The BEST day of a couple’s life…

September 15th, 2010 5:10PM - The new LOVE of our lives!

Steve and I thought we knew what love was until our world was rocked on September 15th by this little man...

Montauk, NY- July 2005

You see, love had come easy for us five years ago in New York. Being the romantic that I am, I say we fell in love while picnicking in Central Park on our first date. Steve might say it took a few more months until we spent a weekend together out in Montauk, NY where we camped on the beach together, shared our first campfire and s’mores under the stars.

We grew that love in NYC for a year spending time on the Upper East Side where Steve lived and down on Wall Street where I lived (and everywhere in between!), We traveled domestically a lot that year, we did 2 century rides and really got to know one another. In Nov. 2006 we moved to an amazing loft in midtown Atlanta and adopted PorkChop - our first little man:

PorkChop - 8 weeks old

A year after living in midtown - PorkChop needed a yard so we bought our house in Grant Park fixed it up in 45 days and have really created a new life that we love surrounded by loving neighbors and friends! 

Our casa

Oct. 3 last year we got married in our backyard, circled by those we love and those who love us. 

We knew about love from our family, friends and even the love we have for PorkChop and AppleSauce. 

 
But on Wednesday Sept 15th at 5:20PM, Parker Danne Dojnik joined our lives and OH MY GOODNESS – this LOVE cannot be compared to anything we would have ever known! 

Parker - A few hours old...

Danne (like Dan) is a combo of a family name – Anne and Dan  - Dan is for my step-dad who passed away last year and was very dear to me. Anne is a family name that all the women since my great grandmother have included either as a middle or confirmation name.

I never had so many wires & monitors hooked up to me!

Now a quick rewind... On the 14th we had a Dr's appt at 2PM -  I was already 5 days late, my amniotic fluid was really low and they originally thought Parker was going to be 10+ pounds! My doctor checked us into the hospital immediately and had to induce labor. With the help of cervadil I began having contractions and labored through the night until the morning (for about 12 hours). 

The cervadil does not typically bring on contractions but in my case it did. Steve was amazing through my whole labor & delivery - so supportive and so very attentive & loving! He picked out a gorgeous pair of blue and white sapphire earrings for my push present - (sapphire being Parker's birthstone).

At about 7AM on the 15th, Nurse Kate told me they were going to start pitocin to keep my labor moving along and that it was going to bring on major contractions and did I want an epidural? Yes!!!! 

Although in hindsight, I wish I would have waited. I had dilated 5 cm by about 2PM Parker didn't want to progress down the birth canal. I could not walk at this point to try and use gravity to help him down the canal since I had elected for the epidural - so my Doctor explained the baby's heart rate was getting a tad erratic and if he didn't progress by 4PM then we would need to do a C-section. 

Grandma Leslie and Aunt Andy were there to support us as we labored throughout the day. It was so comforting to have both of them there with us.  

So as some of you may know already - the little man made no further progress down the birth canal (stayed at -2 and needed to get to a +3). 

+3 is crowning

 



At 4PM our Doctor came back and recommended that we make the decision to go ahead with the C-section and we did. Within 30 minutes we were in the Operating Room and the amazing hospital staff had this dance perfectly choreographed. 





I kept asking where Steve was and soon enough they whisked him in and within 5 minutes OUR SON was born. His cry pierced the air and it was the best sound two parent's could ever hear! 

By 5:10 PM we had the perfect little boy delivered into the world! 
His stats:

It has been a whirlwind 3 weeks - although this post just focuses on his birth and week 1.  Funny enough, we started this blog post the day after Parker was born and we are just getting to finish this post 20 days later! We are sure that’s a clear indicator of how life is going to be! So if we owe you a phone call or email – please be patient – we will come up for air at some point I am sure.  We loaded up SKYPE – dxd16dxd is our screen name – so let us know if you are on SKYPE so we can video chat.

WEEK 1

Steve has been doing such an amazing job with our son. OUR SON - still getting used to that one! While we were in the hospital he changed EVERY diaper while Parker was in our room. Since I ended up having a C-Section getting up was not the easiest task. He also treated us Fox Bros for lunch and then to sushi and martini's the day after Parker arrived (that was the meal I missed most while pregnant)! 

So for Parker's first 4 days of life we were treated like king's and queen's at Piedmont Hospital. They have the best staff who's attentive to your every need and the 1:1 nurse/patient ratio is really amazing. You really feel taken care of and when you have to leave you are ready (well almost ready!). 

Thanks Cassie & Sean!

We also had flowers, cupcakes and cookies delivered by friends and family - which just made us feel so loved! 

Parker's first few visitors were (aside from Mom/Andy who were there at birth) were Beth and Julie:

Beth visiting Parker

Julie holding Parker

Our new happy family (sans PorkChop)

Steve has only complained once about getting the dirty/cranky Parker experience while I get the pleasant task of filling his belly with breast milk every 2-3 hours (I am not sure that my sore boobs would agree with him that the task is always pleasant!)

Mom & I @ Frymegeddon!

My Mom was here since prior to Parker’s arrival and was such a saving grace! She cooked and cleaned and really took care of Steve and I. We had a great time while we waited for Parker to join us. We went to an auction where she bid and won on two fantastic items. One for her and one for Steve and I. She won a beautiful print of Japanese art ($15 which was really estimated at $85 per the tag on the back). For our anniversary she bid and won on a gorgeous hall mirror for our front foyer. We love it and really adds to our space! 


Mom also attended our friend's Jason and Abigail celebration of 10 years of dating anniversary party. The theme for the party was Frymegeddon (http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/photo.php?pid=6665278&id=592806368). Attendees had the opportunity to enter their favorite deep fried food. Oh my goodness - what yumminess! Steve, Mom and I entered friend oreos with a twist - peanut butter. We did not win but had fun tasting everything. Steve also manned one of the frying stations and was a judge - so he had a chance to taste everything!

Mom also decorated the yard for Parker's homecoming - PorkChop even got in on the fun!

Our homecoming!

Ready to come home - Thanks Timmy for the cool outfit!

Parker was responding to her voice and she was totally enamored! She left last week and it was so hard to watch her go knowing, that now I need to go it alone with our little man.  

Parker smilin' with Grandma

Since we’ve been home Steve has been even more supportive and changed twice as many diapers as I have and has even gone back to work. I could not fathom going to work just yet. I now know by "job" is raising Parker. Although doing something you love really isn't work, right? Steve also announced our homecoming with a blast of a blue firework so all our neighbors knew Parker was home safe and sound!

Shane and Julie's Gourmet Chicken Pot Pie - delicious!!

We are also so lucky to have such amazing friends here in the ATL. Our friend's Julie and Beth had helped to arrange a calendar for the entire first week we were home. We had been covered for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We’ve had breakfast delivered in a swan from our neighbors Darrel and John (those are the same fellas who put the flamingo’s in our yard).  We have so many delicious dinner treats like a veggie, sausage lasagna , Fox Bros BBQ, No Mas Mexican, Chicken salad, Deviled Eggs, homemade Chicken Pot Pie, Sausage Chicken Gumbo and yummy salads (Greek and Mexican).  We also had muffins, eggs, bacon, croissants and fruit salad – it’s all been so heartwarming and belly-filling! THANK YOU EVERYONE!

Parker has had a ton of “firsts” over the first week – here are just a few:

One of Parker's sweet smiles:-)

-       We’ve all experience our first sweet smile from Parker Gosh does that smile just warm your heart all the way to your soul!

Parker's 1st Dr's appt.

-       First Dr’s appt – 8.1lbs (47^th percentile, 21 inches (57^th percentile) and his cabesa – 14.9cm (75^th percentile).

-       Parker’s already holding his head up, looking around and turning towards the voices he recognizes.

-       Last Monday my Mom and I both were christened by Parker pee and Steve was christened by a leaky diaper as well.

-       Last Tuesday was a big day for firsts Parker, PorkChop and I went on our first walk through our neighborhood – we only made it 2 blocks before my incision started to hurt a tad to much to continue.

-       He also had his first bottle fed to him last week by Dad and he’s still very willing to nurse! We kept hearing about nipple confusion – really would a man ever be confused about a nipple?

-       And lastly on Tuesday he spit up on me for the first time – it’s amazing that we find all of this endearing now – I wonder how long before that wears off?

First sponge bath with Mom & Dad

-       Last Wednesday Parker had his first sponge bath and his first walk with Dad in Grant Park.

-       Friday Night was Parker’s really fussy night – every other night we have been blessed with 3, 4 and even 5 hours chunks of sleep! I will say no more as I don’t want to jinx that!

I hope you enjoyed our birth story and first week. I will try to stay up-to-date with post every two weeks or so - but now that Parker's out in the real world - he's our first priority!

1/2 cm and 40 weeks...

As of Thursday we are fully cooked at 40 weeks, but Baby D is still really comfy inside. We went to the doctors this past Tuesday and we were 1/2 cm dilated. I think the Doc might have just said that to keep our spirits up but none-the-less Baby D will join us when Baby D is ready. Well actually that's not true, with our Dr's practice they do not really like you to go over your due date by one week. So if Baby D does not arrive on his/her own - by next Thursday - this little life will join our family.

After having some contractions on Monday night - Steve and I thought that this might be it, but my Mom was not arriving until Tuesday eve - so Baby D decided to sit tight. Mom arrived safe and sound and announced to Baby D that it was OK to come out and play but alas - no luck. It will be great to have her here to help out for a few weeks once the baby arrives.

We woke up on Friday to some new additions to our front yard:

Aside from the lawn ornament, our neighbors John and Darrel provided us with the comic relief when they explained that since the stork was taking a break that they thought they should introduce us to their gay cousins! We were hysterical!

I also thought I would share a little TMI...
Being overshadowed by the extra-large belly - for the first time in my life I think that my boobs look small! This is at 40 weeks:

We also had a surprise visitor from Idaho Thursday eve! An old friend Mike was able to stop in for an hour of catch up and a slice of pizza! We haven't seen each other since our friend's Ti and Jason's wedding - four years ago in New Hampshire - so it was great to catch up with him. His beautiful wife Ashley who is pregnant with a little boy was unable to join but we send her lots of love and a belly bump!

 Well we'll keep everyone informed of progress via email and we'll post here as soon as we know any more as well. All of your emails, thoughts and prayers are so appreciated! We can't wait to share Baby D with you!

Busy Month of August...

Wow - I just realized I haven't been keeping up my bi-weekly posts as we are now getting down to the wire! Sept 9th looms around the corner and we are past the 38 week mark so basically it would be healthy to have Baby D ANYTIME! We went to the Dr's in the AM for a quick check on any progress (nothing - NADA- niente) although I have been having some minor contractions this past week - but nothing consistent...

Our bags are packed, so we're ready to head out whenever Baby D wants to head out:-) Dr. Bennett says HerHe's head is down and in position - we just need that final migration. We are so excited to meet this new little life and a tad nervous at the same time. Well I am more about Labor & delivery than having the new little one here at home. We discussed our Birth Plan with our doctor last week and we seem to be on the same page about most things which is good. The hospital has certain protocol's which we don't 100% agree with but we do understand that they've got A LOT more experience with this whole thing than we do.

We always seem to have eventful weekends and this past Friday was a tad bittersweet for the Dojnik household.

We brought AppleSauce to live with his new family Paa and Reed Coss - who only live 4 houses down from us. As some of you may have heard - Saucy is a little too rambunctious with babies so we decided to find him a new home. He's already spent 2 weeks in July with them as a test run and has had many sleep-overs with his new family - so we know he'll receive all the love and attention he deserves! He will be missed dearly but at least he's just down the street!

Saturday we hosted a Shrimp and Crab boil for our monthly supper club - which was delicious! Steve and I made a Crab Boil which consisted of Corn, Mini-potatoes, Asparagus, Shrimp, Brats and of course yummy snow crab legs.

It was great to have so many of our close friends there for dinner and have other's swing by after for some tasty beverages. Prior to digging into the crab boil - we kicked off the night with Martini's (well 6 out of the 8 did - us prego's just ate an olive or two).

A lobster salad with mango salsa was the amazing appetizer from Dave and Melissa. Sweet Potato fries with Hot Sauce and Powdered Sugar rounded out the main course from Dan and Alyssa. Then the dinner wrapped with strawberry shortcake - southern style - which means it was served on a light flaky biscuit. Thanks to Michael and Brett for that tasty dessert!

It was also the Grant Park Summer Shade festival this past weekend. Three stages, tons of food vendors and artists had booths to stroll and purchase from. The weather finally cooled off (still high 80's with some humidity) but made for a much more pleasant weekend to spend outdoors.

Charlie - 6 months

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend a playgroup (pre-baby). Because I wasn't really busy with Baby D just yet- I had the opportunity to take a lot of great shots of Baby D's future playmates:

Broadie - 7 months

Carris - 8 months

Aiden - 7 months

The baby's room is 95% complete. We just need to put up a valence, cover some pillows and then we're waiting on the bedding until Grandma Leslie comes to town on Sept 7th.

Glider -Thanks G-ma Leslie! Hand-knit blanket (green) - Thanks Sandy! Handmade lamp shade to go with the jungle motif.

Fully complete fireplace bookshelf.

Yes a full closet and some shoes!

HerHe will be sleeping in our room (in the pack-n-play bassinet) initially since it'll make it easier to breastfeed every 3-4 hours. We cannot wait to hold that sweet little being close and breathe in that fresh baby smell.

Ironman BOB Stroller - Thanks Grandpa Tony & Wendy!

A comfy couch for guests or lounging!

Jungle mobile - Thanks Melissa & Tim!

Two of our close friend's just had their baby's over the past two weeks. Here in Atlanta our friend's Beri and Brian had their little man Nolan join them about two weeks ago. He's absolutely adorable - take a look for yourself:

Nolan - a few moments old...

Evan, Olivia and Becky

And Becky, Brian and Olivia had little Evan join them late last week in NYC! He looks to fit right into the Gray family and his big sister Livi is already in love with her little brother!

So soon enough Baby D will make an appearance (10 day countdown) - we'll keep everyone in the loop as much as we can on progress via email/FB. Please keep us all in your prayers and send all of your love and good energy this way for a safe delivery into this beautiful world!