tfl: The Flatiron Life

It is amazing what can be done with only one arm!

This morning, Jos woke me to take for Jonah. I took him so she could sleep. He was not very fussy, just active and not sleeping. In a football hold, Jonah is still small enough to be controlled and I have one hand free.

The first thing I needed to do was pee. Can I do this one handed? Easily!

I was still tired and knew Jos might be back to sleep for a couple hours. I needed coffee. Can I fill the coffee pot, change the filter, and grind beans with one hand? A cinch!

Jonah was a little more agitated, so we walked around, rocking and shushing, for a while. He eventually fell asleep but not so soundly that I wanted to put him down.

I just sat and stared at him for a while. One of his farts snapped me out of it and I decided to read my news feeds. I am glad I know the keyboard shortcuts in Google Reader. If I had to do a lot of mousing I would not have been able to read the 150 items I did with him in my arm. When one arm grew tired I switched.

I also answered some email and am getting pretty good at one hand typing. It might help that I am not a very good typist with two hands.

What else should I try one handed? I think cooking is out. I am not that crazy.

The Bean Is Secure, Over., originally uploaded by joshuamellin.

This was on Chicagoist last week. Just a cool pic, Over.

Jonah went to the doctor today for his 1st week checkup. He is 8lb 1oz (8.0625lb, 129oz), 20.5in, and his head is 36.25cm around now. That makes him a pretty middle of the road baby compared to others. Except for his weight for length ratio, that is between the 5th and 10th percentiles. No concerns though. Doctors continue to be amazed with how well Jonah and Joscelynn are doing.

We were keeping detailed records of feeding and diapers, but Dr. Chang did not seem to concerned with counts so we are not any more. Just need to get him up to birth weight by his visit next week. That should not be a problem as he is expected to gain half to a full ounce every day.

Also, you can find more pictures in this set.

Aunt Dana and Uncle Kristoffer were here this weekend. They were great to see and all the food they made was pretty good too. (New house rule: You can hold Jonah if you make us a meal.)

Last night during dinner, someone said something that is a Beastie Boys lyric. That made me think about how Jonah will think about the stuff we like. He is going to think that we (and I mean all of you too) are are so old. Kristoffer said that the Beastie Boys will be to him like The Beatles are to us. Crap! I AM old.

Everyone came home yesterday. Jos and Jonah got a clean bill of health from their doctors. We are still getting down to a routine.

The first feeding after we returned home, Jos’ milk came in. So it turns out she really is a mammal. We got several formula bottles from the hospital, but we have not had to use any of them. I think Jonah is still learning what to do with all that milk. His feedings are coming a little more often than his doctor was recommending. He seems to be hungry ever 2 hours and the doc recommended every 3. I am sure he will get more efficient as the time goes on.

I can already see him learning things. He has started to enjoy sucking his hand, which he has a smidge more control over. It is amazing that we have to learn the sense of physical self and the bounds of our bodies.

What breaks my heart about him? His little hiccups. They seem to control his whole body and he gets the a lot. A little sucking seems to make them go away.

We are learning a lot too and our instincts are really kicking in. We cannot identify every cry right away, but our arsenal of things to try are getting refined. The latest weapon to add is the pacifier. BTW, when did pacifiers change into this complicated shape with a top and bottom? I sucked on it and it is a nice fit with a place for you tongue, but I remember them always just being round. Who would have thought the pacifier would evolve.

Aunt Dana and Uncle Kris are coming tonight. I hope they are ready to be up in the night. Last night was really not that bad, but I am sure some hard nights are coming.

Jonah is having a good second day generally. We are a little worried about him. He lost more weight yesterday then he should have, 7%. The nurses are a little concerned and we have started supplementing his feeding with a little formula. The problem seems to be that Jos’ milk has not come in yet. Once this happens Jonah should be ready to go; he is latching well, just not getting filled.

Oh, we are probably going home tomorrow. Everyone is curious about what they can do to help us. I think we are prepared on food, but this is a kind offer we will accept. What we really want are prayers to make sure we know what to do.

I have not named, tagged, or edited these photos, but they are here for you to enjoy.

This is a picture I just took from my cell phone. He is asleep next to a sleeping mommy.

A couple things I forgot last night:

His birthday is the 3rd. He was born at 11:08 PM.
He has quite a lot of soft curly hair.
Jos and Barb say, and I agree, he looks like me. You can decide if that is a positive or negative.
Like a Shrute, Jonah is a hungry baby and has been latching well.

Jonah and Joscelynn are doing well. At this very moment both are sleeping in the recovery room.

Joscelynn did not change from 8cm for 3 hours and her OB recommended Cesarean Section. This was the final step in the progression toward him becoming real. I held Jos’ hand and head for several minutes and then we heard his little cry.

He is 8lb 4oz and 21in with quite the little cone head. Oh and he is quite handsome. I know many will be curious if he has any birthmarks and he does not so far.

I have already take several pictures, but I forgot my cable at home. I will upload them as soon as i can.