Chicks Dig Me

Unfortunately, Carter's crankiness has increased in the past week. We've scoured the books and talked to friends, and it seems to boil down to this: he's just cranky. Thankfully, it doesn't appear to be colic. More thankfully, Dave's schedule has allowed him to step in and come to the rescue every time I'm thisclose to losing it. At least, God bless him, Carter has decided to finally take the pacifier (mommy is very grateful). Of course, of the 10 that we have, only one works (no joke). In case you don't have super-human eyesight, the pacifier that Carter has chosen says "Chicks Dig Me." The funny thing is that each time we offer him the pacifier, the same comic routine ensues: Carter protests, cries harder, gags, stutters, and then miraculously calms down and/or falls asleep. I'll have to try and record the pitiful display sometime in the next few days and upload it for your viewing/listening pleasure.

Too Cute

As posted earlier, Carter has been mildly fussy since his circumcision on Tuesday. Yesterday, we finally bit the bullet and sterilized some pacifiers for him -- just in case we had trouble later in the evening. At around 8pm, Dave returned from the gym to find both Carter and myself mid-meltdown. Dave sent me into the bedroom for some quiet time with pizza and a book, and he tackled bath time with Carter. Needless to say, the sterilized pacifiers came in handy. When the crying finally eased, this is what I walked into the kitchen to: Carter in his bath, with warm washcloths covering just about his entire body, and a pacifier in his mouth (Winnie the Pooh). Seemed like the only thing he was missing was scented candles! I was jealous.

Carter's First Girlfriend

On Thursday, we received a visit from my former co-worker Megan, and her youngest child, Audrey, who is almost two. Audrey got a huge kick out of the dogs, and quickly decided that Carter should be her newest doll. She constantly wanted to hold and kiss him, and at one point, even dragged his carseat out to the front door as though she was taking him with her! It was a great visit all in all.

Carter's Two Week Doctor's Appointment

This week, Carter had his second doctor's appointment. Needless to say, Dave and I were not prepared. We spent the evening before taking bets on how much weight he might have gained. As a sidebar, he left the hospital at 7lbs, 15oz and, as of Tuesday, was 9lbs, 4oz. Both of us were under on our estimates. The doctor's response to me was "wow, you two have been busy!" What can I say? Our baby boy is an eater. But back to the main story -- Carter was circumcised at this week's appointment and, I think I can speak for both Dave and I myself when I say that we had no idea what was involved. And, because we're betting most of you have never been through it, either, I dug up a picture of the instrument (or medieval torture device, depending on your point of view) they used on our poor baby. They laid Carter into a plastic body shell and then strapped both his legs and arms down. They administered a local anaesthetic, but he was so angry about the entire thing (who wouldn't be?!?) that he both pooped and peed during the procedure. So much for a sterile field for the doctor!!! Is it weird that we were both a little proud of him? He fought back as best as he could!

Dave spent the entire time up by Carter's head soothing him with sugar water and Billy Joel's "Piano Man." We don't quite know why, but the song manages to calm him down without fail. The funny part is that in the middle of the circumcision, with all of Carter's screaming, Dave couldn't remember the whole song, so just kept repeating the second verse over and over again. The doctor and nurse were laughing, but also suitably impressed that it worked so well on the baby!

I hung out by Carter's feet and just stared in shock as the procedure progressed. I felt so helpless!

Carter handled the procedure like a champ, all in all, and has been recovering nicely at home, with only some mild fussiness on his part.

Carter - 10 Days Old

We'll admit it, we've all been lost in a bit of a haze for the past week. Jackie and Carter have been in and out of consciousness and Dave was sick for three days. What a mess! Luckily, Baba (aka Grandma Judy) was in town through Thursday morning to help out! Needless to say, we are all alive and kicking and adjusting to life with a new baby. Carter is now alert and active for about 2-3 hours per day (usually after a feeding, and yes, sometimes at 3am). He seems quite curious about the world and loves to be in the middle of whatever conversation is occurring. He's also developed a new game (yes, he's very advanced): how many times can I pee on mommy and daddy while they're changing my diaper? So far, he's winning, let's just say that.

Hot Dad at the Grocery Store

First, a little context: Yesterday, I complained that we have been without cereal and milk for three days now. Throughout my pregnancy, I craved cereal intermittently. We did get out for a bit yesterday, but did not make it by the grocery store. I fed Carter this morning, handed him off to Dave at 7:30am and went back to sleep.
The story: I woke up at 10:30am to find out that in the time between, Dave had changed Carter's diaper, put his "Daddy's Little Wingman" onesie on him and bundled him into the stroller. The two had walked to Starbuck's (just down the street from us) and then to the grocery store where Dave had loaded down the stroller with 4 different types of cereal (he wasn't sure what kind I wanted), 2 half-gallon containers of milk, and bananas. Anyone remember that Diet Coke commercial with the hot dad at the grocery store? That was my husband this morning! I only wish I had been awake to witness it all and/or take pictures.

Day 5 on the planet

Well Carter is home now and sleeeping 12 hour stretches which is awesome?!?!?! hahaha. He is actually sleeping usually 2-3 hour stretches and then wakes to feed and then he wants to stare. He did not want to go down last night after feeding. So he and I hung out for a few hours this morning going through 8 days of emails!! He had a blast!! Here are a couple new pics. How cute is he in that onesie!!

Carter's first car ride

Well he didn't scream, he didn't cry, he didn't smile---he just stared at Jackie with a very serious look on his face. It was hilarious. He seemed to be pondering the universe and asking what sort of contraption have mommy and daddy put me in. Prior to getting in the car I had driven it up to the pick-up spot and was sitting there for like 5 minutes with my camera and video camera out ready to take shots. People were just staring at me wondering what celebrity's plane had accidentally crashed landed and stranded them in Sacto; so I called Jackie to see if I had gone to the wrong exit. No, it turns out Carter had a bit of melt down that involved a diaper change and a feeding and then the food came for Jackie and it was mac-n-cheese so we definitely didn't want that to go to waste...

PS- Note the Lakers gear!!

Day two pics

Carter is already looking older. His face has un-squished!!

Carter Moe Koenig has arrived

At 6:15pm on September 3rd Carter Moe Koenig was born via C-section after 60 hours of labor. He is 20 1/2 inches, 8 pounds 7 ounces, with a big head and big lips. Jackie and I are very excited and extremely appreciate all the great help the folks at Sutter Memorial gave us.

More info and pictures to come...after some much needed sleep!!

Baby watch 30 hours!!

~pics are a little out of order but you get the idea~

No Baby yet!! Carter is trying to do this on his own schedule. As my mom pointed out that is very German of him. His due date is today 9/2 so why would he have come yesterday!!

At 5am yesterday morning we arrived at the hospital. At 6:45 Jackie's first dose of miso prostal was placed on her cervix. The pill the size of 1/8 a tylenol is supposed to thin the cervix and help induce labor. At 11:30 another dose was administered. Dr. Hayes visited twice. Carter is still riding pretty high and cervix is about 1-2 cm dialated. Hayes decided to delay the 3rd miso until this morning because Jackie's mild contractions were very close together which delayed another miso cause there was worry of hyperactivity by the baby and the cervix. They had to wait for the contractions to spread apart a little more. So jackie was able to eat last night and this morning. She had del taco and a salad and a sandwich (she had not eaten all day). And she got to walk!!Thankfully her blood pressure has been low and reasonable all day except minor exceptions. Linda, our nurse, most of the day yesterday was super.

Today they started the 1st miso at around 4am. The 2nd about 4 hours later. That means 4 down and the max is 8. Hayes visited and said she thinks it is 50/50 that Jackie will be on Pitocin by tonight. Thankfully Hayes is very reluctant to make Jackie go through a c-section if it can be avoided. Robin is our nurse and was one of the nurses in the non-stress test room that Jackie was visiting twice a week for the past 2 months. She also happens to live 5 houses down from us as Jackie discovered walking the dogs one morning...and some of you said Sacramento was a small town- haha.

This could still take another couple days but Carter is worth the wait!! I will try to keep everyone posted on our progress. Please enjoy the pictures from yesterday and this morning. The next ones will hopefully include our boy!!

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Dueling Bellies

Our neighbors Jason and Darcy came by this weekend to visit and get instructions on how to help us this week with the dogs and house. We took pictures to commemorate the developing babies. Phillip is dues 6 weeks after Carter and we are all so excited. Needless to say Jason and I have taken this "supporting our wives" gig seriously!!