Back to Work

I went back to work on Monday after a month long hiatus. It was hard to leave baby and mommy behind, but I thought I was only going for a quick in and out visit, and that I would see the baby again soon. I only packed for two days, but it looks like I'm going to be in New York all week. It's not a bad thing, we could use the money, it's just that I feel like I'm missing all the important parts of Evan's first month. Genevieve's been calling me with updates. Evan's been turning himself over already from lying on his back to his belly and vice versa, which normally doesn't happen until the baby is a few months old.   

I did a 40 hour-in-a-row stretch on a commercial Monday and Tuesday that started with me leaving PA at 4AM on Monday, and working until 8PM on Tuesday. We were filming in Coney Island and Brighton Beach, two adjoining neighborhoods in Brooklyn When the job wrapped, I was about to go home and see the baby, but I got a call for more work. Just as I was about to leave the location on that day of filming in 98 degree heat, I locked the keys in the car. After I got that resolved, I went back to the apartment on McKibbin St. and couldn't get hold of any of the roommates, and no one was answering the buzzer, and I couldn't find my apartment keys. I was so tired that I decided to take a nap in the back seat of the car. This was at 10:30pm. The next thing I know it's 8AM and I wake up to NYPD Traffic leaving me a ticket. I fell asleep in the car for the entire night. Tonight, I look at my car keys and realized that the keys were on the keychain the whole time. I just had to laugh. I'm really bad with keys, wallets, and cell phones, especially when I haven't slept in days. I spent all day today scouting for another commercial, didn't finish work until 10PM, and haven't eaten since breakfast. This is the usual for me. I'd better get going, I'm cutting into my sleep again....

One Week With Evan

Evan and Daddy, Sunday morning.

Burp Time



This week has been amazing. Everything I could have hoped for. Evan is doing great, and settling in at home nicely. He's been sleeping a lot and eating even more. He's amazingly strong and active for a 1 week old. He's able to move his head on his own and his neck is a lot stronger than I expected. He climbs up your chest with his arms and legs when you're holding him. He got a clean bill of health from the doctor this week and we don't have to go back for six weeks. I return to work tomorrow after a month long hiatus. It's going to be hard leaving Genevieve and the baby. I'm sure I'll leave with a lump in my throat in the morning. The last nine months have been a wonderful journey, not always easy, but in the end, the end result is this beautiful little boy that we are so happy to have in our lives. The whole experience has brought my wife and I closer together which is something I'm thankful for. So even though I'll be sad leaving for New York tomorrow, I know that when the job is done, I get to come home and spend time with my wife and son, which is something I've always dreamed of. Life is good.

So Tired...

He fell asleep tonight while being burped. 1AM

Friday, June 6th

Today was Evan's first pediatric visit. He weighed in at 8lbs, so he's already gone past his birth weight in just over 5 days. Evan's last couple of days have consisted of two things: eating and sleeping. You can already see the change in his face. He's starting to fill out and his face is getting rounder. He went outside today for the first time to his Nana's garden and sat in the shade.

As expected, loves his dad's jokes.

Early personality traits: serious, yet sensitive. He's got a lot of hair.

Someday I'm going to tell him that daddy's hair went to heaven,

just so he could have some.

Evan with mommy in his 'peanut shell'

Snug as a bug.

Unabashed cuteness.

Sleepy Time

Evan at 1:30am this morning...

More photos on Flickr (click here)

Little Evan Comes Home

TONS of photos can be found on Flickr (click here)

We left the hospital Wednesday morning after getting the all clear from the doctor. Evan got sick during the first few minutes of the car ride and cried almost the entire way home. When we got home, we were a bit nervous about how the dogs would react, but they turned out to be fine. Elvis accepted him right away and was really curious, he wanted to lick the baby's head. Lucy wasn't so sure what to make of the situation, she has a really frantic nature, but she's starting to get used to having the baby around now.

We had a really difficult night lasting into the morning. This kid can eat, let me tell you, and he kept Genevieve up all night. Both of us were taken to the brink of exhaustion having not slept through the night in several days. But he's doing much better tonight. He had his first spongebath at home, now he's passed out.

That's strange, I don't remember feeding him seaweed.
Daddy putting the diaper changing station into immediate
use. Tonight he went through 3 diapers in 5 minutes.

Spongebath time.

All cozy after his spongebath.

Photos June 3rd - Evan Austin

Click on the photos for larger versions.

Evan will be coming home from the hospital with us on Wednesday, June 4th.


I love this photo.

Evan opened his eyes a little more today. He's really been great. He's been sleeping a lot, and not crying very much at all. I tried the swaddling techniques from "The Happiest Baby," and I have to tell you, they work. It stopped him from crying right away. You'll be happy to know I've been changing diapers and holding him a lot. Usually when Genevieve's sleeping, I'll take him and sit with him in the rocking chair and just look at him in amazement.


We took Evan for a 'walk' around the hallways of the hospital today. Here's Evan and Mommy.



Evan meeting his cousin Ava for the first time.