One month check-up

One healthy baby boy. He has gained over three pounds since birth, grown an inch, and is doing everything he's supposed to be doing.

We're more and more grateful every day, for the way he came into this world and the person he is becoming.

Happy first month, little guy. You're still too young for cupcakes, so I'll have one for you. It's the least I can do.

Tongue tied

Today we endured Hank's first medical procedure, and it went very well - as the old adage goes, it was probably harder for us than it was for him. He was born with a tongue tie, or in medical terms, ankyloglossia. It means that the little bit of tissue that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth - the frenulum - is either too short or is connected too close to the tip of the tongue (in Hank's case, it was both). Hank's tongue tie was pointed out to us in the hospital, but we didn't think much of it. In infants, tongue ties often cause problems with breastfeeding. Though Hank has certainly shown no difficulty putting on weight (he gained another 11 ounces in the past five days!), nursing has consistently been painful for me. After working with a lactation consultant and ruling out several other possible causes, we decided to address the tongue tie.

We met with an ear nose and throat doctor at the beautiful new Children's Hospital here in Pittsburgh today, who confirmed Hank's tongue tie and suggested clipping it. Everything we'd read and heard about the procedure was that it was really no big deal for the baby, comparable in sensation to getting a vaccination. The doctor just lifts the tongue and snips the tissue underneath. Back in the day, apparently, midwives used to snip it with their fingernails after birth! Sure enough, the procedure took about thirty seconds, and Hank cried more when the doctor looked in his ears with the scope than he did when they clipped his frenulum. He was able to nurse right away, and he has been playing with his tongue all evening. We're hopeful that this will enable him to nurse more effectively, and cause less pain for me, as well as preventing any difficulties in the future - and now he'll be able to stick his tongue out at us when he gets mad.

More information on tongue tie

trip to the magical land of photosynthesis

Each little trip we take feels like a small success. Last night, we went to eat and shopped a bit at Target. Today, we thought going to take in the flora of the Phipps conservatory sounded like a good idea. It was and we enjoyed walking around in one giant greenhouse and momentarily forgetting that it's pretty chilly outside today in Pittsburgh. Just a couple pictures to share the green-ness with you all.

(For our blog readers in Pittsburgh who have not been to Phipps, you're missing the boat! That's especially true if you're a student, cause you get in for free...)

Henry slingin' it

They do weddings in here

Some fancy orchid

Another fancy orchid

Dale Chihuly glass

Glamour Shots

Here are some shots from Hank's first photo shoot - all 10 pounds 9 ounces of him! Two and a half weeks and he has already gained two pounds from his birth weight. These photos were taken by our talented and gracious neighbor, Jess. Thanks Jess!

life through baby-tinted glasses

I don't know what color that is exactly, but Babies R' Us would have us believe it's only pink or blue.

There was quite a bit of advice I was given (both solicited and otherwise) before Hank was born. Some of it endearing, some of it warnings, and so on. If I were to unfairly boil it down into one main sentiment, however, it would be, "Your life as you know it is about to change. Enjoy it while it lasts." Another blogger put it this way:

"Several friends and acquaintances have recently announced their first pregnancies, and I find myself offering the usual pithy niceties and dull truisms, an aloof veteran patting the backs of the new recruits just before they hoist themselves over the top into the maelstrom of shrapnel and armament. Welcome to the trenches. I hope you don't mind the smell of human excrement."

-www.sweet-juniper.com

(By the way, that post ends up being quite endearing and worth the read.)

Saddled with all of that advice even days before his birth, I don't know that I'd wrapped my head around what this was all going to feel like. To tell you the truth, I was more concerned about my hair-brained dog and her penchant for swallowing small, expensive, rubber things (the rubber things only become expensive when a vet needs to extract them from a small intestine).

Now, of course I had that Hallmark moment when I saw my son for the first time at birth. I thought he was the most amazing ball of squirmy wetness I'd even seen, but that moment was filled with so much emotion that processing it at the time was impossible. With two weeks and three days passed, it's all starting to come into enough focus so that I can relate to some of that advice people gave me.

Indeed, your life changes. What I'm feeling, though, is not really the sort of weight-of-the-world-I'm-responsible-for-another-life-forever sort of thing. I'm also not referring to the same sobering reality a college undergrad feels after graduation when he has to shave every day, go to work and stop acting the fool. You see, that's the sort of life changes I thought people were sort-of referring to in their advice.

It changes you because even the little stuff is not about you anymore. I've had thoughts since Henry's birth that I never could have predicted. For example, I was about to make a somewhat aggressive lane change yesterday and gave it a second thought. I likely could have made it safely, but that little bugger pops into my mind at the most random and often intervals. Rather than considering being deprived of the trappings of our "former life," I'm just happy and content with what our life is now.

So, even now, I'm not sure what advice I'd give to someone else about to suit up for this gig. Maybe just enjoy it for what it is and know that whatever changes come to your life will make you forget what in the hell you used to do with your time.

Besides, what could be more fun than just staring at this goober and watching him make funny faces?

Family portrait

Today we went for a walk! Outside!

New normal

So, wow, a week just went by. We've been over here, adjusting to this new life and figuring each other out. All things considered, it's going quite well. We had a few rough nights but we're learning how to schedule our days in order to encourage Hank to sleep at night, and routines are forming. Turns out he's a pretty neat kid.

sleepy

let's go Pens!



first bath... not a fan


best friends


Saturday morning

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving... Guess it's pretty obvious what we're thankful for this year.

- Val

They call it "labor" for a reason, you know...

Yes, I know.

One week removed, it's still a bit difficult for me to process what it took to get Hank into this world. Adam and I have been talking about it bit by bit, and certain parts are coming into focus while others have already begun to fade away. Last week at this time we had checked into the hospital, excited that I had progressed to 7 cm with relatively little discomfort, thinking we'd have a baby in our arms before we knew it. But it would be twelve long hours before we got to meet the little guy, and I'm not sure either of us had any idea what was coming.

Birth fulfilled many of the stereotypes - it was amazing, and difficult, and life-changing, and all of that. It was the birth I wanted, and that I had hoped for without knowing if I could hack it. We did it - Adam and I did it, because I could not have done it without him - without interventions or drugs. Many factors worked in our favor, and some worked against me. My labor progressed naturally (though much more slowly than I might have liked) and the midwives attending the birth never imposed any time limits or deadlines on the process. No one ever told me there was a problem or suggested that there wasn't satisfactory progress, and I was constantly encouraged by everyone in the room. Also, Henry held up incredibly through days of contractions and four hours (!) of pushing, his heart rate staying strong and never giving anyone reason to worry. He was posterior presenting, however, which accounts for the long labor and pushing and the back pain I experienced. Still, I don't feel like I did something extraordinary... things just progressed and happened, and I got through them one step at a time, and then suddenly he was here, screaming and eyes open and none of that mattered any longer. Looking at the photographs now, I'm amazed by the look of happiness and energy on my face after the birth. Overall I'm incredibly grateful for the experience, even if it had its ugly moments. And besides, the outcome is so very cute and snuggly, it's hard to hold a grudge.

Tina, the midwife who delivered Henry.

- Val

our first babysitter

Her method of calming is mostly obsessive licking, but Henry doesn't seem to mind.


p.s. No babies or dogs were harmed in the taking of this photo, nor do we let her lick the baby. It is inevitable, however, that if Addie is left to her own devices, she will give him the most exfoliating tongue bath he'll ever have.

Pictures

As far as the first couple nights go, it wasn't so bad. We got some sleep (almost 3.5 consecutive hours last night) and Henry must be eating well since he's not losing much of his birth weight.

As promised, here are some more pictures.


No occasion would be complete without at least one self-portrait, so this was the first father-son portrait.



And the first family self-portrait. Henry's best side isn't really facing the camera, so we'll work on it next time.

One of many contorted facial expressions.


It's a cool, grey day in Pittsburgh, but staying inside and changing poopy diapers sounds like the perfect Saturday to me.

-dad

Welcome home, Sir Henry.

When we left the house on Monday afternoon to go to a previously scheduled (41 week) appointment at the midwives' office, I said something like, "We might be coming back home tonight, so let's not get our hopes up." Fortunately, we left with bags in tow and our recovering dog ready to be taken care of by very gracious neighbors. Three days later, we've returned to our house and a recovered dog with those suitcases and one additional person.

As you all know by now, this guy was born Tuesday, November 17th at 9:34am.

Henry Leo Cummings's fighting weight started at 8 lbs 9 oz and 21 3/4 inches long, which just might give him a chance against his slightly older cousin Garrett.

We're still processing everything that took place this week, but we're pretty thrilled to have everyone healthy and ready to start this adventure. Thanks to everyone to has visited us, emailed us, fed and cared for our dog and generally conveyed happy thoughts in our direction. They were appreciated more than you all know.

Stay tuned over the coming days and weeks for more about us and him trying to figure this all out.

-dad