The Smith Family Adventures

Kim is really good at putting the baby to sleep.

We’ve been at home with Elias for two days now and it has provided us with many adventures and many happy moments. Not everything has been easy, but for the most part, life has just been wonderful. Nate is such a good husband. He helps me so much for things like putting on socks, getting things off the floor, laundry, and a lot more since I am still recovering from the c-section. It is such a joy to see him with Elias. He is such a proud and happy dad. He is doing a great job.

Besides feedings and diaper and clothing changes (which takes a large chunk of the day), we love just watching Elias. I have enjoyed reading to him a few times. Most of the time he slept through it, but today he actually looked at the book with me. It was so fun.

Nate has also shared some special moments with Elias. Just yesterday he gave the baby his first taste of Bob Dylan.

Nate singing along with Bob Dylan

We gave Elias his first bath at home last night. He didn’t exactly enjoy it. But it gave me a good opportunity to cuddle with him afterwards.

Snug after the bath

We’ve made it through our first day and night at home with Elias. We actually did get some sleep. I’ve been getting acclimated to the voluminous output of laundry. As a matter of fact, about five minutes after Kimberly’s post yesterday, Elias peed and it leaked from his diaper, wetting his sleeper, blanket, and the crib sheet.

We had a follow-up appointment today at the hospital, and the word is that baby is doing really well. It looks like he’ll be back to birth weight pretty soon. As for mom, she still has a bit of high blood pressure, but otherwise she is on the road to recovery.

Being home with our sweet guy, we took the opportunity to have our first family photo taken.

Our family at home

Needless to say, I am really proud of my family. All the feedings and poops and pees are a small price to pay for the love I feel for my son.

As we were taking the photo, our cat Olive decided she needed to get in on the action as well.

Olive, too

We’ll get one with Hermione soon, so we can have the complete set.

After quite a long hospital stay, we are finally back home! We had to stay extra nights in the hospital because of the c-section and because my recovery was not going as well as anyone would have liked. Things are slow, but Elias is healthy and laying in his crib for the first time!

Elias has cooperated with us on this first day home by sleeping in his crib for the first time while I type this post! We also got a small nap together on the couch already today. We will be posting more information and photos soon, but for now, I am just glad to be back home. Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts over the last couple of days.

Here’s Elias, hamming it up for the camera.

Our son Elias Makana Smith was born yesterday, September 30th at 7:02pm. He weighed 8.0 lbs and was 22 inches long at birth. Elias is the Greek form of Elijah, which means “my god is Yahweh.” Makana is a Hawaiian name meaning “gift” – which is the same thing my name Nathan means in Hebrew (Hawaiian middle names are a tradition in Kim’s family). He’s a happy and healthy boy.

Kimberly is recovering from a c-section. I am changing diapers.

Well our due date has come and gone. Nathan kept telling me yesterday…”You still have six more hours when you could go into labor on your due date.”….”You still have three more hours….” Oh well.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have a very good doctor’s appointment on Monday because my blood pressure was too high. It went back to normal after they made me lay down for forty minutes or so. So….I am not really allowed to do anything active at all now. No more pregnancy fitness. 🙁 No more walking. No more vacuuming or anything. It just makes the waiting seem longer.

Last night my spirits were lifted, though, when I was given a surprise shower by my fellow Stephen Ministers at church. This baby will be so loved! Nate and I are very appreciative of everything.

I am off to the doctor again in a couple of hours. We’ll see what happens….please pray for us that everything goes smoothly and the baby is healthy and safe.