The Binker Files

One week old!

Naked baby

Awake

Arlo spent the bulk of his first days asleep.  This morning he woke up and stayed awake, he spent an hour or so just looking, checking out his new home and family and we were all captivated.  Everything he does makes us happy.

 

Fun with Arlo

 

Playing with legos starts early around here.

Snuggling with Mr. Peace Pillow.

A small Dr. Jones.

Arlo sleeps with his feet in the air!

Foot to foot.

Sun bathing.

Arlo

 

I had a big surprise on Wednesday afternoon.  While shopping at Whole Foods, I squatted down to look at something on a low shelf and my water broke.  It was an even bigger surprise when I went into labor the next morning at about 6:25AM and at 7:20AM, this little boy was born:

His name is Arlo Dubord Shutty, although he still goes by Cricket, too.  He was 6 pounds and 20.25 inches long.  He is such a sweet baby and we all just love him.

Arlo's two big brothers are so excited that he is finally here.  Silas & Levi are both so sweet to the new baby, they love to hold him and have been very helpful.

As we had so hoped, we were able to have a waterbirth at home.  Silas was with us during labor and was so helpful, he kept the woodstove filled, assisted the midwife with all kinds of tasks and let me know that I was doing a good job.  When he heard me say that the baby was coming, he woke up Levi, so we were all there to welcome Arlo to the world.  Si & Levi cut the umbilical cord together and later assisted with the newborn exam.  It was a wonderful experience for all of us.

Arlo is just great and doing everything he should be, eating, sleeping, pooping and peeing, and we're all enjoying our babymoon.

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Coincidentally, Arlo was born in the very same spot that Levi was born in a little over five years ago, even though we moved 5 times since that time.

Spring

Silas & Levi on two of the last remaining icebergs.

Very low tide, Portland in the distance.

Whittling.

Treasures discovered in a lost lobster trap.

Crab with eggs.

Happy Spring!

Indoor pool

Silas & Levi seem just as excited about the birthing tub as they are about the new baby.  The tub has become their private indoor pool and they've been spending hours each day swimming in it.  Levi has decided that he wants to keep the pool after Cricket arrives.

Cricket has flipped!

After weeks being inverted on an ironing board or on my hands & knees, many visits to the chiropractor, an acupuncturist, a hypnotist, two grueling days of the Rebozo Technique and moxibustion, which didn't work to spin the baby, Mark & I spent today here:

where I had an External Cephalic Version.  It took two doctors using both hands and what felt like all their strength, but it worked - the baby is now head down.

You can see Cricket's head on the ultrasound image, down right where it should be.

We are so relieved and our lego room has already been transformed to the birthing room.  Now we can relax while we look forward to meeting this new baby.

5 trips around the sun

Our tiny Levi turned 5 years old yesterday!

His day was filled with his favorite things: legos, swimming, chocolate.

Happy Birthday Levi, we love you!