6 Weeks Old

This Friday Trafton will be 6 weeks old - amazing how time flies! It has been such a wonderful summer so far, being that the three of us can be together with no work for awhile. We have had some wonderful times being home around the house, traveling to see family and friends, and having family and friends come over to see us. Here are some pictures from the last few weeks. It is amazing how new little things occur with Trafton almost every day to show that he is growing. He has outgrown his first batch of clothes (all the newborn outfits with feet, the rest of the newborn items still fit for now) and outgrown the sleep positioner that he loved to be in so much when we first brought him home. He is still sleeping in the bassinet in our bedroom, but seems to be filling that up more than he did before as well. We have been transitioning him into heis crib in his bedroom for naptimes so that he gets used to it before he sleeps all night in there.

Daniel's father came out to see us for Father's Day and he and Daniel planted three rhododendrons in celebration of Trafton's birth. Trafton and I watched from the patio and our neighbor JoAnne came by with some diapers for us. Trafton and I relaxed on the patio while the guys planted.

On July 2nd we went to the OATS (Out Among the Stars) bluegrass festival in Benton. It was an experience for sure! We have been going to festivals for many years, but this time was certainly different as we learned a little bit about festival-ing with a baby! First, it took FOR-ever to pack the car with all the necessary baby items for a day/evening out. Then, we had to sit REALLY far away from the speakers (we are used to looking for the best place to hear the music . . .) and then, we had to sit kind of far away from, well, everyone else at the festival, because Trafton was pretty fussy, of course. Spending 8+ hours outside at a music festival was a new experience for him and one of the only things that seemed to soothe him was being ridden around in his fancy "Cadillac" travel system. Trafton did finally fall asleep during the last set from the Steep Canyon Rangers (the most exciting band for us to see - we LOVE them!) and Daniel and I were able to dance with him in our arms. In all, it was a really wonderful time as a family with our friends. (We have really great childless friends who didn't mind sitting in our far away spot and doing the festival family-style with us!)

"T" for Tigger . . . or for Trafton :)

It got pretty cool as night fell.

Tara!

Steep Canyon Rangers!

Friends and former Life Skills co-workers Donna and Christine came by for a visit.

My mom and Aunt Lo came up from Maryland for the day and brought my little cousins Morgan and Logan with them. Morgan was fascinated by Trafton and her brother Logan spent his time putting together a bouncy seat that one of my dad's coworkers sent up as a gift. Thanks, Logan! (I started putting it together, realized it was more complicated that I thought and put it down, and Logan took the project on.)

More visitors! Lisa came by and brought all sorts of fun toys to Trafton that we have been playing with ever since! Thanks, Lisa!

Brett and Morgan came over to visit. They got to hear Trafton exercise his lungs quite a bit, but here was one quick quiet moment from their visit :)

Trafton's umbilical cord finally fell of about two weeks ago, so we have been able to bathe him in his fun bathtub. As you can see, he really enjoys it :)

Daniel's brother, Michael, and his fiance, Courtney, recently purchased a beautiful home in New Jersey. They have a pool in the back and here Trafton is with Pappy Beyer and Aunt Melissa on the patio by the pool.

Trafton getting used to his crib

Trafton enjoying some tummy time

Trafton and I watering the plants on the patio

Trafton hanging with his daddy

The Past Two Weeks

These past two weeks have sure been interesting! What an emotional experience it is to be a mommy! I have certainly learned a lot and definitely have a lot more to learn. It's amazing to see growth and changes in Trafton even in two short weeks :) He has gained back his birthweight plus some, is enjoying being on his tummy more, has a bunch more head/neck control, and . . . has learned how to exercise his lungs more . . . However, he is a great nighttime sleeper - we are definitely hoping that doesn't change - ever! Trafton sleeps from 8 pm to 8 am waking every 3 - 4 hours to eat. He hasn't really had a fussy night yet, although his fussy times in the day are ever-increasing! We love to hang out on the back patio with him in the evening time. Here are some pictures of Trafton over the last two weeks.

Sleeping in the Pack-N-Play

All snuggly

Not quite ready for a nap . . .

Grandma O'Hare with her 'little cutie"

Grandpa O'Hare celebrating Father's Day

When we came home from the hospital, my mom and Jason had made a WELCOME sign and put balloons up!

Relaxing on our back patio

Daniel and Trafton in front of our pond garden I cultivated last spring

Our little nature lover :)

Happy to be outside

The sign that was made for our window

Trafton's first bath!

All cozy in his bathrobe and slippers - he loved getting a bath so much!

Trafton was so relaxed after his bath that he slept for the next 4 hours (he hasn't done that since!)

Still chillin' in his bathrobe

Rich and Fawn

Karen and Holly

Jessica and Joe

Trafton Elliott Beyer

June 11th 2010! Trafton is born!

On Wednesday, we were given instructions to call Geisinger at 5:30 a.m. to receive an arrival time. We were told to arrive at 8:30 that morning. I was able to go back to sleep for an hour or so after I called before I got myself up and ready, despite being so excited!

We arrived and I was feeling so so so nervous and excited!!! A midwife began the induction of labor around noon and progress was fairly slow from there. By 9:00 that evening I was only dilated one centimeter. Another doctor came on for the night shift and he told me that his job was to make sure I had a baby on his shift (which ended at 7:00 the next morning!). He was such a nice doctor and the doctor that ultimately did deliver Trafton. He tried several different things to get me going and things got moving very rapidly around 1:30 Friday morning. I spent about an hour and 45 minutes pushing and at 4:42 delivered this amazing little boy! We had the most incredible nurses during our stay there - everyone was really wonderful.

Everything went unbelievably well, I had an uncomplicated process and all is well with Trafton. He was 8 pounds, 11 ounces, and 21.5 inches long. When we were discharged on Sunday afternoon, he had lost 9.5 ounces of his birth weight, but at his first doctor's appointment today, he had regained 5 of those ounces. We are settling in to life as a family of three, with a bunch of help from Grandma O'Hare who is graciously staying with us for this week!

Visitors are welcome anytime, feel free to stop by and meet Trafton! He has been so delightful as we try and figure out the whole parenting thing. It is just more wonderful than I could ever have imagined!!! Here are some pictures of our weekend adventure.

Thursday morning - about to head to the hospital

Let the induction begin!

Settling in for quite a stay - the room was SO comfortable!

the minutes immediately following birth . . . amazing

Daniel made me a 'birth playlist' that we listened to throughout the delivery, Trafton was born to Vampire Weekend's "Run"

just in awe of him

time to get checked out by the nurses and doctors

Trafton cried an awful lot just after he was born, but here is a great shot of him being peaceful.

Grandma O'Hare

Grandpa O'Hare

Pappy Beyer

Uncle Jason

(Jason flew in from San Diego home to Baltimore on Friday night, then drove up to Danville on Saturday to meet his nephew)

Trafton with the O'Hares

love the tongue!

Daniel getting the hang of the swaddle.

Time for me to get to know this new little ray of sunshine :)

really happy parents :)

Just chillin'

Loving Daddy

Friends Brad and Lori came by our room

Aunt Melissa and Uncle Jonathan back at our house

Aunt Courtney and Uncle Michael back at our house

Sunday afternoon - time to go home

The nurse checked out our carseat and sent us on our way.

All geared up and ready to see his new home

Charley Hogan is wondering who this strange little intruder is . . . and why he makes all that noise?

Day 8 Overdue - Induction Time!!

Today I will be induced at 8:30 a.m. I am nervous and excited and, at the moment, very hungry! I eat a lot, but the directions were not to eat after midnight last night. We are packed and ready to go . . . so exciting!!!

Day 7 Overdue

Today's appointment was simple and uneventful. We are set up to head to the hospital for an induction tomorrow :) I had another non stress test today and that went well. Tomorrow's instructions are to call the labor and delivery area at 5:30 a.m. and they will give us a time to come in based on room availability. It won't be long now . . .