Week 1

Dear Noah,

Your first week seems like such a long time ago now, even though it really has just been 7 weeks.  Because everything about you was so new to Mommy and Daddy, and we were, quite frankly, exhausted, those first days seem like a big blur.  Here's what M&D remember:

• You had your first pediatrician appointment (outside of her coming to visit you at the hospital) when you were 4 days old.  Mommy and Daddy were a bit nervous venturing out of the house (the first time!), but luckily your doctor's office is within walking distance from home so we were able to take you there in the stroller.  You had already regained what you lost and back up to your birth weight, which was amazing!  Everything was on the right track in terms of you being a healthy boy.
• You ate every 1.5-3 hours and slept in between feedings.
• Your first regular pee diaper came on day 5 (your pee had urate crystals in them before then).  Mommy and Daddy were so excited because we knew you were dehydrated.
• Your first non-meconium diaper came on day 6.  Mommy and Daddy were, again, very excited.  Who knew we could be so thrilled about pee and poop?
• Gung Gung and Pau Pau busied themselves everyday with grocery shopping and cooking for Mommy and Daddy so we could focus on taking care of you.  There were all sorts of soup and Chinese food deliciousness.
• Your Grandpa Len (Daddy's Daddy), Grandma Laura (Daddy's Mommy) and Uncle Ben (Daddy's brother) arrived on Friday of this week for your bris.  We would also have a mini party for you to celebrate the occasion.  

Here are a few pictures from your first week, after you came home:

You were so tiny!

Your stubbly toes, including a crooked one.  Ha.

On our way to the pediatrician's office for your first visit since coming home!

First time peeing on Daddy since coming home.  We left you sans diaper for a few minutes to air-dry your bottom.  You took full advantage of the opportunity, aimed and fired!

First bath.

You HATED it.

Happiest after eating.

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Days 2-3

Dear Noah,

The rest of our stay at the hospital was relatively uneventful.  A revolving door of people kept coming into our room to conduct various tests on you and check up on you and Mommy.  Here are a couple of pictures of you and Mommy and Daddy during the few moments of calmness.

Both Mommy and Daddy tried to sleep when you were sleeping.

Because you came early, Mommy and Daddy weren't quite prepared in terms of their work - we both worked up until the day before you arrived!  Here, Daddy was holding you while checking his work email.  He was good though and didn't do anymore work for the next two weeks when he was home with you.

Gung Gung and Pau Pau came to visit and brought home-cooked food for Mommy and Daddy.  Even though the hospital food wasn't too bad, we preferred the homemade soups and cooked dishes.

On Monday, June 24, we were discharged and you were heading home with us for the first time!  Mommy picked a onesie that has the word "hello" printed in different languages - she thought it was cute and appropriate.  :)

Home sweet home!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

On the Day You Were Born

Dear Noah,

June 22, 2013 was a very special day for Mommy and Daddy - you surprised us and decided to join us a full 11 days early (from your due date of July 3)!  Mommy and Daddy still very vividly remember every detail of the day.  You obviously don't have recollections of anything prior to 5:07pm, so let Mommy tell you about the 17 hours leading up to your arrival...

12:00am - Mommy woke up abruptly feeling the need to use the bathroom.  Mommy ended up staying in there for a good 15 minutes before yelling for Daddy's help because she couldn't believe that her water broke!  Daddy immediately called Mommy's doctor.  The doctor said to come to the hospital to have things checked out.  Mommy hadn't felt any contractions yet, so we thought we would go, get checked out and come home.  We almost didn't bring the hospital bags.  Luckily we did...

1:30am - The hospital was extremely busy that night and it took a while before Mommy was checked out.  The doctor verified that her water did break and there was meconium (your poop) in the amniotic fluid, so we had to be admitted.  Because there was a shortage of nurses, Mommy and Daddy were stuck in triage for almost 5 hours.  Mommy was not a happy camper because it was really noisy and we couldn't sleep...

6am-ish - FINALLY!  We were put in a labor & delivery room.  Mommy was feeling more comfortable, and was sucking down the apple juice that the nurses kept bringing her.  She was even able to take a shower!  Mommy and Daddy roamed the halls of the L&D wing as Mommy's contractions got more intense and frequent.

1pm-ish - Because you had pooped in utero and the doctor was afraid of infection, Mommy was given some pitocin to "speed up the process" of bringing you into the world.  Boy, did Mommy feel the effect!  It was pretty tough but Daddy was great in helping Mommy in every way that he could.

4:15pm-ish - Mommy started to actively push you out.  You probably heard her "complained" really loudly...

5:07pm - YOU'RE HERE!  Once your head came out, the rest of your body slipped out like a fish.  Immediately after that you decided to announce to us that you're a boy by peeing on Mommy and Daddy.  Mommy didn't really care because she was just so happy that you arrived healthily, with ten toes, ten fingers, two arms, two legs...everything a little baby should be.  Daddy was able to cut your umbilical cord.

You weighed in at 7lbs 10oz and measured at 19in long.  In retrospect, it was good that you came early because otherwise, Mommy would have to push out a bigger Noah!

Of course, Mommy and Daddy fell in love with you right away.

9pm-ish - Your Grandpa (Gung Gung - Mommy's Daddy) and Grandma (Pau Pau - Mommy's Mommy) rushed from Seattle that day to see you.  They were so thrilled to meet you!

You spent the rest of the night sleeping on Mommy's chest and hanging out with Daddy.  We would all be at the hospital for two more days before going home.

Love,

Mommy & Daddy