one week....make that two weeks later!

Hi everyone! Yesterday marked Phoenix's 2nd week! Time has flown by as we all knew it would! I planned to update during week 1, but that was crazy for me to even think it would be possible! ( new mommy's can be naive i suppose). But, its now week 2 and things are changing everyday! Heres the breakdown of the last 2 weeks...

Week 1:
- came home with a pretty sleepy baby ( which is pretty normal they say )- thought this would be a piece of cake haha
-2nd day at home brought reality! We slept about 2 hours the 1st night and basically sat up all night in the nursery rocking chair nursing Phoenix (who seems to want to eat 24-7)
- 3rd day was a repeat! this day brought tears to mommy who, extremely sleep deprived, was a zombie and a ball of emotions. My mom was here and that seemed to make everything better- she cleaned out house, cooked about 30 meals for us for the week, helped watch Phoenix so I could sleep during the day, etc. She was a LIFESAVER!
- My mom stayed the first few nights until about 2am so that she could just help get into the swing of things and somehow, grandmas, have a magic touch that makes crying babies cry no more :)
- We came home on a Sunday, on Wed. he had his 1st pediatrician appt. He was fussy bc all the appts. interrupted all his eating! He weighed 9.9lb at birth, 9.5 when we left the hospital, and 8.11 at the pediatrician. All normal weigh ins- and his checkup went great! After the pediatrician, we headed to Vandy for his circumcision (sorry son). He breezed right through this but mom and dad had a hard time handing him over :( After that we had an appt with Vandy's lactation consultant just to make sure all was going well and he was getting full!
- Thursday the placenta encapsulation specialist was here and he had his newborn photos! This was a challenge bc again, he was hungry and all the photos interrupted his boob time! But he was a trooper and 4 hours later, we were done! The photog. was a trooper too for hanging in there that long! The pictures that weve been able to get a sneak peak at look amazing!
- Friday we declared a rest and no visitor day! We had already messed up his 1st weeks schedule by toting him all over the free world and now we needed to get him in a bit of a home routine and at least just eating more often!
- We took the weekend to do the same as Friday and it seemed to slowly be making a difference, esp. for Ben and I and our sleep!

The first week was def. a challenging one, as im sure it is for EVERY parent out there! My mom was INCREDIBLE and did every last thing i could've possibly needed leaving me nothing to do except focus on mommy-dome! Also, having the capsules made was so worth every penny! The process was super interesting and although im sure viewed as gross or unheard of by many, id say it makes perfect sense and from experience, can honestly say they may have made all the difference in my recovery. I did not get them made until Wed. and immediately felt the difference vs. the days prior. I was teary, I felt more energized and positive and just more like "me". My mom was at my house while she prepared the placenta on day 1 ( its a 2 day process), so unfortunately i missed seeing the whole process. But My mom took tons of photos and said it was the neatest thing shed ever seen! On Day 1 she prepared the placenta and left it overnight in a stainless steel, professional grade dehydrator. On day 2 she ground it up and placed it into individual capsules that are to be taken just like vitamins. Anyone who thinks it would be gross to consume this may think twice when they see that it is no different than taking a vitamin- no flavor, no smell... just results!

I had previously mentioned the benefit of the capsules HERE. She also prepared for me a tincture, which is a piece of placenta in pure grain alcohol that after 6 weeks, is ready for use. It is a liquid that is good forever- and can be used at any point in life when natural hormones may be needed such as menopause, for PMS, etc.

The placenta ( this may offend some of you) 

Here the side that was attached to Phoenix.

She said it was one of the healthiest shed seen- not sure how i afforded myself a healthy placenta but i was proud haha

The side attached to me..

The dehydrator ...

Encapsulating process...

Week 2:
The 2nd week has been a learning week! We are learning his cues for things he needs and also noticing he may be the gassiest baby ever! He can hang with the best of them in the farts dept. :) He is sleeping at a little bit longer intervals and the encapsulation specialist showed me a few pointers for nursing in bed and that, while still challenging, has proven to be a huge help! I am able to stay in bed at least through the nursing sessions and even doze off while he eats! Last night alone we slept in 4 hour intervals! In newborn land, id say thats spoiling us!

 So to chalk it all up, the first two weeks have consisted of what id consider to be a normal newborn's start! And although it may be hard at times, I am trying to suck up every second bc i know, as my mom has reminded me, i will blink and he will be going to kindergarden. It makes me sad just to write that!

happy one week birthday!