Something Quick to Tide Everyone Over...

So Marianne, my best friend, came over and took pictures of Max at around 1 week old for our birth announcement. She just finished the pics and I have them uploaded for the announcements to pick up this weekend. I will get those out in the mail ASAP along with the thank you cards I haven't finished. But - wanted to post a few pics of Max to tide everyone over but I will get caught up on posting his 3wk and 4 wk pics. We can't believe he will be 1 month old tomorrow - the 3oth. Couldn't leave the pups out of the pictures....don't they look cute posing?
Hugging a teddy bear. This is a giant bear that Marianne likes to use for poses - he looks adorable.

Here's Mr. Fussy - that's what we call him when he cries. I know everyone thinks he's an angel. I know that when everyone sees him and holds him he is perfect - but let me tell you - he can be Mr. Fussy when he wants. He is still a great baby, but just want to prove to people he's not MR. PERFECT - he can be Mad Max (Beyond Thunderdome - haha) when he wants.

Here's the puppies giving him kisses.

Ok - here it is - our Little Mountaineer!!!! Ready for next football season. Go EERS!!!!

Misc Max Pics

Max loves looking at these blocks - he's fascinated to just stare at them.

Here's a good one to show his eyes, still not sure if they will stay blue but for now - that's what they are.

Here's Daddy and his best buddy

This is Max really mad at getting his clothes changed - he does this to us every time. He flexes making it really difficult and then makes these faces......

Here he is playing with his hands...

and then so tuckered out from it he's asleep!!

Again, here's Baxter and Daisy being good and checking Max out while he chills in his chair.

My 32nd birthday picture!!! Best birthday ever....Max agreed.

Posing for the camera - he really likes to sleep on his right hand we've noticed.

Tuckered out and resting with Daddy watching football.

2 Weeks Old and Growing Up Fast!!

Here's proud Granny Stewart holding Max, and Baxter as always on guard. Here's Papaw Stewart hanging out with his little buddy.

Here is Baxter making sure we are taking care of Max. He really is his protector and best friend. We put him in the Papasan seat and there goes Baxter, checking to make sure he is ok. He doesn't bother him, just watches over him.

Here is one of his favorite sleeping positions, not sure why but he loves having his hands all bent up like that!!

Well, Max had his 2 wk appt today with the doctor. He is now 20 inches (was 19.5 at birth) and weighs 7lbs 1 oz (birth wt was 6lbs 11 oz). We are excited because he has lost down to 6lbs 5.5 oz and the jaundice was still there at that time. He got a clean bill of health today from the doctor!! We are still exhausted, he has no sleep pattern whatsoever. And for those of you that remember, when I was pregnant with him at the end I kept saying on the blog how he was a night owl. He would keep me awake every night by kicking me from around 1am until 4am. He loved to party at night in the womb. I would get my best sleep from around 4am until 10am because he would sleep. We guess what???? He hasn't changed as a baby yet either - he loves to party at 1am. We now have video proof for you non believers out there. I'm not saying he's a bad baby, because he's not. He's really good and doesn't cry unless he has a need that he wants attended to. It's just that at around 1am he wakes up and wants someone to hold him, play with him and interact with him. So, we are trying to break that before I go back to work....but we will see. He is stubborn (gets that from both of us - I guess we're in for it)!!

Birth Day

Here is Max on 12/31 - but not even 24hrs old yet. It's funny how quick he can go from smiling......

to crying!!!

Here is Papaw Stewart - my Dad

Here is Lena - Chris' grandmother.

Here is Max just minutes after being born

Here is Aunt Lori with her little nephew the burrito.

Here is Papaw Stowers - Chris' Dad.

Here is Granny Stewart - my Mom.

Here is Nana Stowers - Chris' Mom

Here are the proud parents. Meet the new Stowers family (only thing missing is Baxter and Daisy)

Labor Day

Chris and I on the morning of 12/30 before the IV Pitocin. I already was having labor pains from the night of 12/29 when they gave me the Cervadil. I took some IV pain meds at this point but didn't realize the worst was yet to come. Once the Pitocin got started, I was ready for the epidural.

Here is Nana and Papaw Stowers, Chris' parents. Kathy stayed in the delivery room with me while Paul waited outside in the waiting room. While I was in labor, we had a room full of people to show me support and love. Once the actual delivery started, Chris, my Mom and Kathy stayed.

Here are the two Moms - Kathy (Chris' Mom in the red) and my Mom / Granny Stewart in the green. My Dad stayed at our house with the dogs. We were so thankful for this because we didn't have to worry about Baxter and Daisy no matter how long we were waiting on the Baby to come.

Various Pictures

We have to keep mittens on him constantly, otherwise with all of the flailing about his does, he would scratch his face. Note the WVU cap.

Here is a picture of our son already drunk, on breastmilk. I had to post this pic because I thought it was hilarious. He refused to lay his head any other way in the swing. He slept like this for awhile.

He loves his Papasan Vibrator chair. Thanks to Paula, one of our friends for recommending we get this. He sleeps so good in it, loves the music and the vibrations.

Here is Max getting his first bottle. Now I am breastfeeding solely but we did have a 24 hr period we were used supplemental nutrition per his MD request to increase his wet diapers and help lower his billirubin levels to improve his jaundice. The plan worked because Max's output started improving on Sat and at the MD on Sun the labs were better.

Here is Max wearing a bib I bought him before I even knew he was a Max. I like blue (even on girls) and the bib had two dogs which reminded me of Baxter and Daisy. It says "I love my Daddy....my Daddy loves me." Chris likes him wearing it. The blue outfit was the first gender specific clothing since his birth bought by his Papaw and Nana Stowers.

First Bath

Here's Max getting ready to bathed - so far, so good.

Here's Max after the bath, can you tell the difference? Max didn't like bathtime. We will see how he likes his next one.

He's so cute. Chris and I are just enamored with him, it's hard to stop looking at him because he's just soooo adorable.

Welcome Home Max

Hello All. We have had an eventful few days. I was supposed to go in on Tues Dec 30 for induction at 5am. Dr. Brown had wanted to do it sooner but there were no rooms open in the hospital. Well, on Monday evening Dec 29 at 4:55pm, his nurse called and said a room opened up. She asked if we could be there in an hour - so at 6pm we went into the hospital for induction. The gave me a medicine to soften my cervix that evening and I started having serious painful contractions at around 10pm that night. They gave me Pitocin IV starting around 5am the next morning on the 30th and then I quickly went into LABOR. Thank God for the Epidural. That being said, I had a very quick labor - I only had to push for 8 mins (my favorite number) and Max Stewart was born at 6:18pm on December 30th.

Above is a picture of the proud Dad.

Here is Baxter checking Max out - the dogs have been WONDERFUL!! They seem to really love him already and are very protective of him.

Here's me, the proud Momma. Notice my ears (not the best picture) - Chris and Max bought me the most beautiful gift - blue topaz earrings, Dec's birthstone. I love them.

Here's Chris, proud to have figured out the car seat he worked so hard on. We are headed home.

Here he is in his going home outfit. I originally wanted to dress him all in WVU clothes to go home but all of the 0-3 months clothes we bought or were given were too big for him at 6 lbs 11 oz. I had to put him in one of his newborn outfits which are still a little large.

We have had a tiring past few days. Max is a little jaundice, but other than that he is doing well. We will keep updating the BLOG - please keep coming back. It's just too hard right now to contact each and everyone of you, but we appreciate your kind phone calls, emails and text messages. We feel your love and thank your for your support.

Welcome Home Max Stewart!!!!! We love you little Mountaineer.