One Month Old

I cannot believe our Walker has been with us for a whole month!  Time is flying and I am just trying to take in as many wonderful moments as I can while he is still "tiny" and "new."  

So far everything is going very well.  Walker is a fantastic eater!  I feel very fortunate that we never really had any issues with nursing.  My milk came in right on time and, so far, I have had no problems keeping up with Walker's healthy appetite.  He sleeps fairly well at night and I usually only have to get up every 3 hours or so to nurse. He is, however,  a horrible napper during the day!  I assume he gets that from me- I don't nap either.  Usually the only way I can get him to nap is in my arms or in his swing while the music is playing.  Needless to say, there are many days where I get nothing done around the house!  Walker also has a very pleasant disposition.  He is a very happy and content baby (as long as he is fed and his diaper is clean) and I am thankful that I have yet to have an issues soothing him when he is upset (nursing usually solves all my problems). :-) 

My favorite part of our day is song and activity time.  I make sure to take time everyday to play music and sing with Walker.  We also have some fun movement songs that we listen to and I have a good time helping Walker do the movements. :-)  I look forward to the day when he will sing along and do the movements on his own, but we still have a good time and I think he really enjoys the music and Mommy's wonderful singing.

Ryan has been a great Dad to Walker and a fantastic husband as well.  He helps me around the house and makes sure the poor cats don't feel to neglected.  He also has no problems rolling up his sleeves and changing the poopy diapers and he is a pro at calming Walker and putting his to sleep.  It is heart-warming watching a father and his son.  They already have a  very special bond that I know will only grow as Walker gets older.

So far motherhood is everything I thought it would be and more.  It is truly an amazing and rewarding experience... it is also very challenging and exhausting, but I have to say I am enjoying every minute of it.  Walker is an absolute blessing and I thank God everyday for His wonderful gift.  I am the happiest I have ever been and look forward to the many months ahead full of new miracles and milestones!

Some of Walker's Firsts

Our precious boy has been with us for 22 days!  I can't believe how fast it has gone by!  He is growing and changing everyday and is truly an absolute blessing.  He LOVES to snuggle with his mommy and daddy and he LOVES to eat!  Last Monday he had his two week check up and was back up to his birth weight- a hefty 10 lbs, 9 oz and is now 22.25 inches long.  Walker is going to be one tall boy (surprise, surprise right?).

It has been so fun experiencing all of his firsts with him and we are trying VERY hard to photograph it all!  Everyday is full of firsts, but here are just a few of Walker's first firsts!

First Breaths

 First time in Daddy's arms

First Hospital Visitor- Nana

First Bath

First Birth-Day Cake

First Car Ride

All Dressed for First Outing

First Monthly Picture

First Walk

First Sponge Bath at Home

First Colts Game

First Iowa Hawkeye Game

First REAL Bath.. he LOVED it!

A Little Background Info...

Ryan and I decided early on in our pregnancy that we wanted to attempt a natural childbirth.  It was something I had read and researched before I was even pregnant.  I knew that I wanted to welcome our baby into the world in the best way possible.  I knew that I wanted to be in control of my birth experience and I knew that I wanted to be very prepared to make an informed decision no matter what happened.

I read online about the Bradley Method of Childbirth.  It teaches parents relaxation techniques and positions to aid in labor and delivery.  I found a teacher in the area and signed up for classes.  Ryan and I dove ino the class head on.  We completed our workbook, watched the videos, and I did the best I could to keep up on my exercises.  At the end of the class.  I was not scared at all for my impending labor and delivery.  I was excited to take it on and I was determined to do all I could to deliver our son naturally- no drugs, no induction, and as noninvasive as possible... but you know what happens to plans.

Walker's Birth Story

I started having contractions around 2am on Friday August 24th.  Ryan and I stayed up and relaxed and tracked my progress.  At their strongest, the contractions were every 4 minutes and lasted about a minute.  However, soon after that peak, the time between began to increase until they were very intermittent- maybe one every 20-40 minutes.  I was having quite a bit of back pain and was having a hard time getting comfortable.  After very little sleep Thursday night, I spend Friday night sleeping in a chair- still contracting every 20-40 minutes. 

Saturday morning I decided that I was not in labor and my Braxton Hicks contractions were just getting stronger and more intense.  Ryan and I had lunch with my mother and grandmother and we walked around the mall for a little while.  That evening I noticed that my contractions were no longer 20-40 minutes apart, but much closer.  Again, Ryan and I stayed up and I used all my relaxation techniques and my WONDERFUL balance ball to work through the growing pressure and pain.  Around 1:30am, my contractions were about a minute long and 3 minutes apart.  We decided it was time to go to the hospital.

Once at the hospital they checked me and I had dilated to 4 1/2 cm.  I was surprised and elated.  That meant we got to stay and that Baby Boy would be here soon.  They put us in our room and we settled in for the birth of our son.  I labored fairly comfortably into the morning.  I spent a lot of time on a birthing ball and sitting up in the bed.  Ryan and I experimented with different positions to try to ease my back labor.  We tried counter pressure and massage and found that really nothing was working. The doctor checked me again that afternoon and I had not progressed.  I was maybe 5 cm dilated and that was it.

The ONLY picture of my in labor

They started talking about breaking my water, and I knew that was not something I was going to do- not this early in the game.  I had learned in my class that breaking your water not only increases the risk of infection, but it can make the contractions even more intense and painful.  We tried everything we could think of to help my labor along.  We walked the halls and I rocked on the birthing ball, we tried out the birthing tub in our room.  When they checked me a few hours later, I had not dilated anymore, but baby had dropped and was at zero station.  I decided to stay the course.  Baby could not stay in there forever after all!  We kept doing what we were doing- walking, rocking and doing everything to manage the extremely intense back labor I was having.

The Birthing Tub in the room

 Around midnight Monday morning I was miserable.  I had not slept in days and the contractions were still growing in intensity.  They checked me again and I had dilated to 8 cm, but that was it.  My contractions were strong and long, but they were not close enough together to help move Baby down.  Ryan and I had a heart to heart and we decided that we should try breaking my waters to see if that would speed things along. I knew at that point we were at a crossroads.  I knew one of two things would happen.  1- things would speed up and Baby Boy would be here soon. 2- The contractions would become so painful that I would no longer be able to handle it.  Unfortunetly, that is exactly what happened.  The doctor broke my water and immediately the pain increased tenfold and I was in indescribable pain.  I labored for only a few minuted before I gave in due to the exhaustion and pain.  I knew that there was no way I was going to make it to 10 cm AND have the energy to push.

I gladly received my epidural around 2:30am Monday morning, and I hate to admit it, but it was wonderful!  The pain was gone and I finally had a chance to rest.  They doctor also started administering Pitocin to help my contractions.  After a short nap, I was checked again.  I could not believe my ears when the doctor told me that not only was I dilated to 10cm, but that she could feel Baby's head!  We started pushing around 7:30 Monday morning.  With every push, I could a little bit more of Baby's head.  Thankfully, I had requested a lower does of the Epidural.  I could still feel the tension and pressure of the contraction, but they were painless.  I knew when to push and could feel where to center the pushes as well.  At 8:24am, I pushed one last time and our beautiful son was here!

Looking at my son

He was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.  He was perfect!  I could not believe the amount of hair on his head or the length of his eyelashes.  He cried shortly and then settled into my chest and just stared at me. We snuggled as a family for a while and I nursed my son before we were moved to our postpartum room.  Even though our labor and delivery did not go how we had hoped, in the end the prize was the same.  We have a beautiful and healthy 10 lb, 9oz son!

Tears of Joy

This whole experience has taught we so much about myself and also about my marriage.  First, I am stronger that I ever knew I was.  I may not have delivered naturally, but laboring for over 31 hours without pain medications is something I am definitely proud of.  Second, my husband is amazing!  Anyone that knows Ryan knows that he is very laid back and quiet, but when I needed him, boy did he step up!  He never left my side and he knew exactly what to say to ease my anxiety.  He was patient, supportive and loving.  I could not have asked for a better coach!  I know he is going to be an amazing father. Third, seeing my son enter this world reaffirmed that I was put on this earth to be a mother.  It was the job I was born to do and I thank God everyday for our little miracle.  He first came into our lives last winter when we needed something to look forward to, and entered the world just in time to ease the pain of both new and old losses.  He will never know the joy he has brought us.  GOD IS GOOD!

First Family Picture

I have never been so happy!