Week 3 ... not so easy

I have to say that things got a little more difficult this week. My sleeping, pooping, eating baby went and added a new skill to the list ... screaming. And let me tell you, when this boy screams he means it. I know babies cry, but this seems to be more than just your average baby cry. The over-googler that I am has looked up everything possible online and have about a dozen diagnoses for his screaming. I did take him to the doctor just to make sure it wasn't anything serious, and while the doctor didn't see anything of concern, he did give me a perscription for some reflux medicine to see if that will help him.

We are all thinking its just reflux or gas or a combination of the two, but it has made for my sweet little boy to avoid sleeping at all costs and scream uncontrollably for what feels like hours (but is probably only minutes at a time.)

Other than that, he is doing great and growing so fast. We have just been trying to get into a routine and looking forward to the day we have one!

2 weeks down ...

How have 2 weeks passed already? I feel like it was just yesterday that I was in the hospital meeting my son for the first time. He is changing by the day and growing like a weed.

Not much new to report from the second week, though. We are working on getting Corbin comfortable with sleeping in his bassinet or crib, rather than in our arms. It's been a tough battle so far, but we are just working on daytime naps for now and will work our way up to night time sleeping ... because lets be honest, I am just happy to have him sleep wherever he will at night so that I can get some sleep too.

This week we managed to go to the grocery store and even took a little family outing around town last weekend.

We are looking forward to many more adventures and watching our son grow every day. Now that things are settling down, I feel like I am more comfortable with getting out of the house more often so we might actually go visit some friends one of these days.

Week 1 in the books

Well we survived the first week as parents. I have to say, Corbin is a pretty amazing baby. As expected, we spend our days eating, sleeping, pooping and peeing ... which I must say he does all of those very well. And I am happy to report that he sleeps pretty well at night. He will wake up to feed after about 3 hours of sleep and then goes back down for another 3 hours or so. Some nights are definitely better than others but I will take whatever sleep I can get.

We had his first doctor's appointment on July 14 and he had already gained 7 ounces since we left the hospital! (he lost 3 ounces after birth, which puts him at 8 lbs. 7 oz. at 6 days old.) He did great and the doctor said he is thriving and perfectly healthy. He even said there was no need to come back in a week since he is already proving to be doing so well so we won't go back for a month!

July 15 was my least favorite day so far, as Corbin had his circumcision done. It was so tough to see our little guy go through that, but Brian and I stayed in the room for support. We figured if he had to go through it, the least we could do is be there for him (although Brian sat with his back turned and distracted himself with his phone, only looking up on occasion). The good thing is, after it was all over he was back to his happy self, but definitely took a much deserved nap the second we left the office.

All in all things are going great. We are loving being parents and everything that comes along with it ... now if I could just get Brian to change a diaper!

Corbin's birth story

I will preface the story by saying that my plan for labor was to take things as natural as possible, but you definitely learn that sometimes you can't plan everything.

So lets just jump right into it...

At my 38 week appointment on Thursday, July 1, my doctor, Brian and I all noticed that my belly seemed to have doubled in size over the past week. After Dr. Song took my measurements and checked me for dilation and effacement, it turned out that I was about 4 cm dilated and 80% effaced. Great news that things were moving in the right direction. But she had some reservations about me waiting for labor to start on it's own if I wanted the chance at a vaginal delivery (she was estimating Corbin to be nearing 9 pounds at this point). So in order to try and get things going, she stripped my membranes and scheduled an induction for the following Thursday, July 8.

As you can imagine, I wasn't too thrilled about the idea of being induced. Brian and I went back and forth on if it was the right decision. On one hand, I definitely wanted to be able to have a vaginal delivery, and on the other, who was to say if we waited for labor to start on it's own that it wouldn't be possible? But we scheduled the induction anyways and figured my doctor knew best.

So the week went on and I was doing a bunch of "natural labor inducing techniques" trying to get things going on there own. Nothing seemed to be working and I was getting a little discouraged. On Wednesday, July 7, my sister and her girls came over to play in mom's giant inflatable pool and slide since it was a perfect summer day. We grilled hot dogs and hung out in the sun ... both of us baring our pregnant bellies in our bikinis (It's a good thing mom doesn't have neighbors!). The day was going great and I was enjoying my last day of pregnancy, knowing induction was the next morning.

Everyone was going down the 8-foot slide, except me, until my mom and sister convinced me that it was a good idea. Let's just say we would have won America's Funniest Home Videos if it had been taped. But either way, if that slide didn't induce labor, I don't know what would ... because about 2 hours later I started having contractions.

I didn't tell anyone about the contractions for a couple hours because they were still pretty far apart and not painful. I didn't want to jinx myself and could hardly believe that I was actually going into labor on my own! I think Corbin is just a procrastinator like his mom!

So finally Brian got home from work and I told him he should probably put his handy phone application to use that times contractions. We timed contractions for about an hour and a half, them being about 45 seconds long and about 4 to 5 minutes apart ... exactly what the doctor said they should be before we called the hospital. I called in to labor and delivery and they said to keep timing them and drink lots of water. If they get stronger, then to call back in an hour. And stronger they got so we called in and were headed to the hospital around 10 p.m.

Once we got there and got all checked in, we called to let our families know that I was there for the real thing. My family headed to the hospital and Brian's family started the drive from Walla Walla. My mom and sister showed up about an hour later and it was great to have them around to take my mind off the contractions and have their support.

At this point I was 5 c.m. and 100% effaced, with contractions getting stronger by the minute. I was hooked up to the monitors to check on my and baby's heart rates. Everything looked good with me, but Corbin's heart rate was a little lower than they were comfortable with. So they kept me on the monitors for a while and then I was allowed to get up and move around for about 30 minutes before they wanted to monitor him again. Well everything changed when they hooked me up to the monitors the second time. Corbin's heart rate was even lower so they got me into a position that kept it the highest, put me on oxygen and informed me that I would need permanent monitoring to keep an eye on him. At this point, the most important thing to me was that he was okay so I didn't mind. But as contractions got stronger, I was having a really hard time managing them being stuck in one position in the bed. Brian was such a great help rubbing my back, holding my hand and just giving me the support I needed to get through each contraction.

With my natural plans, I figured I would take to the jetted tub, birthing ball and whatever else helped me battle the contractions, but those options weren't options anymore.

I was having a really tough time keeping still and fighting through the contractions and kept going back and forth about getting an epidural to help with the pain since I couldn't move to fight it myself. I cried because of the pain and cried at the thought of giving in to an epidural. But the pain was getting to be more than I could bear. The nurse checked me again and I was about 8 c.m. so it was kind of my last chance for the epidural if I wanted one, so I said yes (which I think gave Brian more relief than me, as he was having a really hard time watching me be in such pain.)

I got the epidural at about 3 a.m. and was definitely more comfortable. The doctor came in and broke my water around 4 a.m. since things were moving along and it hadn't broken on it's own yet. Things continued to progress from this point, and I was fully dilated and didn't know it for probably an hour or so. I felt "pressure" but didn't know if it was the pressure I should be feeling. So when the nurse checked me again at 4:30 a.m., she said I was 10 c.m. and ready to push. This kind of scared me as I didn't feel like I was ready but knew it was time.

So right about 5 a.m. we started pushing....and pushing...and pushing. I pushed in all kinds of positions for 2 1/2 hours. I am so glad I had Brian by my side as I hit a point where I really thought he was never coming out and that things were going to end in a c-section. But just when I thought I couldn't do it any longer, out came the most adorable baby boy.

Corbin was born at 7:20 a.m. on Thursday July 8 and was 8 pounds 3 ounces and 20.5 inches long.

The doctor informed me that the reason it was so hard for me to get him out was that he was face up so I had to deliver the largest circumference of his head, rather than the smallest like most deliveries. In hindsight, I am so glad I got the epidural as I know I would have never been able to push for that long and deliver him all while battling the pains...and believe me, even with the epidural, things were still very painful.

And all that really matters is we have a happy and healthy baby boy!

Introducing Corbin Wesley!

Here are a few pictures of our little man to hold you over. My best friend Ashley is going to take some newborn photos for us soon and really show off our adorable child.

Lots to come ...

I have A LOT of updating to do on this darn blog. I should be able to find some time soon, but for those of you who don't know, our son Corbin made his arrival on July 8. I will have pictures, my birth story and many more details to come in the very near future so bear with me while I get my days in order.

But right now, I am going to go snuggle with my most adorable son.

Inching toward the final days of pregnancy ...

How far along? 38 weeks

Maternity clothes? Yes please.
Stretch marks? Nope! wooo!
Sleep: Really good lately so I have no complaints there.
Best moment this week: Nothing in particular, just enjoying these last couple weeks.
Movement: He is going to be a strong boy, that's all I can say.
Food cravings: Nothing in particular, but I have been loving this giant apple pie my mom bought, with vanilla ice cream.
Gender: Boy
Pregnancy symptoms: The pregnant lady waddle and a really sore tail bone.

Labor Signs: Been having some different contractions so hopefully it's a sign of progress.

Belly Button in or out? Growing further and further outward every day...and looks like a starfish!

What I miss: Sitting comfortably anywhere besides on an exercise ball.
What I am looking forward to: Seeing the look on Brian's face when he meets his son for the first time.

Weekly Wisdom: Patience is a virtue!

Milestones: We've hit the final week of pregnancy. How do I know? Well...the doctor is concerned about the size of my belly and wants to induce me on Thursday (July 8) if the little man doesn't make his appearance on his own before then. So I am off to try every natural inducing method out there, because I DO NOT want to get Pitocin, but understand that sometimes these things are necessary for a healthy delivery. So send all your thoughts and prayers to my belly that you can spare. Hopefully our little guy gets the hint and makes his debut very soon.

38 weeks ...

The last bits of vernix caseosa (the white goo keeping baby's skin moist) and lanugo (downy hair) are slowly shedding into your amniotic fluid. Baby's head is about the same circumference as his abdomen, and his head could be covered in an inch or so of hair.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? If he's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If he's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time he's 9 months old.