Even more so.

Dear Jake,
Now that I have finally met you in person, I can answer the following questions: 1) Are you as beautiful as your photos? Answer: Even more so. 2) Are you as cuddly and soft as your photos? Answer: Even more so. 3) Are you as smart and charming as in your photos? Answer: Even more so. 4) Are your parents as sweet and tender, though a bit tired, as they look in the photos: Even more so. 5) Is it as big a thrill to hold you as I thought it would be? Answer: Even more so.

Love,
Magah

p.s. from Dad - Are you as awake as you look in the photos: Even less so. With two small exceptions, you've been asleep for the entire 6 hours your Magah has been here, sleepy-head.

p.p.s. from Magah - Lots of stretching sounds, squeaks and gurgles...not one second of crying.

Say cheese

Jake
Sometimes when you are sleeping (or pooping) you smile. It is the sweetest face ever.

Love you,
Mom

Meet the Family

Jake,
You got to meet more family today when several members of Ginger's extended family came by for a visit.  Rae, whom you met at the hospital came into to town with Nina, Laura, Shauna, and Lane.  They brought some great gifts, including a diaper cake, which is a cool set of gifts that are diaper related. They match your bedding and had your name sewn in - pretty awesome gift!

You woke up about half way through the visit and Lane had a fun time showing you the toys that they also brought you.

After the visit, as you were laying in your bassinet you started to play with the toys suspended above your head for the first time that I have seen.  You spent a long time swatting at the elephant stuffed animal and watching it swing back and forth.  What an advanced kiddo you are!

More photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/benvolio/

Dad

I'm Batman you Joker!

Jake,
You went to see your first movie tonight. We took you to see "Dark Knight" with Nanna and Sandy and you were so perfectly behaved. At one point during the movie you looked up at me as I held you and you whispered "I'm Batman you Joker." At least I think that's what you tried to say, but it came out as a series of gurgles and squeaks.

Your mom had to take you to be changed at the very end of the movie because the last several scenes scared the poop out of you. Otherwise you slept quitely through most of the action.

Afterward we took you to your mom's favorite store, Nordstrom, where we got smoothies and looked at shoes. Your mom says the two of you will be there again next week while I'm at work..good luck with your indentured shopitude. ;)

Later Batman,
Joker

Flickr photos of friends & family

Jake,
You had a bunch of visitors today: Ray and Annie, Seema and Praveen and Brian, Devon and Dana. Here are a few photos, more can be found on Flickr, here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/benvolio

Icecream!

Jacob,
The family went for wings for dinner and you were great. As a reward we took you to be icecream. ;)
Dad

Typical pose

Jake,
When not sleeping, asking for food, or getting an outfit (diaper change), here is what you look like...I guess that's about .001% of the time.
Dad

1 week old today

Jake
Today you are one week old. You nanna came back today with your aunt Sandy. Sandy is so happy to finally meet you and she won't put you down. You are already growing so fast and today we noticed that your eyelashes are longer and darker than they were when you were born. We are so happy to have you and it had been a great first week.

Love, mom

Test from mom's phone

Jake,
Word on the street is that this blog is like crack. If you take it away the readers start stealing from small children in parks to get more.

Therefore I'm setting your mom up with wordpad on her phone too so that she can help deal the crack...err...post the blog entries.
Dad

First walk pics

Picture Torture

Jake -
You'll probably be traumatized for years, but we stripped you down and put you on a blanket for some baby pictures this evening.  Here are the keepers.

-Your paparazzo father

2nd bath, 1st walk

Jake,
It has been another big day for you.  You had your second bath, this time administered by your mom.  You pretty much decided immediately that you hate being bathed.  You are extremely squirming at bath time,  but luckily your mom is a natural and it went by fast.

After that we took you on your first walk ever in your new stroller.  We didn't go far because of the incredible heat, but you did meet our neighbor across the street and the dogs thought it was a fantastic outing.  I figure we need to get you used to the heat, what with global warming and all, you'll probably think days like this are the dead of winter when you're older. :)

Love,
Dad

Flickr Photos

Jake,
So far I've only been able to post photos from my iPhone to the blog, but now that we're home, I've put a bunch of pictures out on Flickr from the past several days.

You can view these photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/benvolio/sets/72157606262715711/

-Dad

Homecoming

Jacob,
Welcome home!

We've gotten you all checked out from the hospital and now we're at home. As I write you are snuggling with your mom while we eat pizza and watch "run away jury"

When we first got home you spent some time sunbathing to combat the jaundice.

We introduced you to Rigli and Chase too. They were very curios and had give you a very thorough sniffing. As I type this, Chase is standing guard over you as you nurse. Every time you cry, which is not often at all, both puppies cock their heads to the side and regard you with deeply curious eyes. Chase whines to match your cries. They seem to have accepted your presence without question.

Your mommy hasn't gotten much sleep in the last few days so I'm going to go convince her to take a nap.

Later dude,
Dad

This will be a great day

Jake,
Your Magah says this is going to be a great day. I know she is right, here's why:

Today you get to go home for the first time! You'll get to meet your K9 brothers, Rigli and Chase. You're mom is excited to show you your closet full of hip clothes and all of your fun stuffed animals.

So last night you had a huge appetite. You were eating every two hours at least, and when you weren't eating you were looking around for food.

We got your bilirubin results back from your test last night. You were at 7.9, which is low to intermediate risk. This just means more tests so that we can stay on top of the jaundice risk, and means you'll spend some time near the window today to get some rays.

Your parents are handling the lack of sleep pretty differently. Your mom is becoming more beautiful and angelic with each missed wink. She was up with you nearly all night and meanwhile I was zonked out and useless on the fold-out couch.

Oh I keep meaning to tell you about how strong you are. When you first arrived and the nurse was cleaning you off on a table in the delivery room, she said "wow, he's got quite a death-grip." you love to hold a finger in your hand and squeeze it really tight. You are going to be quite an arm-wrestler.

Love you
Dad

Who'd wake a sleeping baby?

Jake
You really really would prefer to sleep, but we had to wake you since frequent feeding helps fight jaundice.

Results in an hour.
Da

Visit from the Reynolds

Jake,
You had a visit from Joe and Shannon tonight after dinner. They brought you some cool outfits and a toy and doted on you until you were taken away for more bloodwork.

We can't wait to introduce you to their daughter Maddie. The two of you will be great friends.

More updates when we hear about your bilirubin test.

Dad

Flowers + visitors

Jacob,
Okay. Your name is officially Jacob Boone Truitt. Welcome to society!

You got some excellent flowers from your uncle Jim and Magah (Truitt Gradmother).

You also met your great aunt and uncle, Rae and Jim. These were special visitors, partly because Jim presided over your mom and dad's wedding ceremony a few years ago in Austin.

Your mom is catching up on some sleep while you hang out with Nanna. You are dozing now and occassionally you'll make cute little sounds for us.

Later
Papa

Sugery + aunt Shifi

Jake,
You just finished up with a circumcision and you're recovering great.

You also met your aunt Shifali who was so excited to meet you and brought you even more great gifts.

You were into her too. You were a perfect gentleman - right up until you puked and had simultaneous explosive poo. :)

It was so sweet of her to come!

Your nanna (updated spelling) finally got to spend some time holding you too, but will need more soon.

You've become more talkative today, and you're looking around lots more than yesterday already (clearly looking for the food).

Love,
Dad

Goodmorning

Jake
You kept us up all night last night with 4 poopie diapers and some spitting up. That's ok though because we love hanging out with you. This morning the nurses had to take you again for some blood tests because your Coombs test was positive. That essentially means that you and I are ABO incompatible (I am O+ and you are A+). This puts you at increased risk of jaundice so they are going to keep an eye on you bilirubin levels for the next 24 hours. So far your levels are normal. The pediatrician saw you this morning and he says that you look great! Your dad loves to hold you and was great getting up with you all night last night. We are so happy you are here.

Love,
mom

With your mommy

Got you back

Jacob,
We've got you again. Your mom was so excited to see you she couldn't sleep.

Ginger is recovering well, but let's just say you owe her one (or one million)

When you came to our new room I got to change my first diaper since your cousin Alexis years ago. Let's say I was not quick enough, and you have impressive aim. ;)

You're eating now, then again every three hours. Your mom is a natural - you are a lucky kiddo.

Dad

Goodnight

Jake
We just said goodnight to you for an hour while you stay in the nursery. We're going to take a Cat nap then your mom gets you and she can't wait for that.

Tomorrow, visiting hours are 11-8. We're in room 268 at north central baptist.

First bath complete

Jake
You clock in at 20.5in in length.

You're quite wiggley and aparantly still hungry after your first meal.

Pics

About to have your first bath in the nusery.

It's a Boy!!!

Jacob,

Your mom and I are so happy and proud to welcome you to the world.

You were born at 8pm on July 16, 2008, weighing 8lbs 4oz.

Apgar score 8-9.

Love you son.
Mom and Dad

Hurry up and wait

Jake
You have hair!

We don't know more yet. We just started pushing and you nearly cleared the cervix with your scalp when we heard your doc is in the middle of surgery.

Now...we wait.
Dad

Little blue ridinghood

Your mom put my hoodie on to warm up. For someone who has kept our house's A/C on it's lowest setting for months she isn't enjoying the cold too much.

9.5 cm

Jake,
We're getting close now!

Your mom is 9.5cm and you're at station +2.

Your nurse thinks we'll start pushing in 20 minutes or so.

Even though your mom is painfree, she is numb, cold, and starving, not to mention nervous, but she can't wait to meet you! Dad

More about heart rate

Hey Jacob,
A little more about that heart rate stuff:

This is what the nurse pays the most attention to for you right now. Your mom has a strap around her belly that listens for your heartbeat and passes it to a computer. The nurse monitors this as well as the reading from a similar strap that monitors contractions.

What she looks for is good variability from a baseline rate. Throughout the day, your baseline varies slowly, but within those changes the rate should occassionally accelerate past baseline. This indicates that you're in there kicking around and are preparing for the big event.

Your mom just said: "what is this thing I'm feeling? Oh that's my leg. "

See you soon,
Dad