Just Jack

I can't believe Jack is already three weeks old. It feels like it is flying by and dragging on at the same time. More updates about what we've been up to will come, but in the meantime, a few pics of my sweet boy.

We Will Miss You, Oakley

Jack's First Few Days

Since Jack has been born he has been busy meeting family and friends. The day after he was born Dina, Nicolas and Chrissy came to meet him. They were so sweet and gentle and obsessed with all of his little features. Jack may have to get used to a crazy crew of cousins, but they adore him already. Aunt Dina got to feed him his first bottle. We took him home on Wednesday, a beautiful and hot day in the City. We were greeted at home with a beautiful sign and a little girl happy to have her mama home and anxious to get her hands on her little brother. That day we spent a lot of time snuggling and a lot of time staring. It also seemed as if Lyla had changed into such a big girl overnight. Everything about her was immediately bigger and more mature. And so far, she is coping with all the changes at home like a champ (much better than me). We've also spent a lot of time playing defense so she doesn't smother him or poke his eye out. The other day I saw her sitting next to him in her rocking chair. I went over to see them and her foot was resting ever so gently on his head...
My recovery has been much easier this time around, so we've been able to go out and about with relative ease and I'm feeling mostly good.  Our mornings are when it really hits us that we are now a family of four.  Lyla gets into our bed around 7 am and Mark and I look at each other in disbelief with two kids in the bed.  We learn something new each day and I try to remind myself that the craziness of this period will not last forever.

Waiting for Baby Jack

The weekend before Baby Jack arrived was the second heat wave of the summer (two heat waves in one pregnancy = so not awesome), with temps above 100. We spent it mostly indoors with a few quick trips to the park when cabin fever set in. We exhausted our toy supply, made lots of trips to the dollar store for cheap crafts and even squeezed in a mother/daughter mani/pedi. On Sunday morning -- our last day as a family of three -- we went to Leo's for fresh bagels and had breakfast by Pier 15. It was a tough day for me -- excited for Baby Jack's arrival but nervous about its effect on Lyla and even some sadness as to how a new baby would change my relationship with Lyla.

Welcome Jack Giles Murphy!

We are thrilled to announce the arrival of Jack Giles Murphy to our family.  Jack arrived on July 2, 2012 at 2:29 pm, weighing 8 pounds 2 ounces. It's already been a week since we met our little guy and we fall deeper and deeper in love (and more sleep deprived...) with each passing day.

Jack was due on June 29 but failed to make an appearance, so we showed up at the hospital on July 2 to evict this little guy.  Once admitted, I was hooked up to a bunch of machines, which confirmed what I already knew -- he was not ready to go anywhere. Not a single contraction to be found and I hadn't dilated more than 3cm. We started the induction slowly, raising the level of pitocin in small increments. Nothing happened. Level 1. No contractions. Level 2. No contractions. Level 3. No contractions. Level 4.  You get the point.  Around level 5 or 6,  something happened. My contractions started to come fast and furious -- 2 minutes apart and intense. I'm not gonna lie, the epidural felt dreamy and provided amazing relief, but unfortunately did not last long. I went from 3cm to 10 in just a few minutes, outpacing the epidural. Another shot and I was good to go :) Six pushes and 7 minutes later, we welcomed our boy.

He arrived quietly, without too many screams or wails, which is consistent with his personality over the last week and a half.  Soon after, he met both sets of grandparents and, of course, his big sister. Lyla welcomed Jack with lots of kisses, lots of hugs and a sweet awe that was palpable. She couldn't take her eyes or hands or lips off of him and said enthusiastically "Welcome to our family."  She could not have said it better.  We are in love with and amazed by both of our little beauties and couldn't be luckier to be part of this family.