Henry's Birth Story...

At first I wasn't sure about sharing Henry's birth story, but then I realized that labor and delivery experiences can be inspiring for others. I personally looked to other bloggers for encouragement as I read about their stories of their babies having to be emergency C-sections, or if their babies were breeched (which Henry was up until 38 weeks!), or what it was like after having an epidermal, and you know what? I figured what the heck, I'll share Henry's story, it was actually not that awful looking back, which brings me to James's birth...

I didn't share James's birth story because to be frank, it was pure hell. There was no way I was gonna re-live that awful ordeal via the world wide web. All I'm gonna say is this, try not to be induced if possible, because if your body isn't ready and the baby isn't ready, then it ain't meant to be! Baby will come when baby is ready. Period.

So back to Henry. 40 weeks came and went. Hi due date! Bye due date...

The doctor had me scheduled for a fetal stress test, ultrasound, and checkup on Thursday September 5th, which was the same day I'd hit 41 weeks being pregnant. So here we go...

Wednesday 9/4: I pick up mom from the Long Beach airport and we talk about how Henry is just so cozy, wondering when he'd make his debut. I feel 100% non-laborish, and even joke that we should go to the beach that weekend if he still hadn't been born yet!

Wednesday night 9/4: I go to bed feeling okay, a little backache but nothing huge.

Thursday morning 3:30 am: I wake up with the worst stomach and backache, then I wonder if this is labor??

Thursday morning 5:30am: I am having tiny contractions. Wake up Mitch so we can start to time them! I have contractions every hour until 11:30am that last for about 30-60 seconds happening every 5-15 minutes or so. I call my doctor who says to skip all the appointments scheduled for me that day, and to just head to the hospital when the contractions get closer together. Ok, let's do this!

Thursday 12pm: Nothing. What? Seriously. NOTHING. We are hanging out in the hospital parking lot trying to figure out what's going on. We decide to go in just to make sure Henry is okay.

Thursday 12:15pm: We are admitted as an outpatient with a 2 hour checkup where Henry & I are monitored. My amniotic fluid was a little low, about 6-7, but Henry was doing okay. Then the contractions started to pick up again but weren't consistent enough for the doctor. He suggested I see my OB and come back when I'm in "real labor". Bummer.

Thursday 2:45pm: We walk across the street to see my OB.

Thursday 3-3:30pm: My doctor checks me out, says I'm dilated at a 4-5, and that if my contractions are consistent for an hour, to head back to the hospital. The contractions were now about 30-60 seconds long, happening every 9 minutes.

Thursday 3:45pm: We run home for lunch. I eat 1/2 a sandwich.

Thursday 4pm: We leave for the hospital again. The contractions are in full force and I'm officially uncomfortable. Let the real labor begin!

Thursday 4:30pm: We are admitted!

Thursday 4:35pm-7pm: Contraction City, population ME, suck fest 2013.

Thursday 7:10pm: Epidermal. I'm not trying to be a hero, I have a low tolerance for pain, and I fully embrace Western medicine. Judge away, I was finally at peace for a second.

Thursday 9pm: Nurse comes in to check me and says these glorious words, "I wouldn't be surprised if you had your baby by midnight..."

Thursday 9:45pm: Getting more uncomfortable. "Henry, are you here yet??"

Thursday 10:30pm:-11pm: The nurse is a magician and we hear, "OK, you're ready to have a baby!"

Thursday 11pm: PUSH!!!

Thursday 11:19pm: I yell out, "Where's the DOCTOR? Get him in here!!!"---this seriously happened. I was not a happy camper.

Thursday 11:21pm: We hear Henry's cry for the first time and sing "Happy Birthday" in our heads as we hold our second son. So precious & so worth it weighing in at 8lbs 12oz and 20.5 inches long.

So there's Henry's birth story! Seems so crazy that it was almost 1/2 a month ago and my labor only lasted about 7-8 hours long! Henry Robert, we love you and all your chubby goodness, thank you for being such an incredible baby in utero, and an even more incredible little in our lives.

8lbs 12 oz!

"I'm cold."-Him

"We did it, Hank!"-Me

Dino-licious.

Currently...

Reading: Franny & Zooey by J.D Salinger-so far I'm on page 65 and it's an interesting read because the characters are very well written. Not sure what to expect from these sibilings, but based on a lot of your responses, it's bound to be a great read!

Eating: A lot of prepped food by my mama. She's been here almost 2 weeks and is leaving this Sunday. I am gonna be sooo lost without her for a while. Guess it's time to buckle down and get this two babies thing down and see what happens! Bring it on, littles!

Thinking About: A LOT. But mostly amazed at how good life really is. He is so good to me. So so good. That's all.

Listening to: THIS, on repeat...



Enjoying: All the quiet moments with Henry, the snuggling at night with James as I've come to realize just how much of a "big boy" he really is, my mom being under the same roof as me, my husband pursuing something that has been on his heart for years and years, adjusting to all the crazy that is around me with having two young babes, PUMPKIN SPICE LATTES, and last but not least, the idea that turning 28 Thursday doesn't bother me one bit because I'm exactly where I want to be at my age. There's nothing more satisfying than looking back the last 28 years and thinking, "Cool. It's been fun." 

Watching: Parenthood. I so wanna be a Braverman. I'm on Season 3 trying to catch up to Season 5 which premieres next Thursday at 10pm on NBC! Get hooked, people! You will not regret it...

Loving: seeing James try out Halloween costumes, Henry changing more each day, James being a big brother to Henry and "helping" us with him, that summer is almost over which means we are getting closer to autumn and closer to Christmas, insulated water bottles, pumpkin spice lattes (yes, I'm listing it again), being home full time and raising studly littles, etc. etc. 

Shout out to Dani over at Sometimes Sweet for inspiring me to do a "currently" post. I'll look back at this and recall the goodness that was all around me and know that all the crazy was not in vain! 

Thanksgiving...

Where have I been? Well, I've been to the grocery store, Target, Wal-Mart, doing laundry, washing a never-ending amount of dishes in the sink (one day we'll have a dishwasher), playing with a chubby bunny named James, walking Teddy, and spending time with my handsome Mitchell. Oh, and Arizona!

This Thanksgiving was so much fun! We weren't too sure how James was going to do with the 5+ hour car drive thru the desert, but he did so so good! He played Fisher-price games and watched "UP!"on the iPad which helped a bit. All in all, it was a pretty good drive to and from Arizona.

While we were there I was able to see my immediate family, which was amazing since half of them live in Florida. It was sooo great seeing all of them in the same week, not to mention the fact James got see some family he hasn't seen since he was born.

the men.

We spent Thanksgiving at my dad's house, which was nice because I also saw some of my step-siblings and their families. It's crazy how big their kids are! James had turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, bread, + pumpkin pie! He didn't care for the turkey too much, but he sure did love that pie!

where'd that pie go?

Seriously, where's the pie?

Confession, I went "Black Friday" shopping with my brother at Toys-R-Us. We got a few good deals

:)

On Friday we woke up and took a stroll in Old Town Scottsdale, only a few blocks from our hotel room. We enjoyed a cup of coffee at Starbucks, and bought some baby Minnetonka's for James. We made a snap decision to take a drive up to Montezuma's Castle + Sedona as we walked back to the hotel room. The drive up was about 1.5 hours, not too bad, and totally worth it!

crooked/timed photo op! (we lost the camera after this was taken. So on Saturday before we checked out of the hotel, I called the shop where we bought James' moccasins, and they had it! The shop was called "Lucky Goods + Jewelry", ha!)

"Southern Sinagua farmers began building this five-story, 20-room dwelling early in the 1100s CE. It stands in a cliff recess 100 feet above the valley. Early settlers marveled at the structure and assumed that it was Aztec in origin, hence the name Montezuma Castle."

-National Park Service U.S. Dept. of the Interior

A little fist pump for Montezuma's Castle!

This tree was beautiful! The photo does no justice...

leaves + blue sky!

Mitch, James + javelinas!

James wasn't sure about this guy...

Sedona is so gorgeous. Red rock = wow! 

On Friday night we made our way back to Scottsdale and had dinner at Grimaldi's Pizzeria. It was delicious. That's all. Just delicious. And James LOVED it too, which was a bonus. We met the owners too! They just so happened to be visiting from New York City! 

No cheerios! I want pizza mama!

Howdy y'all!

On Saturday we got ready to come back home, but we stopped by my dad's to have lunch (Pete's Fish + Chips til we diiiieeeee!) and say adios, until next time!

James + tata Bob

On Sunday my mom + sister stayed the night at our place. They had to drive back to Arizona to return their rental car & catch their flight to Florida. It was so nice having them over for a night/morning.

Nana + James

James + aunt Moriah

And now, bring on the Christmas everything!

Day 8...

Day #8, I am thankful for :

Gifts from my mama!

So my mom sent me this coat last year. She said it was perfect for those cold California nights and chilly winter days. At first I thought, "This is kind of cool", then I quickly realized it wasn't exactly "me". I love that my mom gives gifts that are kind of kooky! 

Also, I'm seriously considering wearing it anyway. I love that about adulthood! You can be yourself and not care what others think...except for the possibility of getting paint thrown on me by someone from PETA. That would make me sad. 

Happy Birthday Momma...

Today my mom is 52 years old.

One of the most giving people you will ever meet, she will literally give you the shirt off her back...and I have learnt so much from her. 

Happy birthday momma and thank you for being the greatest example of what it is to be self sacrificing, and that it's okay to be a little gOoFy.