Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween Everybody! When I woke up this morning Mommy told me it was Halloween and that I wouldn't understnad what it's all about, but she said that I should dress up in a costume and people would give me candy! I was all excited for such a fun day, but then she told me I couldn't eat the candy!! WAAAAAAAAAAAA!

More Of Tommy's Posse

Some more picsof Tommy's posse
From top to bottom are: Tommy with Grandpa Rich, Aunts Marian and Marcia, and Tommy with Grandpa Tom and Phil

Tommy's Posse

Here are some pictures of Tommy's friends and relatives
From top to bottom are: Tommy's Daddy and Grandpa Tom, Tommy and Grandpa Tom, Auntie Tara and Tommy, Kristina and Eric w/ Tommy, And Auntie Julie and Tommy snuggling.

Four Weeks Old

Tommy is one month old!

Mommy simply cannot believe that her little butterball is already a month old! What a wonderful month it has been!

Tommy you have grown so much already! I weighed you about 3 days ago and you were weighing right around 9 pounds. You still fit in most of your newborn clothes, but some of the tiniest ones no longer fit you. This makes mommy's heart hurt a little bit.

You have outgrown your Pampers newborn diapers, so we've put them aside for Tara's baby...your cousin! He/she will be here in about 4 months! You still have some other newborn diapers that we're using, but we have about 20 left of those and then you'll be in the next size! My little man is growing fast! You are eating anywhere from 3.5 to almost 5 ounces at each feeding. You seem to not eat as frequently, but take in more at each one. Mommy is keeping up with you, but still has to supplement just a little.

Your poop has gotten out of control. We now refer to the large poop of the day as "swamp poop." I know it's a little gross, but you pooped an ENORMOUS amount and when Gammie and I took your diaper off there was so much liquid poop in there a sailboat could have sailed right by us. You also blew through a diaper at Bennigan's and had to be completely stripped down and changed in the bathroom. your poor Gammie even had to change her shirt because she was holding you when it happened.

Your sleeping pattern is definitely improving. The past 3 nights you have slept from 10pm (ish) to 4:00 am. This is a GREAT stretch of sleep for mommy! We go back to bed and get up anywhere from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m.

You are more alert and making better eye contact. When you're awake mommy sings silly made up songs to you, and plays Tommy the choo-choo with you. You like to be lifted in the air and go "up and down." I think we have seen the first traces of a smile coming from that cute little face!

Your fourth week started off with a visit from Grandpa Rich. We BBQ'd burgers and all had a great dinner together. Mommy and Gammie worked their butts off working on your birth announcements. They are just as precious as you are! They took us about 3 days to do, and we stil have a bit more to go.

We had a pretty quiet week. We ran a few errands together and visited with a few friends, but other than that, we just stayed home and cuddled.

I am starting to feel like an actual mommy now. I am used to our routine, I feel overworked, and have become a pro at balancing and doing everything one-handed. I am learning your different cries and starting to learn all of your little cues.

I can't believe it's already the end of October and that you've been here for a month. I find myself holding you and filling up with tears because I really can't believe that you are finally here, you're perfect, and you're just so sweet! You are such a good baby and I can't wait to watch you grow up.

3.5 weeks old Picture

A picture of Tommy after a quick sponge bath...he's about 3.5 weeks old here. Such a cute little butterball.

Auntie Tara and Tommy

Auntie Tara and Tommy...this was taken at Teibel's celebrating Tara's 21st birthday and Grandpa's birtday.

Julie's Wedding Pictures

These are 2 pictures from Julie's wedding. One is of Tommy's first trip to the bar. And the other picture is of Mommy and Tommy dancing during the mother and son dance.

Tommy at 10 days old

BIIIIIIGGGGG Stretch. 10 days old

Pics of us going home from the hospital

Leaving the hospital and going home...a day we have been dreaming about for a long time!

First time seeing Tommy

This is the picture of when Rich and I first got to see Tommy after he was released from the NICU. He was born at 11:23 a.m. and this pic was taken at 7:30....it was a LONG time to wait to see our little guy! Mommy was so excited to meet the little guy; I hadn't seen him since he was born. This was the first time I held him!

More Pics of Tommy

These pics are from my mom's camera...

There's one of Tommy right after his birth, and then two pictures from his short stay in the NICU. (He had some head trauma from the vacuum assisted delivery and was having problems exhaling...he was released from the NICU later that evening.)

Mommy and Daddy

Just a nice, random picture of Tommy's Mommy and Daddy!

Three Weeks Old

A mother's work is never done...

Well, Tommy, I would have written this on Monday when you turned three weeks old, but it feels as if someone has permanently hit the fast forward button on my life. Anytime I go to do something, I turn around and there are 30 other things waiting to be done. And, by the time I get you fed, changed, and calmed down, it's time to do it all over again since you seem to have acquired the appetite of a 3 ton hippo during the past week.

But...it's all worth it! I have grown to love our little routine and am getting used to doing everything one-handed.

Your third week started off with a visit from Auntie Dana and Uncle Dave on Sunday evening and you also got to meet your cousins Sam and Susie. Susie, who is about to turn 3, gave you her bottle to keep because she's a big girl now, and she wanted to give it to baby Thomas. She and Sam also asked if they could put on their jammies and spend the night at Baby Thomas's house. It was a very special and precious visit! I think you will have many happy memories in the years to come growing up together with your cousins....just like your mommy and Auntie Tara did. I can't wait for the holidays to begin!!

On Monday I took you to Lake Central to meet some of my coworkers. You were a total hit and everyone loved you. A lot of people can't get over how perfect your little head is. It really is the perfect shape and you just have the most peaceful sleeping face and the most ADORABLE face when you open those big blue eyes. We still aren't sure if they will stay blue...but right now, they're looking just like your Grandpa Tom's eyes.

We had a pretty calm 3rd week in comparison to week 2. You are starting to become more alert and open your eyes more. You are on a pretty regular sleep pattern. We usually go to bed between 9 or 10 pm, and you are up around 1 or 2 am, and then around 4:30 or 5 am. Then mommy, Winnie, and Tommy stay in bed (Tommy in his cradle) until 8:00 am. I don't feel too sleep deprived, but at night I usually feel like I've hit a wall...but it's all very manageable.

You are a very hungry little butterball. You have gone from eating 2.5 ounces to 3.5ounces. Mommy's body is having a hard time keeping up with your demanding food intake so we are supplementing with a little formula. You proabably eat about 10-12 times a day, and out of those 12 feedings about 2 are formula. Mommy was using Enfamil, but you were having colic VERY badly around 8:00 pm every night. I read in my baby book that Nestle Good Start is easier for babies to digest so daddy and I went and got you some and it has made a world of difference. You cry a little at night, but nowhere near what you were doing. So, mommy and daddy are happier!

Your belly button is looking great! You lost the big cord stump and your belly button is just this cute little bubble now. It looks so good, and is becoming a favorite place for mommy to kiss and blow raspberries on.

Other than all of that, you took a trip to Target and Meijer with Mommy and Daddy. You also went to your Grandma Marsha's house for the first time and dined with Mommy and Daddy at Applebees. on Saturday night, your Grandma and Grandpa came over to babysit you so mommy and daddy could go out and have some fun for Sweetest Day. Daddy and I went to Gino's for steaks and cocktails...but came home afterwards because it just wasn't Sweetest Day without out little sweetheart.

Finally, on Sunday evening, your Aunts Marian and Marcia stopped by for a wonderful visit! They were so excited to meet you and just loved holding you and watching you make all of your precious faces. We had a very nice visit with them and they are looking forward to watching you grow up!

It's been another fun, adventurous week, and mommy and daddy just can't get over how big you are becoming! You have gained at least a pound and are growing into the most handsomest little man around! Pictures to follow soon!

Sign the Guestbook!

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for being devoted Tommy fans and checking in on our new family! Please sign our guestbook (located on the right of the page towards the top). We love all of our visitors!!

Favorite Misc. Pictures

Here are some favorites...these are from random days and events...Enjoy!!

First Walk Pictures

Pictures from Tommy's first walk in his stroller! Winnie was happy to go along also...I forget the exact date of these pictures, but it must have been Saturday
(10/4)considering I'm up and moving and Winnie is still shaggy before she was shaved.

First Full day home

These pictures were taken on Thursday, October 2, 2008. Tommy was lying in his moses basket sunning himself in the family room to get rid of the teeny bit of jaundice he had from his birth. He liked it...good thing, since mommy and daddy love to take tropical vacations!

Four Generations of Krull's

This was taken on Friday, October 3, 2008. This was the day that Tommy met his great-grandma Helen Krull. Taken at Hartsfield Village.

Welcome Home Tommy!

Here's our house on Tommy's homecoming day. He came home Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

Mommy and Tommy!

Yes, I finally got a picture to post!! My friend Jenny took this while we were visiting. It looks like he's smiling! It's probably just gas... Oh, and he is NOT wearing a skirt as my dad and Rich both thought...he had on corduroy pant overalls...they were just unsnapped in this picture after a quick diaper change.

Anyway, enjoy the picture...there will be lots posted tomorrow evening because tomorrow is the day my high-speed internet gets installed! WOOHOO!! Yes, we are finally entering the 21st century in the Novak household.

Two Weeks Old!

For you Tommy:

Yesterday you reached your two week old birthday. I was going to post this last night, but you were having an absolute screaming fit, and once you fell asleep, I scooped you up and we were both off to bed.

This was another big week for you. To begin with, your head is healing very nicely. You had lots of scabs on your head from the doctor having to do a vacuum assisted birth. Your head looked pretty painful for the first week and it's getting better. Over the weekend, two big scabs came off. Your perfect, little head is looking much better! Just two smaller scabs to go.

You have started to grab at things...my hair is being pulled more frequently and you were also pulling on Auntie Tara's necklace while she was in visiting you. (I don't think you realize you're doing this...but it's something new). Physically, I can see that you have grown. Your head looks bigger and face is fuller. You still fit into newborn size clothes and probably will for a little bit longer. I think you're probably about 8 pounds by now.

You met my sister, your Auntie Tara, (or Yaya as Willby calls her), over the weekend. She was shocked at how tiny you are, and just couldn't get over how cute and precious you are. It was instant love. She will be having your very first cousin in just about 5 more months...so I think she was excited to see you and think ahead to her own baby! While Tara was in town, we also celebrated her birthday, your Grandpa's birthday and grandparent's anniversary with a big family dinner at Teibel's. You behaved perfectly.

Friday night you attended Julie's wedding. You had on a beautiful sweater set with matching overalls and looked devastatingly handsome. You were the hit of the wedding(besides the beautiful bride of course!) During the mother/son dance the DJ invited all of the mothers and sons at the reception to join them on the dance floor, so I took you up and danced with you. There was hardly a dry eye in the place. It was very sweet and touching and one of mommy's proudest moments. I couldn't believe I was holding my son. You're a great dancer by the way...

You also took a trip to downtown Chicago to pick up some information with Auntie Tara and then stopped by Jenny and Andrew's condo for a visit. Jenny got to give you your bottle of mommy milk and also helped me change you! She loved holding you!

Kristina and Eric came over Thursday night with a delicious homemade dinner of manicotti and visited with you and mommy and daddy. We enjoyed a nice evening at home with them and you loved visiting with them! Kristina held you a lot and you were just the perfectly behaved baby again! Earlier that day, we had eaten lunch at TGI Friday's with Gammie's "lunch bunch" and all of Gammie's closest friends got to meet you. They showered you with even more gifts and just melted over cute, sweet, little Tommy.

You are lying in your moses basket next to me right now and just let out the cutest little fart...here I thought you were sound asleep.

Other than that, you made your first trip to the grocery store, and have done nothing but fill our lives with more and more joy everyday! The weather and seasons are beginning to change. The air is cooler but our hearts are warmer thanks to you being in our lives.

What's in a Name?

We have received many compliments on the name Thomas Edward and many people just melt over his moniker "Tommy." We've been asked repeatedly how we came up with that name, so here it goes:

Thomas is my dad and my dad's father's name. So, Thomas is named after his maternal grandfather and great-grandfather.

Edward is Rich's maternal grandfather's name, making him named after his great-grandfather on Rich's side as well. Rich's middle name is also Edward, so this means that Tommy and Daddy get to share a middle name.

Overall, I think it's the perfect name for this little guy. He wears it well and his grandpa and great-grandpa just think it's wonderful and are so proud that he has such a solid, family name.

I personally like how his initials make up the word "TEN." As in, "Tommy is a perfect 10." What was even more appropriate was when I was being wheeled into Labor and Delivery the nurse told the nursing station, "This is Erin Novak," and the other nurse replied, "Take her into room 10." I knew at that moment our surpirse would be a boy! I think Tommy has many angels looking down at him and that was just a sign that everything was turning out like it was meant to be.

Life doesn't get much sweeter than this!

So much for due dates...

Today was Tommy's due date. However, I think we can all agree that we're happier he's outside of mommy's tummy and doing great.

Newborns do the cutest thing when they are startled. This is when you can see the moro reflex take place and I just think it's heartwarming. Tommy shakes his hands and they fly up in the air...it's just so darn cute. It's one of those things I take a guilty pleasure in...I know this reflex means he's been startled or scared, but it's so precious.

The other thing I love about him is when he's crying he actually snorts...it sounds like a cartoon character crying. Again, so precious.

And, the other thing that Tommy's mommy completely loves about him are the piggy snorts he makes when he's being burped. Good lord! I never knew a baby could burp and fart so loudly! How fun it is being a mommy!

One Week Old!

This is for you Tommy:

Today, you are one week old. It breaks mommy's heart already to know that her little boy is already growing up right before her eyes.

These first days have been so precious. I feel like I'm really getting to know who you are, and am loving every second of it.

You love to eat, love to sleep, love to poop, and when you're in our arms, you open your eyes and make all kinds of cute faces. Your eyes try so hard to focus and you end up going cross-eyed, but we just smile and talk about how adorable you are.

You've had quite a week! You had many visitors at the hospital...all of your grandparents came, your Grand-god-mommy, Stephanie and Muk came, Auntie Jenny, Tootie, and Mary all drove a long way to come see you. Your Aunt Jamie and Uncle Brian came and brought us goodies, and Auntie Julie and Erica also came to see you and had a good giggle with moomy about the diaper SHE had to wear after having you. Kristen and her mommy also came to see you. Everyone agrees: you're the sweetest little boy around!

While we were in the hospital we spent lots of time snuggling and eating. Mommy had the biggest chocolate milkshake from DQ right after she had you...it was soooo good and quite a treat after working so hard to bring you into the world. You were born on a Monday, but we came to the hospital on Sunday night at 9:30. So, we spent 3 nights at the hopital. Your Gammie stayed with mommy to help me since I couldnt move and needed lots of extra help getting around. We sent daddy home to get some rest, but he was back bright and early every morning eager to see his Tommy.

We had an 8 ft. stork put up in the front yard announcing your arrival (pictures coming soon) and brought you home Wednesday afternoon. Ever since Wednesday we've been relaxing and recovering, getting into the groove of being at home, and making our rounds.

You met your Great Grandma Krull this week and had a nice visit with her. She said she loved you and enjoyed holding you. You also visited many of the ladies at Hohman Floral and showed them how precious you are! We've taken four walks with Winnie (one with Auntie Julie) and you love your stroller. You fall asleep everytime in it. This afternoon, Gammie and I took you to JC Penney to have your portraits taken. You did great!

You tend to get very fussy around 7:00-9:00 at night. Daddy can't believe how loud a little guy like you can cry! Silly Daddy. Overall, you're a very good baby and are just so peaceful and wonderful to be around. Winnie has gotten used to you. The first day she barked at any sound you made, but now she is glued to our side and follows Mommy and Tommy everywhere. I think the two of you will be best friends.

You have all kinds of new sounds. Tonight you're making sounds like a kitten. You lost your "girly" cry and have replaced it with an outright scream. Definitely more boyish.

Mommy's favorites are the way you love to suck on your hands. You find your hands and suck on them until you'd think they'd fall off. You found your thumb yesterday and had a lot of fun with that. You were sucking on your hands so hard two nights ago, it woke me up. Your hands are also constantly next to your face. You were even like this in my tummy. Every ultrasound showed your hands by your face. Not much has changed!

I think that's everything from Week 1. You are the most precious baby, and mommy and daddy love holding you and are just totally enamored by the fact that you are really our baby, and our dream has come true!

A Quick Update!

I'm sorry...still no pictures yet, I SWEAR they will be posted shortly. It's just rare that I get a few spare minutes to run (ok, turtle crawl/limp) upstairs and update.

This is Tommy's 5 day birthday! I can't believe it's already been almost a week. A week ago today I had two foot reflexology massages, ate spicy wings from Hooters, and drank the castor oil to get things started. Now, he's here and already 5 days old!

He's so precious. We've been getting along very nicely and everything is working out just as I had been dreaming about all these years. Physically, I am doing much better. I'm still VERY sore, and can not sit down/get up really fast, and a 90 year old person could probably walk faster than me right now, but I'm feeling much better.

I must say I really miss being pregnant. It was so wonderful, and I miss that big, round belly. Now it's just deflated and mushy. But, I'm anxious to get back to how I looked pre-Tommy. I'm not in a rush, but I either want that big, round, baby belly back, or a flat tummy. I don't think I'll have the big, round baby belly for a while again, so I'll settle for the flat tummy!

I her Tommy crying and Gammie is changing him...better go help! Mommy is coming Tommy....

IT'S A BOY!

Wonderful News!

Thomas Edward Novak arrived September 29, 2008 at 11:23 a.m.
He weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was 20 in. long.
Mom's epidural wore off the last hour and a half of labor, so she delivered him naturally with NO pain medicine and has about 30 stitches to show for it! Needless to say, little Tommy and Mommy are needing lots of recovery and rest. Daddy may need to see a therapist after witnessing the birth of his first son. but, he's already a natural daddy and loves his Tommy so much!

Mom, Daddy, and Tommy arrived home this afternoon with the sun shining and a cool 65 degree breeze blowing. There is an 8 foot stork in our yard announcing his arrival.

We feel so blessed to have him, and we enjoy just staring at him in awe of how truly magical he really is.

There is so much more I can write, but we need our rest, and just wanted to spread our happy news. Please stay tuned for pictures...they'll be arriving in a few days when I can move without wincing.

He's worth everything we had to endure. He's absolutely perfect.