I knew no one would believe me unless I caught the evidence on tape, but Davy is practicing his smiles for when he sees everyone in April. See for yourself!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Christmas and Fashion Show
Davy turned a week old on Christmas. He got to play baby Jesus at a friend's house where we acted out the nativity. He was perfect and "no crying he made" (until we got home and it was time for Mary and Joseph to sleep!).
Oh the indignity! This was Dad's way of entertaining himself during a late-night waking spell. Poor baby.
We have received so many beautiful gifts. Please be assured that we are using and loving each and every one. Below are just a few of the special gifts that we wanted to show off. And more evidence will come as we have a chance to dress Davy up in all the other lovely gifts. (And remember to keep the camera close at hand!)
Aunt Jenna made this hat for Davy. And Great-aunt Liz made the blanket.
Cute reindeer feet!
Future cowboy! Aunt Erica knows how much Rachel likes horses and hopes Davy will too.
Oh the indignity! This was Dad's way of entertaining himself during a late-night waking spell. Poor baby.
We have received so many beautiful gifts. Please be assured that we are using and loving each and every one. Below are just a few of the special gifts that we wanted to show off. And more evidence will come as we have a chance to dress Davy up in all the other lovely gifts. (And remember to keep the camera close at hand!)
Aunt Jenna made this hat for Davy. And Great-aunt Liz made the blanket.
Cute reindeer feet!
Future cowboy! Aunt Erica knows how much Rachel likes horses and hopes Davy will too.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Labor details (read at your own risk!)
As you may have noticed, we re-opened our blog to all viewers. We had so many requests to see the photos and video of our sweet baby that it was just easier to open it all up. This will be temporary--about a week or so. Then we will be making it more private again. If you wish to still check in on Davy every now and then, let us know so we can "invite" you. Thanks!
David is sleeping peacefully now, which means I probably should be resting too! But I wanted to take this chance to write a little about the labor. So if you are not into labor stories or aren't sure you want details, don't read the following paragraph!
We spent Wednesday night in the hospital so that a slow-release inducement called Cervidil could help jump-start labor. Neither Collin nor I got much sleep as the drug gave me horrible back pain and lots of cramping. Also I was anxious and excited about the events of the next day and couldn't settle down enough to sleep well. The next morning around 9:30 the Cervidil was removed from my system and the contractions continued and increased naturally from there. I was so glad that Pitocin did not have to be introduced! I used the jacuzzi to help cope with some of the beginning contractions. When I was about five centimeters dilated I got to the point where the pain during one contraction was so intense and I was so tired I was sure I could not do any more and I asked Collin to get me an epidural. He asked if I was sure that is what I wanted and as I thought about it I knew I didn't want to slow down labor or go through the bother of getting the pain relief. I said that I would just keep going. The next time the midwife checked me I had jumped to eight centimeters dilated and I was encouraged to continue working with the contractions to get the baby out naturally and soon. I was so grateful to have both Collin's and my mom's hands to hold and anchor me through each contraction. And to have their voices encouraging me when it came time to push the baby out. I pushed for about 40 minutes--which was one of the hardest things I have ever done physically or mentally--and out came a beautiful, squirmy, warm little baby. He was put immediately on my belly and I rubbed his little body while the midwife coached me through the afterbirth. I had torn a bit during the final push and had to get about 20 stitches. I also lost a lot of blood when the nurses had me get up to get ready to move into the recovery room and narrowly missed passing out completely. A whole army of nurses rushed in (like ER!) and hustled me back to the bed and did whatever they had to do to make sure I was breathing and getting the bleeding to stop. I was pretty out of it, but it was quite the adventure. Mom stayed with me while Collin went with the baby (who still didn't have a name) to the nursery and helped bathe him and watched as the nurses did their tests. Despite feeling faint, I have never felt so wonderful in my life as when the baby came back and I held him and all the memories of the pain and difficulty of labor (even an easy and short one like mine) disappeared.
We are home now and adjusting slowly to each other and our new responsibilities as parents and baby-outside-the-womb. Nursing is coming along, although we have only within the last twelve hours begun to get the hang of things. The pain of this process is something that I was not prepared for and so have had a hard time dealing with. But we will persist and things will get better and easier. Collin is a miracle worker with Davy, finding just the right position or rocking technique that works for whatever is bothering him. Collin is so wonderful at diaper changing and burping and everything else so that I can get a few moments of rest or take care of helping my body heal. He is such a perfect and patient dad and husband--especially when both Davy and I are bawling at the same time and frustrated over nursing. I am so thankful that he will be home with us for the next couple weeks. I do not know how I will manage when he has to go back to work!
David is sleeping peacefully now, which means I probably should be resting too! But I wanted to take this chance to write a little about the labor. So if you are not into labor stories or aren't sure you want details, don't read the following paragraph!
We spent Wednesday night in the hospital so that a slow-release inducement called Cervidil could help jump-start labor. Neither Collin nor I got much sleep as the drug gave me horrible back pain and lots of cramping. Also I was anxious and excited about the events of the next day and couldn't settle down enough to sleep well. The next morning around 9:30 the Cervidil was removed from my system and the contractions continued and increased naturally from there. I was so glad that Pitocin did not have to be introduced! I used the jacuzzi to help cope with some of the beginning contractions. When I was about five centimeters dilated I got to the point where the pain during one contraction was so intense and I was so tired I was sure I could not do any more and I asked Collin to get me an epidural. He asked if I was sure that is what I wanted and as I thought about it I knew I didn't want to slow down labor or go through the bother of getting the pain relief. I said that I would just keep going. The next time the midwife checked me I had jumped to eight centimeters dilated and I was encouraged to continue working with the contractions to get the baby out naturally and soon. I was so grateful to have both Collin's and my mom's hands to hold and anchor me through each contraction. And to have their voices encouraging me when it came time to push the baby out. I pushed for about 40 minutes--which was one of the hardest things I have ever done physically or mentally--and out came a beautiful, squirmy, warm little baby. He was put immediately on my belly and I rubbed his little body while the midwife coached me through the afterbirth. I had torn a bit during the final push and had to get about 20 stitches. I also lost a lot of blood when the nurses had me get up to get ready to move into the recovery room and narrowly missed passing out completely. A whole army of nurses rushed in (like ER!) and hustled me back to the bed and did whatever they had to do to make sure I was breathing and getting the bleeding to stop. I was pretty out of it, but it was quite the adventure. Mom stayed with me while Collin went with the baby (who still didn't have a name) to the nursery and helped bathe him and watched as the nurses did their tests. Despite feeling faint, I have never felt so wonderful in my life as when the baby came back and I held him and all the memories of the pain and difficulty of labor (even an easy and short one like mine) disappeared.
We are home now and adjusting slowly to each other and our new responsibilities as parents and baby-outside-the-womb. Nursing is coming along, although we have only within the last twelve hours begun to get the hang of things. The pain of this process is something that I was not prepared for and so have had a hard time dealing with. But we will persist and things will get better and easier. Collin is a miracle worker with Davy, finding just the right position or rocking technique that works for whatever is bothering him. Collin is so wonderful at diaper changing and burping and everything else so that I can get a few moments of rest or take care of helping my body heal. He is such a perfect and patient dad and husband--especially when both Davy and I are bawling at the same time and frustrated over nursing. I am so thankful that he will be home with us for the next couple weeks. I do not know how I will manage when he has to go back to work!
Friday, December 19, 2008
He's Awake! (video)
WARNING: The following entry serves as evidence that Rachel no longer has control over the posts to this blog. Proceed at your own risk.
Mathematical Proof of this Video:
If a picture is worth a thousand words and the standard movie reel runs at approximately 24 frames per second, then by rules of simple multiplication, one second of a movie reel is worth 24,000 words. This video is 43 seconds long, which means it's worth over 1 million words! That's what I think anyway . . .
Okay, so maybe it's not so exciting for anyone who wasn't holding him, but I hope you enjoy his yawn and little lip-smacking sounds!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
David Iver Lambourne
Announcing the birth of our first son, David Iver Lambourne, born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, December 18, 2008 at 3:53pm, weighing in at 8 lbs, 10 oz., and stretching to reach 21 inches long.Rachel underwent a minor inducement at 9:00pm Wednesday night. Sleep was hard to come by for all parties involved (Rachel, Collin, and Mom Dollahite) but after the dark hours of the night, we were greeted with a beautiful sunrise coming up behind the Boston skyline outside our hospital room.
Blah, blah, blah, let's get to the pictures already!
The inducement herb was taken out around 9:00am on Thursday and Rachel started having good, consistent contractions to the point that the midwife decided we wouldn't need to induce her with Pitocin. Rachel breathed through the contractions well even when it seemed that the pushing stage couldn't come soon enough! The author (Collin) personally thinks she was absolutely wonderful in how she bore the pain and in her determination to bring the baby to our family.
Thanks to the nurses and midwives at Mt. Auburn Hospital, to Mom Dollahite for her knowledge and calming influence, and to Rachel for making such a cute baby!
The inducement herb was taken out around 9:00am on Thursday and Rachel started having good, consistent contractions to the point that the midwife decided we wouldn't need to induce her with Pitocin. Rachel breathed through the contractions well even when it seemed that the pushing stage couldn't come soon enough! The author (Collin) personally thinks she was absolutely wonderful in how she bore the pain and in her determination to bring the baby to our family.
Thanks to the nurses and midwives at Mt. Auburn Hospital, to Mom Dollahite for her knowledge and calming influence, and to Rachel for making such a cute baby!Sunday, December 14, 2008
Extra Innings
We're officially overdue and ready for the baby whenever he decides to come! Above is Rachel with our "Christmas garland" last week on the due date. Below is today.
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