Introducing Colton David Duke

Monday, May 14, Colton David Duke (David is my dad's name) was born by way of mandatory C-Section at 8:25 am at the Baylor Hospital in Grapevine.  He was 18 1/2 inches long and weighed 6 pounds 9 ounces.  He is the spitting image of Dylan.  We sure love our new little guy!

Checking into the hospital at 6 am:

 Ready to get rid of my 42 pound belly:

My blood pressure had gone through the roof, which is why they moved up my C-Section date.  I was so dizzy and felt like I was going to throw up in this picture (and for the next day or so).  The hospital staff kept telling me it was a good thing I delivered when I did:

***WARNING: Not for viewers with weaker stomachs***

The moment of my C-Section when Colton emerged: 

 To make a long story short, Colton's feet were stuck in my ribs, I lost a lot of blood, and Colton had trouble breathing initially.  His birth was pretty scary that first little bit.  This is my first glimpse of him coming over the curtain for a quick peek before they went to work suctioning his lungs.  Great first impression: I gave birth to an alien.

Much better looking.  Significantly more earth-like:

 Look at Colton's feet, especially his left one, to see how squished they are because they were shoved in my ribs the past few months.  My mom said that when she first saw him all covered in blood it looked like he was missing a foot because it was bent flat against his shin.  He has had X-rays done and we are going to an orthopedic doctor on Monday to see what needs to be done to correct it:

 Proud G-ma with Colton:

 First mom and baby pictures:

 3 generations:

Colton and I with my anesthesiologist and Dr. Michael White:

 We love Dr. White!  He took very good care of me this very eventful pregnancy:

 Daddy and his little man:

 Coach Autrey:

 1st bath:

 Big brother Dylan meeting his little brother:

 He loved to play in my hospital bed when he came to visit.  He also loved the 'Big Brother' gifts he got to open everyday (games, puzzles, stuffed animals).  We are trying to make Dylan feel special and not have him feel like he is being replaced:

 G-ma and Dylan came to the hospital every morning to see me and would come again when Autrey would get off of work at night.  The rest of the day G-ma and Dylan were buddies playing at home, reading books, singing songs, going to the park, making strawberry jam and Rice Krispie treats, etc.  Dylan also picked up the phrase "Me for Mitt."  I got a kick out of that:

 This week Autrey went out with Dylan and came back with this bike, a baseball tee, and a lizard sprinkler to play with:

 Our little family leaving the hospital last night to enter the real world:

 Thanks for the 1st outfit, Mimi!

 1st night home and ready to go to bed after a cuddle with G-ma:

We love you, baby Colton!

29 Month/34 Week Update

Dylan's 29 Month Update:

*He learned how to go potty sitting down, facing backwards.  Now he is able to go peepee standing up like daddy.  Who knew Autrey could teach him so fast by letting him go potty on a tree once in the park. *shaking head*

*Dylan plopped on the couch next to me and said, "I would really like to talk.  Let's talk."

*He asks, "How was your fun today?" (How was your day? + Did you have fun today?)

*For responses in the affirmative he used to say: "Yes, of course not."  Now he says, "Of course, mom/dad."

*(Driving in the car)

  Dylan: "There's a water tower, mama."

  Me: "I don't see it, buddy."

  Dylan: "Clearly that's a water tower."

  (It was far away and I didn't see it at first.)

 *Me: "See the moving truck?"

  Dylan: "It's actually a moving van."

  (And he was right.)

*Me: "Don't play with that. Throw it away."

  Dylan: "We need to recycle it."  (Once again, he was right.)

*"I'm a boy.  Mama's a gril (girl)."

*T-I-double rrrr, that spells Tigger."  Close enough.  He loves to bounce around and tackle people like Tigger.

*Mom, come show me something." Is what he says when he wants to show me something.

*A pigeon landed on his backyard playhouse and he yelled, "Duck, don't touch my house!  Don't get my house dirty, it's perfectly clean!" And no, it's not my fault he said it.  He's been watching Curious George and one episode is about George getting the man's perfectly clean yellow hat dirty.

*He will sing "Kung Fu Panda, Legends of Awesomeness.  Sweet!" just like the show intro song.

*I was on my way to the bathroom and he runs past me saying, "I have to go potty.  Please move, it's Dylan's turn!"

*When he spills something he says, "It was an accident.  Gotta be careful."

*He likes to close doors behind him.

*When he comes back into a room he says, "Hey, I'm back now."

*To the bunny living under our deck: "Bunny, my Honey, where are you?" (He calls all bunnies Bunny, my Honey because of the Easter book Mimi gave him.)  Then looks up at me and says, "I want to boo him." (scare him)

*When you say something to him, he will sometimes say "What?" repeatedly.

*When he really likes something, he will say, "I love it!  I love it!  I love it!" just like I do.

*He likes to help me.  He helps me unload the silverware...one utensil at a time. 

*When he sees the picture of wild boars in his zoo book he gets mixed up and says, "All aboard" like a train conductor.

*He likes to play with stickers and put them on his belly and toy trucks.

*He says, "I want to play cars for a minute" when we tell him to clean up his cars and he's not ready to be done.

Colton's 34 Week Update:

*When I went to the doctor's this week for my weekly appointment, they said that everything looked great.  The Lovenox injections are doing their job, because he is measuring a week ahead of schedule.  Looks like he will be born bigger than Dylan as long as I can keep him from escaping.  I'm glad, because Dylan was such a tiny little peanut at 5 lb. 13 oz., wearing preemie clothes for over 2 months.  And boy is he a kicker.  He is constantly kicking the ribs on my left side, with gusto.  Getting excited to meet the little guy in a few weeks!

Megg's 1st Visit Pictures (from August)

When Meggan sent me the CD of all the glorious family and maternity pictures I posted yesterday, she also included the pictures she took when they came to visit us as our 1st house guests back in August. Good times. The pictures at the end of Megg and I are pretty classic.

That girl makes my heart smile!

Family and 31 Week Maternity Pics by Megg

Two weeks ago, over Conference weekend, Meggan and Ben Boston made the trek from Memphis to visit. I love when they come. They are some of my favorite people in the world. We went to Jana Thorley's house and watched Conference and had a great time. Between sessions, Megg was gracious enough to take both family and maternity pictures in Jana's backyard. She makes us look pretty good, if I do say so myself. And I do say so myself. Which is further proof of how amazing she is, since I usually don't think I look great in photos and Dylan was more interested in playing than smiling. Thanks a million, Megg!

So, which ones are your favorites?