Success!

Today I had my first successful outing just the two boys and me. I was determined we were going out today (after all it was 25 degrees at 10:30am, you've got to cease the moment). Also, Joe had already been in timeout four times this morning. His behavior was just increasing my desire to get out of the house. But, I wasn't going to go out without taking a shower. So I had Joe take a bath while I took a shower and William was asleep. I got Joe and myself dressed. Then I changed the baby and got him dressed and bundled up, complete with shoes and a hat. Then I loaded him up in the car seat and stuck the car seat in the stroller. Joe flipped out. Apparently he doesn't like the idea of the baby in his stroller.

My original plan was to push the baby and let Joe walk around outside. Obviously that wasn't going to fly so I got the baby carrier, took the baby out of the stroller and car seat, put him in the carrier and strapped the carrier to me. In the meantime Joe manages to spill water all over his pants. So we changed his pants and put on his socks and shoes and coat, and he climbed into the stroller. I bundled up me and the baby. I decided since we were out and Joe was contained, we might as well walk to the botanical gardens that are practically next door. We make it down the hill and the gate for walkers is frozen shut! Now, I wouldn't mind going through the car entrance except it has a cattle grate which makes it difficult to cross with a stroller. But, I was also determined we would make it to our destination so I start to cross with the stroller. It was going slowly, with much difficulty. Thankfully, a sweet couple (not old, but not exactly young and spry either) pull over and help me carry the stroller over the grate. It wasn't exactly easy for them to navigate the grate. And I was pretty embarrassed.

Finally, we make it to the gardens. The indoor exhibit was beautiful and we headed home. The gate was still frozen shut, but the gate-keeper, or whatever the guys job is who sits in his truck next to the entrance all the time, kindly helped me carry the stroller back over the grate and we made it home.

So, it might not have been far, but I felt like it was a pretty big accomplishment. I might actually be able to do this whole mom of two thing...

Three Weeks Old!

Here's the handsome guy. I can't believe he is three and a half weeks old already. Time is flying by.

He loves bath time until he has to get out.

Wide awake

A rare moment where Joseph was sitting next to the baby without poking, hitting, prodding, or body slamming. Any suggestions on how to teach a 20 month old how to be soft? They would be quickly welcomed.

The first week...

my mom was here, which pretty much saved me. Her flight came in and just a couple hours later she picked me up from the hospital. It was perfect timing. Zach and Joseph were both sick. That means my little Joe Joe was super grouchy, and Zach was tired and sleeping downstairs so he wouldn't get me or the baby sick, and both of them had to keep their distance from the baby. My mom did so much while she was here; dishes, laundry, entertaining Joe, letting me sleep in, cooking, rocking the baby, more housework... you get the idea. And when she left our house was clean and our freezer was full of meals we just have to heat up. Not to mention I had her company (there's no one quite like your mom, you know?). Thanks mom for coming! You were a lifesaver!

William Noel Taylor

Well, our little angel has arrived. I should probably be sleeping right now, but I want to write down the birth story while it's still kind of fresh in my mind, something I failed to do with Joe.

So Monday I had an appointment. My mom was coming in town Wednesday, and staying for only a week, so I told the Dr. I would like to be induced Friday if he hadn't been born by then. He said that was fine. I really wanted to go into labor on my own, but I would rather be induced and have my mom there for a couple of days than wait, and have her only be there the day he was born, or miss him completely. The Dr. stripped my membranes. I was hoping it would do something, but was skeptical, because I had that done with Joe, and he still wasn't born until more than a week later. So I was convinced that he wasn't going to get here until Friday.

Monday afternoon I had some contractions that were a little more uncomfortable than normal, but I didn't think anything of it. Dinner came around and I jokingly told Zach maybe we would be going to the hospital that night. The contractions were getting more painful, but I was convinced it was a fluke. We put Joe down, I went to the grocery store and bought some things to fix dinner for the week. We went to bed around eleven. I was trying to sleep but by midnight I had had at least four more contractions. I got up several times after that. Finally, I thought, if I can't sleep I might as well pack a hospital bag so we're ready. I also filled out our hospital pre-registration that should have been done ages ago, but I thought I had until the end of the week. I was trying to time the contractions, but some were as many as ten minutes apart, so I was convincing myself there was no way this could be it. The pain was also much more in my abdomen than it was when I had Joe. When I had Joe I felt it in my back.

Finally, at 2:30 am I told Zach I thought we needed to go to the hospital. He asked if I was sure, which I wasn't so he suggested I time for a little bit longer. 3:00 am, I tell him I really think we should go. So we finish getting ready, call our neighbor to listen for Joe and head out the door.

We get to the hospital at 3:45 am and try and find where we register. I'm feeling very glad we made the decision to go to the hospital at this point. They ask me if I want an epidural. I let them know I wasn't planning on it. I get checked around 4am. The bag of waters is bulging and very much in the way, so a second nurse checks me around 4:15. She thinks I'm 7cm dilated. Ten minutes later I say that I know someone just checked me, but could you please check again, I'm feeling like I need to push. The resident checks me. Yep. Complete. They wheel in a delivery cart. My Dr. isn't here yet, so they tell me to breathe through the contractions. "You are in control" they say. So I try to breathe through the contractions. Let me tell you, when your body wants to push it is near impossible not to. So I give in on one contraction, just little bit and pushed (really it was just me allowing my body to push) and my water broke. Relief for a brief second. They are still telling me not to push. I keep telling them I can't. This was by far the hardest part. This is also the only time I yelled. Just once. Trying not to push when you are having pushing contractions is insane. If I am ever in this situation again I am telling them, no thank you, I am pushing. Zach was awesome through all of it. He helped me stay calm and breathe when what I really wanted to do was push. Finally, the resident gives me the okay to push (I think they realized at this point there was no way the Dr. was going to make it in time). She tells me to push once. I push, and look up and the baby's head is out! Half a push later he is born and laying on my tummy.

William Noel Taylor. Born at 4:50 am. 7 lbs 5 oz. It was amazing. The human body is incredible. And having a baby is a miracle.

Coming home