Well, yesterday Matthew celebrated his 1 month b-day. He had an appt. with Dr. Hart and we were told that he is doing excellent! He now weighs 9 pounds 11 ounces! So in a month he’s gained almost 2 pounds which is average for an infant.

I’ll post some new pics tomorrow.

Matthew and I went shopping to Babies R Us in Union Square. He was such a good boy and so many people stopped to look at how cool he looked! So I took a snapshot for memories! His first shopping trip!

Wow! In two weeks, Matthew has grown and changed appearance soooo much! It’s amazing. His cheeks are really puffy and the Jaundice is completely gone! Here are a few pics I shot today…

I love these pics:

So it happened yesterday! The umbilical cord fell off. Is it just a hispanic thing to save these pieces? I preserved his in plastic wrap for his Mom because she wanted it. Here is what I’m talking about:

What could he possibly be smiling about at the tender age of 5 days?

Here are some recordings of Matthew with his hiccups going…

Hiccups #1
Hiccups #2
Hiccups #3

Here is a peek at Matthew…

So today was Matthew’s 2nd appt. The Doctor checked him out and found that the jaundice was almost gone. A couple more days and he should be fine. He said that once it’s gone, we never have to worry about it coming back again. He also said that besided for that Matthew is doing PERFECT! His next appt. is in three weeks.
While we were waiting in the Doctor’s office, Matthew smiled at me a few times. It’s the most beautiful thing in the world to see a baby smile at you. It always makes me wonder what is going through their little heads.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT MATTHEWS PEDIATRICIAN:

Anyone in the midtown area that is looking for a pediatrician, I have the perfect Doctor for you! He came highly recommended from a few parents that I know. He is just awesome! He explains everything! What to expect, what’s next, etc., etc. Best of all, he answers any and all questions with pleasure! I couldn’t be happier that we chose him to care for Matthew. If you’re interested here is his info:
Dr. Andrew S. Hart
Andrew S. Hart, M.D. Pediatrics

235 West 75th Street, New York, NY 10023

212-496-6440

Valerie and a few other friends have asked what Jaundice is so I figured I’d post this message…
A common condition in newborns, jaundice refers to the yellow color of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by excess bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is produced by the normal breakdown of red blood cells.

Normally bilirubin passes through the liver and is excreted as bile through the intestines. Jaundice occurs when bilirubin builds up faster than a newborn’s liver can break it down and pass it from the body. Reasons for this include:

• A newborn baby’s still-developing liver may not yet be able to remove adequate bilirubin from the blood.
• More bilirubin is being made than the infant’s liver can handle.
• Too large an amount of bilirubin is reabsorbed from the intestines before the baby gets rid of it in the stool.

In mild or moderate levels of jaundice, by 5 to 7 days of age the baby will take care of the excess bilirubin on its own. If high levels of jaundice do not clear up, phototherapy – treatment with a special light that helps rid the body of the bilirubin by altering it or making it easier for your baby’s liver to get rid of it – may be prescribed.