Category: Family

Hi Kaili!

Today is the day you were expected to be born – Monday, February 6th, 2017.  However, you decided that you just couldn’t wait to meet us, so you opted to join the world three weeks ago instead.

When your American grandparents were over last week, Grandma would mention how you weren’t really born yet!  Well, today’s the day so now you’ll have to start pulling your weight around the house.  🙂

In the past three weeks, you’ve gone from a great birth by our surrogate, to a quick hospital discharge, to a pretty smooth long drive home, to where you are now!  You’re now eating on a more regular basis and starting to look around at the world more too. I also think that you have gained some good weight. We think that as of Friday you likely are 6.8 lbs which would be a one pound gain from your birth weight.

Keep up being a great little girl, Kaili!

Love,

Daddy

Another week, another post, but this time with some interesting and odd topics. You, Kaili, are now 2.5 weeks old and are learning how to be a better tiny human in this world. You’ve lost pretty much all of your yellow jaundice coloring since you’ve pooed many times in the past week. We also have learned more about you – how you sleep, how to train you better, and what you are needing. 

But, let’s get to the two topics indicated in the post topic – pacifiers and poo!  We had received a few sample pacifiers from Nuk, but we’ve found that you instead very heavily prefer the JollyPop pacifier (shown above). The Mayo Clinic had given us several of these and they are certainly the best way to keep you happy between feedings when you are being especially fussy. We’ve found that the Nuk is just too rigid and doesn’t have any give – traits you seem to really enjoy in a pacifier!

For poo, we are happy that you have been pretty regular by going at least once a day or more. A regular baby is a happy and healthy baby!

We are also finding that you are already working on your muscle control!  Yesterday you seemed to have a short time of some good neck control by moving your head around a pretty good amount without any support!  

Keep it up, little one!  

Love,

Daddy

It has now been one week since your birth, Kaili.  Your baba and I are working in shifts to feed you every two hours, and I thought I’d share some musings while holding you between two especially-late rounds. 

I’ve watched you sleep for a week’s worth of naps now and I wonder – what do you dream about?  I can watch your eyes move about and your face contort with whatever dreams you may be having, but I wonder what the topics could be at such a very young age. Are you dreaming of being back in the warm watery environment you were in a week ago – being cared for by our wonderful surrogate and her family for the previous nine months?  Are you already dreaming of the future you could have with your two dads?  It is an interesting thing to contemplate. 

I’m also thinking about sleep, or the lack thereof, that I am getting. I should be sleeping between feedings right now but instead I just can’t put you down nor keep myself from looking at you. Sure, I’ll zonk out after I put you to sleep after the next feeding, but I’ll be back up again before you – or I – know it to care for you again. It’s all worth it though to keep you well fed and healthy at this – the start of your life. 

Well, another feeding and diaper change is coming up in 10 minutes. I’ll have to wake you from your peaceful slumber. This post started with a photo of you from just before I started writing, so it’s fitting for me to add another of you from just now as well at the end. 

Love,

Daddy

Kaili was born on January 16, 2017 at 7:50 PM central.  She was born in Rochester, MN and weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces and was 19.25 inches long.

Kaili was born in the Chinese Year of the Monkey.  The Year of the Monkey for 2016 ends on January 27, 2017 in the Gregorian calendar with the Year of the Rooster starting on January 28th, 2017 – the beginning of the Chinese New Year!

Kaili’s name holds special meaning and ties to both of us – her Daddies.  Her full name is Kaili Marie Xu.  The name Kaili, in Chinese, is 凯丽.  The first character, 凯, is the same as the first character of Keith’s Chinese name – 凯斯.  Kaili’s middle name, Marie, is also a tie to Keith as it is Keith’s Mom’s middle name as well.  The last name, Xu – 徐 – carries on the Xu name from Zhengbin!

Kaili had a lot of help coming into this world.  We obtained the help of IARC to start a surrogacy program.  Eventually we were matched with a fantastic surrogate and learned more about her and her family while they learned about us.  We all traveled to Toronto, Canada nine months ago where things really got going with the help of Dr. Librach and the Create Fertility Centre!  After nine months together, we feel ever closer with our surrogate and her family.  We were able to arrive several days before the birth to spend time with their family as well!

We look forward to our wonderful future together with our new daughter and the many joys and learning experiences we will all share together!

Welcome to the site for the newest addition to the McDermott/Xu family, Kaili Marie Xu!

Kaili was born today, January 16th, 2017 at 7:50 PM Central time.  She is 5 pounds,  13 ounces, 19.25 inches long and is doing well!

We couldn’t have been able to welcome our little girl into this world without the wonderful help of our fantastic surrogate.  Our surrogate and her family have given our baby a loving environment to grow in for the past nine months!

For reference, Kaili’s name is pronounced the same as you would say “Kylie.”

Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available and check our her Dads’ websites – KeithMcD.com and JustinXu.com.