Baby legs

Just in case you were wanting to check out a fresh picture of my sweet baby Jack. Here is is in his baby leggings. 

So, I pinned on Pinterest early in my pregnancy DIY tutorials for baby leggings. When I found out we were having a boy, I starting thinking up ways to "butch" up leggings. That word in itself is just so girly. 

Most sites said to buy long socks, cut off the heel and foot and sew the ends in some way. Well, I tried sewing a hem on the ends of the cut up leg part of the sock, but it took the elasticity away. So for these, I simply cut the foot part off and left it. The ends curl up a bit, but haven't started to unravel. These socks are from the mens department in Target. I didn't think they'd be long enough, but after I put them on Jack, I found they had to be rolled up quite a bit. 

I think they are adorable - manly adorable, I mean, of course. Plus, these make for easy-peasy diaper changes and an even easier DIY project for baby. 

One week of Jack

Well, time has already begun to fly by. Yesterday, Jack turned one week old. One whole week. Even though I "grew" this baby in me for so many months, we just met. We said hello eight days ago and we are pushing and tugging to figure each other out. He is the most familiar stranger I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. 

I love this outfit - mostly because it's warm and zip-up. Plus, it has puppy dog feet. Who doesn't love a babe with puppy dog footsies? And I swear his cheeks aren't always this chunky-looking. He's sitting up and all scrunchy-like. 

Weight 
He was 8 lbs. 9 oz. when he was born. We will find out next week at his first doctors appointment how much he gained/lost.

Diapers 
Although he was a pretty big baby, he is still in newborns. I think we'll be in them for a while yet.

Hair
The most beautiful head of straight, dark brown hair. It's so soft and fuzzy and feels so good on my lips when I rub them against his head. The hair on the back of his head is so long, it's almost humorous! Aunt Lindsay says he has a mullet, it's about an inch long back there. :)

Clothes
Newborn fit perfectly. And I'm sure for not much longer. Some nb pants are pretty tight.
We love anything soft, fuzzy and ZIP-UP. Why aren't all newborn clothes zip-up? Who came up with this stupid button stuff?
The best thing I purchased was this magnetic sleep gown. It's our favorite and gets washed regularly so we can use it almost every night.
Oh, and we love Okie Dokie Soft Cotton Crew socks. I'm not sure where people got them (we have three sets) but they are the best - small in the foot for tiny baby feet but nice and long - almost up to his knees, it's pretty funny because they look like old man socks - and they stay up and on his feet.

This weeks firsts
Well, everything has been a "first" this week. But some of my favorite are:
> Jack peed on daddy for the first time in the middle of the night on April 23.
> Then he got mom on April 24 :)
> First smile :) Melts my heart, even though I know it's because he just had a good toot. But hey, I'm it felt good.
> Milk came out his nose. I think it's because he tries to guzzle his bottle as fast as he can, but we went to burp and milk projectiled up and out and I saw it come out of his little button nose.
> He slept for five hours last night! I wish it would have been solid sleep for us, but he fell alseep at 8:45 p.m. and didn't wake up until about 2 a.m. That makes this mama very hopeful!

Jack likes
His swing
Snuggling
His small bassinet in his crib for sleeping
Being swaddled (I'm getting good at wrapping him like a burrito)
Riding around with mom in our Baby K'Tan
Warm milk
Riding in the truck

Jack doesn't like
Waiting to be picked up
Waiting for his parents to get a warm bottle ready
Hiccups
Gas
Laying flat in his crib

Mom loves
The look on his face when he's stops sucking and I take the bottle out of his mouth. He just looks around with little purced, milky lips.
The look on his face when he's trying to toot. He's so concentrated and then gets this nice relieved smile. I just can't stand it :)
When he falls asleep snuggled tight and close to me. It's THE BEST feeling in the whole world. I'm savoring all these times because soon he'll be 16 and embarrassed when I kiss him in front of his friends.

Looking at the camera just wasn't happening. But I love this look. Sometimes he's wide awake and just looking all around, all curious like. I can't wait to start explaining what everything is. 

I love you so much Jack bear. 

xoxo, 

-mama

My hands are small, I know

We're getting in our groove here at the Kingstons. One of the 24,684,242 characteristics I love about my Jack are his hands. They are always going - touching his face, being sucked on, getting in the way of his bottle or pushing away my boob (we haven't quite gotten the hang of breast feeding yet.) 

Sometimes when he falls asleep on me he will find my finger and take it in his little hand - letting me know he loves me, I like to think. 

Here are some photos from today. He was holding his hands together so tight and looking up at me as he ate. You sure know how to touch mama's heart, Jack. 

Oh, baby.

I had no idea, nor could I ever have guessed, what being a mom and bringing a little man home for the first time and being the wife of a new daddy and sleeping (or lying awake) with a cooing (sometimes squawking) baby monitor would be like. It's overwhelming and so sweet and challenging and compassionate and difficult and wonderful and purpose driven and so full of love it breaks my heart open. We are blessed.

(Go to A Little Pause's blog for newborn photos of Jack)

Aunt Lindsay and grandma Shelly got this puppy dog for Jack on the day he was born. Daddy likes Jack to be able to snuggle up to him in his bassinet in the hospital. The puppy I'm naming "Brownie" also keeps baby company at nap time. 

Looking lovely after two days of no shower, laboring for about 12 hours, having a c-section, and 24 hour bed rest. Scott wanted a picture of us with his Vision jacket to send to everyone at his work. 

This brings tears of absolute joy to my heart. I love them so much. 

My little snuggle bug this morning. It looks like the blanket is over his nose, but it's not - just keeping him nice and warm. His nose seems to always be a little chilly. 

The Today show just wasn't appealing to him this morning. 

Grandma Shelly holding Jack in the hospital. 

I love this :)
Jack in his "going home" outfit, all strapped into his car seat for the first time. He was nice and snug.  Thankfully there was enough room for his chubby cheekies. 

The Kingston family. 

Sometime Jack is wide awake. 

And sometimes he conks out. 

Photo story

Chillin' on the couch writing this post.

It's been a little hectic around the Kingston house. With my sister and mom here, and now my bff Tiffany for a while today, we've had a houseful. Not to mention the little tiny ball of sweet baby that everyone's attention is focused on.

I'll get to the birth story eventually around here, but in the meantime enjoy the story via photos from my sister's blog over at A Little Pause. 

Click here for the story. 

I get to look at this face all day long.
He makes my heart absolutely swoon.

Look what we made...

presenting...

Jack Jonathan Kingston

well ladies and gents, he's finally here and oh-so worth it

i went in to get induced on Tuesday afternoon, because I developed pre eclampsia, which turned into a c-section on Wednesday morning (more of the story later)

he is 8 pounds 9 ounces and 20 1/2 inches of beautiful baby. with a wonderful head of the softest hair you've ever felt. we are so in love. 

Week 39

And here is the 360* view of this full term, ready to pop chicki:

How far along: 39 weeks

Days to due date: 9 days until due date, 12 until induction date :)

Total weight gain: 38 pounds...

Maternity clothes: My two tank tops, a large sweatshirt I stole back from my sister and sweats. I will NOT be wearing jeans anymore. Not worth it. Pants in general don't seem to be worth it. 

Best moment this week: Just watching his little (BIG) movements in my belly. 

What I miss: Being able to roll over in bed with ease.  

Movement: Lots of rolling and poking of feet and hands and knees. I love it. I've been imagining my actual tiny baby inside there for the first time - weird, I know. But a real, live, squishy, adorable baby. My own.  He is so close to being here, he seems more real everyday.  

Food cravings: Still ice water. And Dole fruitcups with peaches in strawberry jello. 

Making me queasy: The fish I made the other night about made me puke. I've been feeling sick more often, just at random times. 

Starting to show: This thing keeps growing and growing. 

Gender: A sweet baby boy. 

Happy or moody: Happy. With some edginess thrown in the mix. 

Things I've been experiencing this week: It's been another quiet week. I seem to have gotten a fresh outlook on pregnancy - probably because I'm oh-so-close to being done. People have been so nice to me. Just this week the guy at O'Reily's auto parts found all the oil and filters I needed and loaded them in my pickup. A lady at Verizon took extra good care of me so I wouldn't have to make another trip. A man at a gas station struck up conversation with me to ask questions and wish me luck. I love when my belief in the goodness of people proves true.

Other than that, I've just had general discomfort. I feel like I've hit a wall this week. I have crampy feelings and my stomach just generally hurts and my back is in pain. But hey, I'll take this a million times if it means we are that much closer to our baby boy.

Last week at my doctor appointment I was 1 cm dialated! Not much, but I'll take what I can get! Today she said nothing had changed (booooo). Baby K's heart rate was perfect but my blood pressure was high. So they checked again and it was still high. I'm going back in on Monday to check for pre-eclampsia.

AND, on a super happy note, our friends Shana and Joey had their sweet little girl on April 11! I am sooo happy for them because Piper Willow has been long-awaited. Hearing about the baby and Shana's labor was such a fun part of this week. 

What I'm looking forward to: Labor signs. COME ON BABY!!!

Size of baby: A wintermelon. (Where do these fruits come from?)

Here are a few bloopers from today's photobooth shoot. Apparently I was having troubles, ha!

Week 38

How far along: 38 weeks

Days to due date: 16 days until due date, 19 until induction date

Total weight gain: I'll find out today. Probably 24,398,473 pounds. Or something like that.

Maternity clothes: Well, I'm down to two tank tops that actually are long enough and stretchy enough. Yeah, I wash and wear them like twice a week. Bottoms are sweat pants (or "house pants" or "camper pants" as Scott calls them :) for everyday wear, jeans on the rare occasion I deem myself in worthy enough public to warrant their uncomfortable waistlines. 

Best moment this week: Taking naps with my cuddly husband. He supposedly "hates" snuggling, but I know deep down it's his favorite. 

What I miss: Clothes that fit. Target has it's summer stuff out. And it's oh-so-cute. And I'm oh-so-huge. 

Movement: Baby K has figured out the art of pushing his butt and back against my right side while his little legs push out on the left of my stomach. Mama is not happy with him during those times. 

Food cravings: WATER. Can't get enough. Which makes for 17,000 nightly trips to the bathroom. 

Making me queasy: Nothing in particular, just not feeling up to par at times during the day.

Starting to show: My belly is definitely NOT egg-shaped anymore. It is round, out and proud. With my volcano of a belly button showing through my shirts (which I secretly think is a little adorable.)

Gender: A sweet baby boy. 

Happy or moody: Happy. And content.

Things I've been experiencing this week: It's been a quiet week. I doubt he will come out before the induction date. He'll be stubborn just like his dad, I'm sure of it, and will do what he wants when he wants. (Hmmm... Scott junior???)

Other than that, I'm trying to find solace (in the lightest use of the word) in this pregnancy. There are (probably) 19 days left that Scott and I are a newlywed, young couple. After that we are parents (which is not better or worse, just immensely different.) I'm trying to soak him up in the days left that I have him solely to myself. I have no idea how much this little man is going to change our lives, so our "normality" this far in our lives is a little piece of the pie I'm trying to savor.

A little story: So where we stay at Scott's work in Williston we have this love seat that has pop-out foot rests and - the stupidest thing EVER - a divider in the middle for cup holders and a cubby for remotes or whatever. It's the only style they had, so I had to pick it, but if it was up to me we'd have a normal love seat, equipped for some hard core movie cuddling.
I am quite top heavy these days, therefore I can't go over to his chair and snuggle up to him even if I wanted. So I told him the other day that when I was skinny again, I'd be able to come over to "his side." He said no, motioning to the little nook on his left side, and said "This is where (insert baby's name) will sit. He has to sit in between mom and dad." It sort of made me swoon just thinking about our little baby sitting with daddy, watching our nightly (dumb) Rambo or (even worse) baseball movie.
But fear not, there is definitely going to be enough room for baby, dad AND mom on that chair. I'll see to it. 

What I'm looking forward to: Having signs of labor. I feel like they will never come. 

Size of baby: A (whaaaa???) pumpkin! I guess this makes sense if you look at me...