Happy Thanksgiving

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Photosynth + Nico

So, there is this new technology Microsoft acquired from a little company developed out of the UW. It's called Photosynth and -- when it works -- it's pretty cool.

I experimented with it the other day and created a virtual tour of Nico's room. I don't think it took all my photos, but check it out.

Sadly, it only works on PCs, you have to install a plug-in and, because it's Microsoft, it's a little buggy at times. It crashes my browsers whenever I launch it. But I do know it works. I saw it on Grandpa Brent's computer.

Check it out: http://photosynth.net/install.aspx?cid=B06DF8C7-B372-
4748-9953-F63DA5B94445

Please tell me if you get it to work!

Six hours of 'sleep'

Nico averages two to three (on a rare occasion four) hours of sleep between feedings. Last night he got six hours of 'sleep' -- meaning I slept uninterrupted -- last night. How did he do it? Well, he joined us in bed.

Nico has been sleeping in his own crib and room since he turned about one week old, but been being a tad fussy. Last night, to get some rest, we brought him into bed with us. Connie had her arm around him protecting him as he slept.

It's good to know this new trick for getting rest.

He's growing

We went to the doctor's for his two-week visit. Nico was born 6 lbs. 8 oz. and 19 inches tall. When they checked him out today, he weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz. and measured 21.5 inches.

My boy is growin'!

Nico meets Grandpa and Great Grandma

Nico has gotten some visitors to help celebrate his first Thanksgiving feast. Grandpa Brent had meet Nico before through Skype. While Great Grandma Eli had only seen photos.

Detached!

At exactly 5:53 PM, 11 days after birth, Nico's umbilical cord has detached. His new belly button looks cute. The cord, well, that looks like gross jerky. Not sure if we are going to keep it. Doubt it.
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Pair of Fuzzy Bunnies

Nico is sporting some cute little slippers these days. They were part of an outfit given to him by a parent of one of Connie’s students. It’s a whole bunny outfit that includes a hat.

Currently, they are the only shoes that fit. But they are not the only shoes he owns. We’ve gotten several pairs (thank you everyone), including the first gift he got. A pair of snowman Vans from our three-year-old friend A.C. Haik and her family.

Los Cochinitos and the Internet

Growing up, I have a clear memory of my mom singing a lullaby to my brother, sister and I. I didn’t know the name or the lyrics. I just had the melody and a line about mom putting her three piglets to bed.

I had a flashback to the tune when putting Nico to bed the other day. And, thanks to the Internet, I found the it. There are even videos on YouTube.

Click to play

The song, Los Cochinitos Dormilones, is a Mexican version of the three little pigs, from 1935. Mommy pig puts them to sleep and they start to snore and dream. Once dreams of being king, another a sailor and the third dreams of helping mom.

You can read the lyrics here and hear more music from Cri-Cri, the singing cricket here.

What's so funny?

Ok, we all know newborns don't purposely smile or laugh. They don't control those emotions or facial muscles just yet.

That said, Nico is having a ball with some inside joke only he knows. Grandma, Connie and I continually see Nico 'smiling' - in one case 'laughing' - in this sleep.

It may not be real, but it sure is cute and entertaining.

Here's to Nico having a good sense of humor!

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Oh you’ve got blue eyes, oh you’ve got grey eyes

Are they going to be brown? Light brown? Green?! If you look at Nico's eyes, like most newborns, you see them looking blue or grey. We are waiting to see which color they will become.


I have average boring brown eyes, like the rest of my family. Connie has beautiful light brown eyes. But Connie's mom, Marla, has more like hazel eyes. Her family has green eyes.

What color do you think they will be?

Nico is a week old!

Sure, it's not a gigantic milestone, but it is worth mentioning... a week ago at this exact moment, Nico entered the world changing the lives of Connie and I.

Napping babies

I caught my two little ones taking a quick nap while listening to Enya.

Nico Portraits

Grandma Marla asked if we had taken any photos of little Nico in the nude... if you think of it, we all have those photographs in our baby photo albums. So, in the name of tradition and pride, we took some portraits of Nico as we changed him in the morning.

The lighting was beautiful, making the green room so light and bright.

Dang he's cute!

Bear-y cute

Nico got dressed up in one of his many (that's right, many) fuzzy animal outfits. This one, obviously, is a bear suit. He went on errands with mom and grandma.

Getting ready for bed

We're still figuring out the details, but we've begun a bedtime routine. The elements are: change to PJs, 'washing' of face, feeding and a story. We are still trying to figure out in what order to do this all. Little Nico falls asleep so dang fast - well, at least for now.
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Life with baby: Lesson #4

Today we had our first outing with Nico – his first doctor’s appointment as mentioned earlier. Well, we were late. Traveling with a newborn (or obviously any kid) adds to your departure time. We managed to pack an impromptu diaper bad, which paid off at the doc’s office.

Nico is healthy

The little guy has been given a clean bill of health, already gaining three ounces since his birth. Newborns lose weigh immediately after birth and begin to gain once breastfeeding kicks in. Well, he’s eating... and pooping. Pooping a lot.

Welcome home Nico!

After heading to the hospital late Monday night, we returned home Wednesday evening with an additional member of the family. Coby greeted us when we made it home. To get on his good side, Nico presented Coby a little gift – a stuffed monkey.



Grandma Marla took some shots as we began to adjust into our new lives – and prepare for our first night at home with Nico.

The first night went pretty well. There were some late night challenges with breastfeeding, but we managed to sneak in some sleep as Connie and I worked as a team. The second night was even easier – but don’t get me wrong, it’s tiring, hard work.

Goodbye Swedish!

A few hours past his 24-hour birthday mark, Nico was ready to go – with a gift for Coby peeking out of his car seat.

We can’t say it enough, but thank you to the *entire* Swedish Medical staff that helped Connie and I during Nico’s birth. From staffers in the huge building that quickly noticed I was lost and pointed me in the right direction to the incredible doctors and nurses in every stage.

Every one of them were so loving and helpful. And a big thanks to out post-labor nurses Eleanor and Jessica.

Exciting! Napping!! Video!!!

Okay, it’s not really exciting, but here is some video of our little baby boy sleeping.

Rockin’ with Nico

During our stay at the hospital, Nico sported some headphones for a hearing test. He passed ... I’m hoping with was the Rockabye Baby and classical music.

Multimedia Nico

Here is a video and photos, including our first family portrait.

World, Meet Nico!

Nico Peter Hernandez was born at 12:26 p.m., weighing 6 pounds 8.4 ounces. Mom did amazing! Her focus was unstoppable. Grandma and I tried our best to match her intensity helping her breathe.

Thank you all for your love and support.

Birth through Twitter updates

Successes! Nico took to breastfeeding fast and dad gave him his first bath. 2:15 PM - 11/11

Thank you all for your warm wishes. Connie and I are truly grateful. about 1:40 PM - 11/11

It's a boy! Nico Peter Hernandez arrived at 12:26pm. He was 6 pounds 8.4 ounces. Mom is doing great! 1:20 PM - 11/11

Well, we've just started the drug 'petocin' which is to increase the intensity of the contractions. 11:03 AM - 11/11

Doc says baby's heart rate has improved. 6:42 AM - 11/11

We have reached 8 cm. 6:10 AM - 11/11

About 20 min after being admited, the doc checked and Connie was at 6 cm! Doc is still monitoring baby's heart. 2:38 AM - 11/11

She was at just over 1 cm, but because the baby's heart rate drops when she had a contraction, they admitted us. 2:26 AM - 11/11

We're at the hospital. Been here since 11:45PM. After being in triage we got moved into a labor room. 2:10 AM - 11/11

Contractions began at around 4pm, so we are 6 hours into it. Connie has been doing her breathing techniques. 10:39 PM - 11/10

Well, here we go - we think. Connie has begun to have early contractions. Stay tuned. 7:57 PM - 11/10

You can follow me on Twitter!

Braxton Hicks dream

Connie said it’s okay to share this story, so here goes. About a month ago I was hounding her on whether or not she had experienced any Braxton Hicks contractions. I had heard that it happens at times early in the pregnancy. I guess I bugged her so much that she had a dream about it.

She dreamt that she had fallen down and had to go to the hospital. They checked her out and she was fine. Like in every examine the doc asked if she had been feeling any contractions. I said, “you know, she hasn’t had any Braxton Hicks.”

The doctor was concerned and ran tests. Moments later the doc returned with the results.

“Well, we have some news. It appears you are having Braxton but not the Hicks.”

It begins?

This morning Connie said that she was having slight pains. Not really contractions, not the usual backaches. But by this afternoon, there was no doubt that these were contractions.

Yes, contractions.

Connie has been monitoring them since. They have been irregular in intensity, duration and space between each. We’ll see how this goes.

Shopping!

Man, we went crazy and did the best we could to clear out what was left on our registry list Saturday. It was fun and expensive and needed. Thank you to everyone for the gifts!

Last night was the "last night"

When Connie and I were heading to bed last night -- Halloween -- she realized something. "This is our last night 'alone' for the rest of our lives."

Today Connie's parents are coming to town. Her mom is staying with us for labor support. But when the kid arrives, we'll definitely never be alone again.

That heavy statement hit us both hard and we literally felt every possible human emotion.