As I write this, I'm sitting in our apartment in Chicago, IL. We've been here about 6 weeks now, but the details of that are for a different time. Blake has a late night of work so thought I would write about our newest addition to the family:
Howard Beck Day.
For those of you on instagram, you may have seen/read about how we traveled to the Oregon Coast for Thanksgiving even though I was 4 cm dilated already. I selfishly really wanted to go on the trip and since I didn't have any labor signs and Molly didn't come on her own, I felt good about going. Once we were safe and sound at home though, I was ready to not be pregnant anymore!
I had my appointment on Wednesday, November 28 and my doctor said I was measuring a little big. I asked if she thought it might be an ok idea to be induced to prevent him from getting too big for me to deliver him. She said it wouldn't be a bad idea and that I could be induced any time that weekend.
(side note: I was going to be induced with Molly on her due date but due to the number of women going into labor on their own, they weren't able to take me until a week later at 41 weeks.)
Blake and I were skeptical that I'd actually get to go in on Friday, November 30 so we didn't really tell anyone that was the plan, except for Blake's mom, until we knew for sure. I spent Thursday evening, November 29, with my girlfriends. We ate at the Dodo and painted nails and talked. I didn't get home until after midnight and didn't sleep well. I called the hospital at 6 AM expecting them to turn me away but they said YES! We gave Blake's mom a call right away and she made her way up to Salt Lake so she could watch Molly.
This is our last picture as a family of 3, right before we left for the hospital.
With Molly's delivery, it was about 12 hours start to finish. I remember taking several naps after getting my epidural and relaxing with Blake. A very pleasant experience, honestly. So I was kind of expecting the same thing, maybe a little shorter. They started me on pitocin at 9 AM and broke my water at 9:30 AM. I had my epidural soon after that and it took them a couple tries which was a bit painful but worked in the end. I slept for about 45 min and woke up when my nurse came to check me.
Baby's heartbeat dropped a little so my doctor wanted the nurse to place a monitor to see how strong my contractions were. She went to get some supplies but when she went to place it she said, "just kidding, we're not going to place this because you're ready to deliver!" So, they called my doc right over and we got ready for delivery. It was probably 11:30 at this point and I was a little bit in shock that we were going to have a baby so quickly. It was 3 hours start to finish. Howard was born at 12:02 PM and was 7 lbs. 15 oz.
As he was being delivered, I remember my doctor saying, "Look at those legs, they're still coming!" Apparently Howard's legs were super long. I'm lucky to have had such smooth labors and deliveries with my babies. It makes the hours afterward so enjoyable. Babies are such miracles.
I delivered at LDS hospital in Salt Lake and over the course of my hospital stay I had lots of staff helping me and actually had two women take care of me who had helped me after Molly's delivery. The same woman who gave Molly her first bath, gave Howard his first bath. I thought that was pretty neat. (FYI, I loved my experience at LDS hospital)
Howard shares his first name with my Dad. We love that it's a family name and that it's not so common. Not to mention, he has the same name as the famous musical artist, Howie Day, who wrote "Collide." (Blake and I may have performed this musical number for the family talent show two weeks prior.) His middle name is Blake's grandmother's maiden name.
I stayed two nights in the hospital when Molly was born but we got a little stir crazy so we went home the next day with Howard.
Molly came and met Howard in the hospital but wasn't quite sure about him. I think the whole hospital environment felt a little strange to her, but ever since we brought him home, she's been a real fan. She loooooves saying his name. "Howaaaard, howaaard, howaaard." It's all very sing songy and we can't get enough of it.
I was lucky enough to be pregnant at the same time as my dear friend and neighbor across the street. She had her baby girl two weeks after Howard was born and I'm sad that we don't get to celebrate all their milestones together in Utah.
We traveled to California when Howard was 4 weeks old and he got to meet his namesake. I think they look alike. Identical bald heads =). And just some photos I've dumped here. Enjoy!
