Our first week with Maddox!

Sorry it's taken so long for us to post, but this new baby has kept us a little busy not to mention my recovery. I got a postpartum infection, so I've been pretty miserable up until yesterday. I'm feeling better now and am excited to share a ton of pictures from Maddox's first week with us at home.

He's been terrific. He nurses a ton, which is good, but I've been a bit sore. We've decided to nickname him "hoover". He's developed a little bit of a routine as much as he can in a week. He likes to cluster-feed in the late evening into the early morning hours around 1 or 2 am. Then he usually crashes for about 3 hours, then eats, and again sleeps another 3 hours or so, which is nice, but that cluster-feeding session usually tires me out quite a bit.

Our families and friends have been so great with bringing us food, bringing me to doctor appointments, and just spending time with me, since Corey had to go back to work so soon. It's amazing how nice it is to just have someone else there to talk to and help with all the little things. I'm positive we have the best families anyone could ever ask for. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

On Tuesday, October 31st, Maddox was officially one week old. We got him all decked out in his duck costume and headed out trick-or-treating. We stopped at Grandma & Grandpa Brackens, Great Grandma Smith's, Courtney & Joel Rustad's, and Great Grandma Lindell's (Grandma & Grandpa Lindell were there too). It was quite the haul, but it was fun. Both Maddox and his older cousin Rowan were ducks. They were adorable together.

On Wednesday, November 1st, Maddox had his first doctor's appointment. My mom came up and drove me because Corey was at work. He met us there. Maddox has grown quite a bit already weighing 9 lbs. 4 ounces (they took .5 ounces off for his diaper and shirt). He's already gained 12.25 ounces. The goal is to have them back at their birth weight at two weeks old, so he's well surpassed that. Everything checked out great with him.

In the last few days he's had more and more alert periods where he just looks at you while you talk to him. It's been fun to hang out when he's not just eating or sleeping. Yesterday he even smiled at my mom when he was awake. It definitely made her day. I've been trying to catch a smile on camera for a week now and finally got one this morning. Enjoy!

Home Sweet Home

It was great being at the hospital and having all of the support of the wonderful nurses (aka Heidi's work girls), but nothing can beat the comfort and familiarity of being at home. Here's Maddox (I love typing his name) all bundled up for the car ride home. Suprisingly he slept the entire ride with nothing more then a squeak and some gurgles. I hope every car ride will go that smoothly, wishful thinking I know, but it doesn't hurt to try.
Grandma Michelle came over to bring us some food and chocolate chip cookies and shockingly she couldn't leave without holding Maddox for nearly the entire visit.
Auntie Angie also stopped by to give some sisterly advice on everything from nursing to soothing to how to sneak those quick cat naps in whenever possible.

The last couple of days have been so awesome and we can't wait to show off our new son to everyone and anyone. It seems that almost every hour brings on some new changes in him and we just can't wait to see what he will do next.
Love ......

Corey, Heidi Sue, and Maddox

Pictures...pictures...and more pictures!!

Here's a few pictures to tide everyone over until you get to meet the little guy in person.

Love.....
Corey

p.s. Maddox, Heidi and I are all doing fine and couldn't be more excited!!

Meet Maddox Corey!

Baby boy Maddox was born at 4:31 on October 24th at United Hospital in St. Paul. He weighed 8 pounds 7.75 ounces and measured 20.75 inches. His head measured 14.5 inches. He's a little chubs with his big cheeks and roly poly arms. Such a cutie!!!! Heidi and Corey are busy loving up their little boy and will update the blog when they get home on Thursday.

-Angie (the proud auntie!)

41 Weeks!

October 21st, 2006 we are still pregnant (well, I'm still pregnant) at 41 weeks. I'm feeling pretty good still, but my hands and feet have been quite swollen this week since I've been on my feet so much with everything going on with grandpa. The baby is doing great in there, obviously.

Corey was looking on the internet the other night to see when the average 1st time mom delivers and found that it's 41 weeks 1 day. I think that made him feel better because he's been quite anxious.
We're still all ready to go and just waiting for the arrival of this little baby. It will definitely be within the next week, YAY!

We love you Bumpa!

I'm going to miss you more than you'll ever know. You were the best Bumpa a girl could ask for. I love you so much and know you are finally at peace.

-"Muffins" -

The Due Date - 40 Weeks!

October 14th! I can't believe it's finally the official due date. 40 weeks being pregnant. I can't really imagine not being pregnant right now, but I guess this baby has to come out sometime, right?

I'm still feeling good and I've been contracting on and off every day, but nothing strong yet. The baby is growing and everything checks out great.
Well, it should be sometime within the next week or two. I'm excited to put a baby picture on this blog instead of belly pictures. Hopefully we won't have to do 41 week belly pictures!

Our Nursery - 39 weeks!

Today is the 39 week mark and we're all ready. Here's the changing table that came this week. I put it together all by myself. Pretty good, eh? The baskets are all full of our freshly washed diapers and all the items we need to keep this baby clean.

Here's the crib Corey and I slaved away putting together a month ago. It was quite challenging because it never seems like the directions have all the information needed in them. The rocking chair was from the ladies at work and the ottoman from Angie & the Haggstrom girls. The two pillows on the chair are the boy and girl bedding that we picked out.
I'm not sure that my belly has grown much in the last week, but it's definitely big.
Contractions continue, but nothing strong yet. Hopefully soon! We're both so excited to meet this little baby and find out what it is.
Well, we're heading on a walk now to see if we can get things moving. We'll keep you posted.

- Heidi Sue, Corey & ? -

38 weeks!

On Saturday, September 30th our baby was 38 weeks! Wow, the time is flying. We're all ready though. I had my last shower with my Cannon Falls friends on Thursday, Sept. 28th, so things are taking shape. This baby is going to be all decked out for sure.

My family came up for dinner on the 27th and we lounged around for the night eating pizza. It was quite relaxing in between contractions. I've been having contractions on and off now for two weeks. Who knows when they will start to pick up and be the real thing.
The baby is definitely growing, but at my last doctors visit on October 3rd (Katie Ann's birthday), the baby measured only 37 weeks because it's starting to drop more now.
My belly button finally popped out and everyone says that "this turkey is done", so hopefully soon I will be posting some of the first pictures of our new little baby, YAY!