the second month

I feel like I'm getting the hang of this baby thing a little more now that Oliver is two months.  He's more predictable and eats better... some of the hard/annoying things in the beginning work themselves out.  One of my goals, or hopes with Oliver was to really just enjoy each stage.  Partly because I didn't do very good at that with Creighton and his first two years are kind of a blur, and partly because Oliver is likely our last kid.  I'm thankful to say that I really have been enjoying him as a baby.  Yes, there are moments I get frustrated at his crying or feel like I'm not parenting the older boys well when Oliver demands my attention, but I'm trying to be more intentional about soaking in the sweetness of having a baby.

+ will give smiles and coo's, mostly in the morning after he's eaten
+ starting to only wake up at 4/4:30 at night to eat, after eating somewhere between 8-9p for his last feeding of the day
+ still doesn't want to just sit in a swing or bouncy seat while he's awake.  he might give me a happy 5 minutes in his seat, then he's crying for some attention.  needless to say, I hold him a lot while he's awake.
+ starting to like his bath a little, or at least not always cry during it :)
+ still not a fan of his carseat, but he is starting to cry a little less
+ sometimes gets called "boob" by Creighton, who I believe randomly made up the nickname, not realizing how appropriate it is!  😂

getting some of our first smiles!

love how babies tuck their legs when they sleep.  also loving the blue color that we painted the crib.

Ollie gets all the attention. 💕

That side profile... those cheeks and chin :). It's one of the things about him that reminds me most of the other boys... or maybe just Beckham

Creighton loves on Oliver while Beckham is in school... he's constantly kissing him and telling him how cute he is and how much he loves him!

the first month

Alright... how can I not be working and still not find time to do a blog post that isn't over a month late??  Oh well... these posts are more for my information since I don't have a baby book.  I know what my baby is doing isn't really that interesting to anyone else. :)

The first month with Oliver was sweet... both grandmas kept the boys and Chad was home a decent amount and could entertain the older boys, leaving me with quite a bit of one-on-one time with Oliver.  Which was a good thing, because I felt like it took a bit for me to "figure him out," why he was crying, was he hungry or tired, etc.  It all felt a little new and not like "oh, it's my third kid, I got this," since it had been four years since I had a baby.  But of course you figure it out pretty quick, since, well, you've had a baby before. :)  So a little about Ollie...

- he's not quite the "laid back third child" that so many people told me about... at least for now.  he's not a bad baby, just doesn't really sit and chill on his own while he's awake... always wants held.
- is already pretty routine, which I love.  starting at about 3 weeks he eats at 8-9p, goes to bed and gets up around 1a/4a/7a at night, then eats every 3-3 1/2 hrs during the day.
- he is not a fan of his car seat and riding in the car.  even the times I've just fed him and we go somewhere and I think surely he'll be happy... usually he's not.  he's not great at self-soothing and just cries and cries... once in a while he doesn't or he finally stops after crying most of the way.  the other boys don't seem to mind, so that's a plus.  I thought they would get bugged by his crying but don't.
- he can roll over!  I think he did it the first time around 3 weeks and I wasn't sure I believed he did it!  he sleeps on his tummy and a few times when he's gotten mad while crying, he's rolled over to his back.  I haven't seen him do it, but he did it for the pediatrician during his one month appointment while I was taking C to the bathroom, so I have an official eye witness.
- he's quickly gaining weight, as did my other boys.  he was 9 lbs. 5 oz. at his one month appointment, gaining a little more than 2 lbs. in the first month.
- the boys are really sweet and patient with him.  they want to hold and kiss him frequently and love to hover around me while I'm feeding him... much to my dismay. ;)  Beckham also informed that it was weird when I was pumping 😆

the arrival of Oliver Douglas

And just like that.. our much deliberated, much anticipated third child has arrived.  How does 9 months go so slow and so fast at the same time?!  I will say, despite my days being consumed with feedings and little sleep and figuring out what a 1 week old baby could possibly be mad about, being on this side of pregnancy is much better than being pregnant!  To meet the little baby you've been carrying and get to snuggle them and watch them grow is so sweet.

I had previously joked in this post that the baby would probably be overdue and I wondered if his delivery would be like the other boys.  Well, Oliver was almost overdue and came just one day before my due date and his delivery was Nothing like Beckham or Creighton's.  It was so much better, faster and smoother... such a blessing.

For starters, my water didn't break first like it did both times before, which I've heard makes the contractions more bearable and I think I agree.  Of course it was still painful, but maybe just a smidgen less.  Second, everything progressed very fast!  A little timeline:

around 2p: started to feel some mild contractions but didn't want to get my hopes up b/c I had them on the Saturday before and they had stopped.
2:30-4p: hung out with a friend and chatted since the boys were at Sheli's house and I had the day to myself (yea for friends that are neighbors and live around the corner!)... still having the same contractions, maybe getting slightly more painful
4-4:30p: went home and showered, contractions getting a little more painful.  We were supposed to go to Sheli's house for dinner and I let her know I was having contractions but I thought we could still come to dinner.
4:30-5: got ready, finished packing my hospital bag, as I was pretty sure this was the real deal.
5p: called Chad (who was on way home from work) and let him know that we wouldn't be going to Sheli's for dinner b/c my contractions were too painful.  Called the doctor.  By this time I was breathing through contractions.
5:15p: Chad gets home from work and we leave for the hospital.  It felt like every contraction got more painful on the way there.  I was hoping I would be at least 5 cm dilated by the time we got to the hospital.. Chad told me not to hope for more than a 3 and was expecting another 10 hours of labor.
5:45p: Arrive at hospital and check in.  I'm dilated to a 7!!  I was hoping to not get an epidural this time (mostly b/c I thought it would help me push better/faster than with the other boys) and once I realized how far along I was, I knew I wouldn't have to get one.
6:30p: Little Oliver is born!  Such a different experience without an epidural.  It's hard and painful but better in the sense that you feel everything your body is telling you to do and there's such a sense of satisfaction when it's all over!

6 lbs 15 oz. 20" long

such long little toes!

the boys didn't know what to think of Oliver in the hospital... Beck has tentative and sweet with him and Creigh kind of acted like he didn't exist and tried to be the center of attention as much as possible... not too different than what we expected :) 

Oliver had some jaundice and had to be under the lights at the hospital...  I was loving that cute little mask he had to wear until I realized how much he didn't like it, or being under the lights!

amazing how those teeny tiny newborn clothes can be baggy on a baby!

we're thinking Oliver looks a lot like Creighton!  I even find myself calling him Creighton... 

a newborn pic of Beckham

and one of Creighton