“You delivered like he’s your fifth!”

Well, for those of you not joined at the hip to Facebook…

Moses Anderson Douglas Ramsey III

Born April 8, 2010 at 8:23 pm

7lbs 5oz

20.5″ long

HE IS PERFECT!!!

The gory details (not that bad, I promise):

Wednesday night, I dreamt that I was in labor. I woke up to take Moses to work around six, feeling queasy. By the time I got back home around seven, I tried to go back to sleep, but realized I was having contractions about five minutes apart. Looking back, I was probably in labor all night, but slept through it. Yes, it is possible that I slept through the first few hours of labor.

By ten, my contractions were about three minutes apart, but lasting only thirty seconds or so. I took a bath, and took Ollie to Sudden Valley, since the boys are watching him for me until I leave the hospital.

I picked Moses up around noon. I called him to let him know I was there, but he didn’t answer. It was fine, because I walked around the parking lot. Unfortunately for him, he called me back in the midst of a contraction. I’m afraid I was not the nicest person to him when I told him to either leave work then, or find another way home.

We called the hospital on our way back to Bellingham. Since I was four cm dilated at my doctor appointment on Wednesday, the nurse had us come in to see if I was ready to go. We stopped at the house to get my stuff, and headed in.

In triage, they decided I was a “keeper” and got me checked in. I was 5cm dilated at that point, contractions every two minutes apart.

I had still not decided about pain meds, and I was a trooper until 7cm contractions still every two minutes apart. It was about 5pm, and I was planning on having to push for a few hours, and really wanted some sleep. I went ahead and got the epidural (DRUGS ARE AMAZING). It was only totally effective on my right side, but it was enough to let me sleep for an hour or so.

The grandmas (henceforth Noni and Nana) were both at the hospital by seven thirty, and around eight fifteen, Dr. Wagoner came in to have me start pushing.

Seven minutes later, my son was born! I believe I pushed a grand total of nine times. Maybe ten.

The nurses said I delivered like I had had five kids. I just think I follow directions well.

You may hate me.

Particularly because we discovered shortly thereafter that I managed to get through my entire labor and delivery with no stretch marks, and no stitches!

Needless to say, thusfar, I am exceedingly pleased with my son. He is making me a happy mama. Especially after only waking up twice last night. And I’m not even that sore today!

Oh. And Moses cried when his son was born. Don’t listen to him if he says otherwise.

I’ll post pictures in a few days.

We will be in the hospital until tomorrow morning, learning to nurse, etc.

Thanks for all the cards/messages/visits! I can’t wait for everyone to meet him!

Baby Room

I Love It!

Its the (Kinda) Final countdown!

Until scheduled arrival: T minus 13 days.

Not that you would know it from baby’s very comfortable (for him) location with each heel firmly planted underneath my ribcage.

Yesterday was my last baby shower, thrown by the ladies of Semiahmoo. I have to say that, over the last month, I have been overwhelmed by the amazing outpouring of support and generosity from the people in every area of my life. The welcome that this baby has already received makes me think that there is no way that this baby won’t have an amazing and blessed life, because he has already started out with so much support!

I just hope he is cool enough for his room and supplies.

The shower was held at one of my customer’s houses who happens to have a six year old and twin three year olds, all girls. The girls came down during present time, and, as the twins were “helping” me open presents, one of them asked me,

“Miss Heidi, how many minutes until your baby comes out of your tummy?”

To which I replied, “I would LOVE to know how many minutes!”

It was very entertaining, as you can probably imagine. On top of the entertainment, being around the little ones just made me more excited thinking about all of the things the baby is going to say (eventually) that will be equally witty and amusing.

Its funny, I’m VERY ready for the baby to be here, as I am sure/know everyone around me is too. I’m not scared about labor, because I feel like it is going to happen whether I am scared or not, so I don’t feel like wasting my energy on the emotion. I” exciting to meet my little man, to get to know his personality, see who he looks like, acts like, what his quirks are, etc. Come meet your mama, little man!

But what IS still crazy to think about for me is having a three year old. and a first grader. and a middle schooler (God help me). The ladies at the shower yesterday put together a mini-journal for me, with each of them offering a bit of mothering advice. What I read more than anything else was to enjoy the moments, because they fly by, and soon you don’t know where the time went.

Since time feels like it is moving so slowly right now (waiting, waiting, waiting…) I think that it was the perfect time for me to hear/rehear this advice. It helped me remember that, in spite of how ready I am to

a) Not be preggo anymore

and

b) meet my son

and

c) Be able to hand him off to others to hold (or at least have the option)

This time in my life, feeling the baby move, watching my belly move as he does, knowing that my life is going to change so much so soon, is also pretty spectacularly special. I told one woman yesterday that I still appreciate having him all to myself every once in a while. As much as I am anxious for everyone to meet him, and vice versa, These final days of pregnancy are pretty special too.

I am so thankful I still feel good enough to enjoy them.

How’s that for appreciating the moments, ladies?

no baby

this week. He is moving further into my lungs (ie, “UP” rather than “DOWN”)

Apparently he is liking his home inside, and feels no rush to be introduced to his home outside my body.

sigh.

Yes, I’m still pregnant.

preggo pictures

Things that go BUMP! in the night

Oh, pregnancy. How you run my life these days!

It is amazing how in just a week you can go from being a happy pregnant lady content in the world and your status as a vessel to being DONE. Finshed. Finito. Ready to have your body back. Ready to meet the head that uses your bladder as a pillow, and the feet that have found permanent resting spots on each lung.

I am SO SO SO SO SO thankful to everyone who as planned and participated in baby showers this month. Without them to occupy me and entertain me, this month would be insanely long. And I probably would not have had any friends coming out on the other side of it.

lets see…

The nursery has a monkey on the wall. And vines. Its not finished yet, so I will wait to post photos, as it currently looks like a tornado survivors cardboard box, with all of the odds and ends of their life stuffed into it, but the mural is going to be amazing. Jesse is giving the baby one heck of a welcome-to-the-world present!

I had no idea that my belly could move in the many varied ways that the baby now contorts it into. Not to worry, though, we are still friends with each other, most of the time, as he has not seen fit to gift me with stretch marks. Yet. Nor will he. We have had very serious talks on the subjects, such as:

“Hey baby!”

(bump below left rib)

“Yes, I know you are awake. Kick all you like, but come out before my skin scars, ok?”

(two kick-bumps below right ribs and a body roll)

“Thanks. I love you too.”

[end scene]

So far, so good.

Speaking of kicking, you know that scene in Dirty Dancing when Patrick Swayze tells Baby “This, is my dance space. You stay in your dance space, I stay in mine.” The baby will see this movie, because I know understand Patrick on a whole new level. The baby has my entire abdomen, including my sides (if you know where my organs are, please let me know). I believe my lungs should be MY dance space. Baby is still working on this.

27 days till D (due) Date! (not that I’m counting)

question of the day

since the baby’s home now extends well into both of my sides, from my ribcage to my pelvis, where, exactly, have all my organs gone???