Merry Christmas!

From my family to yours we pray that you all have a Merry, blessed Christmas!

One Month

Can you believe that it's been a MONTH since Tristan graced us with his perfect little face? I can't believe it. It's been a blur of days and nights and I'm shocked that it's been a month since we added the newest blessing to our family.

A LOT has gone on in this last month. Here's the run-down:

1. Tristan now weighs 9 pounds 1 ounce and is 21 inches long. That's a 2 inch growth and almost 3 pounds added!

2. Tristan has found his voice. Here's a video to prove it:

3. Tristan has also learned to roll from his tummy to his back. I know, I know....hard to believe, but I swear it's the truth! He mastered this skill just a few days ago and I even caught it on video! Here is the proof:

4. Here are some recent pics of Tristan:

Well, that's all I have for now. Tristan is waking up and fussing for my attention!

Tristan's Birth Story

Here is my birth story! Forgive any typos....I'm typing with one hand while feeding Tristan!

I had been having contractions all night Wednesday night. They were strong, but not close together so I slept as much as I could in between. Around 5:30 am I woke hubby and told him that we were having a baby today because the contractions had increased in intensity and were anywhere from 3 to 6 minutes apart. They got a lot closer together and were no more than 4 minutes apart so we called my mother in law to come and wait with the other kids until their bus got here. In the mean time i called my mother to come up since she was going to be with me and hubby while we were laboring and delivering.

We got to the hospital around 7:30 am and got checked in and went up to L&D. They, of course, hooked me up to the monitors and checked me....dilated only to a 3 at that time. The nurse that was assigned to me was a real bitch and wouldn't listen to me that she had the monitor on my belly wrong because it wasn't picking up all of my contractions. I mean, this is not my first baby...I know what REAL contractions feel like. The nurse came in and said they were sending me home because I had been there an hour and had no progress and the contractions weren't close enough (we were timing them still.....they were 3 minutes and less apart while I was walking around but slowed once they made me lay flat on my back to "monitor" me). The real deal was that they had no rooms available and i wasn't progressing fast enough for them. We left and got lunch and went home. That was around noon.

I labored at home all afternoon with contractions still around 3 minutes apart. At about 5:15, the contractions got super intense so hubby took the older kids across the alley to mother in law's house and we got back in the van and headed to the hospital. We got to the hospital with contractions only 1 minute apart and super intense. I could not even get from the van to the door so my mom went in and got a nurse to come out with a wheelchair. Hubby went inside and got me checked back in. We waited for 5 minutes for the nurse from L&D to come down and get us and the pressure got so intense that the check-in lady got nervous and called L&D again to tell them to hurry! lol.

We got up to L&D and into the observation room. The nurse told me to get undressed quickly so she could check me really quickly. She did and I was dilated to a 7 and having contractions on top of each other. I was also having TERRIBLE back labor (had been all afternoon). Decided that an epidural was for me. I could take the contraction pain, but the back labor for hours on end was just too much. They rushed me into a room where they are getting everything ready for delivery. They hook me up to the monitors while I stand and sway through the contractions, since that was the only thing that helped with the back labor.

Once the monitors were on, they saw that baby's heartrate went up to the 200s when I had a contraction so they had me get in the bed on my side. As soon as I did I had a HUGE urge to push, told the nurse and just as she went to check me, my water broke. She went ahead and checked and I was at a 10 and baby was starting to crown. They called the doc, who rushed in. She told me quickly that they will have to take the baby to the warmer and take care of him as soon as he came out because there was meconium in my water. I, of course, start to worry, but don't have much time to dwell on that. The nurse asked if I wanted pain meds and I, of course, said yes (I was hurting bad!). She gave me a tiny bit in the IV that they put in (since I had said I wanted an epi, they put the IV in....never got an epi, though). As soon as the doc got sat down at the end of my bed I HAD to push.

I pushed 2 times and my little man came FLYING out! (and OMG, I totally forgot about the ring of fire you get when they are coming out!! lol.) It took him a second, but he started crying on his own. He was born at 6:41 pm. We were only in the labor and delivery room for 11 minutes before he came! I had a tiny tear that didn't even require stitches.

Tristan weighed 6 lbs 4 oz and was 19.25 inches long. He was perfectly fine, no issues at all because of the meconium in my water (doc says that labor was so fast that he didn't have enough time to inhale too much of it to cause problems). He's an angel and taking to breast feeding like a pro after a little issue with not latching correctly for the first 12 hours (used a nipple shield to get him started, now he doesn't need it!).

He had his first appointment yesterday and has gained 3 ounces since we were discharged from the hospital on Friday. I'm doing great. Don't even feel like I just had a baby 5 days ago!! I did have a tiny bit of pain meds during delivery, but they didn't take effect until after baby was born, so I DID have a natural birth after all!! I didn't get a midwife either, because there was no midwife on call that day! But the doc I had was great!

Here is a link to all the pics we have loaded so far of Tristan. We didn't get ANY pics of the delivery because it was just so darn fast!

http://picasaweb.google.com/prettywoman030981/Tristan?feat=directlink

Introducing.....

Tristan Kent!!!!

Tristan was born Thursday night at 6:41 pm. He weighed 6 lbs. 4oz. And is 19.25 inches long! He has a head full of brown hair and beautiful blue eyes. He came REALLY fast. We took the other kids to my inlaws at 5:30 Thursday night and headed to the hospital with contractions 3 minutes apart. By the time we got to the hospital (only a 10 minute drive) the contractions were a minute apart. Got up to observation and I was dilated to a 7 and had an insane amount of pressure. They rushed me to a room and 11 minutes after we walked into that room, Tristan was here! I only had to push twice!

There is more to this story and I will update that when I've had a chance to rest some more! We are all so happy he's finally here! He is precious and we already love him so much!

Baby bump: 37 weeks pregnant

Here I am at 37 weeks 1 day. ANXIOUSLY awaiting Tristan's arrival.

Dropping Babies!

NOT literally. I'm not over here dropping babies, but my belly has dropped!

I wish I had a "before" pic to show, but just imagine it: the top of my belly was a shelf for my boobs just yesterday morning.

And this is what my belly looked like yesterday evening (at 35 weeks 3 days):

We have a dropping baby!!!

Baby Size and Development: Week 33-36 (month 8)

This is month 8.

Our baby is about the size of a honeydew.

Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month.

Update

I've been slacking a little on updating here. A lot has been going on. We have about 8 weeks left to go and it is just FLYING by! I can't wait for Tristan to be here and am so excited to be able to hold and love on my little man in a few short weeks!!

Here is my bump at 30 weeks 5 days:

We had an appointment last week that went well. I had to have an ultrasound to check placenta placement because at my 20 week ultrasound the placenta was really low. It has moved and is in a good place now! (WHEW) We only got 2 pics from the ultrasound, though because Tristan was moving around a LOT and was not in a good position. The ultrasound tech TRIED to get 3D pics of Tristan's face, but he had his face smashed into the side of my uterus and she couldn't get a good shot. We did get a peak at his nose and he is going to have a tiny little nose! They estimate that he was weighing 3 lbs. 10 ozs, so he is growing right on track! I go back next week for my next appointment.

Only issue we have right now is that Tristan is laying transverse, or sideways. He hasn't flipped to head down yet. We have time for that, but I REALLY hope he flips soon and stays that way! I DON'T want a c-section!

Here's the ultrasound pics we got:

Baby Size and Development: Week 29-32 (month 7)

This is month 7.

Our baby is about the size of a squash.

Baby’s energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. (Have those kicks and jabs to the ribs tipped you off yet?) Baby is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though -- as you’ve also probably noticed -- they don’t necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments.

26 week 5 day belly pic

Here's my growing belly at 26 weeks 5 days!! Just one week left in the second trimester now!!

Baby Size and Development: Week 25-28

This is month 6.

Our baby is about the size of an eggplant.

Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

Baby Stuff!!!!

We got some baby stuff shipped over the past two days! I'm getting so excited to be getting ready for Tristan's arrival!! We got a bassinet and carseat brand new. We bought a used crib at a garage sale (for only $45!!). And we have received a playpen, bouncy seat and high chair/booster seat as gifts! We have almost all the BIG things we need for Tristan!

Here are pics of the bassinet and carseat. I'll get pics of the other stuff later on.

He's such a proud big brother. He's almost as excited as I am to be getting baby stuff!!!

22 week 4 day belly pic

Here's my bump at 22 weeks 4 days! (growing with NO weight gain!)

Belly button hasn't popped out yet!
My view:

Baby Size and Development: Week 21-24

This is weeks 21-24 or Month 5.

Our baby is about the size of a papaya.

Watch what you say--baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when--just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

Baby Size and Development: Week 21

Today is week 21.

Our baby is the size of a banana.

Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid everyday, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

It's A........

BOY!!!!!

There is no doubt about it....we have a little man joining our family in October!!!

The ultrasound was wonderful! The tech was AWESOME and we got to watch our little guy for about 45 minutes while she did measurements and worked to get good shots of our wiggly guy! He was moving around the ENTIRE time and was even pretty active (and being a bit of a stinker to my midwife) while the midwife was listening to the heartbeat during my appointment after the ultrasound!

We took Big J., Diva D. and Little J. with us so they could share in this moment with us. We wish we could have had Smarty-pants C. with us, but he still has school at his mom's house and we won't see him until July!

Here are pics of our little man, Tristan Kent........