It's a Boy!

October 2, 2012 9:47am

A day that changed our lives forever. A day that was so beautiful, magical, painful, joyful and so much more. A day in which we welcomed our precious LITTLE BOY into the world. Squirt is a BOY! When the doctor told us the sex I'm pretty sure I had asked him several times that he said BOY. He was funny, he said "Oh yes, You cannot mistake him as anything but a boy!"

Our families were waiting downstairs to here the news, Alex and my sister had determined earlier in the morning that once I delivered he would open the blinds and either do a touch-down or a ballerina gesture. As soon as he was able to, Alex threw open those blinds and made the most perfect touch-down gesture ever. Our families yelled and cheered so loud people in other rooms and different floors came out to see what all the commotion was about!

When my water broke there was some meconium so NICU had to be called in for when I delivered.  I'm pretty sure this was the most heart-wrenching part of the whole labor & delivery process. Because NICU had to take him right away, I couldn't hold him for about 10 minutes after he was born. I could see and hear him... but there is nothing like being able to hold your baby for the first time, nothing. 

He was completely healthy and had a real nice set of lungs on him. There was not a worry in the world. Our baby boy was healthy.

Welcome to the world Noah James Waller! 

Our chunky monkey... 8lbs 8 oz

Daddy holding his son for the FIRST time!

On his way to see his Mommy!

Holding my sweet baby boy for the first time.

There were some hiccups during the process... at one point while we were resting before I started push I had Alex roll me over to my other side. Apparently, little Noah was squished just the wrong way and his heart rate dropped for about 4 minutes. I was put on oxygen and rolled back over to my left side. After a minute or so his heart rate resumed back to normal and all was well. Still, the nurses reaction is enough to have your fear for the babys life. I was put on oxygen several times while pushing, which I was thankful for because I wasn't breathing and my contractions were so close together I couldn't re cooperate fast enough. Noah was also face up, which was why I was having even more difficulty pushing - so when it came time for him to come out, they had to turn and flip him over quickly all in a blink of an eye. Of course, NICU coming in when I delivered was nerve-wrecking. After delivery I also had a difficult time recuperating from the epidural, it just took me longer than normal to bounce back. When it was time to transfer rooms it took me an extra three hours... my blood pressure kept dropping the moment I would sit or stand up, making me fall out and almost pass out. I had to get hooked up to some more IV's, but after that I was able to finally move rooms.

Oh yeah... Where was my husband during the time I was passing out multiple times? In the new room SLEEPING. In his defense, he didn't know that I would pass out over and over again. However, he had my phone... my mother was with me, but her phone was dead, I didn't know what room he & my dad were in so I couldn't call up to the room to let him know what was going on... I'm just glad nothing to serious happened because we sure would have been in a pickle! (Dad was sleeping too!) Glad he was so worried about his wife and newborn ;-)


I really couldn't ask for a more perfect delivery, truly. Everything that I wanted... an October birthday, the doctor I wanted to deliver, the DAY of the week, a healthy baby and a head FULL of hair.

I always said throughout my pregnancy that if this baby didn't have a head full of hair between Alex and I, the baby had to be the milkman's. Well, I'm glad to say that not only does Noah have the most beautiful head full of black hair with a streak of blonde, he is also the SPITTING image of Alex. Well almost, I think he has more of my shape eyes and chin, but still... I'll give Alex all the credit on this one. I was just the oven cooking the bun ;)

Happy Family of Three (Please pardon my grossness!)

We didn't stay the whole 2 days at the hospital. I got a little stir crazy in the room... we left the hospital Wednesday at 4pm. There was no incentive or benefit for us staying there - I'll just say, like the triage unit, I was very unhappy. The staff was great... very kind. However they were not helpful or informative. It was pretty much okay, you had the baby - your own your own! Again, I'll just leave it there :)

On our way home for the very first time!

"That's Cool. That's Gross. That's Cute."

Well folks, needlessly to say... our 2 mile walk and grocery store run WORKED! At around 10:30pm on Monday October 1, I began to have contractions. We had a late dinner that night so at first I wasn't really sure what was happening (aka, if it was gas or not) so I just stayed quiet and didn't tell Alex. He was downstairs doing homework so I wasn't about to bother him if it really was just gas. However, then I noticed the pain was happening every FIVE minutes and lasting well... for a minute! And if thats not the huge hint your having contractions then I don't know what is. But still, I was hesitant to say anything to Alex. I guess I was just scared that I was just making it up, or that if we went to the hospital they would turn me away and think I was crazy. 

Alex came up stairs about an hour later and I said, "Hunny... you may want to get your stopwatch ready." He's reaction was priceless, he was so excited and scared at the same time and so entertaining because he reacted just like me which truly surpised me. He did time me for a while and we decided that yes, I was having contractions! And then, to my surprise, he ran around the house cleaning up. Hahaha, this makes me laugh because that is the exact thing I was doing only upstairs. I even ran in to clean the baby's room one last time.

Naked Belly picture... right after I doubled and triple checked the babys room and only minutes before we left for the hospital!

So two hours passed... the contractions were still bareable, but the intensity was definitely intensifying. At around 12:15 in the morning of October 2nd, I decided that we should go to the hospital... but only after I showered, did my hair and put make-up on. Why? I have no idea, I was giving birth not going to a fashion show... but hey, what can I say :)

We got to the hospital at 1:15am - I spent 2 hours in triage before getting admitted, one in which I did not enjoy and got very angry. I felt like they didn't believe me and forgot about me. Lets just say it took them a half hour to just tell me to change into a gown! I could go on... but I'll just leave it there for your sake. While in triage my water broke, so although I wasn't officially 'admitted' the moved me into a labor and delivery room. By this time, the contractions were hurting... a lot. They were still bareable obviously, but it was taking everything out of me (and of course the nurses then ask you your whole life history right as everyone contraction start!) At around 4am they gave me some kind of drug to take the edge off of the contractions.... that, was interesting. I was definitely out of it. I remember getting the epidural and not feeling well sitting up during the process, I remember everything truly but it's more like a dream state - it's hard to explain. Once I had the epidural I was 6.5cm dilated. My doctors came in and said this is the time to sleep and rest as much as we can because when I start pushing, I'm going to need every ounce of energy.

The epidural certainly did its job. I couldn't feel a thing and I couldn't move. Literally, if Alex wasn't there this baby would have shot out crooked because I couldn't even lift my legs to push! I got checked again at 7:15am and was 9 cm, a half hour later... I began to push. 

Pushing... thats something that I don't think anyone can ever portray to others unless you experience it yourself. It didn't hurt of course because I was numb, however I was SO frustrated because I just couldn't feel what in the world I was doing. They will tell you to "bare down" and "take it out of your face and push down below" - Well, if ya can't feel your down "below" how the heck are you to know if your doing it right?! 

Alex was truly amazing, he was so supportive and encouraging during the whole entire process. Not to mention strong because he literally had lift all of my dead weight at each push. Although, when he asked me if I was okay or if I was alright during a contraction and after a push... yes, I did in fact contemplate murder several times. My nurse tested me, she pushed me hard. I'm pretty sure I cursed her multiple times throughout the pregnancy - she had me push about 6 times each contraction which took the absolute wind out of me. 

The title of this post... "That's Cool. That's Gross. That's Cute." Is how Alex described the labor and birthing experience and it just made me laugh so much, I'll never forget when he said it. It was priceless. 

After almost 2 solid hours of pushing... Our precious little Squirt had at last arrived...

Contraction.

No contraction!

Excited Daddy to be.

Yes... this was shortly after I had the drug that made me all loopy before the epidural.

Glad someone got to rest a little.

The Baby's on the way!

We Made it to October!

I couldn't be more elated right now - we (Squirt and I) actually made it to October! So many people doubted me, saying I would go early, but due to me being down right stubborn and having faith in my-self... I won! I could easily (I use that term lightly) had this baby in September, any time I'm out on my feet for a long time I start to get contractions. So needlessly to say, this past weekend I put my self on "bed-rest" to stick it out. Although really... I didn't rest what so ever. It hit me that the baby will come any day now and as I've said before, the house isn't clean enough and although I know it never will be... I sure tried my best!

Friday was my last day at work and it was bittersweet. I love my job, I love the people I work with and I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work there. I'm so thankful that the lady who was in charge of hiring was sick the day I submitted my application and someone else took charge of hiring because she would have never hired me! I feel like being out will somehow distance me from everyone and I'll be the new girl all over again. But then again, I've made the greatest friends working there and I know that having Squirt will only make us closer and that again, is something I just truly cherish.

When Alex got home from work tonight we took a nice 2 MILE walk (fairly quickly too might I add) at the park down the road followed by an extra long shop at the grocery store. I'm off work and it's October now, so I don't have anything to hold back! Now we just taunt Squirt until he/she decides to come out :)

39 weeks!

Ready or Not Squirt... Mommy and Daddy are ready for you!
The beginning of our walk tonight.

Tie-dye? I'm in!

Last week my huge, massive, way to big and grown up nephew started his first season of Flag Football. Okay, so he is more tall than huge... skinny than massive... but still too big and grown up at 10 years old for his Auntie Aly who still remembers him making a promise to me when he was 3 years old to never grow up. My favorite thing? He knows he made the promise and will crouch down to his knees to make himself shorter because he knows I'm quite... emotional around him.

Anywho, back to Football. My sister and I were chit-chatting last game about wanting to make shirts, and of course... if your going to make a shirt, you gotta tie-dye! Especially with me in involved! (Now would be the place where I insert a picture of Alex & I at our high school senior year homecoming dance where we tie dyed our outfits... however, I can't find a picture! :( ) So Friday afternoon after an amazing pedicure, we went to Michaels and got our tie-dye supplies!

Yes, theses are my amazingly swollen footies. But I got gray and yellow chevron with sparkles done on my toes for Squirts big debut! So outside of normal plain-jane me and yet SO me at the same time!

Elijah's team is the Seahawks... after the Seattle Seahawks, so the colors we tie-dyed were based around the teams colors. Navy, Teal, and a lighter blue for more pizazz. I was all set to do the spiral pattern for our shirts... but then my sister found an awesome chevron folding pattern and I HAD to do it. I say "I" like I did the folding... Alex did, I couldn't wrap my brain around the technique (I blame pregnancy brain) Therefore Alex, Squirt and I all have chevron tie-dyed shirts for us to wear on Sundays at Elijah's football games! When the 2.5 of us and my sister & co came Sunday all wearing tie-dye... we totally made the other team jealous- tie-dyed and proud!

Squirt's Onesie before :)

Folded all nice and pretty by the Daddy-to be!

Our victims.

Let the tie-dye begin!

Our shirts 6 hours after drying in a bag... then we hung them up to dry over night.

The whole tie-dye crew - They turned out soooo good! My sister and youngest niece have spiral tie-dye, brother-in-law and eldest niece have bulls-eye!

Just waiting for Squirt to arrive and join in on the fun! And yes... Ella so preciously photobombed us :)

Oh! And I almost forgot. One night last week... I'll be honest - I can't remember... I was just fiddle farting around the house and then Alex tells me dinner is ready. I'm spoiled, so thats my cue to just sit down and he'll bring me my plate... well on my plate was a BRAND NEW DIGITAL CAMERA! I love it, I was so surprised my reaction was delayed because I couldn't absorb it all fast enough. He's a good one that husband of mine. We have a great 'big camera' which is amazing, but its not always the most convenient to lug around for day to day use... and my old camera, well after it got replaced after a certain kayak accident... it just never was the same. And now, we have an AWESOME smaller camera which I have so much fun taking pictures with. I found myself just taking a million pictures of virtually the same thing just to play around with my camera. Here are some pictures for Elijah's game Sunday I took with it!

Ella loving her Uncle

And now her baby cousin!

Love his face in this one!

Is it October yet?

Going on 39 weeks pregnant this week, and... I really do believe I've hit my limit. I'm sore all the time, all I want to do is sleep - and of course, I cannot get comfortable if my life depended on it, I've actually lost my appetite, and I'm just flat out feeling HUGE. I'd like to say my little body has hit her weight limit and is running on the bare minimum right now. However, due to my stubbornness - I refuse to have this baby before October (like I have any say) I don't know what it is, but I just really Really REALLY want an October birthday. This is my absolute favorite time of year and bringing a baby into this world in October would just be the tip of the iceberg for me. I just like the idea of an October birthday? Hopefully little Squirt likes the idea too! We have had long talks about waiting until October. I'll even take going into labor September 30 as long as Squirt is born after 12:01am aka... October 1st!

This week is my last week at work. Yes, I am still working. Even my doctor thinks I'm insane... But hey, I made a promise to stick it out until the end of September and I'm going to stick to it! Thankfully, I work with the most amazing people and love my job to pieces - and they don't make me work unless I'm really needed. Which for the past week or so has been 3 days out of the 5 - so technically I'm working part-time... so that doesn't make it to bad. I just have to make it through this Friday! Then,  come Sunday night - I think the hubby and I will take pups to one of our local trails and take a nice, long walk to bring in October :) If patterns stay the same every time I'm out and about for a long amount of time... I'm pretty sure we could get Squirt here. My doctor flat out said that he has no concerns about having to induce me - the baby is well on his/her way just fine. With already being 2.5cm dilated and Squirt's head being ever so low - I must say, I agree!

Alex is about to pop. He wants Squirt here NOW. Which...

1.  If he was the one pregnant and had to go into labor - I'm sure I'd feel the same way.
1. But he's not. I am. The only thing he has to worry about is not passing out during the delivery.
2. The house isn't clean enough yet. Maybe its my OCD mixed in with a wave of hormonal nesting... but nope, not ready. 
1. Getting the boy to dishes is like pulling teeth with pliers for instance.
3. I WANT AN OCTOBER BIRTHDAY GARSH DARNIT.
1. So stop talking about it - I can make it another week!

I plan on winning this battle. Hopefully Squirt will be on my side too. 

38 weeks!

The Baby's Nursery!

We are finally able to debut our little Squirt's nursery and we could not be more excited about it! First off, let me begin by saying all of this was done by my amazing husband. His Dad come up for a very short stay and helped out one weekend to make our dream nursery come true. I wasn't allowed in the nursery what so ever and I was completely okay with that. Alex knew our colors were gray, yellow, and white and of course that our theme was Toy Story :) We did have the bedding and basic furniture picked out - so don't worry other momma's to be - I didn't give him SOLE responsibility of the nursery (i mean really, how could any pregnant lady do that?!) but I did give him all the glory to surprise me with the finish product and i love each and every inch of it!

Before all of the major nursery renovations began I snuck into the room to take some before pictures. We had just moved in so things are just everywhere - but you can still get the generally idea of what the room looked like before.

Shortly after these pictures were taken, a sign appeared on the front of the nursery door - aka my threat and fair warning to not enter the nursery! 

Drawn by Alex :)

Now... to the fun part, the AFTER pictures! I apologize the quality of the pictures aren't good - the lighting was funky with the flash of my camera. The room is amazing, I definitely cried when I saw the whole thing. I find myself a few nights out of the week just sitting in there taking it all in - waiting for our little one to enjoy this with us.

Alex drew this too!

Thanks so much to my in-laws for the matching dresser to our crib!

All the bedding, pillow covers, burp clothes, and blankets were made by my Mum - she is the best!

Mommy's little touch :) I made sihouettes of Bullseye, Buzz, Woody and an Alien. When the baby is born,  I think we will hang the babys name above the pictures.