Fall Pictures

Week 3 has been a bit difficult for us. I have an infected clogged milk duct (Mastitis) which comes with chills and a fever. I am taking antibiotics and things should clear up soon. William seems to be fine...eating plenty and sleeping as he feels the need. We were on a pretty good schedule till I got sick. Now he does as he pleases.

My mom leaves on Tuesday! I hope we can make it without her. This first week will probably be the hardest as I am still recovering and we are not on a schedule.

If any of you have any ideas on keeping Eleanor busy please share. She loves to, "Help", but I am having a hard time thinking of things for her to "help" with.

The First Two Weeks

So I (Mary) am back to posting on the blog again. The past two weeks have been wonderful, but I am very tired. My mom has been here since the day I left the hospital, my dad was here for about 5 days and my sister is here for 4 days. It has been busy and that has kept Eleanor preoccupied. She has been extra vivacious since the arrival. I often worry about how I am going to make it when my helpers leave. Overall, everything is going well. I am recovering quicker than with Eleanor and William rarely cries. He is such a good little man. My sister calls him Wild Bill, but he is very mild mannered although he hates to have his clothes taken off (unlike his sister). Can't wait for everyone to meet him.

We are now trying to get back into a routine. Mary is trying to get William on an eating and sleeping schedule; "Mama-shell" is trying to keep Eleanor from bouncing off the walls; I am trying to stay out of the way. We all slept better last night and have a little more energy today. Eleanor is getting more excited about having a baby around. Throughout the day she runs up to him screaming "baby" and then kisses him or pokes him on the nose. She even got to hold him today, and she seemed very proud. Everyday is getting better for all of us.

Mom and JW

We are home. Everybody is doing well despite being exhausted. Here's a clip of Mary with her #1 son.

William: Day 2

Eleanor met brother baby today for the first time. She seemed a little over whelmed with the whole experience, so she spent most of her time playing with toys. But she did give him a hug and a kiss. When everyone is home I think she will warm up to him. William is doing great. He slept most of the day. When he was awake he was either eating or resting contently in his mom's arms. I think they have already bonded. We have had friends all working together to take care of Eleanor. They have been an incredible help. Eleanor has probably had more fun in the past two days than she has in a long time. Mary's mom is coming tomorrow to take over. Hopefully everyone will be home in the next day or two. We will keep everyone posted.

It's a boy

John William Hutchins was born at 10:57 p.m. on the seventh of October two thousand and seven. He weighs 8 pounds 14 ounces and is 21 inches long. He has dark curly hair and he eats like a hoover vacuum cleaner. Mary did a great job and is feeling well. She once again had a natural birth and did it like a champ. Dad is doing fine as well, but he knows his daughter will wake up very early and excited about meeting brother baby, so we will have to post more later.

The Count Down...

So the due date is October 8th. That means 3 days to go. I am not having any contractions...it seems like even the "fake ones" have stopped. I am 3cm dilated and 70-80% effaced. The baby is in the head down position and the rest of his body is balled up on the right side of my body facing my left side. He has been lopsided for several weeks now. If I lie on my left side it seems like he starts punching and kicking. The midwife told me that she would allow me to choose to induce no sooner than the 15th. Hopefully, it won't come to that.
Eleanor seems to notice things are changing and she has become more needy and demands my attention. When we go for our daily walk she insists on saying my name every 3 seconds. John and I find it difficult to have a conversation. She wants to be carried more, and when she asks it sounds just like she is saying, "I kill you". That is, "I carry you"...she is still working out her grammar.
We plan to post on the blog as soon as we can after the baby is born and we can get internet access. So keep checking in on the blog.
This is a picture of me taken about 2 weeks ago. I haven't changed all that much. The bassinet is in the corner of our bedroom and is where "brother baby" will sleep.