Michael is 4 weeks old!

So, time really goes by fast when you have a newborn. I have been thinking about blogging for days now, but just haven't had the time. Michael just finished nursing (for an hour), then had 1.5 ounces of pumped milk, then 1.5 ounces of formula. I think he is finally full! A lot has happened in the last few weeks. This past week I finally feel like I know what I am doing! Michael is now sleeping about 7-7.5 hours each night. He goes to sleep about 11-12pm, then gets up about 6-7am each morning. We are really enjoying our sleep. He also takes about a 4-5 hour nap during the day and he is up the rest of the time.
We have been seeing Dr. Desanto each week b/c he has not gained back his birth weight yet.
He was born at 8 lbs,3oz, went all the way down to 7lbs,6oz, and last week was 7lbs,9oz. We go to the Dr. again this Wednesday, so hopefully he gained more. Dr. Desanto has said to keep nursing, but limit only to an hour each time, keep pumping (which I am doing and my milk supply is really building up!) and still supplement with formula after every feeding.
We are starting to take him out. Yesterday we went to get pictures with Santa at CFY, where I go on Tuesdays for my New Mother's group...which I absolutely love and look forward to every week... He pretty much slept thru the pictures, then we went to staples, then to Panera for lunch. It really feels good to get him out and about.
Thanksgiving was very nice. We had Thanksgiving at our house with my parents and Ralph's mom. Small and comfy! We had enough food for the neighborhood and everything was so yummy!
My sister Kim was in town this past weekend and it was so nice to have extra hands. She is so loving to little Michael. She helped me with feeding, changing, bathing, soothing and also with organizing things around the house and completing his birth announcements!!!!!

Of course, we have been taking lots of pictures! The ones I added are not in any order.

Thanksgiving with our pumpkins! He might have been a little cold!

He LOVES aunti Denise's hat and blanket!!!!
tummy time!

so cute!

We have lots of pictures in this position!

Michael, Juliana and James

Dawn came over to take some Christmas pics. We had a blast dressing them and trying to keep them calm to snap away!

James, Juliana and Michael

They all were crying at one point, we had a little chorus going, we really need to get it on video!

Michael ready for Christmas pics!!!

He was so good, only cried at the end

Getting a little Vitamin D and fresh air!

Mommy and Michael!

James, Juliana and Michael

Visited Great Grandpa and Great Grandma.
What a great picture!!

Another great pic!

Bath time

Michael doesn't like to be changed or cold, but he is ok with the bath, so far!

1st bath- a little tricky but we got it done! slippery little guy!

One of the Dr. visits, so cute!

Michael and mommy! Michael is wearing the hat Aunti Denise knitted for him. We love it and he wears it all the time!

Michael, Juliana and James

Our 3 little guys, it really is so much fun to get them together, and it is so great they will grow up with each other!

All 3 babies together!!!

Dawn called me on Friday with cabin fever and I was definitely having cabin fever too. She came over with James and Juliana. It was so exciting to get all 3 babies together for the first time!!! We went for a walk in the neighborhood, about 1 mile and it was a workout with all the hills! It was beautiful out, about 68*. Halfway thru, Dawn and I were stripping down to our T-shirts, it was so funny! The babies loved the fresh air! Afterwards, they all cried from hunger, they sounded like a little chorus! Then they ate and they all slept! Silence is also a nice thing!

Michael, James and Juliana

James and Juliana bundled up on our walk


Little Michael- comfy and cozy!
We love the snap-and-go's!

Mommy playing with Michael!

Trying to prop him up, not yet Mommy!

Cutest little thing!

Michael is 12 days old! Time is going fast these days! He is definitely making more eye contact and there have been a few intentional smiles ( I think). He is also starting to hold his head up for about 15 seconds or so. It is so sweet to see him just looking around, I am always wondering what he is thinking!

We are still working on nursing....I am certain we will get it figured out, I just hope it is sooner than later :)

Ralph has been away for 5 days, just a few more to go. I know he is anxious to get home and we can't wait to see him!

My First Week

Our little Michael is now 10 days old! The time is definitely going by fast! We had a very busy week. Lots of visitors and our 1st trip to the pediatrician. Dr. Desanto says Michael is exactly where he should be for just a few days old. He still has a little jaundice, which is normal and the bruise on his head is healing nicely. (he had a big bruise from labor :( )
This first week has been both exciting and tiresome. He has been sleeping a lot, during the day. Some nights he has slept up to 5 hours, but other nights maybe an hour at a time. I have been nursing as much as possible, but I have been feeling like he is not getting enough to eat. We have supplemented a little with formula at night, which satisfies him and he is able to sleep.
I joined a breastfeeding group on Mondays and a New mother's group on Tuesday's. Both group's are super supportive. It was nice to get out of the house and meet other new mom's and their new little babies. Two of the mom's are from the lamaze class we took in September, it was so nice to see them again and catch up on all the labor and delivery stories. I also learned it is not only me who has so many questions and concerns about nursing!
Last night little pea slept about 5 hours straight, it was so nice to get some sleep! He is sleeping now, and I am trying to keep him up a little, so he is tired at night. His days and nights are definitely backwards! Michael is a very heavy sleeper during the day and a light sleeper at night, figures! While he was taking a nap on Monday, Ralph was cutting moulding and we were installing moulding 2 doors down from his room and not a stir! Way to go champ!

First car ride to the pediatrician. He was all bundled up...it was cold and windy outside.


Kim came from Vermont for a weekend visit. She was so excited to get here. I think she held him the entire weekend. Ralph was away and Kim stepped right into his shoes and was able to help out tremendously. THANKS AUNT KIM!!!!

Little pea sleeping in the cutest little outfit!

Sleeping in his crib with his Yankees binky. Go little Yankee Fan!

Sleeping with Aunt Kim

Looking around!

Great Grandma and Grandpa came over for breakfast Sunday morning.

Michael smiled for great grandpa! We didn't get it on camera, but it was his first smile awake.

Papa pea and little pea!

Our 1 week family picture!

A New Favorite Picture

Daddy and Michael taking a morning nap...

love it....

Pictures!!!!!!

November 8th- we were going out for the day before going to the hospital at night to get induced! The weather was beautiful!
I absolutely love autumn!!!



We took a drive to Kings Park Bluff to watch the sunset before we went off to the hospital! Time to get little pea out!





Visited Dawn and James and Juliana! They are all doing great! LP is so lucky to have 2 cousins the same age. They will all grow up together! I can't wait to get a picture of all 3, around the holidays they will meet each other!

After getting induced Sun night, and starting pitocen Monday morning, little pea was born at 6:43pm. Kim was the first person I called and she was soooo excited!!!!

Mom and dad visiting about an hour after Michael was born

Mom visiting

Our 1st Family picture!

Daddy holding Michael while he is sleeping

Oh my, it's too bright and I am cold!!!!

Michael in his bassinet in the nursery

Mommy and little pea right after being born. So special and magical!

Aunt Maria and family visiting How lucky are we too have so many visitors!
Cousin ken, cousin Christina, Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Fred

It's a boy!!!

Little Michael Giovanni Michele has arrived!

Our little angel was born on Monday, November 9, 2009 at 6:43pm. He was 8lbs 3oz and 21 in long. He is so amazing! It's only been a few days and he already has little smiles when he is sleeping (and some frowns too!) We just can't believe he is here and we are parents! We had so many visitors in the hospital and everyone is just so excited and supportive! We are really blessed to have such wonderful family and friends!

We came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon and he slept mostly. Last night is another story. He was up most of the night, crying and awake, and didn't want to be put down to sleep at all. Ralph and I took turns staying up with him and I was SO excited to see daylight this morning! My mom came over for a few hours and helped take care of him as I took a shower and a quick nap and daddy ran to the store for a few things. Today I spoke with the lactation consultant and she answered all my questions and put me at ease. She holds a New Mother's Nursing group on Mondays, it happens to be around the block, so I will start this Monday and I feel like I have good support. Little Michael is latching on pretty well, it's a learning curve for both of us!
When he finally falls asleep, he is a very light sleeper. We are trying not to be too quiet because we want him to get used to some noise. He loves to be very swaddled and he really doesn't like bright lights. His eyes seem sensitive, I think that is normal. We have our 1st pediatrician appt tomorrow morning, so I'll be able to ask all my questions. I met with 2/5 pediatricians while I was in the hospital. Both were very nice and informative.

oh, our little pea is up and hungry...gotta go! I will post more pics soon!

Overdue...still waiting...

So, I am now 40 weeks and 3 days. We have been talking to little pea everyday about how it is time to come out...but so far nothing. Little pea must be very content in there, which is a good thing. So, This morning, Ralph and I woke up, had breakfast, then I cleaned out the living room of all our office things and set up paint shop so I could paint all the moulding. As it dried, Ralph cut it and installed all the base mouldings, case and started on the crown for the master bedroom. We were totally insinc until we ran into a problem with 1 door, so we decided we were done for the day!

So, because Little pea has decided not to come yet, we are going tomorrow night, Sunday, to the hospital to get induced. My Dr. wanted to wait another week, but then Ralph would be off traveling again and I would be so nervous he wouldn't get back in time, that we decided to deliver on Monday. Hopefully everything will go smoothly! Since this is our last night as a couple without a little one, we went out to H2O restaurant, Ralph's been wanting to go for months.. it was delicious!

Me and little pea!

Mom and dad-to-be! One more day to go!