Month One (with pictures!)

(I preface this post with the fact that I am a new mom and may or may not proofread, correct grammatical errors, and use a "good" comma splice or two. I also did not make this post beautiful, as I blog (or facebook) while pumping. Please forgive the mess but enjoy the pictures and update! Oh, and my next goal is to learn how to post and edit photos!)

So, it's been a month since we all came home. Samuel has had a lot of love and visitors already. My family came to stay for a few days and celebrated Christmas with us. Kyle's family came the day after Christmas and stayed until after New Years. My brother, sister, and nephew stayed for a couple of days, and Kyle's brother and girlfriend stayed for a few days. We definitely enjoyed having so much help and love! 

Momma Mo!

Nanny & Pappi

Pappi

Pops

Nanny

Dad feeding Samuel with a Supplemental Nursing System.

Bundled up and ready to go to the doctor again.
Thanks, Aunt Laura for the awesome hat!

 Samuel's first ER visit, IV, and ultrasound.

Dad sleeping with Samuel at the ER.

Aunt Candace & Emerson

Aunt Candace, Emerson, & Uncle Travis

Uncle Travis & Abner

One of my Christmas outfits!

Another Christmas outfit!

Christmas bib!

Christmas outfit!

Uncle Ryan and Aunt Katie dressing Samuel.

The following week, my friend from Augusta brought her daughter and we hosted the first BreastFest 2013. She spent several days sharing her mom skills and tips and gave me in-home instruction on breastfeeding. It was great having her here, as she encouraged me to get out of the house--our first outing was to Target where I acted like a prisoner out on parole--this included stuffing my face with stale popcorn and a giant soda from the eaterie. Before she left, we went to a yard sale and the fabric store. There I learned how to change a diaper and give Sam a bottle on/in the front seat of a car.

After my friend left, Kyle and I began the transition to parenting on our own. Breastfeeding has been more than a challenge, as Samuel had so much trouble latching and sucking. We were told he had underdeveloped muscle tone in his cheeks, he would be extra sleepy because he was born early, and he liked to suck his tongue, all of which are common in early babies. This resulted in him becoming a formula/bottle fed baby from day 3 of his life. We have been pumping to supplement the formula, but my supply has yet to increase enough to really sustain breastfeeding. We continue to pray for a miraculous increase, and after one month, Samuel is finally starting to figure out how to latch and suck with the use of a nipple shield. One lactation consultant told us bottles and pacifiers would actually become teaching tools for him, and we have seen how this was true. I spent so much time researching the best bottle for breastfed babies and have been pleased with the ones we found!

The bottle Mommy found!

Mom and Samuel

Sweet Sleeping Baby!

Sweetest Smile Ever!

Ha! Oh, Samuel is going to be a handful! HA!

Mom and Samuel

Dad rocking the Moby Wrap!

Just chilling in my crib.

Sam's first snow. (Yes, that is a dusting of snow on the roof.)

Sleeping is funny!

Sleep!

Sleeping with Dad!

Sleep!

Dad and Sam at the doctor!

Samuel is officially a Costco Baby!

Sam and Mom!

At Samuel's one month visit, the doctor was excited to see he was 9 lbs 10 oz. This is a huge blessing, as he was about six and a half pounds when we brought him home from the hospital. He is definitely on the "tall" size of babies, but we aren't complaining. We continue to praise God for a sweet healthy baby with a healthy set of lungs!

That's right, Sam is a month old!