So, you are one day over three weeks old as I BEGIN to type out my thoughts and feelings since you came into this world.  I emphasized "begin" simply because I am unsure when I am actually going to finish these posts.  It was my thought that I would update your blog daily with little observations and thoughts I had throughout the day.  I still think that is how it will end up working, but for now we are still trying to get into a better rhythm having you around the house.  I hope that this helps you in the future to understand what it actually means to raise your first child.

Let's go in order, starting with the first few days of your life in the hospital.  As I already mentioned in the last (and only) other post I made, your actual birthday was amazing.  But as much as it was amazing, it was a glimpse into what that rest of my life would be...mainly it would be all about YOU.  Once your mom and I were finally settled into our room in the maternity ward, floor 3, room 23 (easily remembered as Michael Jordan's number), at Reston hospital, the fun began.  Over the course of the next hours and days there was a constant stream of doctors, nurses, family and friends coming to check in/visit with you.

The first day included visits from Nanny, Pops

Grandpa, Grandma and Aunt Julianne

Uncle Brent and Alison

and your cousin Monica

Everyone was obviously thrilled to meet you for the first time and I don't think that we really had much of a chance to hold you ourselves for the entire first day.  There were lots of pictures taken which I will make sure to save somewhere for you to look at them any time you want.  Nanny gave us the outfit and blanket that I came home from the hospital in when I was born and Uncle Brent made sure to bring a pink stuffed bear named Polo.  He bought that for you because he had a white one exactly like it when he was a baby.

The days in the hospital were not too bad for me.  Your mom and I had very different experiences because she was obviously recovering from major surgery and could not really get out of bed until two days after you were born.  I on the other hand left the hospital each day for a few hours to workout, shower and get some work done.  Other than one day, work was pretty light for me because everyone knew I had a new addition to the family so they did not bother me too much.  When I was not at the hospital, someone else was always with your mom and you from the family.  Mostly Aunt Julianne and Grandma kept her company throughout the day while Nanny and Pops stopped in each day to say hello as well.

Since Grandma is Mom's mom, she was really excited to be with the both of you as much as possible to make sure Mom was doing okay, and that was expected.  What was also expected was that Nanny made sure we had everything we needed including food and changes of clothes for me just in case.  The surprising thing to your Mom was the affection Pops seemed to show toward you right from the beginning.  Something Pops does well is hide his soft side from everyone when in reality he probably has the biggest heart of anyone I know.  I think that your Mom finally got a chance to see that side of him when he held you.

Moving on a little more chronologically, let me go back to the end of the first day of your life.  After everyone had finally left for the night your mom and I finally got to be alone, just the three of us for the first time since you were born.  I had run home earlier in the day to grab a lamp from home to make the room feel a little cozier.  The lights were simply awful in there, so we wanted something more peaceful.  We sat in the glow of the lamp, with your mom on drugs for the pain and me relaxing in my chair that was to become my bed each night we were in the hospital.

It felt like it was past midnight when we turned on the TV to watch our first ever Steelers game as a family. (not the most flattering pic of us)

I fell asleep during part of the game because I was so worn out, but it was a typical Steelers game, low scoring and full of scary moments, thankfully we ended up beating the Chiefs by a field goal in overtime.  A nail biter for sure and the first of many you will be forced to sit through as you grow older.

Speaking of the Steelers, on Wednesday, Ed and Pat Stetz and their granddaughter Brooke, stopped by for a visit. They have been a big part of Nanny and Pop's life and have become a big part of mine and your Mom's life so far.  In fact, Ed is the one who married your mom and I!

Getting back to the first day, we finally called it a "night" after the game.  I struggled with turning my chair into a bed, but once I had it figured out it was actually pretty comfortable and like every following night in the hospital I slept like a log.  I wish I could say the same for your mom!

The next morning I woke up as something hit me on the head.  Your mom had grabbed the closest object to me in order to wake me from my deep sleep.  That scared her a little.  Not because she thought she hurt me, but because I had slept through the entire night without budging while you apparently cried off and on all night long and kept her up and stressed for 8 straight hours!  I was hoping I slept through it only because in the back of my mind I knew your mom and the nurses were there to take care of you.  However, I learned later that day from Nanny, that apparently Pops slept through everything when I was a baby as well.   Like father, like son I guess!  I just hope it doesn't get me into too much trouble with your mom in the future as you grow older.

The second day of your life, a Tuesday, pretty much set up the pattern for the next three days.   It was basically mom slowly feeling better and better, you crying a lot and sleeping a lot and me going to the gym and sitting in the room with your mom.  Some interesting things of note that would be better as a list:

• I woke up Tuesday with a sore and red eye.  I immediately went to the doctor's (strange considering I had to leave a hospital to see a doctor) and found out that I had pink eye.  I went and got some drops for it and some hand sanitizer because I did not want to get you sick with it and I certainly did not want to have to stay away from you. I made the decision not to tell the nurses that I had pink eye for fear that they would not allow me on the floor with all of those babies.  Thankfully, nothing happened, however you did not get a chance to see my face without glasses on for almost two weeks after you were born.  I am still wondering if that is why it took you longer to like me (more on that later).


• We found out the second day that you were holding your head up on your own for a few split seconds at a time.  Although that is not unheard of, it takes some babies weeks before they can do that!  You certainly weren't strong enough to keep it up for long, but you love to lift it up and look around as much as possible. Already exploring the world and hopefully finding it as fascinating as I do.


• You were quickly becoming a lively little girl.  Although you slept a lot, each day we could see you growing and becoming more "you."  As each day went on, you began to open your eyes more and look around more.  I'm not sure how much you could see, but every now and then something made you smile (although it was probably just when you passed gas).  You got a little more active each day and I noticed how strong you were.  Changing your diaper or putting your shirt on you was getting to be a little more difficult as you pulled and yanked your limbs from us when we tried to maneuver them.  I'm not sure what that means for your future, but right now you are tall, skinny and strong for you age.  Let's see how that turns out!

This needs its own section or post probably but...Breast feeding.  Those two words were a nightmare for us while in the hospital.  Although you seemed to want to "latch on" to Mom the very first time, you simply were not getting enough milk.  We worked with the nurses and lactation specialists in the hospital each day trying to get you to eat, but it just was not working.

Your mom was getting very frustrated and then we go some bad news.  You were born 6 pounds 9 ounces.  However, by Thursday morning you were down to 5 pounds, 14 ounces.  That was a little over 10% loss of weight.  It is at 10% that doctors start to worry a little bit. (look how tiny you were)

It made your mom very sad and it was the first time she shed a tear for you.  She felt like it was her fault.  I promised her it wasn't and things would be fine, but she was definitely a "mom" now and you could tell she would do anything for you to make you better.  The fact that she could not was killing her inside.

We had planned on leaving Thursday and your mom was actually feeling good enough to head home, however we decided we wanted to stay one more night and continue to work with the nurses.  We need to get you eating!

Finally, one of the lactation specialists knew the problem!  It turns out your mom needed a little "help" in the nipple department.  You simply could not get enough of it into your mouth.  After she brought in a little rubber thing called a "nipple shield" it was like the clouds parted and the sun came shinning down.  Unfortunately, I was not there when it happened, but when I got back to the hospital your mom had the biggest smile on her face.  It was the biggest relief for the both of us and not the first time your mom cried for joy over it.

With your eating taken care of we were ready to leave Friday.  We woke up in the morning and by the time all the paper work was done and the doctors had checked you out I packed up the car and we said our goodbyes to the nurses.  We strapped our new little bundle of joy into the carrier for the first time, covered you with blanket and booties that I came home from the hospital in as a baby and said goodbye to your first home.  After getting you into the car with no problem, mom jumped in the back seat and we were off into the world you will grow up in.

The drive home was less than five minutes and when we got there a sign from our neighbors (Susan and John), Nanny, Pops, Grandma, Grandpa, Julianne and Kodi all welcomed you to your real first home for the the first time ever.

Hold onto your seat little girl, this is going to be one crazy ride.

I love you,

Dad.