Day One Hundred and Sixty Nine

A snapshot of my first day that Chris went back to work:

  The remnants of a yummy dinner brought by a friend, my wonderful spillproof thermos that keeps my tea hot as I sip on it for hours, a breastfeeding book that I'm reading to stop Max from choking on my overactive letdown, a novel I had hoped to read, and papers with ideas for riddles for the advent calendar I'm working on filling for the Sean and Jack, and hand sanitizer since we're all working on washing our hands before we pick up the baby. 

Day One Hundred and Sixty Eight

Big and Little Brother

Jack wanted a picture of his hand with Max's.  Here are 3 different versions.  My favorite is the last one.

Day One Hundred and Sixty Seven

Pumpkin hanging out with Chris. 

It was unusual to see him sitting there, since it's not particularly warm like someones lap.  (I guess he'd been kicked off my lap a lot lately, since Max has taken over that spot.)  What is usual for Pumpkin, though, is that he didn't seem upset by the changes and was quite content in his new spot. 

He truly is the Zen master of the house. 

 

Day One Hundred and Sixty Six

Becky trying out the Moby wrap

This gave Becky a chance to hold Max a different way and enjoy him drifting between being awake and asleep.  We've all been enjoying the slower pace of these last 2 weeks and getting to hold Max a lot. 

Chris and Max

Day One Hundred and Sixty Five

My Three Sons

Day One Hundred and Sixty Four

Chris singing to and dancing with Max. 

Chris made a baby theme CD mix and here he is sharing one of the songs with Max.  We've all noticed that Max seems to notice and listen to music that is playing in the house.  He doesn't seem to have any preferences yet, just looks like he's paying attention. 

Day One Hundred and Sixty Three

Talking to Max

He was awake and turning to the sound of our voices.

Day One Hundred and Sixty Two

Max's first trip out: 

He went for a ride to take Jack to guitar lessons. 

He didn't mind riding in the car seat and slept for most of the trip. 

Day One Hundred and Sixty One

Max in the Moby wrap

I am loving the Moby wrap!  I can tuck him in and I have 2 hands free (I'm wearing him in it right now!).  It's almost like being pregnant- I find I move the same way.  Jack said it was like I was pregnant, but that we could peek in and see Max, and that now he is dressed.

Day One Hundred and Sixty

Max and 2 kitties

This is the most attention Pumpkin has given Max so far.  I think he just liked the sunny spot!

Day One Hundred and Fifty Nine

Max's arrival is bring lots of wonderful visitors to our home.

Alice and Max

Gayle and Max (I love her big smile!)

Day One Hundred and Fifty Eight

Today:

 more resting, checking Max out, and him checking us out.

Day One Hundred and Fifty Seven

Tired, but happy. 

We had a cozy day today, holding Max, feeding Max, resting and listening to music.  Pretty wonderful! 

Day One Hundred and Fifty Six

Max's first day home.  Jack was thrilled to find Max at home when he got back from PE class. 

 Heather meets Max.   She's carrying 2 of Max's future friends, due to arrive in about 3 months.   

Day One Hundred and Fifty Five

The Munchkin has arrived!

Max Christopher O'Brien was born on November 14 at 3:16am weighing 8.5 pounds.

Max's wild ride into my arms took only 8 hours once it started.  He was 5 days late, but he didn't waste any time arriving once he decided it was time.  He was born 45 minutes after we got to the hospital, and a few minutes before the midwife got there.  A wonderful nurse, Faith, caught him as he entered into the world. 

Here is Max's paternal grandmother, Becky, taking her first look at Max.

Jack gave Max his old beloved blankie as Max's first birth day gift.

Maternal grandparents, Fred and Alyce, also visited Max on his birthday.

Chris, holding Max just 15 minutes after birth.

Day One Hundred and Fifty Four

Labor has begun!

This was what I focused on as I sat on the exercise ball during contractions.  It really did feel good to think of all the love and support that my friends shared with me at the blessingway.  Another special thing was that Melaine got to blow out the candles before we all headed to the hospital.

Day One Hundred and Fifty Three

I'm huge!  The munchkin is getting ready to burst out!

Day One Hundred and Fifty Two

Pumpkin has been quite cuddly lately.  Don't know if it's the cooler weather or that he knows he should soak up the attention before the munchkin arrives. 

Day One Hundred and Fifty One

The baby's due date has come and gone. 

We're all awaiting his arrival.  I vacillate between being present in the pregnancy and being impatient to meet the little guy.  We wonder when he'll make his arrival!

Day One Hundred and Fifty

Another beautiful fall day!  This day we went to the JMU Planetarium to watch a movie about the 7 wonders of the world and universe.  It was a fascinating film with beautiful shots of galactic wonders.  Then we ate lunch and hung out at a park, with a great view of the mountains.  I'm impressed that the kids, ages 8-14, can still enjoy the playground.  Below is a picture of some kind of pod that the ground was covered with.  The kids collected them and used them as money.   The collecting and exchanging was neat to watch.

Day One Hundred and Forty Nine

Jack is taking a basketball clinic.  He's been really enjoying playing basketball with Chris and at PE, so he's now taking it to the next level. 

Day One Hundred and Forty Eight

Fall light and painted bricks

I am painting bricks with our house number, 328, to sit in front of our house. We had a painted rock, but it disappeared.  Chris took this picture because he liked how the scene on the porch looked.  

Day One Hundred and Forty Seven

Finishing up the blanket has become my labor project.  I started this blanket last year and then set it aside for many months. My plan is to keep working on it until the baby is born and then it will be done.  It's a good thing to keep my hands and mind busy while I'm waiting for the little guy's arrival.  And it keeps my lap warm as I knit.

Day One Hundred and Forty Six

Quite Pregnant!

Day One Hundred and Forty Five

Packing peanut art

Day One Hundred and Forty Four

Another silly *cat in the basket* picture.

As I've said before, Crystal loves baskets.  Here she curled up in a picnic basket on top of some Halloween candy.

Day One Hundred and Forty Three

Candy Castle

Sean and Jack have a tradition of building castles with their Halloween candy. Jack was the only one who went trick-or-treating this year, so he built the entire scene.

Day One Hundred and Forty Two

Jack-in-the-box

This was Jack's Halloween costume this year.  When people asked what he was he said "Well, my name is Jack, so I'm a Jack-in-the-box".  Adults found this very clever, but some of the kids didn't quite get it.

Day One Hundred and Forty One

Pregnant bellies!

Here I am about 9 months pregnant and Heather is 5 months pregnant (with twins!).  This picture was actually inspired by one Anna and I took 10 years ago when we were pregnant with Jack and Holly.  It's been wonderful being pregnant at the same time as Heather, and I look forward to our kids playing together, just like Holly and Jack do.