Nicholas Joseph Aiello arrived on May 20, 2008 at 7:04am. My instincts were wrong on him, I "guessed" he would be a girl, but God had other plans! That's fine.. my husband had the happiest look on his face when our doctor said "it's a boy" and I immediately burst into tears (happy tears).
Joey rushed over with the video camera as the nurses cleaned him and weighed him, and I asked the nurse "is he a good size?" because I hadn't seen him yet, behind the C-section curtain. She said yes.. and soon afterward, I heard the neonatologist say "8 pounds 5 ounces" - HOLY CRAP! I had no idea he'd be so big. I was so thankful! Twenty-one and a half inches long, too.
A few moments later, the neonatologist brought Nick over, and I gave him a kiss before he took him to the nursery with Joey.
In recovery, the nurse told me Nick went right to the "well-baby" nursery - more happy tears. That means I'd get to see him soon!
Then, my husband did what I really didn't think I had to ask him NOT to do - he took a cell phone picture of the baby, "family jewels" included, and emailed it to our friends and family. Geez, babe. (I won't post that one here -- I'll spare my child the misery, and I'll spare you.)
What can I say, Joey is a proud father.
I had to put some makeup on, because when I called the newsroom to let them know the good news, my co-worker Amber Stuart said "oh, we have to come and get video of you and Nick - TODAY." Let me tell you something, Amber. Wait until you're on morphine, 3 hours out of surgery.. you won't feel up to having a news crew come into your hospital room. Oh well. At least I didn't have to get out of bed.
Here's Joey with his new son. He wore an Alabama shirt that day, and told all the nurses "if it's a boy, what do you think about Nicholas Saban Aiello?"
It was just a joke. We aren't freaks.
Nick has blue eyes and blondish/brown hair.. funny, he really looks like his big sister did at that age (with one major difference).
I can't say enough about the doctors, nurses and the rest of the caring staff at Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children. I had such a wonderful experience there, just as I did when I delivered Elena, and I thank all of them so much. When I get a chance to breathe maybe I'll bake some cookies and take them over!
Nick is a great baby - he's 4 weeks old now, and eats well, and sleeps pretty well, for the most part. Most nights, he's up 2-3 times, but last night, he woke up just once - so that was fantastic. I think I'm sleepier the mornings after a good night's sleep than the other nights when I'm up more.
Elena is taking well to him, too - she loves her little brother and is so protective of him!
I hope you are all doing well. I certainly don't miss work... maternity leave will be over before I know it, so I'm cherishing this time with my children. I am reminded how hard stay-at-home moms have it, though. I couldn't do this all the time. It is TOUGH! My mom had Elena in Florida for 2 weeks while I recovered, and my sister came up to help, also. Now, I'm on my own with the kids during the day, and I really do have to take it one day at a time.
My daughter has her temper tantrums from time to time, and we've really had to enforce time outs lately.
More updates as soon as I find time... I also hope to post a few movie reviews soon, on Sex and the City, and Indiana Jones: The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Also, the Top 5 DVDs to watch while on maternity leave!
Later!
