We had a(nother) baby!

...Just a super uncomfortable mega pregnant mama, wishing she could nap like her toddler...

We have a lot to catch up on after my aquarium post two weeks ago!

The past little bit, I kept saying something felt off with my body. It didn't feel like labor, but I just felt like my belly wasn't going to make it much longer and I felt...different.  After feeling like that for a few days, I decided to have the doctor check things out. Mama intuition is real, and I wanted piece of mind that nothing bad was happening.

The midwife checked me out briefly, said all looked good and that she wasn't going to check to see if I was dilated at all. I was about to beg her to check just in case, and at the last minute before dismissing me, she decided she would take a peek. Turns out, I was 4cm already! No wonder I felt off! She told me that since we live 30 min from the hospital, we would have to head in the second I felt anything change, but that it could be that night, the next day, or two weeks from now.

That night, I went to bed earlier than Steve and tried to get comfortable. About thirty minutes later I had a STRONG contraction. I figured I should get up to pee, swung my legs off the bed and GUSH. Water broke. The floodgate of contractions opened. My body meant business and contractions started coming on hard. I yelled over to Steve in the living room that we needed to get his parents to our house to watch Julian and leave ASAP. This labor and these contractions were so different from Julian, I could feel the urgency.

Thirty minutes later, we were headed to the hospital. We arrived and Steve offered to drop me at the front. I didn't want to be left alone, so I told him I could walk from the parking lot to the L&D wing. After all, I was pregnant...not incapable! Bad idea. He had to push me in the wheelchair because walking made me feel like the baby would slip out, and I had to stop every 5 steps for a contraction and a lot of  'OH JESUS' yelling.

We got up to the L&D desk at around 11:30pm and had to wait a little for a room. They opted to move me straight into a delivery room instead of triage and thank goodness. I begged for a epi but before I knew it, I was involuntarily pushing our new baby boy out into the world. A little bit over three weeks early, 5 pounds 8.5 ounces, healthy. We made it.

 

 

 

 

We stayed at the hospital the next night and then we were released to go home. Walking through the hall to the elevator, we passed by the split where you can walk to go to the NICU...the route we were forced to take less than two years ago. I sobbed.  It was such a healing experience to have my water break and not be panicked about what condition my baby would be in. To be excited about his arrival instead of terrified of what was to come. To not have him whisked away from me after birth. To take him home with us.


I love my sweet boys and I am counting my many blessings. One happy mama.

 



Aquarium Visit

We took our first trip to the Denver Aquarium and Julian LOVED it! Every display was met with 'WOW WOW WOW WOW' and shrieks of delight.

I love exploring the world through his eyes.



Momma Bump Update - 34 Weeks

We made it to 34 weeks! Holy moly!

Julian is 18 Months!

Time has really been playing tricks on us since finding out we are expecting baby Noah!

Julian is now 18 months 😭

Weight: 23.5 pounds
Height: 2'6
Teeth: 9 ish... this is a tough one to check without getting chomped! He's working on his top canine teeth right now. He has his two bottom middle teeth, top front four, two bottom canines, and at least one top canine pushing through.

He loves: Playing outside! This kid could play outside all day and all night, no matter what temperature. We constantly catch him sprinting to the front door begging to go out front so he can wander along the sidewalk. When it's nice outside, sometimes he gets to walk home from daycare, and if one of us beats the other home from work we will wander with him outside waiting for the other.

He's also been obsessed with Bruce. He will call out 'Brucey' and play with him and his dog toys. Sometimes he gets a little cranky when he dangles Bruce's toys and Bruce is able to actually run away with one! Still mastering how to play with the dogs nicely. Bruce loves to play hard to get, which just eggs Julian on even more.

Julian has been crazy for oatmeal and some days he is happy eating it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! He has the same undying love for nilla wafers. It's been a hard habit to break!

He seems to love most toys, but he's especially fond of board books. He loves to grab a book and sit in a lap while flipping through. Occasionally you can catch him reading out loud to himself and it's the sweetest thing to see. His vocabulary is really expanding these days and he can point out what objects are in the books and what noises animals make.

He hates: HAIRCUTS! Good grief... we took him for his second haircut recently and it was just as bad as the first time. Lots and lots of tears and yelling, but they did a great job and he even smiled at the hair stylist when she finished. Along with haircuts, Julian still hates having his hair washed. Loves baths, hates washing hair. Go figure.

He despises the vacuum. He doesn't like it if it's on and he doesn't like it if it's off and just sitting within view! I'm still holding out hope that he gets his daddy's cleaning genes!!

 And, like any toddler, Julian does not like not getting his way. He is now the tantrum king complete with crocodile tears and foot stomping. Sometimes he is easily distracted out of his tantrum, and other days his stubbornness takes a firm grip and we suffer through until he works out his frustration. The fun ones are when Mom and Dad can't figure out why he's upset.

Even with the tantrums, we wouldn't trade any ounce of his personality. He's a sweet cuddler at times, blowing kisses and giving out hugs...and he's the biggest goofball twirling around in the middle of the living room until he falls from dizziness.

He keeps us on our toes and we can't wait to see what kind of big brother he will be in a few more weeks!!!

Momma Bump Update - 32 Weeks

 We made it farther than last time!