1 Month Old!

We have made it to ONE MONTH today! Our little guy is growing up, and he's just so precious. He is FINALLY (knock on wood) starting to accept the idea of a pacifier. He's not thrilled about it, but will take it sometimes when upset, and on a full stomach. But if eating is his objective, then the paci is just an insult.
He is starting to sleep a little better at night. Now just watch, because I've said that, I'll be up every 1½ hours tonight! But last night he actually gave us a 7 hour stretch of sleep! Amazing! What woke me up was being painfully full in the chest area, shall we say.
We are anxiously awaiting the time when he looks at us and SMILES. I always ADORE seeing what my babies smiles really look like.
To all my pregnant friends out there who are anxious to get their little babies here, I want to give you a shout out and tell you, to CHERISH being pregnant. I mean it. I know pregnancy is harder on some than it is on others. But I just loved being pregnant, despite the sickness and aches and pains. I felt it was a special gift. Especially when so many I know have such difficulty getting pregnant, or haven't been able to have children at all. Simon was so good to me during my pregnancy. And feeling that baby move inside of you is a gift from God. Because, like him, you are a "creator". I've been thinking about this a lot today. It was my first day back at church since having the baby. And it occurred to me that last time I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting, I was enjoying feeling Simon inside of me, kicking, and turning. Leah was feeling him move by putting her face on my belly. And now I'm empty inside. True my arms are VERY FULL....but that time of feeling of life inside, is over. And I do miss it. I didn't think I would so much, but I do. Okay, that is enough of my deep thoughts for now.
Time has flown by, and I can hardly believe it's been a month already. Yes, sleep deprivation has a lot to do with it I'm sure. All my days and nights run together now! We are so excited to be celebrating his FIRST Christmas!

The fam of 5

So, you can see I have a new family photo at the top. Certainly not a professional one. It is one we took outside the church the day of Simon's blessing. But it is the nicest picture I have of ALL 5 of us Hublers. No...the one of all of us, including me in the hospital bed, the day Simon was born did not make the cut. Simply because I look sweaty, tired, and unshowered. That is what happens when you have a baby at 2am. So in this one we are all clean....but, I was shocked at how fat I look. No, this is not a pity party 'woe is me, I'm so fat' thing. This is a 'geez, I sure have a lot of pregnancy weight to lose' thing. The fact that I'm wearing a maternity blouse because NO OTHERS fit is sad enough. But my large face and upper arms are just so embarrassing to me. So this is a good thing that I put this on my blog, to stare back at me every time I log in. It will give me a dose of reality, and keep me on-track and away from the Pumpkin cookies. Yes, that craving continues beyond pregnancy girls. And I can't blame it on being pregnant anymore!

He just won't take it.

NOPE

NUH-UH

NOT THIS ONE EITHER

Here in the Hubler home, we have a dilemma we've never faced before. Our baby hates pacifiers!
Isaac and Leah, as babies each took to a pacifier like a fish takes to water. Sucking on a paci was simply the most joyous experience in their lives, from infancy until we had to forcibly break the habit at about age 3. And the paci made Mommy and Daddy much happier (= sane) too. Car rides were better, long shopping trips easier to manage, it was the 'quick fix' to stop a tantrum in Sacrament Meeting, and it gave Daddy a resource he could use to soothe because he obviously can't nurse. And it was the ONLY way we were able to get our babies to sleep w/o HAVING to nurse in order to go to sleep.
Enter Simon into the picture.
This child will not take a paci, and we are baffled. We have purchased several different makes and models, hoping to allow Simon the opportunity to pick his favorite. Not so. He screams, yells, arches his back, bats with his fists, and has an all-around freak out session as we try to get him to take a paci to calm down. Our attempts to soothe with the paci actually have the reverse effect, getting him more angry than ever. The situation in the end just lands him back in my lap to nurse (the only thing that WILL calm the child immediately). We've been trying to get Simon to take to a paci for 4 days now, and it is just not happening. He won't take his thumb/finger/fist either.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. This has never happened before. We really NEED him to take a paci....to spare my poor chest more than anything, because I am currently the human pacifier.
Help?

PICTURES of SIMON!

Finally people, I know, I have been SO LONG in getting this posted. What can I say, sleep deprivation, being a new Mother of THREE, and nursing 24/7 can do that to a person. Simon is no small baby, at 9lbs 9oz he EATS constantly to maintain his manly robust figure. :o) I made a little slide-show with the pictures we have taken over the past few weeks since Simon's arrival. He is TOTALLY CUTE! And gets more-so everyday. Everyone has been SO sweet with their well-wishes and meals provided. I can't say enough thanks to all my friends.

IT'S A BOY!!!!!

The Hubler Family is THRILLED to announce the arrival of
SIMON NATHANIEL HUBLER
9lbs 9oz
21 1/4 in
Born 10/30/08 at 2:08am
After less than three hours of labor and NO drugs! Happy, healthy, alert, and ready to take on the world!
Pictures will follow at a later time!