Well I knew before he was here I would be writing this post one day soon and I was so looking forward with eager curiosity to what it would say, how our boy's story would start...
I do think I was experiencing pre-labor activity for about the entire week before he came. The contractions would come, often in the evening but going to sleep would be all it took for them to disappear again. I could feel that it was coming soon but starting think maybe I was totally off and this would continue for another week or two before he was going to arrive. I was already dilated to a 5 at my last doctor visit which left me with the nervous anticipation about how fast labor could be.
Each morning I would hope that labor would start, we would be well rested and that sure would be nice going into it. As Sunday night rolled around I felt a little sad and surprised that we made it through the weekend with no baby and that we would start another work week again. His due date wasn't for thee more days. Sunday evening I had the same experience, contractions happening, nothing that felt like I should get excited about, so I went to bed and then at 12:30am I awoke to labor contractions mostly in my back, I knew after just a handful of them that this was the real deal. I woke Ryan and we called Aunt Amy to come to stay with Ava, we packed up the car and headed to the hospital. Little brother decided to follow in big sister's steps, another middle of the night car ride to the hospital, timing his arrival also 3 days before his official due date. However, thankful the actual time in labor a mear fraction of what sister's was. While starting labor after you've been up all day is a little brutal, there is something romantic and perfect for me about that dark, middle of the night, no-traffic car ride with your husband that I love. So we checked in at 2:00am, contractions were building alot in intensity at that point, I was admitted after they checked me and I was at a 7, they got my IV started and I got my epidural at around 3:00am.
I felt like things proceeded fairly rapidly from there even with the epidural slowing labor a little, I was fully dilated soon and my water broke. However baby boy was turned and not all the way in position just yet. The nurse had me do some pushes to try get him in a better position. He's foot was just under my sternum and curling up to push was difficult. He didn't make much movement so she had the head nurse come in and try to turn him. She attempted and his heart rate didn't like that too much so they rolled me to my side and would wait for the doctor to arrive to do any more turning.
My doctor technically could of passed me off to the weekend on call person, but I appreciate when they called her when I checked in and she said she would come in to deliver us. When they rolled me back over that was all it took, he turned himself and got right into position but my Dr couldn't find her keys apparently so her usually quick arrival took 40 minutes for her to arrive. Once she was there, less then five minutes of pushing and he was here. He had the cord wrapped once around his neck but it didn't seem to cause too much distress, his color was good and he scored a 9 out of 10 on his Apgar.
There's that moment, the one you've been waiting for. When they lay them on your chest - that experience is the most surreal moments of my life. I really can't quite take it all in just then. All the sudden there they are, a dream in your heart, a little life in your hands, a gift from God that he's entrusted to you, how are you possibly worthy of such trust and such blessing. There he was at 6:31am, in our arms, we waited 9 months to say hello but in many ways we waited our whole life. Hello can be the most mundane of words and then there's those times when its the most meaningful and poignant word in the universe. So we took some time to take it all in before we passed him off for his nurse checks.
The nurses, doctor and us took guesses at his weight, everyone guessed in the 7lb range, the scale showed to all our surprise he was a full pound heavier than his sister was. 8 lbs 6 oz. He probably looked smaller because he was 3 inches longer than his sister at 21inches long, tall and lean.
After the great name debate, it was decided Ryan would pick his first name with my approval and I would pick his middle name. That is really how it worked out with Ava as well -just in reverse. I am pleased to say it seemed perfect for him once he was here. We didn't settle on it till just before his arrival. Rhett Hudson, we could finally call him something besides baby boy.
The other moment we waited for, meeting sister. We were waiting eagerly for her to wake up that morning so Aunt Amy could bring her to the hospital. Our families were at the hospital also waiting eagerly. We wanted her to be the first to meet him and have some quite time with just us before we flooded the room with the rest of the family. She was sweet and doting and it was one of the best experiences of my life to watch her take him in. Once they had some time together she was so excited to show him off to the rest of the family.
In true gentlemen style Rhett came bearing gifts for the ladies in his life. A big sister pendant for Ava and a push present for me - a beautiful heart necklace.
All that hair, I couldn't keep a hat on him long because he was just too cute with that head full of fuzzy hair.
Then that morning we spent time with our families. I loved being there for all those first hellos and bearing witness to all that love pouring out over our kids. From the moment they are here there is so much love and joy that surrounds them simply for the fact that they are them and unconditional love is extended just because they exist. Their life already matters, they are valued and cherished from their first breath. I can't help but turn my thoughts also to a little sadness that not every child gets this kind of start.
We were so glad we got released the next afternoon to come home. Ryan's mom stayed with us for the first part of the week and my parents came over the weekend. While my physical recovery was so much easier this time around, the juggling of the two kids helped so much to have extra hands this time around. We had help with meals and laundry and it was so nice to just focus on recovery and and taking care of kids. As with most major changes and times of transition, these past few weeks have had challenging, difficult moments and beautiful, wonderful ones. We of course wouldn't trade any of it and are so thankful to welcome our boy home!
I am excited to watch this next year unfold for you. I think you will be a natural at this big sister thing. One of the things I am most excited about in meeting your baby brother is the connection you and he will have with one another. While you are growing bigger, you will always be my baby girl in so many ways. Know there is nothing that can ever happen or you can ever do that will make me love you less or more than I do right now. I don't have words for the gratitude I feel for the blessing you are to your dad and I, that is confirmed every year and every day we get to share with you. Happy 3rd Birthday sweet girl!
