L2's Birth Story

Im going to preface this by saying if birth stories or bodily functions aren't your thing you may want to move along...

Our sweet second son was born in the early morning hours on November 26.  He was 4 days past his due date and each day that passed and he was still inside we became more and more anxious and ready to meet him.  I tried every old wives tale in the book to try and get him out, he had his own plan and when he was ready boy was he ready!

I went to bed the same as any other night wondering if this would be the night he would decide to make his debut.  Around midnight, I was woken up by some moderate contractions that felt like bad menstrual cramps and I started to time them, they were 2-4 minutes apart…from the start.  I laid in bed for about an hour and around 1 AM they were becoming such that I no longer could just lay in bed.  I didn't wake up the hubby because I thought this could go on for hours so why not just let him rest.  I went to the living room and sat on an exercise ball and watched Real Housewives of Atlanta and debated folding some laundry to pass some time.  The contractions though became pretty intense to the point that I couldn't really focus on the show and decided around 2 AM to go wake up the Hubby and inform him of what was happening and that I was going to take a bath to maybe help the pain.  I was having to focus on breathing through them at this point and while the bath did help, things became very intense very quickly.  The contractions were 2-3 minutes apart and lasting about a minute or minute and half at this point. I knew that seemed close and they seemed pretty powerful but once again I was induced and had an epidural the first time so I really just thought this is how things were for a good while...

At 254 I texted the hubby from the tub to call our Doula.  He called her and she was quite hesitant that we wanted her to meet us at the house, she asked him three times as she lives an hour away and we live 40 minutes from the hospital.  He told me that she kept asking him if we wanted her to meet us at the house and we both thought that maybe she was telling us we were too early in labor and needed to wait as I had barely been in labor for 3 hours.  She told us to call back when we saw any bloody show or felt pressure.  well…no sooner did he get off the phone with her and relayed the message to me I turned around in the tub and saw blood…he called her back to let her know and I told him he also needed to call the doctor.

The doctor told us to get to the hospital immediately and we called the Doula back to tell her to meet us at the hospital.  By this point it was 3AM and the contractions were such that my body was shaking and all I could do was focus on breathing through them.  Things were happening FAST we jumped in the car and rushed to the hospital.  

We live about 40 minutes from the hospital but also live right by a toll road that takes us straight in to the hospital, its almost always vacant especially at 3AM.  The hubby was driving about 90 mph and once we exited to the road that takes us in to the hospital he ran Every. Single. Red-light which we got every light red of course.

I could not sit all the way down in the car and no sooner did we get in the car I had the intense urge to push…By this point I couldn't even tell you about the pain because all I could think about and focus on was breathing to resist the urge to push…I was not going to have a baby in a car!!  The thing though is if your body wants to push it will I felt something coming out, it wasn't a head though and I really started to freak out.  I was a mess!! Poor hubby was probably having a heart attack too!

We pulled up to the valet at the hospital and got up to the triage floor, by this point I was a screaming freaking out mess because I knew this baby was coming…and fast…when we checked in at the desk it was now 354…

I got in to the triage room, they informed me that what I felt was my intact bag of water which was on its way out…they got me on the bed and within seconds there was about 8 nurses and 4 doctors.  Someone finally realized the hubby was still not there and ran to get him. He got in the room as I was starting to push, I pushed twice and he was here!!! The time was 359!  I barely remember them putting him on my chest and seeing him for the first time, I think I was kind of in shock at this point.

The whole birth process was such a whirlwind, I couldn't believe things happened so fast!  It really was surreal, I had always heard of people having fast labors and had always wished for such but as the whole thing was playing out I really just couldn't believe this is how MY labor was unfolding.

After the fact, they took me to a delivery room and cleaned me up, started an IV and then did all the admission paperwork hehe.

There were several things that had God written all over them, truly God's hand was in this birth.  If it had been any other time of day, we would have been in traffic or there would have been too many cars on the road to drive 90 mph and run every red light, we ran right past a cop in our neighborhood, he didn't stop us, The weather was horrible it was raining and there was so much water on the road its a miracle we didn't hydroplane and crash.  The fact that it was a mere 9 minutes from when we pulled in to valet until L was born, if we had stopped at any red lights or hit any traffic whatsoever he would have surely been born in the car!

 I really wanted an unmedicated natural delivery hence why we hired a doula…I certainly got my unmedicated delivery and just knowing I did it all on my own without even the help of a doula is so empowering.

Even to this day, I can't believe I am no longer pregnant and that our sweet second son is here! I still can't believe how fast he came! 

Five on Friday::New Introductions

I have definitely neglected this space over the last month and half or so, life has just been crazy between working and getting ready for our new bundle.  I plan to be back though and have lots of things to share!

{ONE}
I thought I would jump back in to blogging by introducing to you our new sweet addition! 
Meet our sweet L2, he came in a hurry on Nov 26, I will reserve a special post for his birth story because its quite a story! He was 8 lbs even and 21 inches, slightly bigger than his big brother was at birth!

{TWO}

LIfe has definitely been an adjustment to say the least! I seriously forgot how little newborns sleep at night and how often they want to nurse!

{THREE}

We brought him home the wednesday before thanksgiving which was a huge blessing, I hate staying in the hospital so one night was enough for us!! I simply adore his coming home outfit, its so sweet and the material is SOO soft!! 

{FOUR}

His game day outfit for last weekends game when our school UTSA played LA Tech.  My friend gifted us this onesie and the bow tie comes off and is interchangeable.  

{FIVE}

Big bro L has been loving his "baby brother" He loves to kiss him and help me pick him up, its cute how affectionate he is towards him.  We have been having some attachment issues where he wants to be with me and have me hold him and do everything for him all the time.  Were trying to find the balance which I know will come with time.  I will say though I am loving my extra big boy cuddles!!

Five on Friday

I can't believe we are here on another Friday!! I'm so looking foreword to this weekend so lets get started!!

My mom (in the middle) who I think is pretty awesome is graduating from her Masters program this weekend!! I am so proud of her and can't wait to celebrate this accomplishment with her this weekend!! This was us in April at the Nike Women's Half Marathon in DC...and a little 10 week old Baby L2 :) Considering this was POST race don't my mom and Gram look awesome?!

We met with our Doula this past week...I feel like such a crunchy granola using one, but I really think she will be a key player and HUGE support for my desire to have this baby au-natural this go round.  She is so calm and gentle in her demeanor I really am looking foreword to working with her!

We haven't made too much more progress on Project Nursery... While me and L are out of town this weekend the hubby will have a little to do list of things he needs to get done so I can finish cleaning, organizing and decorating. I know what we have left to do wont take long but knowing that we only have 4 weeks tops is starting to freak me out!!!

Our neighborhood had their annual pumpkin festival and we decided to try and beat the rain and go.  L had a great time this year and even rode the little pony without crying! He could have browsed the pumpkins all day.  They had some food trucks out there and we ate at this one called Bernie's Burger Bus and it was amazing!!  The weather is finally starting to cool of a bit here and its amazing!!

Two of my best friends and sorority sisters threw me the most precious shower last weekend.  I want to dedicate a whole post to that because all the food and decorations were just so cute! Im so thankful and blessed to have such sweet girls in my life!!!

33 weeks

Who am I? Two posts in one day?! I know its crazy but I am actually 34 weeks today so I wanted to get this post up before I've missed my opportunity.  

I can't believe I am already 33 weeks, I honestly still feel like I am in the 2nd trimester and am maybe in a bit of denial that I only have 42ish days left!

I have been feeling great and for the most part haven't even been that tired, until about 9pm then I get tired and want to just lay down.  I have had some crazy hip pain on the right side and I think its because little man loves to lay on the right side...like all. the. time! The good news is as of my last apt at 32 weeks he is still head down so I am praying he stays put! That in itself has made this stage of the pregnancy very different from last time.  Im not used to feeling so many feet kicks because with L1 they were all bladder/cervix kicks which hurt like crazy! Now I get to feel his little feet stretching out its so fun.  The downside though is his head on my bladder makes me have to pee ( or think I have to) any time I go from sitting to standing or vice versa hah.

We took a tour of the hospital and I am loving it so much more than the last place I delivered.  It helps that the unit is only a year and a half old but it is also very family friendly and I am hoping we have a fantastic birth experience there.

We hired a Doula this time around and we have our prenatal appointment with her this week.  I am so excited about this, we met her when we interviewed/hired her and have been in contact since but this will be our big meeting and then we just wait for the big day!!

Five on Friday

We are making great progress on the nursery!! A little sneak peak, all the walls are done and curtains, now we just need to put furniture together, clean out the closet and put things in their place! Im so excited and happy with how things are coming together.

How cute are these little outfits?! I have been doing some shopping for baby boy and can't wait for spring to roll around so he can wear these precious little clothes! 

I feel like between work and getting things in our house in order its been nuts around here lately.  This guy has been so hilarious and sweet through all the crazy.  I feel like his vocabulary has exploded in the last two weeks and he is always cracking me up with the things he says these days.  He had just eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in this picture and was being silly before I had to run off to work.

According to my countdown app I have 42 days to go!! Thats so hard to fathom for me because the end of November seems so far away! I know with how busy our schedule is in the next month it is going to fly by!! We really still have a lot to do but thankfully this pregnancy has been nice to me and really has been a breeze so far which is a huge blessing in so many ways. I did my 33 week update here...I know two posts in one day...who am I?!

Tomorrow some sweet friends are throwing me a baby shower, or is it a sprinkle when its baby #2? Either way, Im so so grateful for them to offer to do this and so excited to see so many friends I haven't seen in so long!

Day 3:: Bath Time

Look at that its day three and I have already missed day 2.  Oh well sometimes you get busy with Life and things like blog posts just don't happen.  We had such a full day yesterday and before I knew it I had to go off to work.

One of my most favorite parts of the day is after bath time.  We always pull L out of the tub and put him on our bed and its almost like a switch is flipped and he turns to crazy boy! I don't know if its the cold air or him hangin out in his birthday suit but he just goes crazy and it cracks us up every night!

Its one of the things I miss most when I go to work.  There is just something about a fresh smelling baby after a bath that is irresistible! He just laughs and laughs and is so ticklish and throws himself all over the bed.  Its these moments when he is so carefree I wish I could just freeze time and preserve his carefree spirit.  

Then, just like that we say its time for milk and stories and he jumps into my arms and we cuddle on the couch reading story after story.  Its such a sweet family time and my favorite part of the day!!

Day 1::Being Present in the Little Things

My goofy boy being so silly

Today was such a great day.  I actually woke up early and had some quiet time which I really think improves the whole rest of the day.  Having quiet time with God as well as time to plan out what I need to do during the day helps me to feel less frazzled and distracted the rest of the day

Part of my devotion this morning really struck me and I thought was so fitting with the topic I chose for this challenge.  It was talking about noticing God in unique ways and it said "We often encounter God when we pay attention to what's going on around us." I think this is so fitting in my pursuit to be present and just enjoy life.  Its so easy just to go about life and not really notice what we are doing or seeing.  I mean I have seriously driven home from work before and as I pull into the driveway think that I don't really even remember getting from point A to B.

As we were driving to our baby appointment this morning it was made so clear how beautiful the clouds were.  It was clearing of a rain storm and we were approaching Houston and the clouds were just incredible and fluffy and beautiful.  For me its noticing those little moments that are little reminders of God's greatness.

We had a great appointment and saw that baby L is still head down which is a huge blessing, I hope he stays that way! We then went to Ikea to purchase some furniture and it ended up being on sale...another little blessing!!

The smile that melts my heart multiple times a day!!

I had such a great day hanging out with my people.  My hubby is off work all week and my little guy is just so full of energy and personality these days I loved just a regular 'ol day of hanging out!  Even though we were busy and running errands it didn't feel stressful or busy it was just enjoyable which is what this is all about!