The Collins Family

The Collins Family

Thursday, January 23, 2014

4-5 weeks



William has continued to become more alert and interactive.  He is tracking (following objects with his eye).  He is cooing and seems to be more aware of his hands :)  Here are a few pictures from the last couple weeks :)  He is feeding well and hit 10 pounds this week!


Dr. William… my Mom and I set this up, he slept through the whole thing, even when we had to shake the bag to get him out!  


 He is destined to be an avid reader like his dad...



Family photos...



Rockstar dad :)

William and I try to go on walks.. we manage to get out on a walk about every other day

Both my mom and Sean's mom have come to stay with me (on two different occassions) while Sean has been on the road, which means I have not had to be home alone with William yet, which has been wonderful.  I have greatly appreciated the help they gave me.  

  
Smitten...

discussing plans for her next visit :)

William attended his first wrestling match, in hokie attire of course


 We have been overwhelmed by the generousity of friends and family and thier gifts.  Several people have knitted beautiful baby blankets for our little guys, which keep him warm on the cold winter days.  Below are some booties from Germany from one of Sean's althetes (Alex, National Champion in the Hammer throw)











Saturday, January 11, 2014

3 weeks

Well we are starting to settle into a routine :)

A few things I love about this stage....

1.  I love his little noises, his grunts when he feeds his coos, he has been a very noisy baby since he was  born..
2.  I love the little things he does with those little hands, like when he stretches or puts his hand right up next to his chin

3.  I love that he is starting to focus and stares right into my face, it melts my heart every time!
4.  I love his random smiles when he is sleeping, probably from gas, but I still love watching the corners of his lips curl up (of course it is impossible to get a good picture)..

4. I love seeing him with his dad, his dad is so smittent and is always right there to help me, whenever I need a hand..

William and Dad enjoy reading Jungle Book

We went on our first family outing... Brunch at Boudreaux.  


As you can see he also has quite a temper :)  

He has a little weight to put on before he is ready to go to the mats (wrestling)...

Williams first date with Kinsley Rogers :)


He is a sweet little guy we look forward to getting to know better and better.  We are so blessed to have this little guy in our lives.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

The first few weeks

After our first night home :) I had a lactation visit, as breastfeeding was proving to be as challenging as everyone warned me..  William had lost some weight and appeared jaundice, so we checked his billirubin.  To help his jaundice and weight gain we started supplementing... Here is Sean finger feeding pumped breast milk...


 It turned out that Williams bilirubin came back to high to treat at home, so he was readmitted to the hospital for phototherapy.  

William under bililights (he HATED the purple goggles and most everything about the lights...

His bilirubin successfully responded to lights and frequent feedings with supplementation of breast milk and some formula, the lactation specialist that helped me through were incredible!  Here is William showing off his battle wounds, I call this one Super Fin, as he resembles a super hero with the purple mask & Sean nicknamed him Fin...


We went home and continued to supplement and breastfeed and see lactation about every other day.  Needless to say I was very anxious about his weight gain, so my sweet husband bought me a food scale we could monitor Williams weight at home, to help ease my nerves.


We also were very fortunate to have our family during this time.  My mom and dad, sister and Sean's mom were all here for Christmas and to see our newest addition.  They were all very supportive and helpful during this stressful time.  Here's mom with little William :)


My dad with our little guy... although Dad much preferred to carry him in the Ergo baby or take him for bumpy rides in his stroller :)

My sister Liz  

Story time with both Grandmothers and Auntie Liz 

Then of course snuggle time with mom and dad :)

 William is hiding but he is snuggled in the blanket at my chest, Monk was very fond of William from the moment we brought him home and has continued to be his protector.  When William cries Monk whines!  He also is always trying to get a lick in to make sure William's hair lays just right...


Our little guy all dressed up for Christmas :)  I love how he holds his little hands. He is so content in his Dad's arms.

Tummy time!!!  And of course color coordinating cloth diapers ;)


The first couple weeks were much different than I anticipated.  Breastfeeding was MUCH harder than I ever imagined (To any and all mothers I silently judged for bottlefeeding, I am SOOOOO sorry, I had NO idea!).  And I am much more anxious and attached mother than I EVER thought I would be.  
 I have also discovered what is to be like to be a mom of a patient, rather than the doctor, is SOO different (i.e. I cried when my pediatricain told me we had to be readmitted and when lactation told me we needed to start supplementig with formula...both things I tell my patients all the time and follow with, it's really okay, this isn't a big deal...well now I know truly what a big deal it can be...)

Thank you to all my friends, family, doctors, nurses, lactaion specialist and my wonderful husband who supported me through these last couple weeks.

More to come on our beautiful baby boy.....



Friday, January 3, 2014

William's arrival

Well as Sean would say, William would not be my son if he came on time.  Our little guy arrived on Dec. 15, 2013 (2 days after his due date).  Sean and I spent the night prior to his arrival running some last minute Christmas errands and going out to eat at one of our favorite resturaunts, Blackstone.

At 430 on 12/15/13, I started having contractions, by 730 we were headed into the hospital.  I was on the fence about getting an epidural initially, but after I learned what contractions really felt like when they were 3 minutes apart, I decided to go for the epidural.  The epidural slowed my contractions down and I was put on Pitocin.  At about 12 pm I started pushing and at 1:29 pm our little guys was born sunnyside up.  My OB, Dr. Kami Palmer was wonderful and my nurse Michelle was incredibly encouraging (especially at 1:15 when I said is he ever REALLY going to come!), not to mention my incredible supportive husband that stood by my side throughout the entire process.  My dear friend Katie Collins drove up from Charlotte, NC and arrived shortly after William was born.  Here are some pictures (most that Katie took :) )


William Joseph Collins 
arrived at 1:29 on 12/15/13 
weighing 8#13 oz and measuring 21.5 inches.

He had quite a lusty cry after he was born, which I attribute to good strong lungs and an irish temper



Michelle giving little William his first bath


First check up from his pediatrician, Dr. Sophia Abraham-Hardee. 








 My dear friend Katie with William and I :) 

 William in his new hat from Katie 

 Snuggle time



More to come soon.....