1.5 Months Old

Well, Caleb's now over 1 month old.  Since birth, he's increased his birth weight by over 50%! and grown 1.5 inches.  So he's growing like a weed.  Much chubbier.

Been back to work for 2 weeks now.  Been a busy couple of weeks which has been good - except I get home dead tired.  And I've been trying really hard to leave work "on time"  i.e. after putting in a good 8 hrs of work... but I always end up staying over by at least 30 mins.  But still not bad all in all.  I get to work at 7:30 AM and leave arou nd 4 or 4:30.

I had a nice long weekend with no work on Monday.  During the weekend Deb and I actually had a few minutes to ourselves with no baby duties ... and we looked at each other and Deb asked, "So what did we used do?"  and I just came up blank... Everything we've been doing and been focused on for the past 3 months has been baby centered.  From nursery preparations, to birthing class to labor & delivery to the past 1.5 months of learning to take care of the baby.  Its almost hard to think of what we used to do for fun when we had free time.  Only things we could come up with were watching TV and cooking/baking.  One good thing we did on Monday was that we exercised together - that was nice.  Any suggestions on what to do?

Updated photos at:  http://www.flickr.com/gp/71944005@N00/w0991u

 

Another week - and soon Back to work

Since the last entry - I've been HIT!  Got nailed by a sharp shooting pee shot to the head - ouch ... or rather... GROSS.  I immediately hit the shower to wash away the golden shower.

Aside from that - Caleb has managed to veer completely off of a schedule, and lately has been cluster feeding during the day.  Which means he finishes eating, then after burping and changing (50 mins), decides he's hungry again without even a nap and proceeds to eat another 30 to 40 mins.  This results in a very tired mom.

Caleb has sort of graduated up to size 1 diapers (from newborn).  He is growing like a weed.  Pretty much out growing sleepers as fast as wearing them once, spitting-up on it, putting it in the wash, then 3 days later when its washed again - he doesn't fit into it.  Amazing.

In 3 days I return to work (saved up lots enough vacation time so I could be off since Caleb was born until start of 2007).  Gonna be weird going back to work - trying to get back into the swing of things after being gone about 1 month.  I haven't been off that long since before I started work almost 10 years ago.  Poor Deb will be left handle the baby on her own.  I honestly don't know how single mothers do it 24/7.  More photos till next time.  maybe there'll be video by then...

Extended Family Christmas Photos

New photos on Flickr:  http://www.flickr.com/gp/71944005@N00/w0991u

2 Weeks Old

Hard to believe that we've made it two weeks with Caleb.  Two weeks of not sleeping for more than 3.5 hours at one time... burning through over 150 diapers, 3 packs of wipes, 3 bedding changes and 3 loads of laundry.

We are working to a schedule of feedings at 8AM, 10:30AM, 1PM, 4PM, 6:30PM, 9PM, 2AM, 5AM and starting all over again at 8AM.  It takes about 50 mins to wake, feed, burp and diaper change him, and he has "wake time" after the daytime feedings that last up to 20 or 30 mins.  i.e. leaving not a lot of time to rest.  Metabolically, Caleb won't likely be able to sleep through the night for another 6 weeks.

Deb and I are holding up fairly well.  God for sure got it right (as he always does) when he created Adam and Eve and marriage, where they are a "helper" for each other.  Of course when it comes to breastfeeding Caleb, I'm the helper... but anyway...  Because if there wasn't two of us, I don't know how we would manage.  There are times that one of us is totally wiped out and tired - but thank God, the other is feeling well to pick up the slack and get through that feeding session.

We are feeling like we have things under control well enough for visitors.  The best times to see the baby is 1 hour after the start of a feeding (see above).  But don't plan to come after the 1PM feeding cause that's Mom's nap time.  Probably the very best time is 11:30.  5PM also works.  And 7:30 isn't the best either cause that's in the middle of his fussy time.

More pics!

Watch dog

Mom and Baby

Taken w/ Gail and Roger's tree

Also more pics to be found on Flikr...

http://www.flickr.com/gp/71944005@N00/K44bNR

More Caleb Photos!

Pics taken as of this past Sunday.

http://www.flickr.com/gp/71944005@N00/6U42u5

Baby Watch Update

Its almost amazing how many people ask questions along the lines of, "Is the baby here yet?"  "Anything yet?" etc.  Its great to know that so many people care so much about us!

Things are all ready at the house.  We've packed TONS of stuff to take to the hospital with us.

Getting down to the wire now.  We're heading to the hospital for our 9am appointment to be induced!  The reason for inducing is the because the baby's quite big (relative to what the doctor believes Deb can deliver).  So... estimates are that the baby will be born late this evening and returning home Friday morning.

Please pray for no C-section required...

Will be posting as soon as I can with th e birth announcement and pictures!

EDIT:  Well - unfortunately in the rush to get out of the house and to the hospital Tuesday morning I screwed up the above post and it went only private... but now its edited to be Public and is the official Xanga announcement of the birth of our baby BOY!

This is to announce that
Caleb En-Pei* Chang was born at
3:34 AM on December 6, 2006
Weighing 7 pounds, 4.2 ounces and
is 21.25 inches long.
* En-Pei, his Chinese name means "God's Grace Abundant"

Mom and baby are doing great. We hope to leave the hospital for home Thursday evening.
Thank you to all for your encouragement and prayers.