A picture is worth...

There is something about catching a glimpse of your infant's father gazing down at him and sharing in the awe you feel when you stare at him yourself. Today was probably the most challenging day I've had throughout this entire pregnancy and birth, partly thanks to an overload of hormones and severe lack of sleep.

As you know, Mason was born on Monday, one day short of 36 weeks, weighing in at 6 pounds and 6 ounces. We left the hospital yesterday afternoon and he had lost 6 ounces in the two days we were there. This morning Mason and I came in for a consultation with our third lactation specialist (who was by FAR the best... if I had known on Monday what I know now...) and to test his bilirubin count. While there is no "normal" number for bilirubin levels, anything above 15 is considered high. We discovered that Mason's weight had dropped a few more ounces to 5 pounds and 12 ounces (which is a 10% loss since birth and the most you want to have) and his bilirubin level came back at 15. Given those two variables the doctor decided to readmit our little guy to the hospital.

Tage and I spent a stressful day concerned about Mason's health and well-being, knowing full well that he was going to be fine. Bilirubin, for those who don't know, helps monitor the removal of red blood cells from the body. If you can't tell from the photo above and it's bluish tint, Mason has been under the lights since this afternoon and will continue to spend the night there. I will be practicing my pumping (we also discovered today that Mason and I haven't been doing as good of a job as we thought we were), Mason will be practicing his looking cute, and Dad just headed out to try to get a good night's sleep. When we are home for good I'll post some more thoughts, pictures, and experiences from the last several days but I couldn't wait to share the one above, as it brings tears to my eyes each time I look at it and see my two boys together. And that's not just the hormones talking. Just when you thought you couldn't possibly love someone any more than you already do...

Mason JD Valone

After going to work I got a text from Tegan saying no more yoga for me. I was like OK did you hurt yourself? and she says no my water broke. So I'm like um so what now. and she says shes at hospital and has an iv in her. I'm like do i need to leave work? and she says no stay there. Well that easier said than done but I eventually got to the hospital after throwing her recommendation out the window at 1. As I walk through the door i see her hunched over and two people working on her and the first thing that goes through my mind is epi time!! This picture was taken shortly after. ummm drugs gotta love them Here I am having fun at the hospital. Who says they cant be a source of fun?

After arriving I was greeted by some good old hospital food. Yum. Mom couldn't have any so I figured what the heck. It wasn't bad.

Moms doing great just chill axing and not feeling her legs.

Its sure is hard work hanging at the hospital

After 5 contractions and 15 minutes our bundle of joy said waaaaaa. I was impressed with T when she wants something out of her she gets it out. All be it a month early. He wasn't happy being in the cold and his temp dropped. The doctors were worried but I was like. You get out of a bath naked your body temp is going to drop. duuuhh.

I think Tegan was going a little crazy because they were working on him getting blood test and vitamin shots and all that jazz. But she finally got him in her arms.

So me and Mason had to go to the warming beds so they could watch his temp. He warmed up good thanks to his daddy's genes.

They decided to give him some food cause he wasn't latching and we all need food after a journey. He liked it something fierce! and ate it all. Who's a good boy :)

Surprisingly he has some crazy hands. nails and all that. I decided to do some bonding and had him or rather offered my finger in a secret go steelers salute. Coincidentally if he would have been born on Sunday his name would have been Steel. Steel Valone. Now theres a kid you don't mess with.

Regretfully I didn't take a lot of mom holding baby moments. Those are forever captured in my mind and I think a sort of private bonding moment. Specially when its skin on skin playa!! I'm sure there will be hundreds of photos and I am sure tegan will write more eloquently. But the wi fi at the hospital isn't working and I figured I would give you all something to salivate and or quench your thirst for photos. I would like to thank all the friends and family who have supported us with words and acts of kindness. It is a true blessing for us not only to have all of you in our lives but also in the life our or child. Thank you for all your support in the past and in the coming years. I think I can speak for both of us when we say we love you and thank you.

T and T

Tage's Adventures in Chinese (Food)

It's 4PM, you send a text to your significant other who will be at work for at least the next two hours and inquire about dinner plans. Your significant other points out a Real Simple recipe on top of the microwave for Red Wine Pasta with Romano. You aren't feeling it. What do you do?

If you're Tage you scour the refrigerator for ingredients and whip up your very own version of pork fried rice and pot stickers. Armed with an arsenal of brown rice, fresh carrots and celery, lasagna noodles (which he boiled and then sliced into strips), lunch meat (ham, sliced into chunks and fried), a couple of eggs, some soy sauce and sesame oil, Tage had dinner ready to go when I got home last night. Not only was it pretty good but I had leftovers for lunch today.

Tage's comments? "Needs MSG," but he enjoyed his creation as well. (Note to self: leave more unappealing recipes lying around the house...)

Baby Shower

The pictures can do most of the talking. I couldn't have imagined a more wonderful afternoon spent with friends and family. My girlfriends did an incredible job on every detail of the shower from the location and decor to the food and games. It was obvious how much thought went into each aspect and I am so very grateful to have such amazing people in my life.

Who knew babies needed so much stuff! I sent Tage back to Spokane with two full suitcases which he unpacked and put away before I got home. He commented that the baby has more clothes than he does and Tage even had to go purchase more hangers. Tage says our baby is spoiled, I say he's loved.

A string of onesies embellish the room.

Boxes of blue and green Jelly Bellies adorned each place setting and glass baby bottles filled with fresh white daisies served as center pieces.

The desserts stole the show (in my opinion), then again they were tailored to my citrus cravings. :)

Grandma-To-Be

It took Dad less than half an hour to assemble the jogger stroller, car seat, swing, and bouncer. Pretty impressive!

Cankles!

Need I say more? I was lucky to have avoided them up until now. A month of them shouldn't kill me. I'm sorry but there will not be a picture to accompany this post. There will, however, be lots of pictures posted later from the baby shower! Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go elevate my feet somewhere.

34 Weeks

How is it possible that in approximately 6 weeks time we are going to be responsible for a person small enough to fit these booties? Astro and I look at each other with precisely that question in mind. These adorable baby booties were actually hand made by Amanda VanBelle-Ceniceros, who is the adorable wife of one of the staff members at WaMu-Northwest Boulevard. She knitted an incredible blanket to match. By next week our house will be full of baby stuff, as the shower is only days away.

On that note... I found out today that evidently I'm not supposed to wear jeans to the baby shower. Was someone going to inform me? Have we met? Hi, I'm Tegan, I'm just about the most low-maintenance person you'll meet and I live in my jeans and flip flops. My choices are maternity jeans or work pants partnered with the Bella Band. We'll see which outfit wins out.

Tage and I are vacationing in our hometown this week. I flew and Tage drove the gruelling 13 hours from Spokane yesterday. We spent today bumming around, evaluating what needs to be done in our home, sampling a new yogurt shop near our house, and spending time with friends and family. Tage had dinner with his dad and I went to dinner at my mom's with Jared and Justin. There was a moment when it was just the three of us siblings sitting in the living room after dinner and my little brothers actually asked to see my belly. To my surprise, they were eager to feel the baby kick and appeared to be equal parts horrified and intrigued by my navel, which is bordering on an outtie at this point. It was a special sibling moment.

Tomorrow is a cleaning and painting day. We've cleared the baby's room and discussed where we want things to go. My mom and Elaine are coming over tomorrow to help us paint the ceilings and trim in the house. We are so thankful to have loved ones so willing to help out and we appreciate them all the more after being away for a year.

I had two "I love my town" moments today. The first was standing in our front yard and feeling the sun on my face. The second was realizing it was 5:30pm and the sun had just set. In Spokane it's dark by 4:15pm and even when it's sunny outside you don't get to feel the warmth of the sun. You definitely appreciate something more when you don't have it.

Hospital Tour

Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane is where we intend to give birth so Tage and I took a tour of the maternity ward this afternoon. Wouldn't you know the tour can only be taken on Sundays at 2pm, which fell right in the middle of the Steelers game, and Tage still joined me. We discovered that Sacred Heart offers free valet parking and it only costs $3 a day to park there. Is there anywhere in our hometown you can park for $3 a day? There was a surprisingly large group and the nurses actually had to divide us up. One group consisted of more children and senior citizens in wheel chairs than expectant parents so we (I) opted to join the second group. From the very beginning Tage compared group 2 to a conference call... you know, how there are always people asking absurd questions that no one else cares to know the answers to. (For example, one woman asked how the "days" are billed to the insurance company, as if the nurse would know.)

Not only is the hospital relatively new but the delivery and post-natal rooms are amazing. I've been in a lot of hospitals and more than a few maternity wards and this is by far the nicest I've seen. The rooms resemble hotel rooms more than hospital rooms. They all have huge windows with gorgeous views of Spokane, TV's with DVD and VHS players (important for Tage), a CD player, refrigerator, a couch and, wait for it, jacuzzi tub. Also, all of the rooms are individual, so you don't share a room with anyone the entire time you're there. The birthing rooms are fully equipped to do all of the immediate newborn testing and your baby never has to leave your sight if you don't want him to. The only negative was not each room had a newer bed where the back could raise up. The nurse mentioned they had a couple of them so I'm sure if they aren't swamped when we go in they will be able to accommodate that request. They seem to have the rest of the optional delivery apparatus such as birthing balls and bars. Overall I think we're both pretty content with the arrangements there.

Just over 6 weeks until our extended stay at Sacred Heart!

The Countdown

There is something about having less than two months left that makes you realize this is really, REALLY going to happen. I mean really. No turning back now. Tonight's final childbirth class had us preparing for labor and the weeks after the baby is here. We've got 7 weeks to go (unless you listen to our childbirth class instructor who says first babies are usually up to 2 weeks late) and I'm beginning to feel like we're not prepared. Pouring over my baby registry is becoming a little overwhelming as I think about all we might (or might not) need. For instance, even though we've opted to use cloth diapers we are going to need at least one package of newborn disposable diapers for the first couple of days after birth. Evidently there is some pretty disgusting stuff that will be exiting this child's body that will stain. Ah, something new each day it seems.

My back and ribs are still really sore and it's getting more difficult to sit upright at my desk all day. Toward the end of the day today I lowered my chair and leaned back, causing the staff to ask if I was "low riding". Speaking of staff, these pictures were taken (along with the picture on our Christmas card) by one of the very talented members of WaMu-Northwest Boulevard, Stephen Noble. A fantastic teller, Stephen does some even more impressive work behind a lens. Tage and I enjoyed having Stephen (and his lovely girlfriend Chaslin) over to take a few snapshots. My favorite was the one posted in December with The Giving Tree. Tage's favorite features one of his childhood books, Tintin.

Happy New Year!

As a child I was fortunate enough to have grandparents, great-grandparents, and even great-great-grandparents on both my Mom's and Dad's sides of the family. Grandma Pete still has a newspaper article from the local newspaper showcasing me and Jared as "Lucky Kids have Bakers Dozen Grandparents" and a photo of our five generations. Every New Years Day I can remember my dad and Grandpa Jay driving us out to Woodland to visit Grandma Ina's father, Big Daddy (Luther), at his assisted living home. The entire home would have a potluck and Big Daddy was in charge of the black-eyed peas. Since then we've made it a tradition to have them in his memory each year.

Last year I tried an Emeril recipe for "Hoppin' John" but the Martha Stewart version remains my favorite. Tage isn't a fan of black-eyed peas so this year I made this Black-Eyed Peas and Spring Greens recipe from Mama Manifesto. More greens than black-eyed peas, it was substantial but light. I added feta and spinach sausage for my meat-loving man, who I can't say enjoyed the meal, but was a dear and ate it anyway. I, however, will enjoy the leftovers for lunch today.

Here's to a new year, I can't believe another one is already upon us. Each year has brought it's own challenges, surprises and delights and I can already say with confidence that 2009 will be no exception. Here is a brief look back on 2008 and then we're looking forward to 2009!

Our first home in Spokane, Washington

Spring Training in Phoenix, Arizona

The Great Wall in Beijing, China

Lindsey and Melanie come to visit

Cylie graduates!

Heather's bachelorette party

Heather and Kevin's wedding

Roseanne's bachelorette party

Roseanne and Larry's wedding

Tage's mom Deanne, Jack, and Aunt Bonnie come visit

Our first puppy, Astro

Expecting big things (or just one small one) in 2009...