Our big day finally arrived last Sunday, October 19. Our little guy, Maxwell Thomas Swanson came into the world at 11:30 a.m. with a good hearty wail. We knew our lives would never be the same! Max, as we're calling him, weighed in at a healthy 7 lbs 13 ounces and was 22 inches in length...with some seriously big feet. The pediatrician let us know that the feet and length indicate that he will likely be a big boy - he is already working toward this end by eating like a champ (with the diaper output to prove it.)
Jen went into labor on Saturday night at about 8 p.m., and we labored at home until about 2 a.m., at which point we were pretty sure that it was the real thing and went to the hospital. We had our first taste of sleepless nights, as we labored into the next morning, but Max's big entrance was worth it. Everyone came out of the experience happy and healthy, and not too much worse for wear. Jen is singing the praises of prenatal yoga, which was super helpful both in terms of managing the labor and in helping her to bounce back from the delivery. Hooray for the community and support at Blooma in Edina!
It is amazing the changes a week will bring. We came home on Tuesday, and already we are finding some small routines starting to set in. After some initial challenges, we are getting him to sleep for 2-3 hours at a stretch at night, so we are tired but functional (so far!)
It has been a busy week, with lots of visits from friends and family. Brent and I are so thankful for all the meals people have brought for us (fridge + microwave = sanity). This week we are going to attempt to venture out in the world a little more, so we'll see how that goes. Max sets the schedule, but he's proven to enjoy the outings to the doctor and a short walk around the neighborhood, so we are encouraged that he'll dig exploring his surroundings a little more. He is such a good baby, with an even temperament and no unnecessary crying. He does, however, let us know in no uncertain terms when he is hungry, wet, or otherwise uncomfortable.
We'll post more photos and updates here, so keep checking back for more Max!
