He's Here!! The Details...

Our baby boy is here and absolutely perfect in every way.  He came via c-section on January 25th at 12:55 pm.  He weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and was 20 inches long.  I was so excited on the morning of the 25th.  Surprisingly, I actually did get a pretty restful night's sleep.  I always imagined what that morning would be like....getting ready, putting on makeup, checking bags....knowing we were leaving to go have a baby.  That morning was so surreal.  I was just so excited, but scared, too.  We left our house at 9:00.  All during the drive, I kept feeling Pearce move inside me.  I just wanted to hurry up and get to the hospital and get hooked up to the monitors.  Even though we were on our way to the hospital and I felt him moving, I STILL had doubts about actually having him.  I was still scared of something going wrong.  We parked, got our bags and headed up to Labor and Delivery.  They got us checked in and into a room very quickly.  I changed into a gown and the nurse came in to hook me up to monitors.  One was to monitor baby's heartbeat, the other was to monitor any contractions I might be having.  As soon as she put the monitor on for Pearce's heartbeat, I totally relaxed.  It was so strong.  It was just me and Chris in the room and we just talked and waited.  We had to be there by 10:00, but surgery wasn't scheduled until 12:30.  Time actually went by pretty quickly.  We knew our family got to the hospital around 11:00 and they were just waiting in the waiting room.  Around 12:00, my nurse came in and gave me the hair net and Chris his scrubs to change into.  Then a little bit later, she said we were ready!  We all walked down the hall then she told Chris to sit in  a chair that was outside the OR and that she would come and get him in a few minutes.  I just looked back at Chris and said, "Bye."  I got into the OR and they had me sit on the bed and then they started cleaning off my back to do the spinal.  I wasn't really nervous until now.  The anesthesiologist gave me a shot of numbing medicine first then said he was going to place the spinal in.....well, it hurt!  Then he gave me some more numbing medicine and I didn't feel a thing after that except a warm wash of tingles going up my feet and legs and stomach.  They laid me down and started doing all kinds of things around me.  I started shaking.  I don't know if it was from the OR being cold or me being scared...probably a little of both.  Then they put the drape in front of me and my OB came in and said he was ready to start.  I told the anesthesiologist that I could feel them putting something on my belly and was that o.k.  She could tell I was nervous about the actual incision, so she got a pin and showed me that I could feel it pricking my shoulder, then she moved it down my chest and to my stomach and when she got to my stomach I couldn't feel anything.  It was then that another nurse brought Chris and then I started crying.  I knew the c-section was starting and I was just praying we would get a healthy baby.  Chris held my hand and kept rubbing it and talking to me.  A nurse said we were close to seeing him and got Chris' camera so she could take a picture when he first came out.  The only time the procedure was uncomfortable was when they had to press on my stomach to get his head out.  "Press" makes it seem light....I could not breathe and felt like all of the blood vessels in my head were going to pop.  Finally they got his head out and the then lifted him up and we heard him cry!  I started crying immediately.  They took him to clean him off and he just cried and cried and I loved it!!!  They brought him to me and I could not believe he was an actual baby AND he was soooo cute, too!  The initial exam said he was great and Chris and the nurses left to walk Pearce to the nursery.  He also got to stop at the waiting room to show all of our family!!  They sewed me up and then took me to recovery.  I waited for what seemed like an eternity for the nurses to bring Chris and Pearce back to me, but it really wasn't very long.  Finally I got to see Pearce and OH. MY. GOODNESS....I could not believe how beautiful he was.  The nurses said he was perfectly healthy.  I couldn't believe Chris and I created something so perfect.  I was so afraid of my body not doing what it was supposed to do for 9 months and here is this perfectly beautiful baby boy in my arms.  I could not believe my body grew him and kept him safe!!  I got to feed him his first bottle and it was just the most amazing time.  It was better than I ever imagined.  Below is picture OVERLOAD!!!  I am just so thankful for our little miracle.  All I wanted was a healthy baby and I got WAY more than that.  He is the most laid back, sweetest little thing ever.  So far, he hardly ever cries.

My baby boy.

Papa meeting Pearce for the first time.

Mama is in Heaven

Ashley couldn't come until Thursday...here she is seeing Pearce for the first time.   

Auntie Ash spent the night with us Thursday night and we had the best time.  She is in LOVE! 

Mimi and Pops are smitten!

He already has G.G. wrapped around his little finger!

Pearce's first visitor....Lindsay.  She loved and loved on him.   

Of course we had to bring his Razorback hat to the hospital for him!!

Who doesn't love a baby's bottom? 

Another visitor...Elizabeth Lazar 

Christie is currently cooking either a little buddy or a girlfriend for Pearce.  We'll find out soon!! 

Nandini and Andy and their two boys Abhi and Jeet.   

Nandini can't wait to babysit!! 

I taught Marie's son in First Grade!  I wasn't sure if she was working while we were there and was so happy to see her walk in our room! 

Little Lyla loved baby Pearce!  She and her mommy brought me some yummy breakfast tacos and other snacks! 

Erin took some really cute "Going Home" pics of Pearce!! 

Pops saying goodbye :( 

This was Pearce's going home outfit.  He looked SOOOO cute!! 

Mimi and Pops with their baby holding HIS baby! 

Ready to go home! 

As soon as we got home, we had our first outfit change :) 

Mama and baby taking naps...hey, I thought I was supposed to be the one taking a nap! 

More visitors!  Chris' boss and his family came to see us Saturday night.  Alex and Corrina loved holding Pearce! 

I will do monthly photo sessions to document Pearce's first year.  My friend, Casey, got him these cute stickers.  Here he is in his Brand New sticker :) 

I'll do the monthly photos in his glider with is Peek-A-Boo bear.  Look how tiny he looks!! 

Mama can't keep from loving on Pearce 

So far, we've only been home two days!  I feel like we have adjusted quite well to having Pearce.  Chris and I said we did not want to have any expectations about anything.  We were just going to learn as we go.  Pearce is making it easy on us because he has been so laid back and calm and sweet!  I have loved watching Chris with Pearce.  I knew he would instantly fall in love, but the guy is complete mush when he holds Pearce or does anything for him :)  He's been changing diapers, running to the store, making us dinner, helping with Pearce....just doing everything he possibly can for us!  I have been lucky to not have a lot of pain with my c-section, either!  I really was feeling pretty good the day after and each day have felt better and better.  I am just so thankful for the WHOLE experience...easy pregnancy, c-section went as planned, I recovered well, and most importantly, I have a healthy, happy, beautiful, sweet, PERFECT in every way, baby of my dreams.  Thank you God!!