June 27, 2008 Chatty Little Man
He's really starting to coo and chat a lot:
More:
More stil, whatever, he's cute!:
June 20, 2008 Big Boy!
Jacob Cooing: It's very, very subtle, but not an accident.
Trying to Coo: We've been 'oohing' and "cooing" at Jacob for several weeks now and he has been trying really hard to emulate us either by making an 'O' shape with his mouth or making cooing sounds.
Jacob Doing a Push-up:
Talking to Mommy:
June 17, 2008 Wedded Bliss
Today marks the beginning of same-sex marriage in the state of California AND it also happens to be our wedding anniversary. Happy day!
June 10, 2008 Playing with Daddy
June 9, 2008 Mommy and Jacob
Me at 3 months old:
Jacob at 1 month old:
June 7, 2008 He Will Hate Us For This One Day
Stretch and Squeak:
What's Going On?
Well Done
June 3, 2008 Jacob is 1 Month Old Today
His pediatric appointment went really well- he is now 9 pounds 10 ounces- so he's gained a bit less than pound a week since birth. We've actually had to move the straps on his carseat and swing already!
June 1, 2008 Big Boy
Jacob is getting so big already, it is amazing. He will be a month old on Tuesday and I guess he will weigh in over 9 pounds (he was 6.9 at birth). The in-laws just left, which is a dissapointment. Not only did they bring good company, but they really helped out so Tom and I could keep our sanity! Next week will be the first time I will be alone with him all day while Tom is at work. In certain ways I am looking forward to it, in other ways I am worried, but I know it will all work out ok and I just need to be patient.
Here is the cutey chillin in our new lounger in his teddy suit:
May 14, 2008 Jacob's Birth Story (as told by daddy Tom)
For obvious reasons and many less so, the birth has left me awestruck.
Firstly, it didn't look imminent in the days before with contractions,
no dilation and minimal effacement despite acupuncture, Chinese herbs,
and long walks with the dog. Jen's mother had made the long journey
out to support both us through the birth and that was looking like a
wasted trip when nothing was progressing days after the due date and
she couldn't change her flight. If it was going to happen before she
left it had to happen quickly and it did...
On the Friday morning at the pre-scheduled stress test, the babies
movements were on most part stronger than the contractions (about 20
minutes apart) and dilation was no more than a pencil tip. By 5pm,
when the contractions had become less 3 minutes apart and the waters
had broken, she was still less than a 1cm dilated. Jen progressed at
about 2cm an hour for next 6. All spontaneous, all natural and giving
Jen no real brake.
Next, I was absolutely amazed by the hospital, the wonderful nurses
and our amazing mid-wife -- Jean-Marie Crowe. Despite the fact we both
had absolute faith in both our midwives (the other was Mary Newbry)
given its reputation we still were a little unsure of how culture of
CMPC 'could' shape things. I am glad to say none of our apprehension
was necessary and the three labor and delivery nurses involved in the
labor were incredibly encouraging and supportive to Jen. Two of nurses
had experienced natural child birth themselves and knew exactly how
help Jen threw it and they 100% wanted her to achieve it. And these
weren't an exception with many of the rest of hospital staff in the
following days expressed how they believed our wishes so be more of
the rule than the exception and expressed sincere reservations about
medically unnecessary elective intervention.
Then amazingly he has come to share his birthday with his great
grandfather (my maternal grandfather.) This is unfortunately the
grandfather I never got to meet as he was no longer with us by the
time I arrived. I can't help feeling this is auspicious, even if it
only serves to fulfill my mother's secret wishes.
We hadn't picked out a name before he was born, so given his birth
date we chose to continue the connection to the family and give him as
many last names as possible! So Jacob is my paternal grandmother's
maiden name, Dugan is Jen's (also an Gaelic first name) and Hobbs
speaks for itself. We stopped there so we wouldn't use all the names up!
Of course, then there's Jen. She was absolutely incredible and I will
hold life-long admiration. I feel very privileged to have been able to
have been there and supported her -- and that she wanted it
throughout. The labor was unbelievable intense -- one nurse said after
"that was like sprinting a marathon" -- and Jen just focused and took
it in her stride. For a good three hours straight, she consistently
feel asleep completely between contractions that were less than two
minutes apart. It was amazing watching her deal with intense pain,
breath, grip my hand (or whatever!) and then relax and let her head
fall as the twitching of REM began.
Lastly, the moment of Jacob's arrival was incredibly special. After
Jen had had her eyes closed for 6 hours straight she reached down to
grab him herself as he came out. He was incredibly alert and with the
hour in was feeding.
May 14, 2008 Jacob
Jacob is getting fatter! He is eating really well and getting lots of sleep. I am finally catching up on sleep myself- it took almost two weeks to recover!
May 7, 2008 One Handed Typing
Announcing Jacob Dugan Hobbs born Saturday, May 3rd. He's 6 pounds 9 ounces and 19 in long. We were lucky to have an intervention-free and non-medicated birth at CPMC with their awesome midwives!! Happy and healthy...we are all doing well!
Apr 29, 2008 Due Date
Had my checkup today and it is unlikely he will come for a little while. I am barely diliated, but that doesn't mean it COULDN'T happen, but they are setting up some post date testing for the end of the week which makes me think he is still gonna want a little time. Ok with me- as long as he is ok!
Apr 24, 2008 Almost Time
No baby yet! He is due April 29th and at my last appointment with the mid-wife she said that if all is ok, they can go one week to 10 days after the due date. After that, it is safest to induce labor. So that means little boy Hobbs will be here any time now until May 9! My mom and little sister Michelle arrive tomorrow night. They intend to be here for the birth and a few days after. Tom's mum arrives after that!
Been feeling fine- a bit tired of course but really good otherwise. I stopped training capoeira 2 weeks ago so I am feeling a bit lethargic. Glad to be done with work (Adobe finished 2 weeks ago, ABADA stuff has been trickling in through today) and I pretty much am done organizing around the house in preparation for the madness. Can't wait to meet the little guy!
Apr 8, 2008 Oh Yeah?