One week old!

Despite the best intentions of his siblings (especially his older brothers), Andrew survived his first week!  And the blessings keep coming.

All my babies have had jaundice, to one degree or another. They never needed hospitalizing, or even phototherapy, but we did usually spend the baby's first week of life in the car, driving back and forth to the pediatrician's office and the hospital lab for blood draws.  Not very conducive to sitting and nursing frequently, which is the best treatment for jaundice.  It's so ironic.

Joseph is just fascinated with his new brother.

Well!  Andrew is my first baby not to experience that tortuous first week.  Despite his "precipitous" birth, his bilirubin levels remained within normal range at the hospital.  And we snuggled and nursed so much the first two days that my milk came in the day after we arrived home.

"He's just so cute!" *kiss kiss*

Plus, he's had a good latch from the very beginning -- he opens his mouth nice and wide.  So I've hardly been sore at all, which is a big deal in the beginning!  And despite how much he eats, he has only spit up twice in his first week, and then only a little bit.  He is a good burper. This makes for a happy tummy.

this kid has AWESOME post-bath hair

We also figured out how to nurse lying down the first night home.  That has been a true godsend -- I actually feel rested in the mornings, even though I'm waking up every couple hours to nurse him.  Not having to spend 30 minutes sitting up in the cold and dark several times a night is wonderful! 

My two brunettes!

Considering his activity level in utero, I was concerned that he would come out with his days and nights mixed up, like so many babies.  But Andrew is a good sleeper at night -- he just conks out in between feedings.  And he has some nice wide-awake alert times during the day.  The kids were so excited the first time they saw his eyes. (He was totally asleep for their first visit.) :)

little smooshy squish-face

So far he is a very "good" baby.  He is very patient and seldom cries.  He doesn't appreciate having his diaper changed, he doesn't like getting baths, and he does not love his bouncer.  He seems to have two philosophies about life: when he is awake, he should be eating.  And when he is asleep, he should be held.  So long as those two things happen, all is right with the universe. 

he will accept being swaddled and tucked into his carseat, so long as he is already asleep!

He is a real snuggle bug.  I don't mind -- it gives me a good excuse to sit and cuddle with him allllll day long. :)

who wouldn't want to spend all day cuddling with this little bundle of scrumptiousness?

I'm wondering now if we should have named him "Benedict" (one of the runners-up) -- he is so blessed! 

...Nahhh, he looks like an Andrew.