Boy, oh boy!

"People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one." - Leo J. Burke

My heart is so full right now. I cannot even begin to put into words what is swirling around in this head of mine, but I will try.

Tomorrow Oliver will be one week old! :) It has been the greatest, yet scariest week of our lives. When they told us Oliver would be coming early, they always mentioned he could be a "whimpy, little white boy" -- which meant being pre-term, he would probably struggle with breathing especially since I had gestational diabetes and he was a white American boy. After being put on bed rest and my blood pressure not staying in a normal range, my nerves were all over the place. Who wants to be the reason their baby has to go to the NICU? What if Oliver cannot ever breathe on his own or will always have respiratory problems? These were the thoughts that plagued me up until I heard his lungs where able to breathe on their own at 10 am on Saturday morning. Once we heard those news, we continued to receive great news .. Oliver was wanting more food, had great oxygen satration, and no jaundice. Oliver is our little trooper!  

But enough with the sad part of the week, after Sunday morning Oliver came into our hospital and has not left our sight since. We have loved spending all our time with Oliver! Watching his MANY facial expressions, learning how to change a baby boy's diaper and dodging pee, and having him grab for our fingers have been some of the greatest moments in our lives. WE LOVE BEING PARENTS ! All of the corny things people say about having children, we have found to be very accurate. For example, what did we ever do to fill our time before him? Watching and playing with him have become our two favorite pasttimes. We also went on our first walk tonight! He slept and cooed the entire time, while Daddy and Norie walked by our side. We are enjoying our time as a family of four. :)

Oliver.. a few things about you so far.

• You love mimicking sticking your tongue out with Mommy and Daddy.
• You have gained 3 oz. since you left the hospital and now weigh a total of 5 lbs. 4 oz.!
• Your arms are very active and you hate keeping them in your swaddle, clothes, or anything else holding them down. They are always kept very close to your face (mostly posing in some kind of thinking manner, behind your head, or holding Mommy or Daddy's finger).
• You have Daddy's big feet and big fingers! You will learn to grab things with your toes just like Daddy and your Great-Uncle Walter.
• You love to make faces just like Mommy.
• You have won over the hearts of all your nurses, family, and friends.
• Every now and then while sleeping, you give just a little smile and something that sounds like a laugh.
• You sleep most of the day, but we enjoy you most when you are awake and look at us while speaking to you!
• You love listening to Frank Sinatra!
• We read to you every night, and no matter how tired you are you watch us read and look at the picture until the very end where you fall asleep.
• You are very curious about the world around you .. always looking around.
• You aren't too sure about your "big sister" Norie yet. You allow her to sniff you for a second, then move your head away and swat her away with whatever arm you have managed to pull out of your clothing or swaddle.
• You have a head full of hair .. which causes Mommy lots of heartburn! However, I wouldn't have given that up because you are so handsome with your hair.
• We are still waiting to see whose eyes you are going to have. My hope is Daddy's blue, blue eyes.
• None of your clothes fit! You are so tiny! :) They said your head was going to be big like Daddy's, but I think it is very proportional to your body! I wouldn't change anything about you! You are the cutest little fellow in the world!
• We are now on a schedule: sleep for 2.5 hours, then eat, Mommy pumps while Daddy feeds you, then the schedule starts all over! Mommy, Daddy, and "big sister" are all very exhausted, but wouldn't trade this time for anything in the world.

Daddy and you as soon as you left the nursery and were able to come into the room!

Here you are on your way home from the hospital! You wore a preemie blue and white Navy outfit Daddy had bought you while in the hospital from the gift shop! Thanks Daddy! ;)

"Hello "big sister" Norie!" .. You are enjoying time with Norie and trying to understand why she sniffs you so much!

On your way to your first doctor visit! You pooped and peed ALL over the scale while they were checking your temperature. It was very nasty.

Smiling in your sleep with your hands by your face.

One of your many faces you make that we love!

In the hospital saying "Oh mom!". It had been the first time I had seen you since the OR and I started to cry. Guess I was embrassing you already.  :)