Burping Basics

Burping a baby isn't rocket science, but it isn't obvious just how hard you're supposed to pat him on the back. I started soft and was chastised for my feather touch. Later on, as I pounded vigorously, a concerned grandmother (who shall remain nameless) worried aloud that I would knock the kid out. Here, a one-week-old Gabriel endures my experimental love taps.

Alison is Magnificent

Gabriel's first doctor's appointment was today-- 8 days after his birth, and 4 days after coming home from the hospital. There was a bit of delay because he came home the Friday before Memorial Day, and pediatricians (like everyone else) take Memorial Day off.

This shot of a lovely Alison was taken while waiting for our doc to see us.

Gabriel Hitches a Ride With Grandma Evelyn

Only a week old, Gabriel is already trying to hold his head up. Here Grandma Evelyn gives him a bird's-eye view of things.

Nap Time

A sleepy Monday afternoon, after a long weekend of fielding visitors. Amazingly, we all feel like we've caught up on our nap time a bit, not least because we can take short siestas all day long. It is truly wonderful to be away from the 9-to-5 work cycle and reconfiguring our lives around Gabriel's 3-hour feed cycle. Life feels much fuller.

The Rein Ladies

Barry and Evelyn took the train down from NYC to see the week-2 version of Gabriel. On Monday the Rein clan took Gabriel on his first (short) walk over to 14th Street and back. Gabriel's down there somewhere, I think.

Auntie Melanie

Auntie Melanie, our neighbor (for the moment) stopped by today to say hi to the new arrival. Since Melanie is being barraged with job offers in other places, we may not get to see her much longer. But we were all thrilled to see her today-- hopefully not the last time! 

Gabriel's First Booze

Uncle Jim and Aunt Mari drove down from Baltimore to visit Sprout today. Jim brought a fine bottle of port to get Gabriel's wine cellar started. We convinced him eventually that Sprout probably wasn't ready to down a glass just yet. His parents were under no such constraints, which may explains the blurriness of the photos.

Our Hospital Room

Snug and cozy. We spent four nights here-- Monday thru Thursday. Two of these nights were spent without Sprout, who was being watched over in a separate room to monitor his temperature. 

Alison didn't like her bed so much. Sprout seemed OK with his. Dad slept like a log on a fully reclining chair.

Elliot and Laura

On Day 1 back from the hospital, special visitors from Florida: Elliot and Laura, in the area for their annual Memorial Day Baltimore crab fiesta, stopped by Friday afternoon. Perfect timing, and we hadn't seen them in since summer '07 in at the Jersey shore. Gabriel was pleased and promptly fell asleep.

In Grandma's Arms

Sprout is still wearing his heat-preserving cap in this picture with Grandma Gardner. It's functional and stylish.

Does He Look Like His Dad?

You be the judge...

(Thanks, a bunch, to Kurt for the shot of Dad.)

Ennui Sets In

Less than 24 hours after being born, our son grows weary of it all. Grandma Gardner (our first visitor in the hospital room!) is holding him in this picture. 

Sprout, Day 2

Oh, the anguish. He's got some very imaginative ways of looking unhappy. And is a very handsome kid. Sprout is less than 12 hours old in this picture: Grandma Gardner came by first thing Tuesday morning to visit.

A Proud And Beautiful Mom

This is Alison, less than two hours after giving birth. She was beautiful to watch during the entire process, and looks fantastic here, just having settled into our recovery room (private, which is a good thing because it's tiny).

Sprout is wearing a hat because, they say, newborns when left unprotected will initially lose a fair amount of body heat, almost all of it through their head. He's wearing this particular hat because we believe it makes him resemble rapper Eminem.

Sprout Comes Out

Well, that was easy.

After checking into the room at about 4 PM, five hours of in-hospital labor (almost all of which time Alison was going the natural childbirth route, medication-free), we've got a 9 pound 1 oz, 21.5 inch baby boy, born at 9:33 PM on May 19. Name yet to be determined, attitude grumpy.

My blue hospital garb was completely unearned. All I had to do was stand around and look pretty. Very comfy stuff though-- breathes well. Mental note: must smuggle home.

Doctors and nurses were amazing. Very supportive the whole time. The nurse in charge of talking Alison through the labor brought a yoga mindset to the process- her descriptions of what Alison was supposed to be doing physically included both her external parts and her internal parts. What to do with your breath, etc., and the usual advice about how to move body parts I think may not really exist (IE, the "sacrum"). She was great, and made the process easier for all three of us. Her name: Tiffany. Thank you, Tiffany!

As Alison was led off to another room for a last-minute epidural, another nurse very professionally kept me from following her. She bribed me with apple juice and crackers, which I was too nervous to even look at. [Note to readers: I can be taken advantage of in this way at any time-- give me juice and crackers and I'll do anything.] Ten long minutes later, I was in the operating room with Alison waiting for the epidural to take effect. And ten minutes after that, a successful C-section was in process. Ten minutes after that, our big baby boy was in my arms-- as you see.

Sprout's Birthing Room

So this is Sibley Hospital, in the birthing room we've been assigned. Nice digs-- we'll only be in here for the labor, and will be shipped to a smaller room to recover. But for now, this is all very plush.

Jan is here to provide moral support, for which we are thankful.

Last Look, Part 2

Prenatal Gabriel, unclothed. Alison still looks fantasic.

Last Prenatal Look At "Sprout" Gardner

Monday morning, May 19: About to leave for the hospital-- Alison started contractions this morning. Sprout's prenatal career is almost over-- here's a last shot of Alison as pregnant as she can be. As always, Alison looks fantastic.