so, here is the story of davis paul's birthday...
the day you came, i was desperate. desperate to meet you, to hold you, but mainly to get you OUT of my pregnant, overtired and overheating body. it was the end of august.
we decided to take your brother to the blueberry farm and pick tons of blueberries to freeze. there were no blueberries. but, it was a beautiful day and i hobbled up and down the rows, hoping you'd get the hint and decide to make an appearance. i just felt you were so close. but, i kept pushing on. cleaning, walking, bouncing, doing anything i could to move things along.
i felt an odd, but extreme contraction every couple of hours that day. your daddy and i got ready for bed, turned out the lights and WHAM. at 1:30am, monday morning THEY started. the worst contractions in the world. they were immediately 5 minutes apart. just like when cole was born. same time of night, same day of the week.
we called nana, she would be here in 20 minutes. we called the midwife, she said to come on in. and when nana got here to watch cole, the contractions were so close. and then, the longest car ride EVER. i almost ripped the handle off of the ceiling.
when we arrived at the hospital, i had a contraction before opening the car door. got our of the car, had another. they were every other minute. you were coming so fast! too fast...
i signed some papers, barely made it into the room and couldn't do anything. the nurse had to help me into the bed. i wasn't getting my antibiotics, there wasn't any time. the midwife checked me and i was already dialated to a 9.
uh, wha?!
she informed me that i also wasn't getting my epidural. i was absolutely terrified. how could i possibly do this without it?
she told me i could start pushing whenever i wanted. i had JUST gotten there! how was this possible? i only went into labor an hour ago!
i pushed. and pushed. moved around. pushed. moved again. pushed and pushed. moved again. pushed. you. were. stuck. STUCK. the midwife assured me over and over that you just needed to move a little. that you just needed to turn your head. JUST TURN YOUR HEAD!
and your daddy was praying the whole time...
i will never forget his quiet little whisper prayers right in my ear. for strength. that i would be able to DO this. praying to our God. it was the perfect thing to do. because you can't do anything. just push and pray. occasionally i wanted to give up and the midwife just kept encouraging me. the prayers were spurring me on. i welcomed each contraction because i could actually help get you out. i could DO something. it was in between that i couldn't take. to stop and take a breath. to think about what i was doing. it was too overwhelming.
my water broke. i pushed some more. and suddenly, you were just out. so quickly that i couldn't even grab onto you. and then, all wet and warm, you were laying with your mama. at 4:14am, you had arrived. 8 pounds, 9 ounces. 21.6" long. a healthy baby boy. i couldn't have cared about anything else in the world. NOTHING. because you became everything in that moment. so pure, so new, this little being i had already grown to love over the last 9 months. i just felt elation.
your papa was in the waiting room too. the whole time. after you were cleaned up and under the lights, he came in. he got to spend some of your first moments of life with you. so early in the morning. it was sweet for him to be there.
your brother came to meet you later on that day. he was nervous and excited. he brought you a giraffe that played "twinkle twinkle little star". and you gave him "cranky the crane" from thomas. he loves you so much. little kisses on your head. "it's ok, davis" when you'd cry. the best big brother.
your nana, brother, auntie michele and cousin owen came the next day. we threw a birthday party for you, with a cake and everything. we even put a 0 candle on the cake.
unfortunately, we had to stay couple days on the pediatrics/nicu floor to rule out any possible infections since i hadn't had some antibiotics that i needed when you were born. but, well worth it. we got to spend some "two on one" time with you before returning home to a family of 4. we got to know your little sounds and smell. to just rest with you and love on you by yourself for a little while. it was a sweet time.
but, we were glad to come home. and now, here you are. it's your 5 month birthday. and how time has flown already, little one. stop growing too fast. you're a blur these days! now you are 17 pounds. and a smile so wide, you're gonna hurt yourself. we absolutely can't get enough of you. and your positive sunny disposition. and, the 10 hours of sleep you give us almost every night makes you just swell. ;) we love your giggles, your strength ("the plank" has become one of your many nicknames) and your sweet little heart. you even smile at us in the middle of your tears.
welcome to this crazy world, sweetheart. we love you.
this is so beautiful!
awww, beautiful! Thanks for sharing - I was wondering if this blog was ever going to see action again. ;) Sorry I still haven't met him - time is flying by so fast! I hope he'll fit in his gift I had picked for him before he was born (it's 6-12month - he might just fit in it for a few weeks?)!!! Girls night, soon. Or maybe even a trip to the children's museum... :)