It was another very eventful weekend for the Boyle family!! We spend Saturday visiting with the aunts and cousins on Jeremy's side, and, boy, was it exciting... Keegan managed to sleep through the entire day. We were able to wake him up for a little bit while a photo shoot with his new cousin Peggy was attempted. But other than that, he just slept and made his sleeping, peeping noises. Such is the life of a plump, newborn boy (whadda life)... And today we spent the afternoon with Grandpa Boyle, Jennifer, Aunt Krista, Aunt Laura, Uncle Sean, and Peggy. Once more, Keegan was a sleeper...

Keegan is settling in to a schedule for now - he's eating steadily every three to fours hours. During the day he'll stay awake and content for about an hour after eating, and then he'll sleep for about an hour before insisting on being held while he sleeps for another hour or so. He's sleeping decently at night, although it has been a little hard to get him to fall asleep after 9 PM. We can tell that he's tired, but he just doesn't want to sleep (such is also the life of a baby)...

Tuesday we head off to the pediatrician's for Keegan's one-month checkup. It seems like just yesterday we brought him home, but it also seems like we've already lived through an endless number of 3 AM feedings and rocking sessions... our lives have officially entered a time warp...

Suzanne

Doin' fine!

It's been a little bit since I've posted, but all three of us are slowly adjusting and every day getting a little more comfortable with our new family. I was talking to Sean earlier and telling him that it seems we are taking 2 steps forward and 1 step back in the sleep department. Keegan will have some good nights and some not so good nights, but he does pretty well during most days. He definitely has a pretty chill personality and it's been cool having stay awake a little longer every day. He still isn't doing a whole lot, but he loves to be upright, whether on your shoulder or just supported a little in your lap. He is looking around and taking it all in. I think maybe he is still not sure about Boris, Bella and Aurora, but doesn't seem to mind. We've been able to avoid the inevitable lick to the face so far from Aurora; hopefully that will last a little longer.

This past weekend was busy for Keegan, though I don't think he realizes how busy he was. He got to spend Saturday and Sunday with just his daddy! On Saturday he went out on a little shopping trip with Grandpa Boyle and me which he slept through entirely. Saturday night we rented a movie which Keegan slept through entirely. Sunday morning Krista, Grandma Boyle and Great Grandma Myree visited for breakfast which Keegan only partly slept through. Keegan and I spent most of the rest of the day relaxing and doing a few little things around the house. We also got a nice Sunday afternoon nap (which I slept through entirely) to cap off our guy weekend. By the end of Sunday, we were both happy to have mommy back home...

Mommy's First Post

It took a little while, but I finally found the time to get on here...

I have to admit that I thought I might be a little bored being home all day instead of at work. But I stand corrected - I am barely fitting in laundry loads and paying bills during Keegan's naps. But he and I are settling into a routine of sorts, so I'm beginning to love both his awake moments of eating and spitting up along with the cuter, sleepy-baby moments (and he is so cute during the sleepy moments, although I know I'm a biased opinion)...

Today, I went out by myself for the first time! I twisted Grandpa's arm (didn't take much twisting - in fact, he suggested coming over for a visit and I took advantage to get out), and I ran to Target while Grandpa watched Keegan. It was a little strange for me to be out by myself and not obviously pregnant. I've gotten used to looks either because I was so large and stuffed or now because I tote a baby carrier with me. I've almost forgotten what it's like to just be plain, old me. And even though a part of me wished while I was pregnant to be able to go back to the comfort of that just-me world, I wouldn't be willing now to trade my new world for anything...

-Suzanne

Doctors visit and back to work...

We had our 2nd week checkup with the pediatrician today. Keegan has traded in his whopper, jr status for full blown whopper again. He is just about back up to his birth weight at 9lb 2oz and doing well all around. We asked about his seemingly constant hiccups but the doctor had no concerns and Suzanne reinforced this with how often he got the hiccups during the pregnancy. All in all it was a good visit

I've been back to work for two days now and it still feels weird. It felt pretty good staying home and being a family all day. I am also now more exhausted than I have been previously. They typically frown upon naps at work. Is there anyone who pays for naps? Speaking of which it's time for me to join my family in dreamworld. Goodnight moon...

Quick update

Today we took Keegan for a short walk in between the rain showers. It was the first time out since we got home for both him and Suzanne. Here is a picture of the new family (sans dad, the photographer).

A week already?

Right now when I look up from my screen I can see my wife and son napping. And yes I know it is after 10; we nap at all hours now. And yes I should probably be napping as well, but a thought occurred to me as I was sitting here. In about 6.5 hours Keegan will be a week old. Wow. It really feels like we just brought him home; has he really been here a week? I must admit, however, that I do feel like I am beginning to know him pretty well. His cries are starting to carry a little distinction. Some of them are serious cries caused by hunger or soiled diapers and others not so serious perhaps caused by not quite knowing where he is or just what else it is he is supposed to be doing. More familiar and by far cuter are the little sounds he makes. Peeps, pops, hunhs and other seemingly gibberish sounds emanate from him and make me smile. He is a talker, for sure. I also notice his facial expressions. Most recently he is spending a little more time awake during the day and gracing us with all sorts of wonderful facial expressions. The most common faces would have to be the scrunchy face with its many meanings and the eyes wide open glare as if there was not enough information around him for his eyes to take in. My favorite face so far, however, is the look of serenity on his face as he sleeps. There is such an innocence in the calm that is a sleeping baby that I don't think is bested anywhere else in nature. As much as I love his face while he sleeps, my future favorite will be the face that tells me when he takes his first step, catches his first lightning bug or rides his bike without training wheels for the first time. He graced us with just a bit of his beautiful smile yesterday, and though I'm sure it had more to with his digestive process than anything else it still tugged at my heartstrings. Looking back we have been through a lot already. So as it gets closer to 4:39 tomorrow morning, I am finding it harder and harder to believe it has only been a week...

Newcomer!

Early this past Friday morning, March 28th, around 4:39 AM Suzanne and I were blessed with the first opportunity to meet our beautiful baby boy, Keegan Michael. He's fighting in the heavyweight class weighing in at a healthy 9 pounds, 4.8 ounces. He is 21 inches tall and almost fitting into his 3 month clothes.

Since then we have been resting and getting used to this being parents thing. We've been to the doctor and he is healthy and happy, except at 2AM. Oy vey.

I can't take credit for thinking of starting this blog, it's a copy of Keegan's cousin Peggy's blog, which you can visit via the link on the right.

Last thing in this warmup post, I'd like to give a huge thanks and recognition to everyone who has helped us out, especially to Keegan's Grandma and Grandpa Shary, Grandma Boyle and Aunt Krista.

More to come!!