Welcome Home William

Yes, I'm posting on the day we get home from the hospital.  But Grandma's doing the dishes, Chopper's bathing the girls, and William is sleeping!  So I'll take advantage while I have the moment.

So if you're interested in the birth story, feel free to read and enjoy.  And if you're not, just scroll through and look at the pictures and enjoy our baby boy as much as we are!

On Thursday, July 12 I went in for my LAST prenatal appointment and made a point of telling my doctor (whom I love by the way) that she was wrong -- 3rd time was NOT the charm, this baby had not come early.  She wonderfully reminded me that she still had a day or two to not be late . . . 

On my way home from the doctor I stopped at a book store to get some new reading material and on the way home from there, I started having contractions.  I'd been having really random and really mild ones already so I didn't pay much attention until I got home and realized at dinner that they were about 10 minutes apart.  Since that's what happened with Abby, I started paying attention.  Sort've.  After all, ten minutes apart could last for hours!!  Our home teachers arrived shortly after and then my contractions shortened to 6 minutes apart, so they assisted Chopper in giving me a blessing.  Labor was definitely on!

But the thing is -- both Megan and Abby were about 14-16 hour labors and the early part I slept through, so even though my contractions were close together and fairly strong, I was thinking I had some time.  I had already made appointments to see some sisters for Relief Society so I asked Chopper to pack my hospital bag (nope, hadn't done that yet) and I would call him if things got worse.  But seriously, I did not want to spend a lot of time at the hospital laboring because then it's the only thing you have to focus on.  At least at home or out and about I can distract myself with other things!

At about 8:15 my friend and I leave our appointments because I'm pretty sure the contractions are 4 to 5 minutes apart and I call Chopper on the way home that we are going to the hospital as soon as I get home.  We arrive at the hospital about 9 p.m. and William Lloyd Whittacre arrives at 10:42 p.m.

Yup.  About 6 hours total.  It was a little fast.  And it was hard.  Again, I did not get an epidural (although I wanted something about the time that we were getting ready to push of course), but my labor and delivery nurse AND my doctor AND my wonderful husband were wonderful and coached me through what ended up being probably the best labor and delivery of all three of my children so far.  I had a very small amount of tearing (only 1 stitch needed) and compared to my girls have started recovery much better!

So here is our sweet boy!!

7 pounds, 4.9 (or 5 -- whatever) ounces, 20 inches long and beat his due date by a little over an hour!  I guess my doctor wins after all -- he was early!!

We were very surprised by this hair!  This is after his bath and the nurse gave it a great little swoop.  Megan and Abby both had hair as well but dark.  William's already a blond!  The nurses kept telling me that he was the talk of the nursery for that hair -- and his overall good looks.  I quite agree!

 He has some Abby look to him with the round face but I think he has Chopper's ears and my chin (or lack thereof) and definitely the Gasser hairline -- which will only recede further as he gets older!  Eyes, not sure yet and of course they're newborn dark.  It will be fun to see if they stay dark or go more of a lighter blue like Megan's.  But he is totally a boy!  It's amazing to me that right off the bat, he just looks boy!!

 He has been a quiet calm little thing for the most part and is already nursing great!  Today at home, Megan watched me nurse for the first time (I don't think she remembers it from Abby) and I explained to her what was going on.  She looks at me and says (completely seriously by the way), "you're like a big milk machine!" Yes, yes I am.  And I love it at this point -- it's such a sweet, wonderful thing to be able to nurse a baby.

Friday (yesterday), Chopper brought Grandma Gasser and the girls to see the baby and after Megan got over the initial terror of the hospital ("but I don't want shots!" -- Megan you're not here for shots, you're here to see mommy -- "But she (the nurse) has gloves!"), they were simply enamored with their new baby brother!  Even Abby, whom I've been worried about being jealous over the attention given to the new baby just constantly wants to tickle (gently!) and kiss and watch and just keeps asking to see the baby and every time -- "he's so cute!"  I think she'll continue to think that until he starts to take her toys . . .

 

 She has a mouth full of cookie here but Abby LOVED "holding" the baby.

 Seriously, and thankfully, they are both in love with this little man as much as I am.  By the way, Abby also loves getting into all of the baby things so they're all starting to migrate to a higher level.  She also keeps asking me, "where's that baby?"  After circumcision today he's been sleeping quite a bit.  She knows his name is William, I think, but it might be a while before he's no longer just "that baby".

We both came home today -- hooray!  So now I'll have to start getting the pictures of him in adorable outfits with his skinny little limbs.  I've got to document his newness before the rolls come and judging by his eagerness to eat, it will come quick!  Which I love that too . . . 

I can't believe we are FINALLY a family of five!!  I'm soooo glad that he's finally here (and I'm not hot and heavy and waddling anymore!) and the timing just could not have been more perfect -- my mom was here before William was to help with the girls and I still got to have my natural labor and delivery without induction and before my doctor goes on vacation!  We've been tremendously blessed these past few days and I'm looking forward to everything to come!