Check Up

Williamsburg, 2014

Axel had his 2 year checkup today, and Oscar his six month visit (a few weeks early.) Both were troopers for their shots. Ozzy is 17 pounds and Axel is 28!

It was a gorgeous day in Brooklyn, which helped a bit with my post-holiday malaise. Back to the fashion mines tomorrow...

Check Ups

Axel, 2014

Cute boys!

I had a 37 week scan yesterday and the little fellow is weighing in at around 6 lbs 15 ounces, while Axel had his 18 month check up today, and is 25 lbs and 6 ounces and 32.5". He was shuffling around the exam room in his diaper with a lollipop which was very cute.

Every time Axel looks at this page of the book (which has confetti on it), he says "Snow!" And we are apparently getting a few more inches tomorrow night, sigh.

Check Up

Axel, 2013

This is Axel mid-cackle (not grimace) at his pediatrician's office this afternoon. His stitches are doing fine, though they look rather menacing, and he is in high spirits today.

We have one more follow up with his surgeon in about a week and then I am really hoping that we can close this chapter in his medical history (onto his 9 month well baby visit and more routine first year concerns.)

It's gorgeous weather out and though I'm still absorbing the craziness of the last several days (and weeks and months, I suppose), I feel somehow unburdened. It's tough seeing your baby with a major scar, but less so when he is so joyful in spite of it all.

I also feel like I can think ahead again. Easter parties, summer plans, and the rest of it.

MRI Update

Axel, 2013

We woke up at 5:45 this morning so we could take Axel to get his MRI.

I am so relieved to report that it went really well. They got the images they needed, and he didn't have to have full general anaesthetic after all. They were instead able to give him an oral medication that conked him out for the 45 minutes or so, so no IV, and a lot less anxiety for me and Will.

It's been quite the process getting this test. Our doctor first ordered that it be attempted without sedation, when Axel was about 3 months old, but he startled in the machine and we had to reschedule (they suggested we do so when he was 6 months old, since babies that age tolerate sedation better.)

Late last month, we had to cancel that second appointment because Axel had a cold; our doctor's office told us the next available appointment was in March. But earlier this week, after some pressing on our part, they found today's slot for us.

The appointment was easier than I had expected it to be. Axel played with one of the hospital toys while we were admitted, then drank a syringe full of a nasty tasting liquid, cried a bit, and fell asleep in my arms. When we were allowed to come back and see him in recovery, he was wide awake (with sheet marks on his face from where they bundled him into the machine, looking rumpled but completely like himself.) We stayed there until they had checked him out and he had taken a bottle, and then we all bundled ourselves back into the car.

The next step is surgery (we needed the MRI to get a proper diagnosis and to schedule it), but somehow, this limbo has been the worst of it. It's nice to feel that we're making forward progress and I felt like a weight was off of my shoulders today.

Axel, 2013

Like a Weed

Axel, 2013

We had a doctor's visit today and Axel is clocking in at 16 pounds, 14 oz. and 26 inches long.

Even his clothes are starting to look a little less like baby clothes and a little more like boy clothes. Meanwhile, he's a big fan of looking out of the window on drives ("Oooh, how gritty and urban, mom!"), parsnip and apple mash, and doing little spins in his crib. I often come in and find him with his head down at the bottom, where his feet were the night before.

It's true that four months felt like a huge milestone, but as we approach six he feels like he's left behind that newborn phase for good. I can definitely see glimmers of a kid.

Charm Offensive

Axel, 2012

Oh man, this guy was all smiles at the doctor's office.

And weighing in at 15 pounds, 1 ounce. He went from the 29th percentile for weight at his 3 month check up to the 38th at today's appointment. He seemed to have a good time showing off his latest skills, like putting weight on his feet when standing, grabbing his feet in Happy Baby pose, doing his mini push ups, and making rasberries.

It's kind of amazing to look back at his first newborn check up. At the time he seemed so robust to me, but he was such a little chicken!

He was momentarily very upset by his shots but recovered quickly and is now spread-eagled in his crib.

Our doctor encourages us to introduce solids now, skipping baby cereals for pureed versions of whatever we're eating. Basically anything but raw honey. Can't wait for the experiments to begin.

Early Risers

Axel, New York, 2012

This morning, we got up before sunrise to take Axel to midtown for an MRI on his cyst. The light was amazing, and driving into the city I couldn't help but feel very lucky to be seeing it, even though taking your child to a hospital is never something you really want to be doing.

A month or so ago, we met with a pediatric neurosurgeon. Even though Axel's cyst is most likely superficial and mainly a cosmetic issue, because it's on his head, the neurosurgeon it is.

Our doctor seems great and very capable. You know how at work, you sometimes joke, "We're not curing cancer," or "We're not saving babies"? Well, yeah, these guys are in fact saving babies every day.

He was very reassuring and recommended we remove the cyst around the time he is is 6 months old. But to schedule that surgery, we need the MRI. Today was our attempt to do it without sedation. Unfortunately our sound asleep, well fed, and tightly swaddled baby woke up screaming as soon as the machine was turned on. Which means we are back to square one.

Afterwards, he looked momentarily worried, but was back to naps and high spirits as soon as we got home.

For us it's a little more complicated. Even though we've known about Axel's cyst since he was a 16-week-old fetus, and we've known he would likely need surgery for it at some point, the logistics of the here and the now are tough. But we trucked it back to Brooklyn, dosed ourselves up on coffee, and are still feeling very lucky.

Baby Bureaucracy

Axel, 2012

Who knew babies required so much paperwork. Today I schlepped around Greenpoint and Williamsburg trying to find a photo shop that would take infant passport pictures. It's a highly technical procedure that entails laying them on a piece of poster board on the floor. He looks like a tiny gangster.

Then we went into the city with a mountain of paperwork to process said passport. After that it was on to his two month check up and a few shots. Axel fared pretty well after some initial shouts of surprise. He's also weighing in at 11 pounds and 14 ounces. Amazing to believe he's nearly doubled in size since birth. He is a large, happy fellow (with a tired mama.)

Five Weeks Old: Baby Jail

Axel, 2012

After a loooong night last night, Axel and I ventured into Manhattan today for my 6 week postpartum check up (which happened a week early.) He did great in the baby carrier and slept every time we got on the subway. I got the all clear to work out and have my first Baby Boot Camp class tomorrow.

After a little walking tour of Soho, we went to visit Will at work where baby A. got plenty of attention.

The afternoon was all about Baby Jail, aka, getting used to his new room and crib. Though we plan on keeping Axel in our room for the foreseeable future, I am hoping to get him used to napping in his room so the transition, and, er, sleep training, is easier down the line.

Williamsburg, 2012

Other than that, he's getting more and more demanding of attention, which means lots of interaction and fewer returned phone calls. I got a big smile today though, which made it all worthwhile.

One Month In

Williamsburg, 2012

Well, Will went back to the grind today and Axel and I survived our first day alone together (incidentally, his one month birthday...)

We got up and out and had breakfast together at the Verb, met up with my moms' group, and went for his check up with the pediatrician (he is now a robust 9 pounds and 8 ounces.) Lattes were consumed, emails were returned, and I managed to start a new book. Oddly, the day felt much like my days pre-Axel.

One month in I'm not sure how much wisdom I have to impart.

I can read his expressions much better now and have developed hunches about this and that. Of course, it can be tempting to rationalize infant behavior, when sometimes there really is no good reason for a crying jag or a fit of crankiness. Sometimes it's just because. You have to let go of your adult need to explain and solve and understand.

Still...hard to believe that something the size of a roasting chicken has such strong opinions. I am feeling pretty chipper, given the lack of sleep. Axel is one hungry fellow and I rarely sleep for more than an hour and 45 minutes at a time. If you had told me that a few months ago I would have laughed (or sobbed.) But I keep reminding myself that it's temporary, and that sooner or later his stomach will be big enough to hold larger meals that will tide him over for longer stretches of the night. When he sleeps from 7 'til 7, trust me, I will be popping the Champagne.

7 Pounds

Axel, 2012

Well, we took Axel off for his second check up this morning. He's gained an astounding 14 ounces since we left the hospital and is now 7 pounds even. That explains his Jaws-style night feedings, I suppose! So he's regained the weight he lost immediately after birth and has now surpassed his birth weight. This makes me feel much better about all the cluster feeds and taking him on his first vacation.

Will and I celebrated with coffee at Blue Bottle and are now busily packing up the car for our epic, Griswold-style road trip. Stay tuned!

First Check Up

August, 2012

He is such a little chicken!

Today, day four, it's started to feel like we are (sort of) getting in the swing of things. We are fed, showered, napped and mostly vertical.

I was joking earlier today that breastfeeding feels a little like feeding the parking meter. Once the baby is fed, you have maybe 30 minutes of time until the next meltdown to accomplish whatever it is you need to accomplish. Especially now, when his stomach is so teeny and he needs to eat so constantly.

Breastfeeding has been going pretty well. Every day I feel a little bit more confident. In the hospital, I went to two breastfeeding classes, but it was a little hard to tell if anything was sticking because my milk hadn't yet come in. Now that it's here, things are getting a little more predictable. Aside from some frantic cluster feeding every night between midnight and four, Axel's doing pretty well and I'm getting more and more sure of myself.

The great news is that he's gaining back some of the weight he lost after birth. He was born at 6 lbs 8 oz, and was down to 6 lb, 2 oz when we were discharged, which is fairly typical. Today at his first pediatrician's visit, he was back up to 6 lbs 6 oz. And long! 19 3/4" long.

We are now watching a movie and preparing for his next all night rave.

Stats

Williamsburg, 2012

Latest trip to the doctor's and baby is getting big!

At 31 weeks and 6 days, he's 4 pounds, 1 ounce, with a heart rate of 147. He's still very much down and in the right position so I am not planning on any headstands any time soon. Fingers crossed he stays there. So the little jabs I've been feeling down low are either elbows or hands, while his feet are up about midway between my belly button and my rib cage.

The ultrasound tech said that at this point, babies will typically gain between a half a pound and a pound every two weeks. So that would put us somewhere between 6 pounds and 1 oz. and 8 pounds and 1 oz. Time will tell...

Check Up

New York, 2012

Will left bright and early this morning for a wedding in Los Angeles. I am really sad to be missing out on the adventure but with so much going on this summer, two 6-hour flights in four days seemed like a lot to add to the mix. I have no doubts that I could have pulled it off, but a few weeks ago we just decided he should go solo this time. My husband is basically a professional wedding guest so I have no doubt he will have a blast.

I then headed to one of my routine doctor's appointments. 30 Weeks! From now until 36 weeks they are every 2 weeks, and after that, they are every week.

My doctor's office is a group practice, and so today I met a new doctor I really liked and we chatted quite a bit about my hospital visit. She said that 40% of the women who use our practice deliver naturally, which was part of what drew her to it. I haven't ruled out an epidural but that's not my preference, and I was glad that she said that they really don't push it if you don't want one.

It's amazing what a difference a doctor's demeanor makes to your level of confidence in this whole process.

Afterwards, I walked a mile in the sunshine to the L train and headed home for one of my freelance sandwiches.

Well Hello There

Williamsburg, 2012

The blog posts have been scant lately, I know.

I've been busy bustling about the city. Yesterday I had a doctor's checkup and my gestational diabetes screening. Seems a little odd to purposefully mess with your glucose levels to that extent (sorry baby, blech, that drink was awful!) but hopefully I will get the all clear very soon and won't have to do any further tests.

All is well chez baby...my uterus is measuring on target for 27 weeks and the heartbeat was great. I have another ultrasound next Wednesday so we will be able to see what the little guy is up to in there then. He has been doing plenty of high kicks (or punches?) Not quite sure.

Will and I have been getting very excited for his arrival and can hardly believe that my due date is three months from today. This weekend we are celebrating with dueling baby showers. Will is having a boozy brunch out while the gals celebrate at home. Then the boys will be joining us for gifts and more merriment. When plans were first afoot, I could tell that Will wanted to be involved and I am glad he will be. After all, bambino is a joint production and we should both get to celebrate.

Will says that with each passing day he feels more and more prepared and I have to agree. I guess that's all part of the process that is pregnancy.

Lately

New York, 2012

We had a good doctor's appointment today. Baby is squirming away and is weighing in at 1 pound, 7 ounces, right on track for 23 weeks and 6 days. I am feeling fine, though a slew of appointments in the city yesterday made me think it's going to be quite something to haul myself around on the subway come July. It's not that I don't have the energy for the stairs, per se. It's more the hoards of aggressive people coming at me from every direction and the kind of griminess of the whole experience. I normally hate taking taxis during the day, but I might soon become a serious fan of the concept.

Beats Per Minute

Astor Place

Had a good check up this morning. We didn't get to see the baby, but we heard the heartbeat (140-150 bpm) and a kick on the doppler, so all good news.

My practice is in Soho, and you alternate visits between the doctors and midwives. This visit was incredibly brief, but in 10 days we have our first anatomy scan so that will be much more substantial.

Afterwards, I poked around Nolita and did a good bit of walking. It's one of those cold, blue-skied winter days when all the colors of the brick buildings (and strange street art) really pop. Between the appointment and the weather, it was hard not to feel optimistic.

I spent the rest of morning doing a few of my favorite things. I met a friend for lunch at Tartinery, I bought a travel guide on the Virgin islands for our upcoming trip, and I stopped into Blick Art Supplies on Bond Street to pick up three new photo albums.

Now to tackle the "organize the gazillion photos I've taken in the past 2 years" item on my pregnancy to do list.