Tuesday, September 30, 2014

More visiting

The girls came back later that day for some more visiting.  The curtain was a huge hit - they ran in circles around it and hid in it and generally made us think they were going to pull it down any second.  Eventually we convinced them to come see the baby for a bit, and I got brave and let them get up on the bed with me.  Charlotte I knew would be careful with my tummy, Paige not so much.  But it went really well.  I think it actually worried Charlotte to see me in a hospital setting.  She was very concerned and hesitant to get near me.  I guess I prepared her for the c-section a little too well!
















The first bath


Look at that peaceful, sleeping baby.  Poor thing has no idea what is about to happen to him.  The first bath is so wonderful and horrible at the same time.  They always cry so hysterically, but mmmm, they smell so good and feel so smooth when they are done!







Showing off his hair-do



Happy mommy!  You can only listen to your infant cry for so long...

Meeting brother

The girls came to meet their brother the same day he was born.  They thought he was really cool - for about 10 minutes.  Then they started wandering around the room, noticing other things.  Charlotte noticed my IV, Paige noticed my ice.  The ice (in a cup, to make sure I could hold down liquids) ended up being the big hit of the day.  Don't you just love 2 year olds?

These pics may get repetitive for you guys, but I could not leave a single one out.  There is nothing like watching your children meet their new sibling!









Paige kept pointing to the baby and saying, "Baby!"









He's here!

It's official, Baby #3 is a BOY!!  Jacob Wyatt West was born on Sept. 24, 2014 at 8:02 in the morning.  He weighed 7 pounds, 4 oz and was 20 1/4 inch long.

It was so much fun to wait and see until the birth.  We were both so surprised!  I think both Koby and I were pretty sure it was a girl, although when asked Koby always guessed boy.  I always guessed girl.  Even a day or two after he was born, I kept looking at Koby going, "I can't believe we had a boy!"

The c-section went totally fine, and I was even able to sleep like a rock the night before.  We had to be at the hospital by 5:30 am to prep for everything, and when my alarm went off at 4:30 I almost hit snooze.  But my vanity overrode my sleepiness and I fixed my hair and makeup.

The whole morning felt so surreal, it really didn't seem like we were about to meet our baby.  It quickly turned into reality when it was time to get my spinal - so scary!  After that, I was laying on the table, looking at Koby and we were just waiting and waiting, and then the anesthesia person told Koby to stand up and look and he just barely peeked over the curtain, then sat down again.  Jacob's head was out (after a LOT of pushing - he was really hard to get out.  They even used a vacuum to help them!) but not his shoulders.  The tech told him to look again and he watched as they pulled out his shoulders.  Then my doctor told him not to look while they pulled the rest of him out so we could find out together.

And then....wow, what a surprise.  She held Jacob up over the curtain so we could see, but it was very quick because he was peeing!  Starting life right, I guess.  They took him over to clear out his lungs (he had fluid in them because he missed all the squeezing of a true labor).  I remember seeing a huge grin on Koby's face, then I couldn't really see anything else because I started crying and just could NOT stop.  (Happy tears, of course!

This time they let me hold him right there in the operating room.  Very cool!  With the girls, I didn't get to hold them (or even see them) for a few hours.  But I got to hold him this time and all I could think is that he looked like a little old man, or maybe a tomato.  So sweet, I know.  They took me to recovery and I got to hold him there as well.  He actually stayed with me almost the whole time in recovery.  It was totally awesome, just like the birth of your first son should be!

The day before Jacob's birth:


My last few moments with a pregnant belly! 

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Beach post part 2

Here are the rest of the pictures from the beach.  We stopped to have some lunch, then played with toys for a while.








Soon the birds came cozying up looking for leftover lunch handouts and the girls had lots of fun chasing them.  Luckily no one got pooped on!






By the afternoon the shallow water was their favorite place to play and lay down.  The water itself felt great, but it was so breezy, by the time Paige was done rolling in the surf her lips were practically blue!










While she laid down in the sand, Paige sang at the top of her lungs.  Songs of choice: Let It Go and Old MacDonald.