Your Birthday Story, Part Two and a Little Overdue

Dear R,

Where were we? Oh yes - we were at the hospital drifting off into an Ambien sleep.  Well, you and I were- your poor Dad was stuck on a "pull out bed" and had to listen to some of my monitors and machines beep throughout the night.  Don't worry, he was just fine.

We woke up that next morning, June 22, excited that today would be the day we would meet you.  Our nurse came into the room so I could get up for the last time, shower and get ready for the day.  Little did I know that it would be a long day.  I was secretly hoping that you would make your appearance before noon and be one time - but let's face it, you are like your mom.  Generally late and not conscience of the time.

Our new nurse, well our second new nurse - turns out the first one was sick, but luckily we got to hang out with Agnes for the day.  She was a rock star and told me that I was her pretty patient.  I loved her.

Anyway, we got ready for the day.  I already knew that I wasn't planning on going Au-natural on this birth and asked for an epidural.  We called your grandparents and Auntie Court and told them they could make their way up to the hospital. Nothing was happening yet, but I'm pretty sure your Nana didn't sleep at all and probably would have slept in the car at the hospital if Grampa would have let her.

 Side note - I started this post in September....it is now almost Thanksgiving and I'm finally finishing it.  Busy? Overwhelmed? Forgetful? All good excuses, but the best excuse is spending more time on the floor with the monkey rather than behind a computer screen. But I digress and procrastinate...onward with the story.

The day progressed, you however, did not.  After being turned and flipped and checked and turned some more, what little progression I had made was not enough.  Also fun that day? The fact that you were basically in your own water park inside me.  I'll leave it at that.

So your Dad and I had to make a decision...keep waiting for you or decide to meet you in the OR.  At that point the back labor had begun, and while I thought I could tough through it, well, it sucked.  You're not ever going to be allowed to use that word, but it's true, it sucked.  Talking with my doctor and your Dad, the decision had been made - C-section baby you would be.

Were there tears? Yes.  Let's just say it wasn't the first choice, however I now think your perfect little big ol' round head is perfect from being a c-section babe.  You are welcome.

With the decision made to go another route for delivery, there wasn't much time to think.  We were going to meet you within the hour and I had to get prepped.  Dad called your Pappa Bob and Nonni to come up to the hospital, your Grandpa and Grandma Sims came into to wish us luck, your Nana and Grampa Faddis and Auntie Court came to give me one last squeeze - and yes, Nana had tears.  I got to take this really gross shot and wear a hat and they wheeled me away.

I will say, it felt like the longest ride ever down to the OR.  I started to get nervous, but the excitement was building.  Finally - we were going to see what you looked like and how big you really were.  Would you look like your Dad? Were your feet really that big? Did you have any hair?

As I sat in the OR, making jokes with the anesthesiologist, mainly because all of my lady parts were out for the world to see, I started thinking about how much I was going to miss you and me being you and me.  It was time to share you though - and let's be honest, I was ready to see my feet and not go pee every three minutes.  I waited for you Dad, heard the nurses do the count for the tools needed during surgery and said a little prayer for you.

Dad came in and was dressed like a surgeon - but without the cool scrubs.  I could tell he was excited, nervous, and ready to meet you.  My doctor came in and asked if I was ready to meet you finally and with a resounding YES, she began.

At 5:45 pm on Saturday, June 22, you entered the world with a scream.

I cried.  Your Dad cried.  You cried.

And then they said you had red hair.

Laughter and shock ensued.

You were weighed and measured and bundled up for me to finally see your face.  You are perfect.  You got snuggles from Dad and we took our first family photo. While I was finishing with the doctor, you were wrapped tightly and stared at by Dad.  I think he was in love.

You had your first cell phone picture taken and sent to all the eager family waiting - and boy were they waiting.  Patience all of those grandparents have for you - and love like you wouldn't believe it.  Thankfully, your Auntie Court captured it all and I'm so glad.

We were wheeled back to our room and I got to snuggle you all to myself. I couldn't believe you were mine - all 8 lbs 6 oz of you - all mine to love.

After spending some time alone, you had anxious grandparents to meet you.   Our last nurse was amazing and let everyone in the room.  Although I'm pretty sure they would have all knocked down the doors to meet you.

Ryder baby, welcome to the world.  We love you so.

Hello? Hello? Is this thing on?

You know how parents tell non-parents things like:

• Your entire life changes once you have a baby.
• Do everything you want before having kids!
• Sleep now - you won't later!
• All you'll talk about is poop.  All poop. All the time.
• Kids are great, until they puke on you.

Okay - well maybe not the last one - even when Ryder puked on me, I thought it was still great.  Stinky and gross? Yes, but still cute.

Well those parents weren't really lying.  And to the parents, especially moms, who have it all together, work out, have all meals planned and prepped, have the baby in the cutest outfits, and blog every day? How do you do it?!?!

Granted, I was a hermit the first two months of R's life.  I'm pretty sure both of us were only dressed when Tony forced us to leave the house....or when people came over.  For some reason, I didn't think it was appropriate for him to just be in his chones when company came over.

Now fast forward a few months - we are getting it down.  Easier to take him out of the house? Check. Working out again? Check-ish.  Blogging? Well, getting there, or trying to. Dinner on the table every night? Check-ish again.

I'll be honest - while breastfeeding got easier as the time when on, it still never came all naturally to me like you see other women do it.  Pumping? A pain, a chore, and really annoying at work.

I'm pretty sure for the two weeks I did it while returning to work, I split milk all over myself.  And there is nothing more professional than walking around smelling like breast milk.   Plus I still had all of my crazy out for the world to notice. 

While we are getting into a routine, slightly, life is getting a little more normal.  Is our life the same as it was pre-baby? Heck no.  I mean, we were leaving in the ghetto, sleeping in, and our dog was getting more attention daily than he does in a week.  Not really - Tyson still gets a lot of attention. He's needy.

We did think about all of the neat stuff we did before baby - we traveled, we had dinners with friends, we slept, we saw movies in theaters, etc.  Now are our Friday and Saturday nights way different? Yes - while our old selves would be out to dinner, out to a movie, or shocker - out at a bar, these days we are happy if we stay up past 9:30.  Although the grandma in me still would have rather been in bed than at a bar.  Just saying.

Our time with the babe grows more fun every day.  In fact, I had more fun watching the monitor as he slept last night than watching TV.  Yes - indeed.

So while our lives have truly changed, I wouldn't change a thing.  More sleep? Well maybe a little - I can't complain too much, since our little booger is sleeping through the night....for now.  I'll continue to work on "having it all together," but in the meantime, I'll enjoy rolling on the floor with my babe, spending time talking to my husband, and plan to spend a little extra time to write a blog post or two.

Of course, we could always talk about poop a little less.