life with a newborn...the first few days in pics

The last five days have been incredible. So exciting, and so tiring, in the most wonderful way.

It has only been four years since our last baby was born, but somehow I'd forgotten how delighted I would be every time he looked at me, or how happy I would be to pick him up from a nap, or even change his tiny diapers.:)  I can't stop staring at him. How did this perfect little person come out of my body on Tuesday? It's so amazing to me. I'm just enjoying every second of it. Even waking up 16 times a night, sometimes just making sure he's okay. {I guess it doesn't matter how many times you've done it before- even with the 5th one I worry if he hasn't woken up in the last hour... ;) }

He's nursing like a serious champ- I think he's gained at least 1/2 lb. this week! His face is getting even rounder, and goodness, I totally forgot how many diapers a tiny human can make in a day. :) At least at this point, it's still just amazing to me that his body can do that so well! :)

Oh, I am so very in love with this little man.

I hear him starting to wake up in the other room, but I wanted to hop in and share a few of my favorite pics from the last few days:

The very first time the kids saw him:

12 hours old :)

1 day old

 Tired, but so happy- day 2.5. :D

on two nights of no sleep...but we'll want to remember this moment I'm sure! :)

2 days old

He must have won some kind of lotto- he's so lucky to have the best daddy in the whole world.
This man is incredible.

our 2 day midwife checkup- we were blessed to have amazing midwives! :)

there's something about a tiny boy in overalls... :)

he's so chunky, and I LOVE it, except that he looks so old already here! And he was only 3 days old!! ;)

He's peeling all over from head to toe- mama has to resist the urge to get the loofah out. :)

it's not red really, more brown and a little auburn maybe? We think it's the darkest hair color we've had yet! Maybe it will be red after all?

I think he's going to be fair skinned like his mama! ;) .... 5 days old

Thank you for all your sweet words- we are so thankful for your love these past few days!! :D

God has been so good to us.

today's midwife appointment + I might be scarred for life...

I had an appointment with my midwife this morning, and everything looks great! I'm measuring right on schedule at 25 weeks, and the baby's heartbeat was strong... :D

Even though we only live a couple of minutes away from the midwife, I was still excited to have a reason to get dressed in something besides my workout clothes. ;) {I think I wore exercise clothes to my last appointment, actually... :)}

I got to wear my new-to-me $5 flowy Roxy shirt I picked up at our local huge consignment sale last week. I really like it, and I'm excited to think it might fit me for the next 3+ months! yay! Really, my question is, would it be okay if I wore this shirt every day for the next 3 months straight? No one would notice, right? ;) It's that comfy.

I had good luck at the big consignment sale, and I can't wait to show you more of what I found there tomorrow. I may even have a couple of surprises up my sleeve for the next few Thursdays! :)

But back to the appointment, it's weird, but I almost feel like I should be more nervous about this whole birth thing coming up. I just used to be more worried giving birth in the past. This time, I really haven't thought much about it, and I kind of like it that way. It will just happen, you know? I think it helps that my last birth was awesome, and I know it was only because of the Lord. He was so good to me.

Anyway, when I spotted this book the midwives recommended I read on their shelf this morning, I broke down in my resolve not to read anything birth-related and decided to borrow it:

I was feeling pretty good about it until I got to the car, opened the book and flipped right to the page with a very.... um...graphic... picture of a baby coming out face first. I immediately screamed, slammed the book shut, and curled up into a fetal position in my seat. No, no, no....NO....

That's not what it really looks like, right??? Oh my goodness...poor baby. Poor woman.

I can't believe I used to want to be a midwife...or that I've already given birth four times? How is that even possible?

Oh, wow. 

Just please come out head first, baby boy. Please? For your mama?

Oh man, it's such a good thing I can trust in the Lord to get me through whatever happens. Seriously. Or I might be a bit worried. :)

And books? Who needs books anyway?? ;)

Have you read this book? Should I keep reading it?? I'm not sure I can? ha!

Have you seen the documentary The Business of Being Born? Is it traumatizing too? :P

Do you have a clothing item you'd wear every day if you could?