Baby LaTour: Two Weeks Already!

Craig & I can't believe that Gabriel is over 2 weeks old already! (And I apologize for the lack of blog posts, but this little newborn is keeping my hands full!) So, on the urging of Godmother Chelsea, I am back to blog about our life with a new addition.

A bullet list might be more productive, as I'm sure this little one laying in my arms will only give me so much time to post! So here goes:

Breastfeeding is going well; we finally ditched the nipple shield that was suggested to use by the nurses at the hospital. This is a major victory in my opinion! We had a not-so-fun attempt at breastfeeding in the (parked) car with a nursing cover while out shopping the other day - you really need an extra set of hands to manipulate the nipple shield in addition to your child, a burp cloth to wipe up spills, your shirt & bra, & the nursing cover! I'm sorry, but I refuse to be tethered to my home in order to breastfeed every 2 hours, so we have to conquer this. More practice, probably!
Pediatrician appointment #3 is on Wednesday. We have been struggling with getting Gabe back to his birth weight (more on this in a moment), and the doctor recommended supplementing nighttime feedings with formula and limiting his time at the breast so he didn't spend all his calories sucking. Right now we are doing 50% pumped breastmilk mixed with 50% formula for nighttime feedings (which I magically do at the same time as double-pumping). Last visit, he was up to 7 lb 5 oz (better but still less than she would like) and we're hoping for a better increase this week since we have continued the 50/50 mix and breastfeeding is going much better.
I honestly think now that Gabe's birth weight was artificially increased because of all the fluids they were pumping through my body during the (failed) induction. We were both bloated for a few days post-c-section. If that's the case, then he probably didn't *really* lose 12% of his body weight before he left the hospital and he's probably doing just fine in the weight gain department, and the supplementation is for naught.
I have become a mother who has diaper preferences. Never thought it would be possible! But, after SEVERAL not-fun pee blowouts (as in he was soaked through the diaper, onesie, and pajamas) in the middle of the night (or twice in one night!), I learned to not like a particular brand of newborn diaper. On the positive note, the increase in number of wet & dirty diapers is considered a really good sign that he is getting enough milk.
I *can* survive on 6-8 hours of sleep a night that is portioned into 2-hour increments. And I'm still smiling!
Gabriel takes after his father in the gassy aspect of life. Holy farts! I really should have purchased that onesie that said "Don't look at me, that smell is coming from my daddy!" Thank goodness he's cute, because the noises and smells that come out are not.
Apparently, I have made the fastest, easiest recovery from a c-section that the hospital doctors & nurses have ever seen. It's been a blessing, since it's allowed me to spend more attention and time on Gabriel and his breastfeeding needs.
Making enough breastmilk doesn't mean you get bigger boobs. I am resigned to not having the large "rack" I was looking forward to! ::sigh::
Craig is so adorable when he holds Gabe. I am brought to tears if I think too much about it when I look at them together.
Boy clothes are cute! I have received a lot of beautiful new things from our friends & family, and my friend Janet gave us multiple bags of clothes from her two sons. We are so grateful for everyone's generosity!
Babies go through diapers like water. I was nervous to obtain too many newborn diapers because I wasn't sure how big the baby would be, but now I am seeing how quickly Gabe goes through them. (And how annoyed I am that I can have just changed a wet diaper when he pees in the clean one. Not at him specifically, but at how much pee a baby makes. And how I have learned to wait a few extra minutes after he farts/poops so that he "finishes" before I put on the new diaper. I have picked up on his concentration face when he's pooping, which is so funny to watch! He focuses on a spot far away, grunts, and pushes in & out with his feet.)
Fenugreek (a supplement that supposedly helps increase breastmilk supply) makes one smell like maple syrup - seriously. I thought this was a joke, but it really happens! Craig keeps requesting pancakes, haha!
When taking newborn photographs, it is best to crank the temperature of the room up to tropical. Gabe passed out perfectly and was so mold-able for Godmother Chelsea & I to set him up in cute baskets and such. Here are a few of our favorites (of the 297 that she took!) & what Craig & I ended up choosing for the baby announcement:

Gabe's baby announcement (front)

Gabe's baby announcement (back)

I think that's about it for now. Gabe fell asleep on my arm, and I want to make sure to have time to post some pictures before he wakes up to eat again in a half hour. (2 hours is no longer a long length of time for me mentally!) Here are a LOT (but in no way is this all) of the pictures we've taken, in no particular order...