WW: The Birth of Reid

I should start by saying that these pictures are absolutely priceless to me.  My good friend, Steph, was there to capture Reid's birth and I can't thank her enough.  It was such an emotional day {I wasn't the only family member in labor!} and to have these pictures to look back on?  Sigh.  It's just so special.

So here they are. 

Reid's birth... in pictures.

Reid Joseph

September 10, 2012 at 2:36pm

9 pounds 3 ounces and 20 inches

What do you do when you're in labor right next door to your sister?

Facetime, of course.

And an hour later?  Aubrey Jean.

I was SO HAPPY that they brought Aubrey in to meet me.  My sister was having major bleeding issues and couldn't hold the baby right away.  Since we shared an L&D nurse, the nurse brought Aubrey in to my room so that I could quickly see her while they were still working on my sister. {My sister is fine now, by the way... I'll write about this in my birth story.}

Anyway... this moment?  One of the best ever.

Alright, time to start pushing.

Getting close!  {Look at the clock... Reid was born at 2:36pm}

Bob telling me IT'S A BOY!

Speechless.

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1 Week Postpartum

 

I can't believe my baby BOY is a week old today.  And what a week it has been.

There is so much that I want to blog about.  So much.

I want to tell you about labor and delivery.  I want to tell you about the moment I found out I had another son.  I want to tell you about life with 3 kiddos {and how my newborn is 2438389347839 times better than my two toddlers.}  I want to tell you about my recovery, my birth story, how amazing it was to share this experience with my little sister, who delivered her healthy baby girl just an hour before I delivered Reid.

I want to tell you about the fact that my good friend, Steph, was there in the delivery room as our birth photographer {and I can't wait to share those pictures with you!}

But mostly? I just wish I had time to tell you about all this stuff.  This is literally the first time I've opened my Mac Book in days. Oh, but don't worry... I've seen every Facebook update and picture on Instagram since I delivered Reid a week ago.  I often get bored because I wonder why no one has updated in the last two hours since I was on... the iPhone is the only thing I can do while I'm nursing Mr. Man, so I see everything. ;)

Now, this short little post may or may not have taken me 5 hours to write, but I'm glad I got a chance to check in with you guys. Even if all I got a chance to write about was telling you everything I plan to write about.  Ahem.

Yesterday was my due date with Reid.  I made a little side by side of my very last belly picture with him {the night before his birthday} and then our picture from yesterday, on his due date.

What a difference a week makes, huh?  It just amazes me that he could even fit in there.

Overall, we're doing awesome.  I feel good, I really do.  Carter and Brynn adore Reid and they're really helping us take good care of him.  It's the sweetest.  We also have our newborn pictures this weekend and I can't wait for those as well.

And can I just say that I absolutely love that we can call him by his name.  We haven't been able to do that this entire pregnancy and now we can.  We can call him Reid.  I love it. :)

I promise I will try to hit a few of the topics above this week.  Promise.

Or I'll at least try to write about one of them... I don't want to see the bar too high for myself... I do have THREE kids now, after all.

WW: Meet Reid

So, yeah... I think I'll keep him. ;)

Just checking in real quick in between nursing sessions and little naps {I wouldn't really call it "sleep"... Ahem.} to share one of Reid's hospital pictures with you.

I mean, really?  Isn't he the sweetest!?!  My heart is so full of love right now that I think I could burst with joy.

These last few days have been such a whirlwind.  Not only did I gain a son, but I gained a beautiful {and I mean, drop dead gorgeous} niece as well.  Aubrey Jean was born just 1 hour and 6 minutes before Reid in the room right next door.

And, do you know how I've been saying I was worried about how being on team green was going to affect me because I've been preparing this entire time for both a boy and a girl, but in reality I only get to keep one of them?

I almost feel as if I did get both yesterday.

I feel so lucky.

More to come.

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Our "it's a..." moment.

IT'S A BOY!!!!!

Welcome to the world Reid Joseph

September 10, 2012

2:36pm

9 pounds 3 ounces

20 inches

We are so in love.

More pictures and details to come!

39 Weeks!

And here we are.  The end of the road. My very last belly picture. My very last day being pregnant.

As much as I'm trying to enjoy these last few hours with an inside baby, I'm going to be honest.  They're painful. And I'm ready to be done.  I know I will miss it.  I know I will.  I always do.

But right now?  I'm just ready to meet my baby and start our life as a family of five.

We finished getting ready this weekend.  We have everything packed for the hospital {besides the last minute things like, um, toothbrushes} and the kids are all packed for my in-laws and my parents house during our hospital stay.

We're actually dropping them off at my in-laws tonight and heading out for one last dinner date before the baby comes.  On one hand, I feel kinda bad about dropping them off a little earlier than we would have, but on the other hand, I think Bob and I deserve a night out.  I mean, who knows when the next one will be?  Exactly.

I also want to stop by Target tonight to get little gifts for Carter and Brynn from the baby.  Maybe a few little toys, a book and their favorite snacks.  At the very least, it will give them something to do at the hospital when they come visit tomorrow, but it will also make them feel special, as they should.  They're becoming a big brother {again} and big sister tomorrow.  I mean, what's cooler than that? :)

As for me, I'm feeling pretty good.  I'm coming off a rough night of contractions though.  I was up for almost two hours timing them and I think, if this were my first baby, I would have headed to L&D.  Thankfully the contractions started to slow down after I drank a ton of water and took some Tylenol.  I was then finally able to get some more sleep. Whew!

I'm also feeling a little nervous.  I'm kinda having flashbacks of those first few days postpartum and I cringe just thinking about them.  I'm also nervous about the delivery itself... I obviously just want a healthy baby.

But mostly? I'm just ready.  And excited.  I can't wait for the moment we find out what we're having.  I can't wait to see my baby for the first time and talk to him/her knowing that they will recognize my voice.  I can't wait to kiss their little cheek and hold their little hand. I can't wait to see how much he/she weighs and measures and find out which minute of September 10th will change my life forever.

I can't wait to meet my baby.

For updates, follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!  And I'll be sure to post here as soon as I can tomorrow!

Pregnancy: 39 weeks

Weight Gain: 29 pounds

Days until September 10th Induction:  Umm, ONE. Just one day...

Sleep: Ha!

  

Gender: We're team green, so we'll find out TOMORROW!

Names: Reid Joseph or Emerson Mae {see the name post here!}

Feeling: Ready.

Health:  My BP was slightly elevated at my last appt. 

Movement: Still lots of movement, which is painful at this point, but I still love it.

Belly: Now measuring over 6 weeks ahead, linea negra is slowly getting darker, and my belly button has been out for awhile.

For comparison, here's my very last belly shot with Brynn and my very last belly shot with Carter!

Next Appointment: Um, just my induction tomorrow morning at 6am!