The first weeks of Autumn

The first weeks of autumn, and Autumn's first weeks, have been quite busy around here! So busy, in fact, that she's almost four weeks old now and I'm just now getting around to updating this. But here goes, better late than never...

Our little pumpkin elf

The first week home from the hospital was deceptionally easy. My parents were both here, which meant that we had a full-time support staff that included a cook, housecleaner, photographer, personal shopper and diaper changer. Autumn was in a state of newborn bliss -- and by that I mean that it was bliss for us, not so sure how she felt. She slept at least 21 hours a day, and hadn't yet figured out how much fun it can be to refuse to go back to sleep at 3am. Brian also had that week off of work, and he quickly earned a "best dad ever" badge by getting up for half of the feedings every night. We were on a 1-2 hour feeding schedule with formula for a few days due to her losing weight and getting jaundice.

Coming home from the hospital -- sleeping of course!

I can't remember too much about her second week, except that at her two-week appointment, Autumn's weight went up to 7 pounds 15 ounces! Our hungry hippo had gained 10 ounces in just a few days (she dropped to 7 pounds 2 ounces a few days after birth, and then was up to 7lb 5oz at around a week old). I think she started waking up a little bit more around this time as well, or at least long enough to start making some special faces for us to laugh at.

Nana Gerre

Grandpa Doug J -- Autumn's personal photographer

Grandma & Grandpa Boyd

Uncle El and Lady Friend Sara entertain the baby

When she was three weeks old, Uncle Eliot and Aunt Sara (well, we're hoping she'll be Aunt Sara soon. For now maybe we should call her Lady Friend Sara) came to visit. This visit didn't involve any beverages containing over 10 types of alchol or a night at the biggest beer festival in America, so it differed slightly from their last trip to Denver. Regardless, it was really great to see them, and Autumn can't wait for Uncle El and LF Sara to move to Denver some day!

So now it's been just the four of us for almost a week. The newborn bliss has worn off. If she had it her way, Autumn would be held all day long, and there'd be a baby party in our bedroom starting at 3am every night. For some reason, she hates going back to sleep after being fed at or around 3am. Sometimes she's up until she has to be fed again, around 6am...yuck! But, before anyone starts feeling too bad for me, once Brian gets up in the morning for work he takes her into his office with them while I sleep until 9 or so. Sorry other new moms, not trying to rub it in. I just suggest finding a husband who works from home. It's totally worth it.

Autumn with Aunt Kellie

Wally's not so sure about this

Before I go, here's a quick list of, "What We've Learned About Autumn". I'm sure most of these things apply to many babies, but we only know her:

-- She grunts a lot. Like a gremlin, or sometimes like a dinosaur. In her sleep, while being changed, when she's happily awake. Pretty much all the time.

--When she sneezes, she'll usually let out two or three good ones, then she sucks in her breath like she's going for another one, and instead lets out the cutest little sigh you'll ever hear. We've tried to catch it on video but she evades us every time.
--She has her dad's stomach and rips farts like a frat guy. That will never stop amazing us.
--Almost every time we take her diaper off she pees or poops everywhere.

--Her dad cares more about what she wears than her mom. Hey, I think tapered striped 80's pants are cool, especially when worn with socks that don't match. No?
--She's a strong little thing. Again, we don't have anything to compare her to, but the staff in the hospital and at her pediatrician's office all have commented on her brute strength multiple times.
--She's strong-willed. Sometimes she likes to be swaddled at night, sometimes she hates us for stifling her freedom. On those nights she can bust free of the tightest blanket swaddle, and has even gotten out of this professional straightjacket-type swaddle wrap. One morning I woke up to find her sucking on her hand, which was up through the neckhole of her PJ's. That means she had managed to take her arm out of her long-sleeved PJ's AND out of the tight swaddle wrap, then through the neckhole. Really?
--Despite the fact that she's a TON of work, and she doesn't do much besides eat, poop and sleep, we love her more than we thought we could!

Family Picture -- and dad's favorite 80's pants