This Lolbabe is for Joel

But he won't see it for a while, so I must share it with you all.

Sometimes, especially because I'm dad, it feels like Hunahpu really only cares for one thing while he's awake.

Useful apps

I have an iPhone, which I enjoy a lot, and I've been tickled and gratified to find new uses for it during pregnancy and childbirth.

After an offhand comment by our excellent childbirth class instructor Ann Cowlin, I went home and searched for contraction timing apps, finding at least six that looked good. We ended up using Labor and Contraction Timer (Free) at home for about 13 hours, and its simplicity and clarity made processing that data smooth and easy. I am happy to have had that help with timing, and recommend something like it for anyone near labor.

Then, once there is a baby, you've got lots to keep track of. Nurses at the hospital are emphatic about recording bowel movements, wet diapers, nursing and sometimes even sleeping. If you experience as much sleep deprivation as we did, that can be a lot to remember, so I used BabyBix (site and app) to help track it. Also easy to use, and allows mom, dad and helpers to all centralize data so we have it handy to report during pediatrics visits or just amusing stats (see future post about poop).

And now, a cute picture:

Big day

I'm amazed that the little guy is still awake. He's only slept about 12 hours today, met three new family, dirtied about 10 diapers and nursed for nearly five hours.

On day two, we enjoyed this angelic face, which we are finally seeing again as we drift off with him.

Daddy time and noses

Baby noses are just too scrumptious to pass up.

I adore the cute little face, and sometimes he even responds to my voice by opening his eyes.

Day 4 update

We're so proud of our little one, he can now turn his head side to side. This makes sleeping and burping easier. So far our tag-team diaper changing has been working well, but I'm still the undisputed king of burping and swaddling.

In other news, Hunahpu is planning to take over the world. Or something.

Family day 2

Bonding in the hospital was wonderful, especially because I was able to sleep over and help. It gave us time to get to know each other, and both learn the essentials of diapers and swaddling.

Day 1

We had a great weekend. We had a fantastic team. Labor was long and strong and wondrous.

Now there is a baby. We are happily home now, resting.

Hunahpu (everyone needs a secret identity) day 1:

Birth Day

Hunahpu was born April 11th, 2010 at 9:26 am. We walked to the hospital Saturday night, after already laboring at home for about thirteen hours. We had a wonderful overnight of labor at Yale New Haven Hospital, and the staff were all very supportive. 26+ hours of labor (and no pain meds) later, we had our little bundle of amazing. Shortly after birth we moved from Labor/Delivery up to Maternity, where we had the very fortuitous room #1122, so enumerated for the birthdays of the son and the mother. :)

Initial weight was 2.68 kg, height 50 cm, head 34 cm around. He's been quite the dancer, as he was in the womb, and has been getting progressively louder in his verbal expression.

Despite some reports to the contrary, he does not in fact have a bridge named after him (yet).

Gender Roles and Music

No matter what kind of kid we end up having, I think this is an important lesson in taking care with gender expression and restricting one's children.

Also it's cute and funny.

Talking to Hunahpu

Hello there, little one! My, what a nice strong kick you've got.

Spring picnic time

Playing in the Berkeley courtyard on a beautiful sunny day: