Our Favorite Pictures From the Last Week

Our favorite pictures from the last few weeks are below. Next time we'll include photos of all the wonderful visitors we've had (and we look forward to more). Ben turned 1 month this week and is starting to get more interested in the world, able to focus on the mobiles we have, smiling from time to time (mostly for no clear reason - he often smiles at the wall or ceiling), looking at our faces, looking at his face in a mirror. He had his first breast-milk bottle and his first formula this week, though we are still breast feeding. He's been on several walks in his stroller and loves the motion of both that and the car as demonstrated by an instant nap.

At the pediatrician, we learned that he's up to 7 lbs. 11 oz. He's in the 20th percentile for weight, but he's in the 50th percentile for his height. I noticed last night that some of his onesies are starting to get too short on him. He also celebrated his 1-month check up by wetting himself and the table below him during his exam despite the diaper he was wearing!

I had to have a D&C this week because I'm not healing as quickly as they want me to be. The procedure seemed to have helped, so no worries. As I was feeling sorry for myself about the procedure, we learned that our friends Ellen & Dave Herman are facing a relapse of Leukemia for their 5 year old daughter, Rachel. Puts it all in perspective, most of our little troubles are nothing compared to fighting cancer with your little one for the second time. By all accounts, Rachel seems to have the biggest spirit and is the biggest fighter of them all. As Dave, Ellen, Rachel, their youngest daughter Sarah and the little one on the way work through this time, please keep them in your thoughts and prayers! They deserve good thoughts, they're some of the kindest people you'll ever meet.

It looks like Ben's playing peek-a-boo, but that's a skill he has yet to master. He's just wriggling his way out of the blanket.




Although a bit blurry, we still love this picture. The pacifier and his shoes seem so big! (thanks for the shoes Aunt Veronica and Uncle Rob -they're a big hit everywhere we go!)




It looks to me like Ben and William are having a very serious conversation and Ben had to get some phone books to sit on to look his dad more clearly in the eye...

Just let me catch a few winks and then I'll eat some more!

A Week of Firsts

Probably many weeks to come will include firsts, but these are some of the firsts we experienced this week...

First bath at home (Grandma assisted): it's hard to tell that Ben's getting a bath, but he is laying in his bathtub.

First time in his swing

We're going to try for some more activities in the next few days - going for a walk with the dog and making it to church and/or choir practice. Mom needs to get out of the house!

We've also discovered that Beanie Babies are the perfect size for a newborn to grasp. After this picture was taken he was holding on tight to the dog's tail.

Finally, it's easy to forget how little Ben is until you put him next to a full-grown adult. We took these pictures on Ben's 2-week birthday, yesterday.

One Week Old!

Ben was 1 week old on Tuesday. We marked the occassion by going to the pediatrician for the first time. The doctor thought everything was great - he had lost a a bit of weight in the hospital (which is normal) and now he's back to his birth weight. We knew without weighing him that he was doing better because he hands and feet have filled out. When he was first born, he had old man hands - much more skin than than was necessary. Now he's got chubby baby hands.

Here's some beautiful photos that Grandpa Nelson (Jen's stepfather) took when we were still in the hospital.

Welcome to the World Baby Coble!

Dear Friends,

We are exceptionally lucky and pleased that Benjamin Wade Coble joined the world on March 18, 2008 at 3:04pm, weighing in at 7 lbs, 1 oz and 21 inches long. Benjamin is a name from the Coble family tree and Wade is Jen's dad's name.

This post will be short as we just got home from the hospital today, but wanted to share the news with those of you we haven't spoken with and also post some pictures.

We both agree that it was the most incredible week of life we've ever lived and feel supremely blessed to have this little guy in our lives. Monday and Tuesday were exceptionally trying days with a difficult labor and a C-section, but we wouldn't have done anything differently with the little gift we got at the end.

Ben in his Dad's arms

He likes to be floppy and I imagine this position is similar to what he was in the womb, only upside down. He kind of looks like a frog when he's in this position.

Waiting for a Baby

If you're reading this, you already know that we're waiting for a baby boy! Just a few days to go with the end in sight - no later than 3/18 according to the OB's targeted induction date. Next Tuesday, if you're looking at our due date. William and I are creating this blog simply to keep in touch with those of you who we might not get to see as often as we like. Not a replacement for seeing you at all - with busy lives and distant family we just want to give you the option of keeping in touch!

The photo at left is from our January 20 baby shower thrown by the very generous choir at St. Mary's. Hard to believe how much my body has changed in less than 2 months!

I never thought the waiting at the end would be so hard. We've done everything we need to do - baby's room is ready, clothes are washed, we're mostly packed. car seat installed and inspected by the local fire department, now we can't wait to meet the newest Coble. For the most part, I'm still quite comfortable, just anxious to meet the little guy!

Isn't this baby's room just crying out for a baby to live in it? I can't imagine that it will ever be this tidy again, either! We still need to get some things on the walls, but other than that, it's done!

Over the last few days, the baby's gotten more active again and I think he's dropping a bit, but that may be my own wishful thinking. William spent a good half hour having a "conversation" with the baby yesterday where he would touch a spot on my belly and the baby would respond with movement. If he's that much fun in utero, we can't imagine how much fun he'll be in person!
We look forward to sharing our news as it comes!