He's here!!

 I see that I have not blogged since 31 weeks!  Whoops!  Well, I made it to 38 weeks, and on October 10 at 10:15 pm, Evan Robert Murray was born!  Here is the story!

Evan Robert Murray - 6 lbs 6 oz, 18 inches long, born 10/10/11

Jack's birth started with my water breaking, so I had no idea what to expect with this one.  I had no idea what to do if I had a contraction.   I've never had a Braxton Hicks contraction, so they are very unfamiliar to me, as the only time I've ever had a contraction is during Jack's birth.

I was at a meeting in downtown ferndale for business owners.  They kept asking me when I was due and I kept saying "any day."  Not really thinking today was the day!   At the end of the meeting about 7:00 pm, I felt some pressure, and I tried not to grimace...as I didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable.  I was at a really fancy furniture store sitting on a really expensive chair and I didn't know what I was feeling but all I could think was, "I hope my water doesn't break on this nice chair."  I left, walking to the car, and I felt the pressure again.   I debated going shopping, and thought since I wasn't feeling that good, I probably shouldn't go.   (smart decision). 

I got home and told John I was feeling pressure, and didn't know what it was.   It was coming and going, and then I realized that they were probably contractions.  (duh).   So, I called Celeste (our doula) and she told me to drink some water and see what happens.   I did.  Then I called back and said everything was the same, and I thought they were about 5-7 minutes apart.   She told me to take a shower and see if they calm down.    I called Mary,(our midwife) and she told me to take a bath, for same reason Celeste did.   So, I got in the shower/bath and the water helped them feel better, but they didn't slow down at all.  They were about 3-5 minutes apart at this point. I looked online and it said at 5-10 minutes apart you should go to the hospital.   Really?   holy smokes, I'm way beyond that!   I thought I must be timing them wrong.  I called back Mary and told her that nothing was changing and they were getting more uncomfortable.   she said she'd call the ABC (Alternative Birth Center) and head back there (she was on her way home to sleep after just getting finished with 4 births!)   I called Celeste and told her the same thing and she was on her way as well. 

My mom came over to watch Jack, and she said "you had better get going!" after seeing me.  I told her "I have plenty of time, I just started having contractions!"   Plus I was managing them well.   I had to brace myself for them, but they were manageable.  So, we got the newborn diapers together and got my mom diapers for Jack, and headed out.   The car ride was miserable (thankfully only 10 minutes).   We got there about 9:30ish and parked, and I had to stop just outside of emergency to lean on a pole to get through a contraction.  They were getting very uncomfortable.  John got a wheelchair and they took me up to the ABC. 

I got into the room and fell onto the floor immediately to have a contraction and yelled "I need help!"   One nurse said, "She sounds pushy"  I said "no way, I just started having contractions!"  she wanted to check me and I said there is no way I'm ready to push, let me sit here.   Her and John convinced me to get on the bed and get checked and I was dilated to 9 cm.   "WHAT???"  Then someone said Mary is in the hallway and I heard them say, she's ready to push!   I was like "No, I'm not, I'm not ready yet!!"   (Pushing was so scary to me, as it was the worst part of Jack's birth.  It was only an hour of pushing, but it was so awful)   I really think I was not mentally ready for it yet as I had barely been having contractions.   So Mary got there and they got everything ready and said, "Emily if you feel like pushing, go ahead."   I was in so much pain at this point, the pressure was unbearable but I could not push, it just didn't feel right.  They asked if my water had broken and it hadn't and they decided that was causing me so much trouble.  Mary said she was going to break it if that was ok with me.   I told her to do whatever she needed to do.   She broke my water and it was a huge relief, and took some of the pressure away.  I then started feeling like I could push but it was about 10,0000x worse than the pain of pushing Jack out.   I was panicky and upset and couldn't handle it.   Mary had to tell me to calm down and breathe.  I was pushing and she had to tell me to stop and rest and stop scaring myself.  I was saying I couldn't take anymore and it had to end soon.   (John told me later, he looked at the clock and said to himself that we were in trouble because it had only been 5 minutes.)  At one point, Mary said she could see the head.   I said "is there hair?"  She said she didn't know, and I said "well, then you can't see the head, can you??"  I'm not very nice during labor, I guess. 

Not long after that, she said she could see the head and there was hair.   and then the head was nearly out and I heard her say that the cord was around his neck and I needed to push.  That panicked me that I couldn't push hard enough to help my baby fast enough.   I pushed as hard as I could, and I think she just needed a little one.  Anyway, around then, he was born and the first thing I said was something like Thank God he is out! I saw him and said "it's a boy!!"  John hadn't noticed yet. and then I got to hold my sweet baby.   I guess his hand came out with his head so I'm sure that was a big part of my pain.   I asked what time it was, thinking it had to be the middle of the night.   They said he was born at 10:15 pm.  I couldn't believe it.  I asked how long I pushed and they said "about 15 minutes."  WHAT???  That wasn't 5 hours of hard intense work???   I was in shock.   I barely made it in time!!   I'm in trouble if we have another baby.  

I wish I could have a calm lovely birth like some people, but boy, I just don't.  I'm still trying to figure out if a fast birth is worth the pain it causes!  I never would have thought that 3 hours from that first really minor contraction I would be holding my baby! 

Me, and Mary, my midwife.  Evan is there too, but you can't see him :)

Me and Celeste, our doula

Evan is breastfeeding in this picture.  As most of you know, Jack was unable to latch on for 6 weeks.  It was a rough road for us.   I was so scared of what was going to happen with this baby, and he latched on about 1 hour after he was born and nursed for 2 hours straight!!

Terrible picture, but this is Evan's first diaper!   Only cloth for this boy!

Me and my boys.

Evan ready to go home!

Jack and Evan didn't survive the 10 minute trip home awake.

Relaxing at home.

I have lots more to post....and some from before Evan was born...hopefully I can get to that soon!  You know, with all the extra time I have now :)

Welcome Boden! (a month late!)

Ok, Mom, Rachel and Uncle Steve, here is my 2nd post, for you!  My 3 loyal readers! 

So, October 4, my nephew was born!  On the morning of October 3, we got the call that my sister in law was in labor, so we went to the hospital....around 2ish I think?   We had to get home, as Jack wasn't with us, so around 9 or 10 pm, we hadn't been home long and I got a text from Christine that said Kelly was getting close to pushing.  So, we grabbed Jack and went back.  I pushed for an hour, and I assume everyone's birth will be like mine (???)  so I figured it would be soon. 

Here is Jack while we wait....

And while we wait some more....

And, 3 hours later, Boden was born!   I don't believe I have permission to post pictures of mama and daddy and baby right afterwards, but they were just beautiful and happy, all three!   

We went back the next day, and here's a picture of sweet Boden wanting Uncle John to give him back to his mama....

And, here I am giving a lesson on putting on prefolds. 

Nice job, if I do say so myself!

Proud Aunt, Uncle and Cousin (who has strawberries all over his mouth)

 

Here is a blurry mama and baby shot, but it's cute anyway.  

After a bit of a rough start, they are doing great, and Kelly calls me her natural birthing, cloth diapering, breastfeeding Godmother.  That makes me really happy, especially the breastfeeding.   He's breastfeeding like a champ, and it made me cry when I heard he latched on right away.  I hope to someday nurse a newborn baby successfully!  It's my biggest fear about having another baby.   I'm so happy when other mamas get to experience it. 

First snow!

Ok, so it's not really his first snow, since last winter we got TONS and TONS of snow, but he was just a little guy and we didn't go out in the snow much at all, only to go places! So, today we got our first real snow of the year, which wasn't much, maybe an inch or so, but I was so excited to get Jack out into it!

We got his snowsuit on, and his first impression was ok.

Then, he hated it.  And he wouldn't stand up or walk.  He just sat there and cried.

He is only smiling in this one because Daddy was running around him.

I can't blame him, it's cold and wet and he couldn't move in his snow suit.  I'd cry too.

In other, confusing news..Jack seems to be signing for milk (nursing) all of the sudden.  I rarely sign to him, and actually for several months have just given it up because I was doing it so infrequently anyway.  I figured he'd be able to ask for milk before he could sign it.  But all of the sudden I swear he's doing the sign.  Weird.

11 months old (last Monday!)

Yeah, this is late.   I have an 11 month old boy who doesn't nap or sit still and I own a business.  But, here it is!

Where did all that hair come from?

It's not a great shot, but it was nearly impossible to get.  That's why his look is like "what's happening?"  because nearly 1 second later, and he was grabbing the blocks and knocking over the football with one move. 

I can't believe he's going to be a year old in a month!!  And I have nothing for his party, except a shirt for him to wear.  I don't even know what day it will be on.

Jack is doing so much fun stuff now! He's officially crawling on his hands and knees, and he is FAST!

 He is starting to stand by himself, he can do it for about 10 seconds.  He does it more and more every day!  I haven't gotten a picture of that yet, but I did get a picture (kind of) of his new climbing skill.  He can climb up onto his toy chair.  Great.

He's eating lots of different things now.  We don't believe in waiting on highly allergenic foods.  I think that is CAUSING all of the allergies these days.  My mom fed me peanut butter when I was like 2 weeks old.  Ok, not really, but closer to that than 2 or 3 or whatever crazy age they tell parents to wait until.  Jack is 11 months old and I think I waited too long!  This month we tried egg whites, whole milk and peanut butter.  So there!  He likes them all!   I think the milk is making him spit up (doesn't surprise me, but that is another blog post all in itself) so I'm not sure what to do about that.  He loves to eat apples right off the core.  It's really cute!  But his favorite food is Cheerios.

We started swimming lessons again 2 weeks ago.  He is so different now than he was last session (when he was 6 months old).  He splashes the whole time and moves his arms in the water!   He doesn't kick (like his mama) though. 

He says mama and dada but we still aren't sure if he's associating those with us.  John insists that he said "up" and "Mommy" on Sunday while I was scrapbooking, but I haven't heard anything like that since. 

And so not everyone has to ask...Yes, Jack is still nursing.  No, I'm not making an effort to wean him at a year.   No, I don't know how long we will continue.  The World Health Organization recommends nursing until 2.  Do I plan to nurse until 2?  Not necessarily, I just don't think NOW is the time for us to stop.  I wouldn't mind stopping at all, but Jack would mind A LOT.  And I do it for him. 

Busy Busy Busy!

Wow, have I been busy! I have been working non stop! I'm either taking care of Jack, or working on the store. Adding product to the website is so time comsuming. Since most of the day is spent with Jack, I'm up late doing store stuff! We will open either sometime tomorrow or Wednesday, hopefully!!

Here is a picture of the progress. After I posted the last picture with our sad shelves for our stock, someone offered us a great deal on cubes! They are FANTASTIC and perfect for our diapers!


Speaking of the store, we have a blog at www.nopinsrequired.blogspot.com, and we have a facebook page! Click here and become a fan!

At Katie's birthday party on Friday I got some great pictures of Jack and Marcel playing with hot wheels!




Last week we had Jack's 9 month appointment. It didn't go so well. He only weighs 16 lbs, 7 oz. He's always been little, but around the 10th percentile. Now he's below the 5th and I guess that makes doctors worry, when they cross percentiles. It honestly just makes me feel like I'm failing him. The doctor wants me to feed him more solids, but he should grow just fine on breastmilk alone. It makes me worry about my supply, but he doesn't seem hungry, I let him eat whenever he wants. I had no idea how emotional this breastfeeding business would make me. First in the very beginning, and now this. He's healthy, and happy, so I think he's fine, I just wish the doctor would agree. But, I am feeding him more now, he's getting 3 meals a day and snacks too! I just hope he doesn't get less milk because of all this food!

Here are a couple pictures from today, he LOVES this toy, but he will only play with it standing up! And he's not so good at standing!

4 months old!

Time is really flying! Jack turned 4 months old on Saturday. The 4 month pictures weren't so good. I still can't catch smiles on camera very well, but he smiles A LOT! Especially at me. I am his favorite person in the whole world. If he sees me anywhere in the room, he smiles big at me. It's really nice that he recognizes us, and seems to really like us!

He's playing more, really grabbing onto things, but playing mostly consists of sticking things in his mouth. We think he may be teething, but we aren't sure. We have our dr. appt. on Tuesday. Round 3 of vaccinations. I hate them more than Jack does. And, since we are doing an alternative schedule, we get shots EVERY month, instead of every other month.

He's talking a lot, especially Friday, he talked NON stop! He's weighing in at around 12 1/2 lbs. We were hoping for 13 by 4 months... His new favorite thing is to stop nursing and look at me and smile. It's very sweet, but it sure takes a long time to feed him this way! He does it many many times during one feeding!

FINALLY!

I don't know why I consider 10 lbs such a milestone, but, Jack has been SO slow to gain weight we were very excited to see this on the scale. He's finally gaining at a consistent pace now. It's really been since he started breastfeeding like a champ at 6 weeks, but now that it's gone on for a while we are really seeing the pounds pile on! Now, most babies his age are well above 10 lbs, but he's catching up!

He also laughed while he was on the scale today! I was taking the picture, and he started to laugh! It was crazy sounding, like he was trying really hard to do it, but it was oh so cute!

Another milestone, on Saturday, Jack grabbed hold of one of the toys on his playmat!

And, this picture is just cute.

Newborn photos

Jack's Aunt Katie took some newborn photos of Jack, here are a couple. They are FANTASTIC! Thanks Aunt Katie!





Oh, and an exciting breastfeeding update: Jack has been breastfeeding successfully for 3 1/2 days straight! I think he's finally figured it out!! I just hope this streak doesn't end!

One Month Old!

Baby Jack is one month old today! He is definitely more alert, and is seeing some of his toys now. We're still working on the breastfeeding, but it's not improving too much.

Great Grandpa and Grandma were here to visit Jack last weekend.


Four Generations of McMahans.


He was really noticing his toys on his playmat the other day.




Mom, stop taking pictures!