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Max's First Professional Photos-17 days old

16 days old!

What a whirlwind these past 16 days have been! My emotions have been up, down, and sideways, and I am simply amazed at how little sleep I can function on! (Not very well, mind you!) We have gone from breast AND bottle feeding, to 90% bottle, now to 90% breastfeeding, he's been circumcised, passed his hearing test, gained back his birth weight, has a little belly button now, and is awake a little more than before...he's grown up so much!

I on the other hand, have had about 60 hours of sleep (ok, maybe a little more), sneaked in about 4 showers, put makeup on once, lost 20 pounds, been outside less than a handful of times, cried about a dozen times, changed a million diapers, and so overall, I'm running about average for a new mom (or so I'm told!)

Max is getting his pictures taken tomorrow...I wished I would've had them done prior to 2 weeks, but I was so overwhelmed with everything, it just didn't happen. I did however, take a few myself...

First of all: Still in the hospital. This is the ankle monitor he wore the entire time. We were both on Maternity Ward arrest!

He used to take a binky, now he has little interest now that he realized no milk comes out of it!

Wittle Baby Hands!

After his first sponge bath. He didn't like it much.

He always sleeps like this, with his head cocked upwards and to one side.

And some funny faces:

Working to Pay off that C-Section!

When we found out that Max was breech and after trying everything we could to get him to turn head down, we would joke that since he was being uncooperative, he would have to get a job real quick to help pay off the C-section costs, which added up to over $5000. Well, a week after his birth, Friday the 12th, he did get his first job!

We were contacted by the people from http://howbility.com/ to see if we would be a part of their DVD "Caring For Your Newborn." They make videos that are distributed for free at hospitals and birth classes, that are basically instructional how-to videos, giving tips on caring for a new baby. So we said yes. They came over to the house that Friday, and said we'd be shooting the bit where they talk about colicky babies.

Ok, but one problem-Max was in a terrific mood! We had to fake a bunch of shots, where I am shushing him with the back of his head to the camera, so they could dub in cries over the footage. I suggested we put him in his bassinet, since he always gets fussy when he gets put in it. Well, he decided that day that he liked it! It was so funny, we were just trying to make him a little fussy, to get a quick shot of his face. So I held him with his feet slightly elevated, which ALSO always makes him fussy. I was going to let him fuss for a few seconds, then bring him back into position quickly to get the shot. But as SOON as I leveled him out, he'd be fine! He was super chill. Other than that, he did really well, and was extremely cooperative! He's our little movie star!

The shoot went really quickly, just 2 hours. They said it usually takes longer, about 3, but Max did so well...and not to toot our horns, but they were pretty impressed with Craig's and my acting skills as well. We got many of the scenes in just one take. Craig told them "Well, I did get many trophies and awards for my acting in 6th and 7th grade." (True!) They don't work with real 'actors,' just the parents of the babies, so any skill is probably more than what they're used to working with!

So Max was the star, and he made $50 for the shoot. $25 an hour isn't bad for a 7 day old! Now just $4950 more to go Max! LOL!

Here are a few pictures I snapped while they were setting up. One of the coordinators took several other pictures as well, so I hope to get those emailed to me sometime. This just gives you an idea of what was going on.

Those lights they brought with them were SOOOO bright! Makes the rest of the house look so dark!

Still waiting to get everything set up.

And here is Craig, tending to the star. Look for his debut this

Spring at a hospital near you!

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Yesterday was a hard day for Max AND for me. Max had an appointment to get circumcized. Max had just gotten his temp and weight taken (he's past his birth weight now, 7 lbs 15 oz!) Oh and he peed all over the scale LOL! Then we were asked to wait. I started thinking of the pain involved, and how at 10 days old, we are the only 2 people in the world who he knows, and he trusts us to take care of him the best we can, and now we're subjecting him to all this pain that is really medically unnecessary, etc. To make it worse, as we were waiting, Max was in the best mood ever. He was awake, alert, locking eyes with me, so content and happy. He had no idea what was waiting for him! So yes, I started crying (just a little!) Craig saw me upset, probably started questioning it himself, and so we ALMOST walked out and cancelled the appointment! I told Craig "I just don't want Max to think this was MY idea!" I kissed my baby goodbye, and the nurse took him to the back. I waited in the waiting room, and Craig actually talked his way into the surgery room to be with him, which they usually never allow. I think he wanted to make doubly sure that the doctor didn't mess up!

20 minutes later I got my baby back, crying, but not screaming. They did numb it, but they did it with 2 shots, so those didn't feel good. And the anesthesia wears off pretty quickly. I was so sad seeing him upset! We got sent home with Tylenol, care instructions, and an unhappy baby. By the time I finally got him to sleep that afternoon, I was beat, so I took a nap too. And of course, whenever I sleep, the dogs want to cuddle. Well there's not much room on the couch, so Batman improvised, and Craig got a picture of it!

Its a good thing I got that nap in, because he was upset ALL night long! By morning he settled down, and Craig watched him while I slept all morning. He seems to be doing much better today!

All Because Two People Fell in Love

Here are a few more pictures. I know people are checking here to see if I've posted any, and I didn't know I could be too tired to take 10 minutes to post them, but I am! I'll write more later, but here are pics. And honestly, I need to take more. Since we've been home, I haven't taken any, and he's over a week old now! :( I need to get on that. Enjoy!


Welcome to the world Max! Max's first picture, taken by his daddy! Poor Max, it wasn't fun for me either!


7 lbs, 11.6 oz. I thought for SURE he'd be a 9 pounder. Craig was, I was, AND he came a week late, with NO signs of labor!


Sticking out his tongue at his dad! He better get used to getting his picture taken!


Usually, while I'm getting my sutures, the dad takes baby into the recovery room, but Max was doing so well, that they let Craig hold him up near me while I got put back together. It definitely took my mind off of the surgery going on.


No, Craig doesn't have SARS, but he did have a cough, and he was very cautious about it!


Finally in the recovery room. I can't feel my legs! I still can't believe I just had a baby!


Grandma Marissa helping Craig dress Max in his first outfit!


Look at that sweet baby boy! He looks just like his dad! (He has my nose, ears, hands, and feet, and the rest is all Craig!)


Congratulations Grandma! First-time-grandma, Marissa, was the first family to hold him. Already in love with each other!


New Aunt (and perhaps future babysitter:)) Saphara gets a turn to meet Max! She was the one who knitted the beanie he's wearing!


Sister Packard also stopped by to hold Max while I got my first nap! Thanks!

Craig, Max, Barbara, and Nathaniel! Nathaniel couldn't get enough of Max, and Max loved being held by him!

Max with the new proud Grandparents!

Auties Abby and Cassie with their new nephew!

Little monkey man, mid yawn. Being born is exhausting! Before I had him, I looked at those newborn sized sleepers and diapers, and thought: there is no way he's going to fit into these! But sure enough, he's swimming in them! I need to go get a few more!
Papa couldn't be prouder!

The new and definitely improved Hull family! This is Friday evening, when I was finally able to get out of bed and sit in a chair! Woo hoo, what a treat!

Wishin’ and Hopin’ and Thinkin’ and Prayin'

No, no baby yet. I really thought he'd be here by now. Its Tuesday, I'm 4 days overdue, and I feel fine. Unfortunately! (I'm sure Craig would say that I'm unusually moody and irritable, but he'd be wrong of course.) I was feeling sick earlier this week, and I didn't know if it was the beginnings of labor or if it was just the tail end of my weird cold/flu that I've had the past 2 weeks. Well, it wasn't labor! I'm thinking now that I'm going to make it until Friday! This REALLY wasn't in my plan at all! Just goes to show who's really in control!

The one encouraging thing is that I have been so exhausted lately, I feel like I just lay around waiting for something to happen, and today, I feel like I have *some* energy, so I think I'm going to use that little bit of energy to get the house in better array so Craig doesn't have to do so much while I'm recovering. He HAS agreed to do all the cooking, cleaning, fielding visitors, and nursing me back to recovery...he doesn't know what he's in for!

Anyway, Craig will let you all know when the time DOES come. And if you don't hear anything by Friday, then you'll know that I'm going in Friday at 5:30 am, for a C-section at 7:30 am, so by the time most of you wake up on Friday, especially all of you on the West Coast, we'll have our baby by then!