May

Matt and I taking a picture a day of Anthony for the first year that he is alive. We're going to print the photos out next year using Social Print Studio as a keepsake. I was originally going to post each photo on here daily, but I've decided instead to post an entire month's at the end of the month. To start, here are May's pictures:

May 1

birth day

May 2

May 3

May 4

May 5

going home

May 6

May 7

May 8

May 9

May 10

May 11

Mother's Day

May 12

May 13

Aunt Hannah's birthday

May 14

May 15

May 16

May 17

Aunt Olivia's first communion

May 18

May 19

bath time with Daddy

May 20

May 21

May 22

May 23

May 24

May 25

May 26

May 27

May 28

May 29

May 30

Providence College reunion

May 31

4 Weeks

Anthony is four weeks old today! We're going to take the monthly pictures on the first of each month, though, so nothing special for his daily picture:

We went to his one month doctor appointment yesterday and, again, Dr. Eden said he was in perfect health! He now weighs in at 9lbs 2oz and is still measuring 21 inches long.

We sent out (most of) Anthony's birth announcements this week! The rest I need to include a photo of Anthony from the hospital with and I left them at my parents' house. Here's what the announcements look like:

front

back

And I have finally figured out what I'm going to get as a tattoo for Anthony. It's a quote from Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree followed by Anthony's date of birth:

3 Weeks

Anthony is three weeks old today! He's doing really well, sleeping for a few hours at a time, normally only waking twice during the night, and getting bigger and stronger every day. We didn't have a doctor appointment this week, we will be going next Thursday though. Anthony has started enjoying baths now that his umbilical cord has fallen off. He especially likes taking them in the full size tub with Matt:

And here's Anthony's three week picture:

Last, while at home this past weekend for Hannah's birthday and Olivia's first communion, my gramma had us take this generation picture. It's a great photo of our family:

Back: My grandparents, Judy and Phil MacLeod and Marlene Mikaniewicz

Front: My mom, Allison, me and Anthony, Matt, and my dad, Paul

Picture Perfect

Anthony and I picked up his photos from JCPenney today! Here are the three that we have full rights to:

2 Weeks

Anthony had his second doctor appointment today and he is as fit as a fiddle. He has passed his birth weight and grown a half inch in length. The doctor says that he is perfect! He's quite impressed with how advanced Anthony is at only 2 weeks old: his neck is strong and when he's on his stomach he's already pulling his knees into him like he's going to crawl. Dr. Eden said that he'll probably roll over early and he's already cooing and crying real tears. Not only is he amazing us, he's amazing his pediatrician!

After giving Anthony his bath today, his umbilical cord fell off! We can finally give him real baths, so maybe he'll actually enjoy them.

We got Anthony's hospital newborn photos in the other day and they look adorable! And we're picking up the ones from JCPenney on Sunday. That session took forever but the photos came out wonderful! I can't wait to get them so we can do our birth announcements.

Speaking earlier of weight, I've lost around 20 pounds already! I was 180-something at the end of my pregnancy and I'm down to 160 now. 8 of that was Anthony, but for not doing anything, I sure feel good!

And last, here is Anthony's two week photo:

Mother's Day 2014

Only ten days after Anthony was born and we're already celebrating Mother's Day! I wish all the moms out there, working the toughest job, a very happy day!

Matt and Anthony got me a new Alex and Ani bracelet to commemorate this very special day:

For Anthony's godmother, Cait, we bought her the godmother Alex and Ani as well as a very cute card that we put Anthony's footprints in!

1 Week

Today Anthony is one week old! He is absolutely the most perfect baby. He is mild-mannered and almost never fusses. He's strong and healthy and I am completely obsessed and head-over-heels in love with him.

Yesterday, Matt and I took him for his one week check up with Dr. Eden. We really like our pediatrician and he had only good things to say about Anthony. He's in perfect health and steadily gaining weight back. He's strong and all of his vitals and reflexes are right where they should be. I'm so happy that he's healthy, it makes me (a little) less worried. (I'm a worrier by nature, slightly paranoid at times.)

I scheduled Anthony's newborn photos with JCPenney yesterday for this Sunday. We're going to have him wear his personalized onesie and hat and we'll be giving these photos out to family and friends as soon as we get them. I'm very excited to see how they come out!

Yesterday I got an Alex and Ani in the mail from my mom as a congratulations gift! It's the hand in hand bangle with the saying "A mother holds a child's hand for a moment, but their heart for a lifetime". It was so sweet and, of course, made me cry!

Here's Anthony's 1 week picture:

And our first family photo:

Home Sweet Home

Anthony, Matt, and I came home today from the hospital! We were discharged from the hospital with clean bills of health around 11 this morning. My parents came down to help us get everything home as well as bring us a bunch of pre-made dishes for Matt and I so we can get into a routine with Anthony this week. It's great being home and on our own couch, although it's a little weird since Anthony is actually here. It's a little strange because we've been waiting so long for him to be here and now he finally is, just slightly surreal yet wonderful.

Anthony Matthew

He's here! Our beautiful baby boy was born today at 5:05pm. He was 8lbs 5oz and 20.5 inches long! That's part of the reason I ended up having to have a C section.

So around 4:30 this morning, my water broke on its own and my contractions were pretty close together. Matt, my mom, and I headed to the hospital and got there around 6am. We were admitted pretty quickly and went up to the labor and delivery rooms around 7:15. Things were going well until they started to up my pitossin. Unfortunately Anthony wasn't responding well to the increased levels and contractions, they were putting stress on him. They tried several different things to help progress my labor including infusing fluid around Anthony and putting me into different positions. Around 4:30 they finally decided that performing a C section would be best for the baby which is what was the most important thing to me. It was a quick procedure and Anthony came out healthy and strong!

Now I'm recovering in my room with my wonderful husband and beautiful son.