All Sleepy on the Eastern Front

Some new observations about life with a baby

1. That whole, "She's so cute, I even love the sound of her screaming her head off," lasts until about 2:00 AM. This may be compounded when she poops out of her diaper onto the sheets you're trying to sleep on.
2. In the dimmed half-light at around 3:00 AM, her screaming face begins to look and sound like a space alien.
3. Sleeping in shifts helps.
4. Mom's are the true heroes in families.
5. Patting a fussy baby is as much a comfort to you as to the baby.
6. She's so cute, I even love the sound of her screaming her head off. When I'm not in charge.


I wonder what's in that sack?



They're weighing it. Must be potatoes.


SURPRISE!


Whew!

As you can see, we had a midwife home visit this morning in order to help SAM with a couple of questions that she had and to do a quick check of the baby. She's lost just a tad of weight as she's weighing in at 2820 Grams / 6.22 pounds which is, apparently fine as the weight loss is less than 10% of her beginning body weight. Also, her poop is yellowish/greenish/brown which is apparently what we want. Hooray for breast milk (which is coming in wonderfully)!

In the examination, the midwife thought that Margaret was a touch jaundiced and so is recommending that SAM feed at least every 3 hours during the day and every 4 at night. We were about there if not better anyways, so it represents little change to our schedule.

So it seems like things are going along quite well, I think, all things considered. Sarah and Margaret came home last night with my mom and aunt helping her. Through the evening, Sarah and I worked out a system of responsibility for Margaret.

As she is on my side, every 3 hours (or if she wakes), it's my job to unwrap her, wake her, check her diaper and change it if necessary. I then hand her to SAM who will breastfeed while I nap. Once Margaret has had all she wants, I take the baby back, burp, check the diaper, re-swaddle and put her down again. What's especially nice is that I can reach over and pat her on her tummy to help her sleep if she's a bit fussy. It makes dad feel nice too.

Last night, the system seemed to work alright - except for when I didn't burp her well enough and she kept screaming. Finally, she burped up all this milk and so we had to change her receiving blanket and shirt and the sheet in her crib because she was soaked! Then, of course, she was hungry again. But hopefully the system will allow Sarah to get a little bit more sleep over time in the evenings.

Besides that, however, it went alright. We successfully got through our first night at home! I have NO idea how Sarah managed it alone in the hospital. Women are apparently superhuman. At least superior to men.

These past couple of days we've had a flood of wonderful emails, text messages and phone calls from all of our friends and family who have been incredible engaged, supportive and loving. Thanks to all of you for being your wonderful selves and for showing Margaret, Sam and I so much love and thought. We are truly lucky to be so blessed and will keep you all updated with the latest via the blog.

Baby, Baby, Baby - and Veteran's Day

Some observations about newborn babies (or maybe just ours)

1. They can open their mouths to an aperture seemingly completely disproportionate to their head size.
2. Baby skin, not vicuna, is the softest thing on earth.
3. Everything they do is cute. Everything.
4. They have surprising strength for their size.
5. They don't like it when their mothers sleep.
6. They have a magic that makes you warm inside.


Taken today while napping

Sarah and Margaret are both still in the hospital but are coming home tomorrow (Tuesday). We're excited to get mom and baby home. Sarah so she can get some rest and me because I get to see them for more than for just three hours a day which is all we get at the hospital. Did I mention that the co-sleeper is on MY side of the bed? :)

Margaret seems to be doing well. She can latch on pretty well, Sarah's milk seems to be coming in quite well (so said the midwife at the hospital) and Margaret is able to sleep for a couple of hours straight if she manages to get a feed off both Sarah's breasts. This is rare, however, as the little one has a habit of falling asleep a few sips in. But she has done it.

Partly as a result of this, Sarah is quite exhausted, but part of that is also the close proximity of so many other babies and mothers and is another reason we're looking forward to getting the family under one roof for the first time.



I know that there haven't been many photos of Sarah, but there has been a photo blackout of mommy imposed by half the editorial staff. Also, I know that there haven't been many details of the birth. These and more will all come so please stay tuned until some of us have slept, gotten home, and compiled their notes of/from the event.

Until then, I hope you all are happy of pictures of me and the baby and of the baby singly, in the same clothes, from different angles.


Margaret's first spit-up was yesterday on Daddy

Finally, I'd like to take a moment to pay tribute to all the men and women who have worn a uniform for their country on this Veteran's Day. Not only do they honor their countries but they honor us all in their service. Margaret's new godfather, Jeff Hsu is a US Marine officer who has served two tours in Iraq. Her maternal grandfather, Jack, also an ex-Marine, was the first Vietnam veteran to attend Harvard. Margaret, SAM and I are lucky and honored to be so close to both of them.

Presenting MMT / 家和

Born November, 2007
1:37 PM Hong Kong Standard Time
3010 Grams / 6.6 Pounds

Thanks to everyone for their support. Mother and baby are doing well at Queen Mary Hospital.