Baby's Birth

Prepare yourself, this is a PHOTO-HEAVY POST!!!  Because babies are fabulous to take photos of.  Especially when it is your own baby and you are obsessed with him and think he is the most darling human on the planet...

So we were really hoping that our baby would come before Christmas.  See, Adam is off of school for several weeks, and we wanted to maximize our time getting used to and enjoying our baby, so we were really rooting for baby to come the week prior to Christmas.  Regrettably, he decided that that wasn't an option, and continued to stay comfy and cozy in the womb until after Christmas, despite all the walking that we did.  So, I got induced on Sunday the 4th.

This is me on Sunday Night, prior to getting induced.  I was pretty nervous... Having an actual date for your baby to come makes it feel very real. Probably because it is...

We went to the hospital at 8PM on Sunday night, and they gave me a tablet that usually helps you go into labor, or at least prepares you to start labor.  I think it can break your water, but it didn't break mine.  I had to give it 12 hours to work and then, if it hadn't sent me into labor they would put me on an IV with pitocin.  

I hardly slept at all that night, because I went into early labor about 12AM and my back was killing me.  Plus the nurse kept coming in to take my temperature and blood pressure.  Poor Adam was on the skinniest couch you have ever seen (also the hardest), and I am pretty sure he got about 45 minutes of sleep that night, too.  Monday morning, I had definitely gone into labor, but it wasn't progressing, so they gave me pitocin, and then we waited.  My water hadn't broken on its own, so my doctor came in and did that as well.  

I got an epidural as things got more painful (around 10:30AM).  But at 11:30AM, I was only at dilated to a 4 and told Adam that he should go home, eat some lunch and shower, because the nurse said that people usually dilate about 1 centimeter an hour.  So, he left and my nurse came in at about 12:15PM to check me and said that I was dilated to an 8 1/2 (AHHH!!!  COME BACK, ADAM!)  and that she was amazed that I progressed so quickly!  So, I started frantically texting Adam to have him come back, and was kind of freaking out that he wouldn't make it in time.   The nurse came in again about 20 minutes later with the doctor, and she said that I was at a 9 1/2 and probably would be ready to start pushing soon.  

Adam arrived at the hospital just in the nick of time and then I pushed for about 40 minutes.  I have heard that people push forever with their first baby, but our baby had dropped so low that my doctor had been able to feel his head for my last 3 or so appointments, so pushing was frustrating (mostly because his head was quite large), but really didn't take that long! It was amusing to me that in between each contraction, the nurses, doctor and Adam all stood around me and we chatted about places to eat, and babies, and it all felt very casual, considering the fact that I was just a few pushes away from delivering a baby!  Forty or so minutes later, and a few successful pushes later, baby entered the world!  

I don't quite know how to explain it, but it was completely magical (especially with an epidural)! You have been waiting, and wanting your baby to come for so long and then suddenly, there he is.   All the discomfort and frustrations of pregnancy melt away and it is just you and your spouse and your sweet baby. He is so perfect and so sweet and he is yours!   He cried a little when they sucked amniotic fluid out of his mouth and nose, but once I got to hold him, he just sat there staring up at Adam and me, and then it was my turn to cry a little.  It was so perfect.  

We love him and are so happy to be a little family of three! So, please welcome 'Fox' to the blog!  We may share his real name in the future, but for now, we are going to call him Fox.   

About 10 minutes after he was born:

Sleepy perfection!

Chubby cheeks and neck rolls

Hooray for being born!! 

Thank you for all your lovely comments here and on instagram and your patience with my getting back to blogging!  I have some big changes planned that will hopefully come in the next few weeks as I figure out how to be a mommy and a blogger!