Keeping Memories Close: Costner's First Days at Home

Normally, I'd make every 2 or 3 of these pictures their own post, but I'm in catch up mode. So these are from the first 2 weeks of Costner's life at home. Before I had him, I worried about getting everything done. We were smack in the middle of Christmastime, but you know what? Everything else just stopped. I didn't really care about little things that I didn't have. I had done most of it already. And it didn't matter about how clean or not clean the house was. If you come over, it will appear that still doesn't matter. But I'm not going to let this slip away to have a spotless house. That's like shoveling snow during a blizzard right now anyways. And I found that I just really enjoyed him. We all do. He is the BEST baby. A lot of times, I don't even know if he's awake because he'll just be laying there looking around. He sleeps! The nights really aren't that bad. Jaggar was up like every 2 hours. I think last night, Costner only got up once. He is content. I never had a kid like that. My others always wanted you in their face to entertain them. Costner just goes with the flow, and as long as he isn't hungry, he is so content.

Here was his first sponge bath at home. Not a fan. Jaggar was so disturbed by his umbilical cord.

This was probably our 3rd day at home, so he was 5 days old here. Maybe? He's not a week, I know that. But it took me a while to "cut his tags off," if you see the hospital bracelet. I wasn't going to return him.

I just think that he's pretty.

Jaggar loves him. It's funny to see Costner's gown swallow him here because he fits quite nicely in them now. At first, Jaggar would hold him for about 5 seconds and then say, "He pooped," whether he did or not. Or "He's hungry." Now he'll hold him longer. He's very sweet with him. None of us really knew what to expect. Oh! I forgot to mention what Jaggar calls him. When I was pregnant, I'd say, "What are we going to name our baby?" After denying there was a baby, he'd say, "Jack." He suggested "Jack" a lot. "Jack" or "Jack Frost." So now, Costner is very consistently "Costner Bleu-Jack." Hilarious

Thank God for Sage. She is such a big help to me. Costner can do no wrong in her eyes. I've tried to warn her (in moments when she is comparing Jaggar to him and wishing Jaggar was more like him) that Jaggar WAS like him and Costner, too, will one day get on her nerves.

Sweet baby. I love how he kind of forms into you so easily to snuggle. And I'd just look at him and think, "That was IN me! We made that!" It's amazing. To think about how long ago it seems that I found out I was pregnant, and now here he is! A real person. He was asleep on the bed tonight, and Sage looked at him and said, "Mommy, look at him! He looks like a real person sleeping there!" I said, "Well, he is!"

See how long his toes are? I just grabbed his foot, and I have to say they don't look this weird in person. His legs are still bowed up from being in the womb, so it's hard to get a picture like this, but he's so tiny.

Some of his Christmas attire. That's how he is all the time. Just carefree.

He has always been very alert too. This was when my mom and mema were still here. They stayed until he was 10 days old.

I have to say that his picture has never really looked like he looks in person though. I remember some newborn pictures of Jaggar being that way, too.

My favorite part of the outfit.

Sitting in Jaggar's anywhere chair

Unless there was a problem, the pediatrician didn't want to see him until he was 2 weeks old. But his weight dropped to 6lbs, 7 oz at hospital discharge. So they wanted him weighed on Monday. I wasn't driving to Talladega for a weight, so I just brought him up to RMC. My mom drove us since he was only 5 days old, and it was pouring rain. So thankful for hers and Mema's help. Anyway, by Monday, in two days since discharge, he was up to 6 lbs, 12 oz. The lactation nurse was thrilled. She was like, "If only all patients were like you!" Yep. Then she asked when we were going to the doctor. I said in a week and a half unless there was a problem, and she said that he looked a little yellow and it may be a good idea to call. I did call, and they were going to get him in that day, but I couldn't see our doctor that day, and it was pouring rain. I said that I thought a day or 2 would be fine. So in 2 days, we were at his doctor, and he weighed 7lbs, 2 oz. Seriously. He did have jaundice, so we had to go to the hospital (which is in the same parking lot) to see exactly how high the bilirubin was. I was praying he wouldn't have to stay. Citizens is where I did my clinicals for xray school. I hated that place. Where was the lab for testing? Right smack in the middle of the xray department. I tried not to make eye contact. We were there for eternity. From waiting in the doctor's office amidst patients that sounded like they had whooping cough to waiting at the hospital, we were starved. Some older man tried to touch him before I snapped at him not to. The girl came out and said it was a 10 and the dr wanted a recheck in 2 days. I texted Dr Dela Cruz because they wouldn't give me a 2 week appointment for him at the office, which was his first actual newborn appointment. They said she had nothing available, but she said, "I'll get you an appointment, okay?" Sure enough, the next day, the office called ME. And that's why I love going to her. Connections. Thanks, Mitch. She said if I ever had a problem like that to text her, that they don't know up front. Anyway, so we had to go back two days later. I'd had him by the window as much as I could to have him in the little amount of sun that there was and fed him as much as he'd eat, which was a lot. Two days later, it was at 8 and no recheck was needed. Thank you, Jesus. I did not want my baby with his eyes taped laying naked under lights. I said all of that to say, I can see the yellow tint to his skin in this pic, but honestly, I NEVER saw it before it was mentioned. Very common, I know, but Sage nor Jaggar had that.

Yes, the elves were here the whole season full of their antics. I'm sorry I failed at posting the craziness that they bring, but...I just had a baby. They had written notes to each child one morning to come to Think Toys that afternoon, and Sage KNEW what it was: The Elf Party. Pre labor and delivery, I thought I'd just take them all and go to this party with a one week old. Post delivery...not so much. So Mom and Mema took them, and they had a great time. I'd actually called the sweet owner, Karen, that afternoon and asked what they'd have so I could figure out the carbs for Sage so my mom could give her insulin. And she had a Coke Zero put away just for Sage because sugary drinks are out for now. They had cake, cookies and popcorn, and the kids had a blast.