Life at home with a Fraselnut!

I think the listy-loo thing was working well... no reason to change that now!

1. Fraser and Kumeu. We still very much want Kumeu to be a big part of our family receiving lots of love and attention, so we did not take their introduction to each other lightly. Following Cesar Milan & the Monks of New Skete schools of thought, we first exposed Kumeu to a blankie that smelled like Fraser, then we spent time with Kums before introducing Fraser. When we DID introduce them, Fraser presented Kumeu with a toy. It went well and Kumeu seems to be adjusting nicely to the new little person in his life (although I think he’s a little baffled by all the noise in the middle of the night!)

Daddy likes to cuddle with his boys...

In our effort to include Kumeu, it kind of feels like we have two kids now and not just the one!

2. I thought I was comfortable in my last few weeks of pregnancy… and for being 41.5 weeks pregnant, I suppose I WAS comfortable. But now that I don’t have a 44-inch belly, the water retention has dissipated, the reflux has subsided and the veins have largely vanished… I’d say I had forgotten what COMFORT was. My downstairs area is still rather sore (third degree tearing will do that to a person), but it’s nothing a little Advil, Tylenol & Epsom salts can’t manage!

3. Our boy already has a plethora of nicknames. Let’s see, there’s 'Fraselberry' (as the French ‘fraise’ means ‘strawberry’), 'Fraselator', 'Frasenator', 'Fraser the Laser', 'Fraisin', 'Frasel-rock' (like Fraggle Rock)… and those are only the ones created by Auntie Shareen who hasn’t even MET him yet! Other endearing names include ‘Crazy Frazie’, 'Frazie Fraze’, and 'Frasel-boy'. These are all on top of the popular ‘Fraselnut’ (which has somehow evolved into ‘Fraselnut butt’ at times). Oh this poor child…

4. I still look pregnant… but my stomach IS flattening! When Fraser was first born, I was slightly appalled to notice that I still looked 28-30 weeks pregnant. Add the stretch marks and the full body rash I somehow acquired, and we do NOT have a pretty picture! The rash is largely gone, and I now only look 16-18 weeks pregnant, but the stretch marks are still screaming LOUD and clear. It’s a work in progress, folks. 25lbs down, 20 more to go (keeping in mind that a small chunk of that is these milk-laden breasts). I think I’ll give myself 1-5 years to get rid of the rest. It’s not hot... but honestly? I don’t care. This perfect little bundle that I get to hold in my arms is sooooo worth it!

Funny story. At the hospital, Lowell said “Don’t worry, you’ll be hot again soon” which was immediately followed by a ‘whoops- I just implied that she doesn’t look hot NOW’ expression. And then “you look beautiful.” Tee hee, I enjoy watching Lowell stumble over his words once in a while. :)

5. Since I lost most any dignity I had left during the delivery, I now have no qualms about whipping my boobs out in public. I FINALLY understand moms who do this. HOWEVER, I do control my boob-whipping-out out of consideration of those LESS comfortable with such things.

6. I guarantee that Angelina Jolie had nothing to do with the creation of this child… but check out those lips!

7. Fraser seems to be straightening out his days and nights. At first I saw every hour on the clock at night and he would sleep for 4-hour stretches during the day (crazy kid!!). I’m happy to report that he has now been getting up only 3-4 times per night, and I’m THRILLED!

8. So many firsts! Some of the documented firsts include…

First bath at home...

First walk with Kumeu and the stroller...

First grocery shopping trip...

First restaurant experience...

First time I breastfed WHILE eating at a restaurant...

9. Fraser has such looooong toes and fingers. And he’s STRONG! He could hold is head up (slightly) since day one. I’m positive that while he was in the womb, he was doing P90X along with his pa. Apparently I’m the only lazy bum in this family!

The end!