him home on a breathing monitor which brought another level of stress to that of already having a newborn. Luckily my mom was there to save the day that first week of being home. She taught me everything I needed to know from feeding him to bathing him and everything in between.

Coming home from the hospital

Grandma Harrison helping out

The next week my mother-in-law Peg, her husband Jeff, and her sister Aunt Lynne came and stayed with us. They cooked us lots of delicious meals, cleaned our apartment, and got some cuddle time in with Grayson too :)

Grandma Vaughn cuddling her little boy

Grandpa Vaughn got some cuddle time too

Here are a few things about Grayson:

Month 1 

Has a very good rooting reflex and likes to peck at my shoulder and neck when I hold him

HATES diaper changes and being naked

Likes to furrow his brows and study things around him

Constantly eating

Has a bit of reflux and doesn't like to be laid down on his back

Was off his breathing monitor at 3 weeks and didn't ever have any apnea episodes!

Loves to cuddle

Month 2 

Still hates diaper changes

Likes his baths and drying off by the space heater

Smiles really big, especially in the mornings

Kicks his legs all the time whether he's really happy or really upset

Loves to bounce on the exercise ball

Copies dad when he sticks his tongue out

Still loves to cuddle :)

Oh yeah, I didn't mention anything about his sleep habits... let's just say we're working on it!

Welcome to the world Grayson

Grayson was due Nov. 8th and I was absolutely convinced he was coming late. So when I woke up at 4am on Oct 28th with a little bit of cramping I was sure it was nothing. How very wrong I was! I decided to stay home and telework and told Tom to go to work because it was "just those Braxton Hicks things I think." When I called the doctor that morning to let them know I was having some mild cramping they told me to go to the hospital right away. I told them it didn't really hurt that bad and they asked how far apart the contractions were. Contractions? It hadn't even occurred to me that these were contractions (just felt like menstrual cramps) and I hadn't even tried timing them. After debating with the receptionist on whether I REALLY needed to go to the hospital, I realized there was no getting out of it.  Since Tom had just barely gotten into work and I didn't want to make him turn around and come right back (especially since I thought it was a false alarm), I told him I'd have my mom take me in and we'd call him right away if I was really in labor. Well, turns out I was dilated to a 4 and they told me I'd be having the baby that day!

I was admitted around 11am and Tom came as fast as he could to the hospital. My blood pressure was high, so I had to take some medicine during labor that didn't make me feel very good and kind of out of it. So most of my labor was kind of a blur, but I do distinctly remember being able to start pushing around midnight. This was the one stage that I really underestimated.  I always thought when they said you could start pushing that you’d just a push a couple times and out would pop the baby! Nope.

I pushed for about an hour with the help of Tom and one of the nurses. It helped me the most when Tom or my mom would say something or react to my pushing. Like one time Tom said “I can see his hair!” and my mom would just make excited noises and tell me how great I was doing. I’m really glad they were both there.  I knew he was getting close when the doctor came in and they put my legs in the stirrup thingies.  It seemed like I only had to push one or two more times and out little Grayson’s head came!! The doctor told me to give one more small push and I blasted the rest of him out. They put him on my chest right away and the first thing I noticed about him were the lines under his eyes and that he was trying to open his left eye and look at me. It was such a sweet moment.

The doctor delivered my placenta while I was holding him, and then they took him to be cleaned up and gave him to Tom to hold. He was so perfect and alert and beautiful.

He was 7lbs 1oz and 21 inches long, born at 1:12am

Proud papa

I'm so glad my mom could be there

Aunt Addie and Uncle Jamey drove all the way from Ohio to come see him!

Best feeling ever

The hospital didn't go as I expected, but looking back now I'm so happy that there were no major problems during the delivery and that I gave birth to my healthy and cuddly baby boy.

New Year's Eve