Finn's first week

POO REPORT - Week one's poo can be summarized as 'meconium to mustard seed'. Finn latched his first day and, with some help from the post-pardem nurses, Nicki was able to get him to feed every three hours or so while in the hospital. Finn lost 5 ounces in the first 3 days, which is apparently normal; he was also slightly jaundice, although well below the threshold for remaining in the hospital. Finn pooped in his hospital departure outfit shortly after we put it on...luckily we had another. After a bath, a quick 'new parents' class (don't shake the baby...that sort of stuff), we put little Finn in his carseat and hit the road...for the long 1-mile journey home. The carseat nearly swallowed the little guy.

We were so lucky to have so many visitors in the hospital and over the first week. Nicki's sister Jenni drove all night from Dallas to be with us, and arrived just a couple of hours after Finn's birth. She took a heavy load of responsibility off of our shoulders by taking care of the dogs, the kitty, and delivering breakfast to us every morning so we did not have to eat the powdered eggs and 'facon' from the cafeteria. Jenni stayed for the better part of the week, and managed to get more 'Finn time' than his father She became Finn's personal photographer, and was commonly found photographing and taking video of the little one with her phone. Grandma Karen drove in to visit every day, despite recovering from a recent chemo treatment. The little guy had better get used to being filmed...grandma Karen is renowned for her home videos. Jason's parents, sister, three nephews, and great grandma Olive drove in from St.Louis on Friday. The last time the Alexander family was in town, their hotel had no hot water. This time their wing of the hotel had a little problem with diapers in the plumbing and they woke up to 'rain' in their bathroom...so...if you are an Omaha hotel, you may want to claim 'no vacancy' if the Alexanders are booking. Grandpa Terry and Nana Peggy announced Finn's birth on the new Cave Springs Lanes marquee. Yes, Finn was born into a pround bowling family.

January 26, 7:04 am - Finn Carter is born...6 lbs, 3.5 oz, and 20 inches long!

Finn Carter Alexander was born on January 26th, 2009 at 7:04 am. He was born under a new moon, the first day of the new Chinese Year, 4707. This is the year of the OX. Oxen are born leaders, patient, persistent, and hard working. Given the present state of the world we need plenty of oxen personalities, so we believe his birth is timely.

Nicki's water broke around noon on January 25th...17 hours later, Finn was delivered. Nicki began pushing 2.5 hours before delivery. She made Finn's birth happen her way...she is a rock, and I think this picture is says it all for the mother and child.




The little guy had a silent cry, a healthy head of hair, and paddle feet. People like to say their world was turned upside down when their chidl was born...I would say that a change from a warm, fluid, entirely nurturing environment to a world of steel and plastic, and unknown protections is a bit more of a change. Nicki and I wonder what is going through is mind in this photo...makes it all the more beautiful that humans are born without developed vision, it might just be too much for our powerful brains to deal with. Our voices made his crying stop nearly instantaneously...all that talking to the womb!
It is rather bizarre, and beautiful, that we were a family of two going into the hospital...and we are now a family of 3...and two dogs...and one cat.