Top 10

During Brody's first 3 weeks of life - here is what I love the most about being a mommy!

10. Waking up knowing my sweet baby boy is next to me in the basinet.

9. Hearing his little noises he makes

8. Watching him move and start to look towards noises

7. Staring at his sweet face

6. When he stops crying when I pick him up - knowing all he wanted was me.

5. When he wraps his hand around my finger.

4. His sweet smile

3. Knowing this little boy depends on me

2. Seeing Aaron and I's features in him

1. Holding and cuddling with him

I could list a lot more but hers just 10 :)

Mommyhood

Being a mom is the best! It really is. You hear it all the time from mom's, but you just don't get it until you are a mommy!

Brody is wonderful! The first week he didn't really fuss at all! Last week and today he has been more fussy but I feel very blessed because I know some babies cry all the time. Today he has been the fussiest and it hasn't been easy but we made it! :)

Aaron and I are trying not to hold him all the time especially if he is fussy for no reason (no temp, diaper changed, feed, burped, warm). It is really hard but we want him to learn how to soothe himself and not have to be held all the time when he is older.

I love getting cuddles from my little man. I love just holding him against my chest with him all curled up sleeping. Its the best. It is amazing how quickly you fall in love with your baby. I was afraid I would really miss the life Aaron and I had before Brody, but now I cannot imagine life without Brody. I mean I loved that time of my life and I do miss it some but I wouldnt trade having Brody for anything!

Aaron has done AMAZING with Brody! He is so patient and loving towards him and I love watching him interact with him!! I mean Aaron's first diaper to change was Brody's in the hospital. You would never know he hasn't really been around babies much.

Both moms came and helped for a week and it was great!! We are so tankful for them and really glad they came. Now it is just the three of us at home and we are learning our new normal. We are doing well! Brody slept for 6 hours last night and did great! I was a little nervous letting him sleep that long but I did (I woke up after 3 hours like normal just to check on him :)) I am waking up less with every noise he makes. I am learning that every noise doesn't mean he is dying :) I do still wake up to make sure he is breathing though. I know I will get better but I just have to check on my sweet boy! :)

He is eating well. Aaron got to feed him the first time last night. We are doing strictly breastmilk. Our pediatrician suggested we do 1 bottle a day starting at two weeks so they learn how to do both breast and bottle. He did great! Speaking of pediatrician, his 2 week appointment went great! He was 7.01 (he had gained 14 oz in 9 days!) Everything looked great. They did have to prick him to take blood for his two week scan. I'm not sure if it was worse for him or me. It was awful hearing him scream and not being able to help him! We haven't heard of any abnormal test which is good. No news is good news. Thank you Lord!

Suprisingly, we dont think he likes his swing very much. He usually gets fussy when we put him in it instead of calming down which is unusual. He also grunts a lot! He has this grunting noise he makes when he wakes up, when he is getting mad, and when he is hungry. It "his" noise.

I have been a mommy for 17 days now and it is flying by already! I love it a lot though and am enjoying every day with my little man! Thank you Lord for my little blessing!!!

I love being a Mommy!!

So, I wrote my last post on Thursday September 8th. Little did I know that the very next day, Brody would be arriving. Here is what happened.

Thursday was any normal day at school. I was busy and just working as usual. For some reason, during my conference period, I decided to make all my copies for next week, get everything ready for my long term sub when she came, and getting really organized. Honestly in the back of my head, I just kept thinking its going to be soon I need to be ready. Little did I know how soon.

After school, I had cheer practice with my girls until 4 pm. Aaron met me at the doctors office at 4:15 for our appointment. We really just thought it would be an in and out thing and confirming induction plans Sept 19. When the doctor came in she measured me as usual and I measured small again (I think 36 weeks is what she said). She said lets get an ultrasound. Aaron and I looked at each other and said, "Do we really need one?" Those things can be expensive and we only wanted it if she felt it really necessary. She said yes so we said OK! and we went to get it. The tech did all of her measurements and at the end i asked, is the fluid low again. She said yes and I asked, "really low, like bad low" she said yes but thats all she can say. She did say plan on going to the hospital to either get fluids through an IV or to have the baby soon. When we walked out we heard her tell the doctor the fluid was at a 4. 5 is not good and it was below that. The doctor came in and said we need to have that baby tonight. You need to go to the hospital at 10 pm. In my head I was thinking, "wait, what did you just say? Where having him like tonight???" He wasnt in immediate danger but didnt need to stay in. My fluid being low is what is called Oligohydramnios (you can google for more information). It can be serious and the doctor didnt want it there. I am thankful for that!

So Aaron and I left a little shocked trying to wrap our minds around what was about to happen. We made calls to family, ate dinner at Chick-Fil-A and went to get things ready to go. I took a shower to shave my legs and wash my hair and we just relaxed and watching Big Brother. The hospital called at 830 and said to call back at 930 because there might not be room. so i called at 930 and we were told to come in at 11. We got there and in a room right away. I got hooked up to my IV and the process started. I was 0 dilated, effaced, everything so we started the process to help this first.

I labored all night Thursday night but didnt really feel much. At 7 am I was still having contractions so the nurse, Gladys - who was amazing!!, let me labor without pitocin in 9:45. With no progression, we started Pitocin at 9:45 am. Things did get stronger but not super quick. I labored until 3:30 pm with little progression. At 3:30 I got the epidural. I totally recommend it. It is wonderful and didnt really hurt. It is a very strange sensation though to not be able to move your legs.

I still had little progression until about 7 pm. At 7 pm I started progressing a little and my family decided to go eat dinner quickly and Aaron and I would rest. At 8 pm I started feeling pressure so the nurse decided to check my progression and I was progressing well! By 8:30 I was a 10. By 8:51 Brody Scott Webster was here! The end progression was quick!

Brody did wonderful the whole time. His heart rate stayed great. Again, we praise the Lord for this and we know that He was right there with our little man.

It was a wonderful experience. It really was. Having a baby is such a miracle and a thing that is just an experience you cant describe. Aaron was so strong and supportive through it all!! My family and his family were there and so wonderful too!! My sis and my mom helped through so much too!

Being a mom is so much more than I thought possible. It is such a joy and I feel so blessed. I thank the Lord often for this blessing, his health, and my health. The Lord was there with me the entire time and I felt many prayers - thanks to all for those!

I dont feel like I could be more in love with my little boy because I already love him so much, but I know I will!

Home has been good. Sleeping is rough and Aaron and I are exhausted. We knew this would come but its still tiring. Everyone said sleep while you can and its true but at the same time I dont think sleeping before a baby comes could prepare you for it. It is tough but so worth it!!!

We went to his pediatrician today and he is doing wonderful. He has a little Jaundice but nothing to bad. We love our ped and couldnt be happier with him!!!! He has gained 1.5 ounces since coming home Sunday which is great. Our little boy is a tropper!

I love my little family so much! Thank you so much to our families who dropped everything Thursday evening and came for this special event for us. We could not have done it without you!!! Be prepared for my blog to be full about my sweet Brody.

Brody Scott Webster

Born September 9, 2011

6 lbs 9 oz

18 1/2 long

So blessed! Just cant say it enough. Thank you Lord!!

38 Weeks! Only 2 left!!!

Pregnancy Highlights:

Weeks: 38

Fruit/Veggie: Weight of watermelon/length of a leek

Baby Changes: Brody is really plumping up. He should be around 6.8 pounds and about 19 1/2 inches long. He can now grasp firmly and his organs have matured and are ready for life outside my belly. His belly is still producing meconium. His fingernails have grown quite a bit. Amniotic fluid is slowly decreasing during week 38. Brody's bones in his arms and legs have hardened. His bones in his skull wont harden until after birth.

Movement: He still is moving a lot! Its more of rolls and jabs since he cant kick but I can still feel and see my little man moving! LOVE IT!

Symptoms: I have been having some cramping and a few contractions here and there but nothing consistent enough to take me to the hospital. Hopefully soon it will be though. We are very ready to meet our little man! I am just trying to take it easy.

Sleep: Sleeping well! I have been blessed in this area! Although I am up at least once a night, sometimes more, I can usually go right back to sleep. Hopefully this will last until he is here since sleep wont be happening much after he is born.

Daddy Update: Dad is doing well! He is for sure ready for this little guy to get here. I say it everytime, but he has been such a huge support for me!! I cant wait to see him hold Brody for the first time!

News: No big news now. Just waiting for the little guy to arrive. I had an appointment last Thursday and measured 37 1/2 weeks and his heart rate was in the 130s so it all looked great! I have another appointment today so hopefully it will go good and we will see if anything is progressing!

Days until Brody's due: 10 days!

Mommy to be!