Birth Story: Henry James Muir

(Funny story: This isn't the original post...I had a very detailed story all typed out, and then I realized that most of you probably don't want the gory details, and even more of you are just here for the cute baby pictures. So I saved you some trouble, and here is the shortened version of Henry's birth story!)
 

August 13, 2015 is one day I know I can never forget. I have never experienced more emotions at once, than I did on that remarkable day, the day my sweet baby came into this world.

This isn't your typical birth story, but what really is "typical" anyway?

With recommendations from my doctor, lots of prayers from us and our family, a couple blessings from my husband, and lots of pro and con lists...we had our baby induced a week early. I know a lot of people might disagree with our decision, but we listened to our hearts and set up the appointment...the day before.

Thursday morning at 7:30, we walked through the doors of the hospital with our carefully packed bags, sweaty palms, and anticipation for what lay ahead.

Once in the room, it all happened quickly. I changed into my gown, had my husband give me my billionth blessing of the week, and then settled into my bed. They stuck my IV in, poked and prodded, and had me sign endless piles of paperwork. By the time they actually got the pitocin going I was dilated 3 cm, and 90% effaced, so this baby was ahead of us and the induction!

Around 4:30 it was time for baby to make his way out.

It all happened SO fast!

After a couple pushes the baby's heart rate started to drop...the cord was being pressed up against his chest, making it hard to breathe. I was a little in shock, but I can only remember one feeling...one emotion, that existed in me during those moments...terror. Between each push, when I was supposed to be focusing on breathing I couldn't do anything but ask if the baby, MY baby, was alright. The nurses kept saying he would be fine, but that we needed to get his heart rate up...which, of course, I took to mean that he was not fine and gave me strength I didn't know I had.

With a little help from the doctor and a pair of scissors...he came out in one more push. The entire crazy process took no more that 15-20 minutes...

Henry James Muir officially entered this world at 4:55 pm.

As soon as I saw the tiny body that I had created within my own, and heard the perfect sound of his healthy cry, I erupted into the tears that I had been holding back since 7:30 that morning.

They wrapped him in a towel and placed him on my chest.

I continued to cry as I laid there looking at the perfect face resting on my chest, and my husband leaned over the two of us stroking my hair and kissing our baby OUR baby.

All the fear, anxiety, pain, exhaustion, love, joy, anticipation, and every other emotion we had experienced that day came out in an explosion of feelings. Kirby and I talk about that moment all the time now, and have yet to find the words to describe the way we felt as we saw, touched, and kissed for the first time, the baby we had been waiting for for 9 months.

Henry James Muir:
Born: August 13, 2015 in Lewisville, Texas
Weight: 7 pounds, 8.3 ounces
Length: 20.5 inches
Perfection Grade: 100%

{My entire left side went COMPLETELY numb from the epidural, as you can see in my face! I couldn't open my left eye all the way OR really smile on that half either. I thought I was paralyzed...}

  {Check out that pinky!}

 

 {The doctors/nurses could not get over how strong this boy has been since day one! The second the placed him on the scale he rolled over and tried to pull himself out.}

{Kirby has always slept like he is in a swaddle...all tucked in with just his head sticking out. The similarity was killing me!}

{The instant bond between these two might have had me a little jealous if I wasn't so obsessed with this father/son combo}

 {Kirby is the master swaddler}

{This is totally candid, Kirby was so surprised when he found this on my camera. I can't get over how happy our baby makes my sweetheart of a husband}

 {We are so happy that Uncle Keegan and Krista were able to come visit in the hospital!}

 

 {This kid LOVES getting clean}

{I am obsessed with him}

Looking back on the first few days with our precious little boy I forget the pain and exhaustion... I only remember the love and amazement we felt.

And I wouldn't trade these moments for the world.

Farewell to the Bump - Photoshoot

A couple days before I hit my 39 week mark, and our beautiful baby joined us, we took some pictures of the big old belly. I'm not going to lie...I kind of miss it. So here they are, farewell bump!

Pregnancy Recap

1st Semester

Big News:
Well...we are having a BABY, that is some pretty big news. We are loving the cute little peanut on the ultrasound pictures...and that tiny heart beat is the sweetest thing!

Movements:
We haven't felt any baby movements quite yet.

Body Changes:
I now have a tiny belly, mostly I just look like I am constantly bloated.

Cravings:
I just can't get enough of those cool ranch Doritos, lemonade, or peach passion Jamba Juice!

Aversions:
Don't even say the word pesto around me (just typing this is making me stomach churn).

Complaints:
Morning sickness
Nausea all day
Soooo unbelievably tired
Sacroiliac joint pain

Life Events: I started my student teaching with a 6th grade class!

2nd Semester
(more detailed report in this post)

 

Big News:
It's a BOY!

Movements:
We felt the first little movements on Easter, and he has been dancing since!

Body Changes:
I look like a ball is stuffed under my shirt, and my belly button started to become an outie near the end of this trimester!

Cravings:
Berries and Peach Jamba Juice

Aversions:
Anything too seasoned or spicy leaves me with crazy heartburn.

Complaints/Symptoms:
Morning Sickness
Constant Nausea
Heartburn
Contractions whenever I change positions or have a full bladder.

Life Events:
I'm officially a college graduate! YAY! And we moved to Texas! YAY!

3rd Semester 

Big News:
I was dilated to 1 cm at 37 weeks. I also had an extra ultrasound which showed baby was already 7 lbs!
At my 38 week check-up I was dilated to a little over 2.5 cm! I told the midwife that I feel like this baby will come early (really I just want him to be here so I read into every little thing and take it as a sign of oncoming labor)...and she said she does too! She told me she is adding me to her "watch list."

Movements:
Hiccups are so cute and started at about week 30.
The last few weeks I could feel his little hands moving in my pelvis!

Body changes:
Crazy big belly!
At about week 34, faint and tiny stretch marks appeared on my sides (I thought I was going to be safe but they snuck up on me! luckily they are not very noticeable)
My belly started shrinking after week 36 because little boy was getting so low!
I lost the "plug" on August 6th...the first day of week 38.

Cravings:
Bagels with strawberry cream cheese.
Cooked carrots
Orange Juice

Aversions:
Just that dang pesto!

Complaints/Symptoms:
Morning sickness officially ended at week 35...but had died down considerably before that!
Sacroiliac joint pain off the charts! My sweet husband has had to carry a hysterical me to the toilet in the middle of the night a couple of times
Sore back.
My feet start to swell a little if I am on them for too long, but nothing too crazy.
Some days I have to go without wearing my wedding ring because my fingers are a little swollen...but I blame part of that on the heat too.
I LITERALLY pee 5-7 times a night.
Nesting is a real thing guys!
Exhaustion.

Life Events:
My sister got engaged!

This last trimester I napped almost every day. I also had so much fun washing and folding all the teeny baby clothes! I started packing my bag for the hospital at 35 weeks and have been slowly adding to it as the day gets closer (some things I just couldn't have packed away for 5 weeks so I kept them easily accessible still, and on a list of "last minute grabs" so that I wouldn't forget anything, and just in case Kirby had to grab them for me he would know just what to do).

I honestly have convinced myself that I was about the have this baby several times...I'm apparently not going to be patient until he is here.

(don't be fooled into thinking I kept up my pre-baby gym routine by the workout attire...These were probably 2 of the only times I actually went! With being sick the whole time, and the Sacroiliac joint pain I became a bag full of excuses.)

 

A July in Dallas

Guys, is it just me, or did July fly by WAY too quickly?? How is it already August?? I'm honest baffled. July was hot, but that's a given. I seriously want to cry for my husband every time I walk outside. I don't know how he can walk in this 100+ heat all day every day, I sure do appreciate his many sacrifices to give us a good life. 

This past month we celebrated the 4th of July, as explained in this post...and it was marvelous.

Also HUGE shout-out to my husband who killed it at selling this past month. Blessings are real people.

 

And speaking of blessings...I also won a couple instagram giveaways (yes I am one of those people...but come on, babies are spendy!) How crazy is that though? They actually work! So now we get a free photoshoot when we get back to Idaho, a gift card to Oilo studios for some cute nursery decor, an awesome nursing/car seat cover, and a $200 diaper bag! Yay!

 

And naturally we went on our regular date nights (trying to fit them in before baby comes)! We're talking our favorite taco places, trying new restaurants, one massive water slide, a dine-in movie, and more.

 Ok ok I know, not the most attractive picture of me, but Kirby is just too cute, even when he is being silly and just went off the craziest water slide.

           Then of course we celebrated my hunk of a husband and his 29th year (details over here).

Other than that we have just been prepping for baby and soaking up every bit of time we have to cuddle and talk and just relax as the two of us!

Now on to August...quite possibly the biggest month of our lives!!