First week

It's hard to believe that our big guy is now just over a week old. Joshua has been such a delight to watch. Every day there is something new for him and us to discover about the world and each other. Team Mehler has made the transition home quite enjoyable. Michael makes sure Sara is fed, showered, and not stubbornly doing more than she should. Joshua has been a great help too. He is a champion breastfeeder, and sleeps 3-hour stretches at night.

He recently has become more alert with longer wakeful periods. Just in time for the first of what we're sure will be many family visits.




This picture is from his first trip to the Pediatrician. The hat is too big, but we couldn't resist.

He gained 4 ounces since discharge and we return Monday to make sure he has achieved birth weight again. The way this kid has been eating it shouldn't be a problem.






We realize with this blog we have created some picture craving family members. We will try to oblige as often as possible. Here is another to enjoy.


Thank you all for your comments, phone calls and emails. We are enjoying the love, and Joshua the kisses you all send.

Trying to keep up with all the comments has been much more difficult than we thought it would be. Please know you are all in our hearts.

Coming Home

The Virginia Mehler household expanded yesterday with Joshua's getting out of the hospital. We all made the escape by mid-afternoon. For those who don't believe that I'm involved in this, there's actually a shot of me holding Joshua in the hospital as we were waiting to be discharged. If you can't tell, he's become quite the blondiem, and a hairy one too!. His eyes are, at the moment, a very dark blue-gray. We'll see what develops over the next few weeks.











We got the little guy dressed in a cute little froggie onesie (from his Grandma). We later sqeezed on some sockies that his Uncle Sean & Aunt Julie got him. His feet, although huge, still fit in them.... for now.










Mom got in one last feeding at the hospital, which led to one last nap for the dynamic duo.


















Once home, Mom established her little nest in the baby/guest room. They have been doing a great job in establishing a feeding system. By the middle of the night, Luther had decided to jump up on the bed and join them. He's being a very sweet older brother to Joshua, sniffing at his little head. I think he's just making nice, waiting for all the scraps Joshua will throw to the floor once he moves on to solid food.

It's a BOY!

We welcomed Joshua Nicholas Mehler into the world on June 28th at 6:02 pm. Mom and Josh were champs throughout the entire event.

We woke up that morning and Sara was in labor. It continued steadily throughout the day with a last 40 minute burst of energy that brought Josh screaming and kicking. He actually came out in a Superman pose (he's already so aware of American culture - Michael is a proud papa!).





Josh is a BIG BOY. He weighed in at 8 lbs, 9 oz and measured 22" in length. He has his great-grandpapa's nose and his daddy's long toes. He has a very full head of sandy brown hair, but blonde eyebrows and eyelashes. He's the most beautiful person either of us has ever known and we're still amazed about the fact that they're going to let us take him home with us.

Josh decided that he wanted to wait until both of the midwives he knew - Margie and Kathryn - were around for the birth. Kathryn had knit Josh a little blue cap, which helped keep his noggin warm the first night.

Josh is taking to feeding very well, which is making mom and dad quite happy and proud of him. He likes snuggle time with either of us, although there are times that dad just doesn't cut it and it's time to hand off to mom.

So, we're all doing well and expect to be at home tomorrow (Friday) to enjoy our first weekend together. And to think, there's only 25 days until we close on the new house and get to move....

Snaffle

So, apparently we cannot spend a summer in pure relaxation. In addition to writing about 200 pages of academic muck (Michael) and giving birth to new human life (Sara), we decided that we wanted a house as well.

The house has enough room for 2 parents, 1 baby, 1 dog, 1 cat, and as many next-of-kin babysitters as we can cram into the guest bedroom. If you're willing to share with Michael's office (aka the sun room), you won't have to sleep in the same bed with another not so next of kin guest.

It's a wonderful house, with room to expand for one more (although at this point, we are sticking with 5 mammals). We're in basically the same neighborhood, so neither commute will be any longer and most importantly, we'll have a big back deck on which we can sip margaritas and look out onto our own little personal pond (well, we share it with several neighbors, fish, frogs, turtles, and the occasional snake). Sara and Michael are very excited about this, but not nearly as much as Luther will be once he moves in. Thank goodness there is the large deck on which he can dry himself before bringing his stinky furry butt into the living room.

If all goes well, we should be moving in the last weekend of July and then hosting a big baby party in late August.

As you can tell, so begins our life in the 21st century. We decided that with family and friends spread out all over the place, this might be the most efficient way to let you what's going on with the Virginia Mehlers and include some pictures in the mix. Feel free to read, comment, or both.

Michael & Sara & Squirmy-little-baby-running-out-of-room