Thursday, December 29, 2011

1 Month old


Finley is 1 Month old

Time flies by quick. He is only part of our little family for 4 weeks but it feels like he is with us for forever.
We couldn't imagine a life without him.
Happy one Month old to our darling Fynn :)

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Generation after Generation

Great Grandpa and Great Grandchild
Elvin Dumdei & Finley Elvin Zoutendam
David's Grandparents the Dumdei's, Finley's Great Grandparents on David's mother's side, came to visit us to see their first 
Great Grandchild :)   WOW


It was a fun time for all of us and I thought it was wonderful how the older generation meets the younger generation.


Generation after Generation...


In this case it is the 4th generation....that is incredible. Just think of the dimension.
Parents became Grandparents, then became Great Grandparents. Children became Parents and now became Grandparents....etc.


Father and Son
Finley holding his head up all by himself.
Man, soon he will be crawling and babbling.
Time flies....
I never thought much about Family trees and growth or dimensions before. But now that I'm a parent, realizing that someday I will become Grandparent and even Great Grandparent, I have come to think of how amazing "Families" really are. Generation after generation...... 
I don't really know how to put it in right words to explain what I mean. I just think "Family" is something amazing and one of the greatest things a person can accomplish in his or her life. 
Putting a child into this world and starting a family and seeing generation after generation coming after you is miraculous.


Sadly, I think today many people have forgotten the value of "Family". The beauty of having children, having family and seeing your family grow has become "outdated" in our independent success driven society where yourself comes first before any other.
A child in many ways means selfsacrifice and putting the needs of the child first before your own and if one has the mentaliy of today's Western World a child seems unfitting, even seen as a burden and is in the way of your own success. Of yourse there are exceptions and not everyone thinks that way but unfortunately I have met many.
It is sad because I think that a child is not a burden but an improvement of your life. It makes you become a better person in the way that you become less selfish. Simply because you are not the center of your life anymore and you realize that there are more important things in life and in this world than you.



So many people miss out and don't see the awe and wonder of "Family" anymore.
I think the truth is that the child you put into this world is your success and certainly I believe is the greatest inheritance of one's life that you could leave upon earth.
I know my son is for me :)
Generation after Generation...




Friday, December 23, 2011

Worries over Worries

Yesterday I was all worried that my boy may have diarrhea. He had runny watery stool and for an infant that could become dangerous since there is a possibility for dehydration. But it was false alarm and it turned out just fine.
The other day I was worried that he may not get enough food. He was crying all day and seemed to be hungry constently. He seemed unsatisfied after each feeding and nothing was able to calm him. Also he didn't make enough wet and dirty diapers which could be sign for a lack of food. It made me all concerned that I may not produce enough mothersmilk to nurse him. But apparently this also was a false alarm and he is gaining weight as he is suppose to just fine.
All these worries that go through my mind! 
It's funny how becoming a mother makes you understand your own mother so much better.
I can now understand her worries and fears she had about me growing up. Back then when I was a young child and teenager things she would not allow me to do out of the concern that I may could get harmed, were making me rather feel annoyed and I just couldn't understand what the big deal was. 
Now that I am mother myself I totally understand her feelings and concerns.
When I look at my son I wish  for him to grow healthy and strong, I want him to be safe and secure and protected from any harm. I want him to have all the Best for his life. I wish for all his dreams to come true.
Any little thing that may indicate danger for him makes me literally freak out.
I thank my Mom for being my Mother and for her loving care all my life since the day she conceived me.
Thank you to all mothers out there in the world for your unconditional love and all the sacrifices you make for the sake of your children.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The Little Prince....or Sleepy Prince

Fynn with a bilirubin blanket
Finley and his Dad in Dreamland


Nicki Doodles investigating curiously

Like a Pea in the Pot


Nicki and Finley
I love this one :)

Like the Father so the Son

Saturday, December 17, 2011

1001 Diapers and other stories

Here we are...almost 3 weeks old and it feels like he has been with us for ages.
Our Finley Fynn...I lovingly call him "Mister Finley" since he has those bright smart eyes that makes you feel like you are talking to a grown-up and to someone you want to appreciate and give respect to. Ahh my smart handsome Boy :)


It was quite challenging at the very beginning of our journey as new parents since neither us nor he knew what was going on. So many things were new and still to learn and to adjust to. 
We didn't speak his language nor does he speak ours (yet). The only way for our boy to communicate to us is through "crying". 
Now you would say "Of course, he is a baby." and you would think that this would be clear from the start. But no one has prepared one for the excrutiating pain you feel as a parent when your child cries until his face turns bright red and nothing you try seem to help ease his desperation. Hearing the cry of someone else's baby is certainly not as painful as hearing the helpless cry of your own child.
There were a few times where I started crying myself not because I was desperate and dying for sleep (though I have to admit I was lacking sleep and looked like a zombie with big dark circles under my eyes).
No, I was crying because I felt like I was failing my little Boy. 
First he had jaundice and bilirubin (which thankfully has come down) and I was feeling as if it was my fault and my mothersmilk was rather harming him than helping him. We were trying everything and still he would cry with this high pitch cry that sounded like he was dying which broke my heart as his mother.
Thankfully, after endless sleepless nights and killing a good number of diapers (including peeing and pooping on Mommy especially the "shart" incident where he farted while changing and decided to accompany it with a straight shot of liquid poop on Mommy's shirt) he has become more content and we are starting to build an understanding of which cry means what. From "I am hungry" to "I peed on myself" I'm starting to figure it out quite well.
Also we have found out that he suffers a little bit of colic which makes him gasy REAL bad and gives him hiccups. "Gripe Water" works like a miracle for him.
I'm amazed of how a little being like a baby can fart as loud and strong as if someone is starting a raise car engine right next to you and burps just as hard and loud like a grown man haha LOL...just cute :)
We'll see what other adventures are awating us in our new life with "Mister Finley" ;)

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Baby Z is HERE!!!



 

 





We proudly present you Finley Elvin Zoutendam                    
Born on November 29th 2011, 11:05 pm
8.4 lbs and 21 inches long

A few days later than his due date and over 40 hours of labor our son finally arrived into this world.
After 4 days in the hospital we returned home with a biliblanket since our son was diagnosed with a high bilirubin level and jaundice. 

Finley under phototherapy in the hospital as he holds on tightly to his Dad's fingers. 
  
The Biliblanket machine we have at home right now.





We hope the bili is going down very soon and he can sleep without the biliblanket.
Since then we are staying busy feeding, changing diapers, comforting, napping etc. and giving lots and lots of love :)