Minnesota

Some people know that my dad is really sick and hospitalized in the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota waiting a liver transplant. So we decided to road trip it. At Max's 3 weeks, we embarked on a great adventure to Rochester Minnesota, supposedly 18 hours by car. 22 hours later and 3 wrong exits later, we arrived. Max was a champ. He sleeps so good in his carseat (which we know is not always the case, Clark Hodgson). But it is also probably why he didn't sleep for 2 days when we finally made it back to Utah. It was a good trip, if not really sad. Hard to see Dad feeling so poorly and knowing he is so uncomfortable. We visited with him 1-3 hours a day, depending on how much he felt like walking and being awake. We will likely never make the drive again - but I hope to visit them again soon. But Nebraska is of the devil. It will be my life goal to never touch Nebraska soil ever again. Let it be written.

Wind Farms....and stretches of nothingness

Yes, I did feed and change him in the backseat...and it still took 22 hours.

1 Month Max

So today is Max's one month. He still looks like an old man :D which i guess is good. Benjamin Button we do not want. He is doing good - I think he has gained a little weight. He is still a skinny bean, but he is getting long. Doesn't fit length wise in most of his jumpers anymore. I am trying to figure out how to go back to work. Hmmm...maybe i'll figure that tomorrow. Really pictures are all this post is about.

I love this pic - probably one of his cutest yet.

really hasn't pulled this off again...it was a one-time moment

You'd think someone had just farted or something...

Hmm, start at the bottom

sorry about the order of these - pics should have probably come after the intro. But I don't know if i can change it. I think I need blogging lessons from Stephanie.
But this first week has gone by fast - and relatively relaxing. We are figuring out the ways of Max, feeding, sleeping and really just being lazy. Breast feeding is going well if not slightly painful. I am so grateful for all the gifts and support we have gotten. I didn't know how grateful i was until we started using the things we received. My friend Nicole made us dinner, Jessica took the dog for the first week, which was priceless. Friends from home dropping things off....its wonderful to be able to share what is the best thing in our world with those we love. And just everyone checking on us has made me notice again what great people I have surrounding me. Thanks everyone.

Baby's first bath at home. He loves it, don't be fooled.

We LOVEEEE his hat from Uncle Jared and Aunt Stephanie. Its his traveling hat. And boy does he love to travel...he will sleep for hours in the car.

One of my favorite pics

This is where the angel sleeps - you can't afford this bassinett...

Sleepy....

8 days - Max Leonardo Cortez

I think I missed a few weeks in between - but I forgive myself because I've been busy/just really wanting to do other things than blog. But Baby Max Leonardo Cortez was born January 16, 2011 at 11:35am. He is a really cool kid. Sleeps great, eats well (I think), screams well when his diaper is being changed and has these big cool eyes that I love. He likes to have his hair combed.

I was very anxious to be in labor - and then when it started I decided I could wait a little bit longer :) But it started about 5pm on Saturday night. We were shopping and went home to watch some movies. about 715 I started timing the contractions and they were 5 minutes apart and about 40 seconds. Pretty consistant for the next 3 hours. ( well really 7), but I decided to shower and get some rest about 1030 because I knew that if it wasn't that night, we would be going in the morning to the hospital. Well instead of resting, we decided to watch another movie - A-Team. I enjoyed it. But by the end, I decided that 7 hours of 4-5 minute apart contractions was probably reason enough to go to the hospital and at least check the babe out and make sure he was ok. Erick had decided that since I wasn't screaming and rolling on the floor, that they weren't 'real' contractions, so he didn't think we would be staying. I said we should pack as if we weren't coming back. He kind of rolled his eyes, but indulged me. So we got the bags and car seat in the car and ended up at the hospital at 230am. For my records sake (nobody probably really wants to know this) but I had had just a little bloody show to this point, not much. But by the time they had me change into the robe so they could check me, my mucus plug had come out. They said I was dialated to 4cm and they were admitting me because i was definitely in labor. Crazy. Part of me realy thought they would send me home. And i problby could have made it through a few more hours at home, but being my first, I was anxious enough as it was to make sure Baby Max was ok. Called my friend Jessica who came down to be with me through the whole thing. She made it amazing. I was able to relax, chat a bit and just kind of wait it out. At bout 530, I decided that if this process was going to take another 4-5 hours plus the birth ontop of that, I was getting the epidural. I had really wanted to do it naturally but at the same time, I wasn't going to go crazy for hours just to say I did. Epidural did pretty well, but didn't numb my right side completely - so i could still feel some of the contractions. But the next 4 hours were pretty tranquil. Doc came in and broke my water about 7:00. They wanted to give me Pitocin to make sure labor continued but every time they tried, Max's heart rate would drop, so they had to turn it off. Didn't matter much beacuse I was dialating well on my own. But 900 I was at a 9 and at about 11 I was fully dialated and the nurse started to explain what would happen when i had to start pushing. I asked how long pushing would last and she said 'ooohh well 2nd time mom's can be as fast as 1/2 hour but it can last up to 2 hours sometimes'. I said 'oh i was thinking like 10 minutes'. she laughed. Well, doc came in, we all got in position and I started pushing. 9 pushes and 8 minutes later, Max Leonardo slid out to an almost unprepared doctor. Quite the feeling to hear that first cry. They put him on my chest and gave me about an hour with him before they took him for weighing and stuff. 7 lbs, 13 oz, 21 inches long, dark hair and eyes wide open. Love those eyes.

Christmas 2010

So I pulled out the Christmas decor that I have been hauling around with me for years, 4-5 apartments and never actually getting a place to put them up. I go out every year after christmas and buy a little bit each year. So it was like Christmas all over again pulling out the decor I've never used. And I got a tree! Which I think is just a bit enormous for my living room - which I was not even considering when I bought it. Then of course the trial of the lights....and as Stephanie found out, these new 'warm' and 'cool' white lights are slightly weird. Both of them actually. I was thinking the warm was the equivalent of the old-school ones but no. So that is my tree for now. I really dig the star. 10.00 at Wal-mart. I really love Christmas but am kind of bummed that I really don't have any Christmas music to play since my laptop broke with all my music on it....but I fill the void. It will be a sad day this year since I can't go to Washington, but I am excited at the same time to play Santa Claus to me and my Erick. In fact, santa bought me a purse yesterday :D Although I think Santa Claus should have maybe let me in on how expensive filling a stocking can be....I don't think I was prepared.