3 weeks old

Breastfeeding rules my life, and has taught me a few things about myself: I'm patient, compassionate, and damned talented at getting things done one-handedly. With the use of only one hand I can check my e-mail, talk on the phone, make a sandwich, water the plants, pay darts, give a massage, and run a marathon.

I need a shirt that says: Baby on Boob. Every two to three hours I am beckoned by our child. He looks at me with wide eyes, and an open mouth. It cracks me up how he head bunts my breast trying to latch onto my nipple, and the noises he makes are enough to make anyone laugh. He's a true comic.

Just look at his face in this picture. He's hilarious. It needs a caption... what is Harlo thinking?

Cousins...

Grammy and Poppy came for a visit... and brought Harlo's cousins: Ethan and Eli.

Photo by Auntie Margot

Harlo's Birth Story

Around 9 PM on May 4th I started feeling as if my period was about to start. It was a feeling I hadn't felt in 10 months. Cramps. "OOH... uh... hmm?? Could this be it?"

Around 1 AM the cramps turned into something more than a menstrual reminder. At 20 minutes apart I could no longer stay in bed, so I started cleaning our house. Skylar followed me around the house all night and into the morning. Poor little doggie... I think she was concerned!

I woke Jacob up at 3:30 AM and we started timing our contractions (**I say OUR because from this point on he went through every contraction with me**). Each contraction was getting stronger and stronger, but still 10-15 minutes apart and too early to go to the hospital. We went for a walk, Jacob massaged my lower back, we took a shower, and by 8 AM it was time to go!

We made the short drive up the hill and arrived at Feather River Hospital (The Best place to have a baby-- great nursing staff, wonderful midwives, and caring doctors!!) around 9 AM. For the next 12 hours I endured a crazy test of my sanity, strength, and womanhood.

Once I was 10 CM dilated I got into the birthing tub. For the next two hours-- nothing happened. I pushed and pushed and pushed and pushed and pushed and did a whole lot of OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHH's and UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH's and deep, low sounding primal noises (I wish I would have recored myself). Once the nurse realized Harlo's head was not moving she called in the midwife (who was assisting another birth). They thought his little body was turned (in the wrong position). The had to call in bigger guns.

The doctor came in about 20 minutes after being called (amazing). He took a look inside and said, "the baby's not turned-- he's stuck". At this point I looked at my midwife and asked her if I could have something for the pain (and for my mind). She looked at me and said, "I'm sorry, but you need all your strength right now and if I give you something you won't be able to push your baby out". I took this as, YOU'RE VERY CLOSE TO HAVING A C-SECTION.

One episiotomy, a vacuum assist, and 6 pushes later: Harlo was born at 9:54 PM on El Cinco De Mayo. He was placed on my chest and bliss poured out of me. He looked at me, I talked to him, we both cried, and I apologized for his cone head. My pelvic bone was in the way, and my tailbone is tilted-- makes for a small vajayjay opening. The doctor had to assist Harlo down, over, and out! BUT we escaped C-Section land.

Love just took on a whole new meaning...

Our boy... Harlo.

He's HERE!!!

Sunday, May 4th: 9 PM--

Cramps and more cramps.

Monday, May 5th: 8:30 AM--

Hospital and 3 Cm dilated.

Monday, May 5th: 9:54 PM--

Baby Harlo Chapel Daley: 8 pds, 8.5 oz.

Baby Harlo.

1 CM Dilated, and 8 more to go...

On Thursday I found out I'm 1 CM dilated and 90% effaced. The midwife advised us to be prepared for this weekend. The baby is on its way. That night we packed our bags with all the essentials needed to keep us comfortable, prepared, and entertained with everything from fresh clothing and nursing pads to healthy snacks and The Happiest Baby on the Block.

Every new parent should check this out...

Well, it's Saturday. The weekend is here. Baby? Nope ... we're just being patient. I kind of wish our midwife wouldn't have told us to get prepared for the weekend because now I'm constantly wondering... however, the fact that I am dilating and opening up makes me really happy.

I'm ready, but also know that the baby has to be ready before anything will happen. One side of my brain is anxious, but the other side is patient. It makes me say things to the baby like, "Baby! Aren't you ready to see us??" and "Baby, I trust you'll come when you're ready".

I'm opening up w/out contracting. Is this normal? I've never even experienced Braxton Hicks. Maybe the baby will just slide out... or swim its way out the birth canal. Maybe I'll be one of the lucky ones who feel "no pain". Yea...

To Whine, or not to wine...

Wait, wait, wait... oh, and wait.

I don't feel any different today than I did last week. While relaxing in bed last night I started to visualize myself going into labor. I kept telling myself, "water- you can break now".

I really don't want to go too far past my due date. The closer I get to that DUE DATE the more I want the contractions to start... and I want them to start on their own. If I am 2 weeks past that date they will start to induce me, which means poking and drugs and membrane stripping and not what I want.

Inducing Labor

Not only do I NOT want to be induced, but I also don't want to push a 10 pound baby out the birth canal. It can be done-- my mother did it, but I don't want to relive that history. Scares me. So basically, the baby should come today.

Is there a Baby Dance I can do to get things going? Can I start pushing now?