Halloween

Happy Halloween! It has been a long time since I have helped with the blog updates. We have had an incredibly joyful and challenging few weeks as Myles, Mason, and I have learned to adapt to our new family life. Although I am not yet graceful with things, I am completely enchanted with motherhood and feel so blessed to have our beautiful son with us. We have been so supported by friends and family. I cannot tell you how fortunate we feel to have such a loving community. Thanks to everyone who has generously supported us in our transition into the world of parenthood.

As many of you know, Halloween is a big part of the Stone family traditions. Check out the handsome boys as we celebrated Myles's first holiday, first costume(s), and first Halloween night.



Thanks to Lee, Deb, Dalton, and Poplar who provided this sharp costume and a most delicious Halloween supper!


Dear Ramona, thanks for the Mad Max costume. Myles enjoyed being from "Where the Wild Things Are" and he stayed warm all Halloween night!

Who is that Masked Man?


Its daddy! What handsome heroes!

Sleep Deprivation

Here's some updated pics of our beautiful boy:

Grandma Coleen came up and helped Allyson last week as I transitioned back to work.


Allyson and I don't have a Halloween costume ready, but Myles has a few options. Thanks to Gina, Kristina, Lucia, and Ramona!


All smiles from our boy Myles.


This is why I call him "monkey".


A few words at the dinner table.

Our first day "home"

So today was Mason, Myles and I's first full day at home without Dr. visits and other obligations that have had us running all over town. It was so nice just to tuck in for the day and just enjoy each other. Tomorrow it will be Myles 1 week birthday. It is hard to believe how much he has grown in such a short time. Everything feels so precious.

Fambly

Myles has been blessed with many loving people in his family, and here are a few of them:

Momma.


Poppa.


Aunt.



Sadly, the best pics of Grandma and Myles so far. Just means we need you back, Coleen!


Grandpa.


Great-Grandma.


Great-Grandpa.

And They Emerged Victorious...

...Okay. We were a little punchy afterwards, but we've made it!


Last night, at 10:18 pm, Allyson gave birth to Myles Scott Stone!
He is a healthy 7lbs, 15 oz and measures 21 inches.

I am incredibly proud of my beautiful wife and strong baby. They both went through a very long day yesterday and are still rockin' today.

So the details: Allyson started feeling contractions at about 9:00 Monday (yesterday) morning, but didn't really think much of them--chalking them up to Braxton-Hicks. Then, around noon, she began to note a pattern in them, calling me at around 2:00 to tell me about contractions separated by 20-25 minutes. I finally packed up and left work at 3:00 and when I got home, she was at 50-second contractions, separated by 4 minutes, and it was time to GO!

After a quick exam and the go-ahead, we made it to the hospital at 5:00, where we met up with our doula and nurse-midwife.
Allyson's family came up, rounding out our team, and Allyson labored calmly but determinedly up to delivery. She was amazing!



Myles was born naturally, with no complications, save for a little oxygen-deprivation. A few hours under the oxygen hood in the nursery cleared that all up, and we haven't looked back since!





So I ask you all--who does Myles most resemble? I'm gonna have to say ME! But maybe that's just ego seeing myself in those stunning good looks.

the countdown

Today I went to my midwife appointment. Due to work schedules, it had been a while since we had checked in. The visits are loads of fun now. It has always been fun to hear Myles and to measure my belly. Now when she "checks" me she can feel Myles head (he is sitting really low and head down as per normal) and it is thrilling to think she gets to make a type of physical "contact." I am both absolutely excited and ready for him to come, and also trying to be patient and enjoy this part of the pregnancy. Truth is, I am feeling really good relatively speaking. The weather is gorgeous and my discomforts are minor and mildly amusing in their own way. I am slow and sleepy and achy, but what else can I expect at this stage of the game?

Today I asked my midwife for a good guesstimate as to when he might be coming. She felt we were still a week or two out, given that I am barely showing any signs of effacement or dilation. However, he is right there and perched to come out as soon as my clock starts ticking. I have lots to do, so a couple more weeks won't leave me stir crazy. Now if we hit November...

Halloween Preparation

Happy October! It is our favorite season once again. We are in the last weeks of pregnancy. About a week and a half ago the midwife estimated Myles to be a sturdy 7-7.5 lbs. We can't wait to meet him.

As you can see we have been busy getting ready for Halloween. No costumes underway at this point. Hard to say what we will be up to by then. We will definitely have some costume together, even if it is last minute. Mason has once again made our house the scariest on the block. I have the Costco size bag of candy ready to go. So if you want the ultimate Halloween experience drop by and trick or treat.


Today some of my girlfriends and I did a belly cast. It was very fun to do. Pics of the event will surely follow. It was silly to see how much my body has transformed. The last few weeks have really morphed me into a swollen, large pregnant woman. I have the typical pregnancy waddle.