Luke's Tour of Texas: Part One

Memo to Luke: Hold on to your pacifier; it’s going to be a wild week.

Sunday of this week began a long week that will eventually take the James family from Round Rock to Houston and back home, north to the Metroplex, then back to God’s country (Central Texas) and then out west to the Hill Country before returning home to Williamson County.

On Sunday, we packed up the Honda and headed to Magnolia, Texas, near The Woodlands (sort of) to attend the wedding that evening of one of Suzanne’s good friends from Kingwood High School. It was our first big road trip with Luke. He’s a great traveler, but he certainly reminded us when he was due for his next feeding--whether we had reached our destination or not. Judging by the events of this weekend, I think Luke’s going to be a big Blue Bell Ice Cream eater because oddly enough he started crying out of hunger when we were in Brenham--both on the way to Houston and heading back home.

It was also quite a test for this new dad to improvise without all the conveniences of home and the baby nursery. (I’d like to take this time to thank the fine employees of the Brenham Whataburger for providing a styrofoam cup for me to use some warm bathroom tap water to heat Luke’s Sunday lunch bottle. If that’s not a white trash moment, I don’t know what is.)

The wedding on Sunday evening was a lot of fun. We got to introduce Luke to a lot of Suzanne’s friends. He was a big hit! I think he was held and kissed as much in the span of two hours as he was in his first two months of life. We all crashed on Sunday night at the hotel.

We loaded up on Monday morning and headed back to Austin after stopping at a cool new(?) shopping/entertainment center called Market Street in The Woodlands to eat lunch.

It was a fun overnight outing for all of us. Luke was a real trooper and couldn’t have been any better.

The tour heads north on Thursday; we’ll see many of you then.

- Mark

Growing Like a Weed

Mark and I have been parents now for 2 weeks and 3 days. Luke is growing so fast. At his 2 week doctor appointment he was up to 9 lbs. 6 ozs. and had grown 3/4 of an inch. He’s just the cutest thing ever. We put him on his tummy and he has rolled over to his back 3 times! We were really impressed. The pediatrician put him on his tummy and commented about how strong he is.

My very favorite thing is when he falls asleep on me and snuggles really

close under my neck. I also LOVE all the faces he makes. He raises his eyebrows and purses his lips. It’s really cute. He definitely loves Mark. He really tunes into Mark’s voice whenever he is talking. Mark is an excellent father. He has changed many more diapers than I have so far, but I think it will all even out when he goes back to work.

Parenthood is really challenging. People always tell you that and talk about how sleep deprived you will be. But until you actually experience it, you really have no idea how tough it is. It’s just so.....constant. Don’t

get me wrong--I love my little Luke. But I must admit the sleep deprivation has been a tough adjustment for me. Also, breast feeding has been very challenging. I am trying to stick with it but there are times when I do want to give up. I know he will be healthy no matter what we feed him. Thank God my mom and Sharon were able to stay with us for the first two weeks. We really needed them. They took good care of me and Mark (and Luke) while we tried to learn how to take care of a newborn.

Luke really seems to like going for walks in the stroller and riding in the car. We are waiting to venture out into the public until he is 6 weeks old as was recommended by our pediatrician. So, for now we just stick to walks around the neighborhood and riding around in the car.

Luke's First Days

He’s here! Luke Bennett James was born on Saturday, September 16, 2006, at 10:22 a.m. He weighed 8 lbs. 13 ozs. and was 20 inches long.

Suzanne’s water broke at 5:35 p.m. on Friday about 10 minutes after I got home from work. We called the doctor and by 6 p.m. we were on our way to Seton Northwest. After a long night of labor, Suzanne began pushing around 8 a.m. on Saturday. She did an amazing job!

We came home on Monday afternoon and took Luke to his first appointment with the pediatrician this morning. He’s doing great--already gaining weight.

We’re pretty proud of him and can’t wait to show him off to everyone. Check out the photo gallery of his first few days. More photos and video to come. Suzanne has many more details of her labor to share, but right now breast feeding Luke is taking up most of her time.

Monday, September 18

Suz had her final appointment with Dr. Pevoto this morning, and the induction is set for Monday, September 18. She’s actually going to check in to the hospital on Sunday at 7 p.m. so they can give her a medication to help things along. He said she had not made any more progress as far as being dilated. Luke is still head down and low which is good. He said even with his size (almost 9 lbs at last check), there is still a good chance of her delivering without having to have a c-section. That’s what we’re praying for (but we’re ready to welcome him any way he wants to come out).

My last day at work is Friday! I’ll be off until October 18 or so. I can’t wait. I’ll need at least a month to get Luke up to speed on a few things: the Texas football season to date (I won’t tell him about the Ohio St. game), why Aggies and people from Oklahoma should be approached with caution and LOST (okay, so I’ll only try to explain that one to him).

Suz and I plan to spend the weekend enjoying our last few days as a two-person household until 2028. Unless there’s news to share this weekend, watch this space on Monday for some photos.

Disclaimer: The comment about Aggies is made only in jest. (We know some quality Aggies.) The comment about people from Oklahoma is not.

Still waiting for "Labor Day"

Quick update: I saw the nurse today for my weekly check up, and unfortunately I hadn’t made any more progress, but Luke sure had. He gained more than a pound since last Thursday and now weighs 8 lbs. 15 ozs.

I had high hopes that they’d schedule an induction early next week given that he was getting so big so fast and that I had so much fluid. They called me this afternoon to let me know I’m scheduled for an induction on Monday, September 18, unless Luke decides to come before then. Shauna will be in Hawaii then, so I’m kind of bummed about that, but she’ll be able to see him on September 20 when she gets back.

Please pray that he decides to come before September 18 as long as he doesn’t come on Saturday from 7-10:30 p.m. during the Texas-Ohio St. game. (Mark made me put that in there, but really he’d be fine if he did come then.)

I’m pretty miserable but trying to hang in there. Sharon brought tortilla soup and chicken salad to us on Wednesday afternoon, so it was nice to have some good home-cooked food. I haven’t felt up to cooking since...oh....January. :-)

My boredom has brought me to playing Nintendo. Not the new Nintendo but the classic 1980s one. Thank goodness Mom still kept it--Power Pad and all.