The Boy with Three Birthdays

I thought I was going to bring a child into a world of cooling temperatures and changing leaves. A season of pumpkin patches and corn mazes peppered with haunted houses. Planning birthday parties was going to be a piece of cake.

Instead Hugo gave us reason to celebrate in a time of 90 degree weather when the trees and the grass were still green. These days are also a time of transition: the anticipation of new school beginnings and the pining for an extended summer.

And while I dangled in between these two assigned times, accepting the summer and awaiting the fall, Hugo broke free from the hospital and created another day to celebrate.

And now the day has finally arrived. The day that was the first and now is the last. October 16th was Hugo's due date. He has officially crossed over into the world of adjusted ages. Aunt Brittany arrived as planned to be here the week Hugo was due. Nolan bought us special cupcakes to celebrate Hugo day. I've spent so much time this year thinking of, daydreaming of, and longing for this day. The journey to it has been entirely unexpected. I haven't yet sorted through my thoughts and feelings of the day. But it seems like the end of a chapter and I'm excited to start writing a new one. Here's to our little Hugo: the boy with three birthdays!

Hugo at Home

Hugo packed up for his first doctor appointment shortly after he came home. Hugo has been gaining weight nicely. He's now an 8 pound baby! His follow up eye appointments still show that his eyes are developing properly and show no sign of Retinopathy.

while at the store one day a woman asked me how old Hugo was. Without thinking I answered 36 weeks. There was clear confusion on her face. Oh, right. Umm, he's a month and a half? In the hospital we always referred to Hugo by his gestational age. It's kind of a mind twist to think of his age from his date of birth. He's the size of a newborn and does so many newborn things. It's hard for me not to consider him a newborn. Technically he's almost two months! He's a mixture of months with an extra 10 weeks to meet his milestones.

We've been trying to get in some tummy time but he's usually so sleepy! Other than doctor appointments we've ventured out for some family walks.

The first day we were back the cats cuddled up a little bit to Hugo. Now that they've realized he's a little boring they've been trying to push him out of their spot in our laps. To let them know we haven't forgotten about them we celebrated their estimated cat birthday with some fancy food.

Although I spend a lot more time now taking care of Hugo it feels like life has slowed down a little bit. I'm not working during this time and we no longer have to run back and forth between the hospital, work, and home. Though it's tiring, it's wonderful to have him with us.