Vic actually got around to saying OK to a photo so here it is 
And no, we don’t have any of us as a family yet – yes I know I promised Grandmothers but………
Max is now a week old! My how time flies/seems to last forever……….
Just a quick note to let you know that all the images of Max are now in my new photo database. In due course all the images on my photography pages will be transferred as well.
People who register in the database (sorry but it’s additional to the weblog registration) will be able to download the images and set up their own favourites section but to view, comment etc you don’t need to. It’s a bit boring to look at at the moment but I’ll be customising it at some stage.
Max had his first trip out into the big wide world today! It wasn’t far, just down to David and Claire’s, but at fifteen minutes it was as far as he’s been since he got home.
It was also the first test of his buggy and our ability to plan for the things we need to take when we go out. As it was we managed to get there and back and successfully complete two feeds and one change whilst out and at the age that Max is at the moment that’s pretty much his life in a nutshell It’s also made us more confidant in our ability to get out and about with Max. Sure it doesn’t sound like much, and a month ago I would have thought “big deal”, but all of these firsts are exciting and challenging for us as I’m sure they are for any first time parent.
All in all the last 24 hours have been pretty good and fairly uneventful. I can’t believe that Max’ll be a week old tomorrow!
? Max has returned to and surpassed his birth weight. He now weighs a grand 7lb 12oz (3.520kg) The midwife was very happy with this as it usually takes 10-14 days to get back to birth weight after the initial weight loss and he’s only 5 days old.
? I’ve been thinking about my role in Max’s early days. Because Vic is breast feeding (and very well – see above ) she has to be involved every time Max needs feeding. I usually get Max when he cries and change him before we put him down and most of my time is spent getting things for Vic when she is feeding and doing most of the stuff around the house to make sure it runs OK. I kind of see myself as the support crew for the feeding machine that is Vic. It’s a difficult feeling to explain – at times I feel that I’m not doing enough but then Vic says that the stuff that I do is really appreciated as it allows her to concentrate on feeding and resting. A confusing time……
? Max is very, very cute when he gets the hiccups He also has a new record in the category “projectile shitting with his nappy/diaper off” – 30 inches! Well done that little man.
? Sorry Grandparents, no new pictures. The house has been full of visitors today and with looking after them and Max it’s been a very busy day! Like the party animals that we are we were in bed at 19:30 tonight and then up at 21:15 for Max’s next feed…….. Saturday night in the Cramer household! lol!
Last night was very strange…….
Max woke up about 22:00 last night for a feed which is pretty normal and he latched on and went for it like a starving wee fella. What wasn’t normal (gee, from the whole two nights before 
) is that he didn’t go back down until 02:45 š And this wasn’t just being up either, this was screaming and wailing as though the world was doing him some great disservice staying up! By 02:00 our eyeballs were just hanging out of our heads and Vic and I were handing him back and forth like a football to try and get him settled but it wasn’t until we changed his nappy again and fed him from 02:00-02:45 that he settled to any great degree. Vic’s last words as we fell very quickly into a deep sleep (passing out?) were “good effort”
So that was the bad part…..
The good part is that it’s just before 08:00 and he’s only just woken up! I’ve just changed him and he’s feeding strongly but we’ve had five hours sleep all in one go both for him and us. Much yayness!
Here’s another picture. This was just me playing around but I liked this one because you can see the wee blister on his top lip from feeding.
Well the second night was much better than the first
Now that Vicās milk has come in properly (and man, what a rack!) we think heās got something to digest and is therefore sleeping better. Last night he had feeds at 01:30, 04:00 and 06:00 and is feeding for between 45mins and 2 hours! Itās funny how your perspective changes – three nights ago I would never have guessed that Iād be rapt to get an hours and a halfs sleep in one go
Last night he also had two firsts – he had his hair washed for the first time and then he had his first bath. It has quickly been decided that baths are definitely a joint effort and although he seemed to eventually enjoy having his hair washed (he fell asleep during the rinse!) he really wasnāt a big fan of a full bath In saying that he didnāt go quite as mental as I thought he would – maybe heāll come to enjoy them, maybe he wonāt.
Here’s another couple of pictures of Max. In his eyes you can see the touch of jaundice that he has. You can also see the scratches that he’s given himself
Well it’s the afternoon after the first morning after first night that Max was in his home and I’m not feeling too bad (famous last words!) Vic and I had a terrible nights sleep and Max didn’t really fare much better. The poor wee chap would leave it no more than half an hour before he’d start crying so we’d lie there for a few minutes waiting to see if he’d stop and then take turns on getting up if he didn’t.
When I got up I’d check his nappy and change it if needed it (all normal stuff coming out now!) and then wander around for a bit to see if that would help. Unfortunately he would usually only quiet down if he had a nipple in his mouth (and we all know how that works ) so Vic would usually have to get up and start feeding him. The funny/annoying thing is that he’d feed for about two minutes and then fall asleep the little bugger! At six this morning during the one time that Vic was feeding him in our bed I had an idea though. I took off my t-shirt and lay him on my chest so that we had some skin to skin contact and so that he could hear my heart. This really seemed to work as he and Vic both slept for the next three hours The feelings of tenderness and love for him really kicked in during this time and I felt amazingly lucky and privileged to have such a perfect little son. The last few days have also unlocked a different level in my love for Vic as well and seeing her as a mother just makes me want to hug her all the time, which can be annoying when she’s trying to do stuff! lol!
We really seem to have bonded as a family and that’s pretty damn cool (I’m getting way too soppy, must be overtired) I got up at 09:00 and put Max in his moses basket and he slept for an extra hour while I caught a few z’s as well.
The community midwife paid us the first visit this morning as well and she gave Max the all clear except for a touch of jaundice so that’s another check out of the way.
I hope everyone’s OK – sorry to all my blogging friends for the lack of comments but I’m sure you understand that things are a bit hectic at the moment. I’m just about finding time to visit but not to comment š
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