First, my favorite photos: My little chicle, we have been pretty inseparable this past week. People say that I need to teach you how to be alone now so that you’ll be independent later but I realized that my job right now is just to show you love and comfort, after all we haven’t spent any time apart all year so we can take a little longer to get used to it. Here’s us hanging out: You had some pretty cool visitors yesterday and today. Your favorite cousin Aery stopped by yesterday and you couldn’t stop staring at her. She has big plans for your future adventures; I can’t wait for the fun you’ll have together. Then today, your Grandma and Opa came to see you. You were so excited to see them that you stayed awake into your nap time but you eventually fell asleep in everyone’s arms. 

 We had some great adventures this week! On Monday, we hung out at home and let your mom go for a drive to Target to get out of the house for a bit. Things were pretty low-key until you decided to test how much you could poop all at once all over everything we own. That might be a slight exaggeration, and we got everything all cleaned up before your mom got back. We looked at some flash cards together that will help your eyes develop. Today we went for a drive to our favorite ceviche restaurant in San Antonio, El Bucanero, and then had a picnic in Phil Hardberger Park. Afterwards we went on a walk to the land bridge, which was really neat to see.  We’ve been reading a lot of my favorites lately: The Legend of the Bluebonnet, by Tomie dePaola, Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak, and started The Little Prince. You’re growing so fast every day — it’s amazing to see! We love you so much, and can’t wait for our next adventure! Your Dad, Kerry

  One thing I can say about how life has changed since you made your grand entrance into our lives is that time feels different. I can see how fast you’re growing and every day you seem to do something new but then I realize that I’ve only known you here on the outside for 8 days.  Happy one week birthday, little one. We got the results of your bilirubin test and everything looked great so no more glow light for you. Now that you’re not tethered to the machine, you and I got the chance to do some skin to skin time in your nursery. We slept a lot today and tried going for a walk in the evening but you were feeling hungry and tired so we came back home. 8 - we had a home visit from a hospital nurse today. Not surprisingly, you’re perfect and growing, eating, and learning just as you should. You got your blood drawn again and were so brave. We went with your dad to get a haircut and learned how to eat and get a diaper change in the car. We took you to our favorite river park and ...

  Today was a really eventful day for you; we had an at-home nurse visit, we returned your Bili Blanket, we ate lunch and then took a walk through the river park here in New Braunfels. The nurse’s visit went well. You are almost back to your birth weight in just over a week, which is super impressive! They took more blood to run a panel of tests to check for anything we should be concerned about. You started tummy time yesterday and are doing an awesome job! We walked you in your stroller through the park, but you pretty much slept through it all. We’ll go back many more times in the future. It was good that you got a bit of fresh air and sunlight! Today was a very special day: today your mom read you your first book, Green Eggs & Ham, which is her favorite. You really seemed to love it. You come from a family of voracious readers, so get ready for a lifetime of story time. Tomorrow we are reading One Fish, Two Fish. We love you so much! -Your Dad, Kerry

 Today was my first day back at work —I only got a week to spend with you. I’ve been texting your mom for updates all day. I miss you so much! Before I went in, we all went down to the hospital to get your follow-up blood work done. We are waiting to hear back from the doctor to see if you can finally ditch that pesky Bili Blanket. Thankfully, the next two days are my regular days off this week, so, if everything goes well and you don’t have to be tethered to a light box, we can go for a walk down by the river with your mom. I love you, kiddo. -Your Dad, Kerry

  Unfortunately, today is my last day before I have to return to work, so we spent the day watching Tom & Jerry cartoons and cuddling. I moved the bassinet over to my side of the bed so you could get the sunlight from the window and be a little closer to me. I work evenings this week, so we’ll still have the mornings together. Hopefully today is the last day you’ll ever have to sleep with a Bili Blanket; we’ll get follow-up blood work done tomorrow morning to know for sure. You can be a bit of a fussy baby at times, but so is your father, so you get a pass from me. You are wearing a hat with antennae that makes you look like a little bumblebee right now — it’s the cutest thing ever! I love you, you little goober. -Your Dad, Kerry

My sweet pea, we got to spend so much time together today. We ate breakfast together then did a baby massage with some lotion, counted your piggies, and listened to lullabies.  You pooped so many times today! This is awesome because it means your bilirubin treatment is working and you’re also eating plenty. My milk is here in full force and I’m pumping some for Daddy to feed you too. We gave you a little washcloth bath that you didn’t love but surprisingly didn’t hate.  Your grandpa, Zeze, and cousin Aiden came to visit you this afternoon. You were excited to meet new people and spent a-lot of time awake just taking in all the new sights, but you did make sure that everyone knew when you were hungry, needed a diaper change, or wanted to sleep.  We spent golden hour doing some skin to skin and I can’t help just feeling lucky to be your mom.  ❤️ Mom

Today you met your Grandpa Noe, Zeze Sarah, and your Cousin Aiden! We ate dinner together, and Aiden helped mow the yard. Everyone got to hold you, and everyone is so happy for your addition to the family. You noticed Roca, your blue heeler, and Caliope, your calico cat for the first time today, and were enamored by both.  Wait until you learn about the turtles! You are so loved! -Your Dad, Kerry

  Today you got to meet your maternal grandparents, two of your aunts, one uncle, and three cousins! You are a part of a huge and awesome family, and I’m so excited that you got to experience part of it today. You’re looking much healthier today — I think the Bili Blanket is doing the trick. We set up a baby monitor for you, and mom started pumping, so I can help more with feeding you. I love you so much, little boy. -your Dad, Kerry

  Long post, I’m sorry! Today was your first doctors appointment! We realized it takes longer to get ready and leave the house when you have a tiny human to get ready too, especially when we would just prefer to cuddle with you than go anywhere. We got a lot of great advice from Crystal, your new PA. She reassured us that everything we could possibly worry about was normal but did order a bilirubin test because you were looking a bit jaundiced and my full milk hasn’t come in to help you pass all the bilirubin you were born with.  That took us to our next stop, the hospital where you were born just a few days ago! Your head kept falling forward in your seat so I learned how to use your stroller/car seat/base combo by reading all of the instruction manuals while waiting for them to call you in for your test. You had to get pricked in the foot TWICE so they could get enough blood to test and I cried more than you. In my defense, I still have a lot of hormones swirling around but ...

Today was your first visit with Dr. Boecker’s office. We struggled to figure out how to keep your head from slumping down in your car seat, and used the stroller for the first time. The visit went well: they told us we could use a pacifier with you, which is a huge win (you love to suck on your hands to self-soothe).  They also taught us how to burp you, and answered a bunch of the questions we had. This parenting stuff is not as easy as you’d think, it turns out. It’s really scary sometimes. We just want to make sure you are safe and happy and healthy. They were concerned you may have jaundice so we had to go back to the hospital for some blood work. You were super brave through the process and it made your mom cry. Only a few days in the game and you’re already making us so proud. You did end up having jaundice, so we have to use a light therapy tool called a Bili Blanket until you get retested on Monday. It looks like an astronaut tether, but you seem to like it. Mom got to eat ...

  Today we were discharged from the hospital and got to bring you home with us! We struggled to figure out how car seats work, and I drove 10 miles an hour pretty much the entire way home. Our pets are so curious about you, especially Roca, our Blue Heeler. I think you two are going to be fast friends. I figured out how to tie a sling blanket, and you’ve been hanging out and sleeping on my chest. I adore you. -your Dad, Kerry

  My sweet baby Brooklyn, I am so excited you’re here. It took you quite a while (about 24 hours to be exact) but when you came into the world you were wide awake and ready to take everything in. You and I got some one on one time just looking into each other’s eyes and I instantly fell in love.  Since that time, we’ve mostly been learning how to work together to make sure you’re fed and happy. You, your dad and I are all new to this but we’ll all get better as we spend more time as a little family. Your blood sugar was a little low in the morning but I am happy to report that you rocked all the rest of your tests and don’t have to get poked for blood anymore. You hate being cold and love being swaddled. We’re learning why everyone gave us the advice to sleep when you sleep because we’re feeling pretty worn out after this first day but it’s hard when you just look so cute all swaddled up, making little noises. I love you more than I could ever imagine. Your mom, Sam

We are in love! You are a BIG baby! You love to eat and sleep and make grumpy faces in between. You were born at Christus Santa Rosa in New Braunfels, Texas. Dr. Blair was our doctor, and Sam was the RN who helped during labor. Your head was so big —sorry for the bad genetics— that Dr. Blair needed to use a suction cup device to assist with labor. You still have the circle mark on your head. Samantha did an amazing job giving birth to you. Everyone is so proud of her! You don’t let us get much sleep at this point. We take little 20 min naps whenever we can. We are so excited to grow our little family! -your Dad, Kerry