Caught on Camera!

Nantahala Getaway

Ron and I took our first roadtrip with Grant this past weekend and traveled to the North Carolina mountains on Friday. We get together with his Aunts, Uncles and cousins each year and stay in cabins on the Nantahala River. It's always a fun packed weekend and the one time we all get to see each other all year. It's been a family tradition for about 20 years and now Grant has joined in on the fun! Grant enjoyed meeting everyone for the first time including Ron's sister, her husband and his cousin, George.

Ron's cousin Mary, had baby Emily on July 26th. Grant and Emily are a month apart! It was so much fun to have two babies together and compare notes!

On Saturday, we hosted a costume contest for the kids, their were nine kids in all. Here is Grant in his first Halloween Costume, he won the award, "Cutest Little Pumpkin." Of course, all the kids won awards specific to their costumes.
Aren't they cute? So much fun...

Here's Grant and Emily again kicking away. Emily slept through the night for the first time Saturday night. I was sooo jealous.

Everyone surprised me with a birthday cake and gifts on Saturday night! My birthday is on September 29th.

Precious pic of Grant I had to include. He's wearing his Cow Jumped Over the Moon cap Jody made.

Trying unsuccessfully to get a decent picture of Grant and George for Jody's Christmas Card Picture. George will be two in December and is an absolute doll!

Love his red converse sneakers!

George loving the baby, Grant and Aunt Lesley.

Family photo. Ron and I were about to hit the open road for the eight hour track back to Alabama, what a long day that was!

We miss you all already! The time we spent with Ron's family was amazing, can't wait till next year!

Mommy-Mobile

Ron and I officially broke down this past weekend and bought a bigger car, a GMC Acadia. Ron was mainly concerned about Grant's safety in my Honda Accord and knew we would be making numerous trips back and forth to NC so now I have a car with OnStar in case something were to happen on the highway. We're enjoying our new ride!

Reflections

It's so hard to believe that Grant will be one month old this week! It seems like yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital. This month has definitely had its ups and downs. Life with a newborn is extremely challenging. It's emotionally, mentally and physically draining but well worth it. My Mom was here for the first three weeks and during her stay I was still able to get a lot of"Jena Time." I had my hair done, Ron and I went to dinner by ourselves twice and I could just hand Grant off to her in the middle of the night if I couldn't take it anymore. It was wonderful. With her gone it has allowed Grant and I to get into our own little routine and we're trying to figure out things by ourselves. Lately, Grant has been a lot more fussy than he was the first few weeks, it's hard and stressful because he still won't take a pacifier so that leaves Ron and I to do our soothing songs and dances around the house to try and quiet him down. Grant routinely becomes fussy around 8pm for about two hours and cannot be consoled. I'm hoping that this time is temperary and that eventually he'll grow out of it. He's getting bigger every day. This past weekend we started putting size one diapers on him, he's already outgrown the newborn and his newborn outfits no longer fit! He also is losing his newborn hair. Just on top, he the resemblence to his Grandpa Yaeger with this new hairdo is uncanny! Grant has blessed our lives in so many ways, these days are precious and we'll be over in a blink of an eye. Now, I must go, I have a screaming baby to attend to...

The first resemblance of a smile caught on camera

Such a big part of our day, I had to include it.
He loves his floor mat from Kelly, Melissa and Becky!

A rare moment, he's thinking very hard.

The day I had my hair done, I felt refreshed!

Storytime, Grant gives Finding Nemo Five Stars!

Keeping up with the Grandfolks!

Being so many hours away from our parents and family, Ron and I keep in touch with them via Skype's free video web chats. It's a great way for them to be able to see Grant often and feel like they're close by. If any of you have a webcam and would like to connect, let me know! Here's Ron and Grant with his Mimi and Poppy at 3 and a half weeks:

Grant catching up with the Grandparents!

Grant's Three Week Professional Photos

Ron and I had Grant's three week photos taken this past Saturday. The link to view them is below, they will be available online for viewing until this Friday, 9/18. Everything Grant wore in the photos was made by Ron's Mom including the tobogan at the end! Also, Ron and I had no idea our legs and feet would make some of the photos. These are not my favorite! Getting a newborn to cooperate during a two+ hour photo shoot was not the easiest task but I think we got some pretty great shots. Let me know which are your faves. Enjoy!

http://www.jackiedavisphotography.com/yaeger13/index.html

Nursery News

I've been asked by several friends for quite awhile to post pictures of Grant's nursery. Here it is in all of it's glory. Being in a new house I have to admit decorating this room was my first priority and I'm proud to say Grant is already enjoying it. He sleeps in his crib already. Ron and I had him sleep in a cradle in our room the first night we were home from the hospital. Needless to say neither of us slept and we were both concerned all night about him breathing. Every little move he made kept our attention and kept us awake. Now we sleep in our bedroom and I religiously check our video monitor every hour. Enjoy the pics and don't forget you can click on the photo to enlarge it!

Grant at two weeks

Grant is two weeks old!

It's been a very eventful two weeks with our new addition! Grant has a great tempermant and I consider myself lucky because he is not a fussy baby. We went for his two week doctor appointment yesterday and we were pleased to find out that he is now 8 pounds and four and a half ounces! His weight had dropped to 6 pounds and 12 ounces when we checked out of the hospital. He lost 10% of his body weight and because of this they asked me to supplement my breastmilk with formula after every feeding for the first few days home. I stopped giving him the formula two days after we got home and he has been on breastmilk alone ever since. His added weight was great news to me because all of my efforts in feeding this baby were not in vain. Breastfeeding is a full time job! The first few weeks they asked me to feed on demand which means I nurse the baby at least every two to three hours which makes for long sleepless nights and lot of cat naps throughout the day. I've enjoyed it though and find it a great way to bond with the baby. Grant is also really great at providing entertainment to those who change his diaper daily. We have all gotten a surprise shower sometimes two or three times a day! One thing I didn't realize was how many diapers you go through with a newborn. He goes through about 12-15 each day. I made a trip to Babies-R-Us yesterday after his pediatrician appointment and bought three economy size boxes of Pampers and two economy size boxes of wipes to get me through the next couple of weeks, and thankfully used a giftcard! As for me and my recovery, I'm doing well. I lost 27 pounds the first week which confirms for me the majority of my weight gain was fluid from all of the swelling I experienced. I've been taking it easy and trying to not over exert myself which is hard because I constantly want to clean and pick up! All in all, we are having a great time getting to know Grant, I was looking at him this morning and had the thought that he is the best thing I've ever done.

Here's Grant with his pediatrician, Dr. Harrell. We received a great report, Grant is growing and developing extremely well!

Being an angel while the doctor examined him.

Grant and his first girlfriend, Savannah Grace (Five months)

Ron likes to dissapear with Grant when he gets home from work for some male bonding time! This is where I found them the other night, in the bonus room on the blown up air mattress watching Sportscenter. Melts my heart!

Doing what he does best, sleeping!

Grant and I after bathtime which he is NOT fond of!

Introducing Grant Fitzgerald Yaeger!

Baby Grant is here! Our lives are forever changed and we are eternally grateful four bundle of joy! He has been such a pleasure since his arrival on 8/25/09. Grant was born at 4:40pm and weighed 7 pounds and 8 ounces. He was 21 inches long and just perfect! I had a great delivery and dialated from 4 centimeters to 10 in just an hour and a half. I'll spare you the labor and delivery story and just say everything worked out for the best with the induction. My doctor did say after the delivery that my body can't handle a baby any bigger than Grant and the next pregnancy I need to gain the minimum amount of weight possible and explore a the possibility of a cesarean delivery.

We have had tons of help since returning home from the hospital. Both of our parents have been here and Ron's Grandparents came for IL. My mom is still in AL with me and will be staying for a total of three weeks so I'm very grateful for all of her help especially at night! Grant is a wonderful baby. If he cries I know it's because he's hungry or needs a diaper change. I have been so overwhelmed with love for this little guy, I said I didn't know I could love someone so much that I just met! We are enjoying every minute of being parents and know the best is yet to come!

At the hospital, bring on the contractions...

Welcome to the World sweet baby!

An emotional meeting of the Grandmothers for the first time.

Proud Papa!

Love at first sight

My little lamb

Getting ready to leave the hospital with our new addition!

Sweet baby boy!

In the middle of a meltdown!