After returning from a walk, big dog-sis Ruby wanted to play with Miles and gave him her ball.
Enjoying his first time in the bouncer seat.
Big boy is holding his toys.
Miles' cheeks are getting chubbier!
Time is flying by. Miles is two weeks old already and our little family is keeping very busy. On Wednesday Miles and Sarah made their first trip out alone to the pediatrician’s office for Miles’ two week well-baby visit. Sarah gave herself and Miles a pep talk before departing on their big excursion. Sarah was nervous to venture out with the baby alone. Car seats, baby carriers, diaper bags, etc. are a lot to coordinate much less getting everyone dressed and presentable for the outing. Sarah and Miles started preparing two hours before the appointment and were right on time and the visit was successful. Miles is a healthy baby and as he screamed during the exam the doctor described him as “vigorous.” Miles weighed in at 8 lbs. 2 oz. – so just one ounce off of his birth weight – which is excellent and he is 20 ¼ inches long. We think that they may have mis-measured him at the hospital or else he is growing like a weed right before our eyes.
On Thursday, Auntie Rachel took the day off to keep Sarah and Miles company. It was a fun, sister/baby bonding day. In the afternoon we gave Miles a bath and he proceeded to poop, sans diaper, pee, also sans diaper, and puke. Only a mother could think all of this was so cute. Luckily Miles doesn’t mind baths and actually loves to get his hair washed. He looks like he’s in heaven during the scalp massage Sarah gives him.
Speaking of peeing, Grammy and Grampy Nickolay visit every day to get their Miles fix. They both received a present from Miles this week and were also peed on. Miles loves these visits with his grandparents and gets lots of love and kisses.
We can't wait to see what's in store for our little family this week!
Big Yellow, Little Yellow. (Miles had a touch of jaundice when he left the hospital.)
First family BBQ.
First walk.
First sponge bath at home.
Happy family.
July 19, 2003
Birth Story - In My Own Words (by Miles Bennett Gray) On July 11 I decided I wanted to put faces to voices and meet my mommy and daddy. I kicked the bag of waters protecting me so that a slow leak was sprung. Mommy called the hospital at 5:00 am and reported that something was happening although she wasn't sure what it was exactly. The hospital asked her to walk around for 30 minutes and call back to report if anything had changed. I layed very still in mommy for those 30 minutes and she called back to report nothing was happening. At 9:00 am I decided to kick, kick, kick and again mommy thought that her water maybe had broken. She called the hospital and they asked her to come in to get checked out. On the way to the hospital I heard mommy and daddy talk about whether I would be a cue-ball or have lots of dark hair like mommy. Tee-hee-hee - little did they know!
We arrived at the hospital at 10:15 am and after running a few tests the nurse announced that mommy's water did indeed break and today would be my birthday. I think that daddy and mommy felt a little anxious about what was ahead of them for the day.
We were soon checked into one of the brand new, beautiful birthing suites and the doctor started mommy on Pitocin since she was having contractions but didn't feel them yet. She soon felt them and proceeded to pace the room for a couple of hours before finally asking for an epidural. Shortly after the epidural things progressed quickly because I wanted out! After only a few hours the nurse told mommy to push and three hours later I arrived screaming but happy to see everyone!
Week of Firsts
It is probably an understatement to say that this week has been both exhilarating and exhausting as Sarah, Mike and Miles navigate many family firsts. Included with these "firsts" are: first bath at home, first walk around the neighborhood in the stroller, first family BBQ, first of many diaper changes (Miles is an overachiever in this area peaking at 15 wet diapers in one day) , first experience nursing, first all-nighter with no sleep and first visit to the pediatrician's office. Well, you get the picture... With all of these new adventures, Sarah and Mike couldn't be happier to be experiencing them with little Miles.
Outpouring of Love and Support
Sarah and Mike have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support they've received from so many family and friends. We haven't had to cook a meal all week because everyone has been so generously feeding us and dropping off meals. We also have received so many cards, gifts, phone calls and visitors - it's been absolutely wonderful! We are truly grateful and lucky to have such a loving support network around us. Thank you to all who have contributed to this!
Anniversary
Last night Mike and Sarah sung happy one-week birthday to Miles at 9:02 pm and today we are celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary. Little did we know 6 years ago, as we danced the night away at Island View Golf Club in Waconia, that we would be celebrating this year with miracle Miles. Grandma and Grandpa Nickolay generously offered to babysit tonight so Mike and Sarah could have a nice dinner out but Sarah figured she would probably be sleeping in her soup so we're celebrating by having a quiet evening at home (and we're sure if tonight is anything like last night that Miles will be awake and celebrating all night long :) ).
Miles Bennett Gray was born at 9:02 pm, July 11 at Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia. He weighed 8 lbs. 3 oz. and was 18 3/4 in long. Baby, mom and dad are doing well. Here's the first pictures and we'll update the blog with more info. later this week.
The last of the pictures were hung in the nursery this weekend.
Friday night bake-a-thon.
38 weeks pregnant - staying cool in the shade at the Chan parade.
Ominous looking clouds rolling in during the parade fly over.
Mike grilling with his trusty sous chef - Patriotic Pooch.
Feeling ambitious.
Patriotic Pooch helping with yard work.
Well, baby watch '09 continues... While waiting, Sarah and Mike enjoyed a truly D.I.N.K. (dual-income, no kids) weekend. Activities included: shopping for new clothes for Mike, sleeping in, reading a ton, watching a movie and the Twins, taking naps and enjoying quiet meals. Sarah kept thinking "is this the last time we'll do this before Lil' Mikey comes?" Sarah's nesting instincts briefly kicked into high gear on Friday night when she decided at 8:00 pm to bake 2 dozen homemade strawberry muffins, 2 batches of chocolate chip, cherry banana bread and a loaf of lemon blueberry bread. All went into the freezer for weekend breakfast treats after the baby is born.
We had a low-key but traditional, all-American 4th of July. We watched the annual parade in Chanhassen and although dark clouds were quickly moving in on us it didn't start raining until we made it safely to the car after the parade. Later that evening we grilled turkey burgers, corn on the cob and had watermelon for dinner and then hit the Chan fireworks display with Sarah's aunt Nancy.
Today marks Sarah and Mike's 10 year anniversary of coupledom! Ten years ago today we had our first date. Mike picked Sarah up in his Chevy pickup (yep, the one we still drive - it was shiny and new then!) at her apartment in Tempe after Sarah got off of an early evening shift at Old Chicago. Mike suggested we hit a bar called Famous Sam's nearby. Little did he know it was karaoke night. Mike and Sarah were seated right next to a huge speaker and over drinks Sarah tried to make conversation not realizing that Mike couldn't hear a word she was saying. After practically pantomiming that we should get out of there (no karaoke was sung by us that night) we headed to The Vine, another low-key Tempe hangout, where we talked the night away. Sarah says she felt a special connection with Mike from the first moment she met him but little did they know where they would be 10 years from then! We celebrated tonight by strolling along Lake Minnetonka in Excelsior with Ruby and getting ice cream at our favorite spot- Adele's. Overall, it was a very relaxing weekend. Could be the last!!??!!
After returning from a walk, big dog-sis Ruby wanted to play with Miles and gave him her ball.
Enjoying his first time in the bouncer seat.
Big boy is holding his toys.
