Baby Will

I realize that it has been over a month since my last post, but when you have a newborn it is somewhat difficult to get a whole lot done!  Talk about an obvious statement.  But seriously, look at this sweet face!  Even when he is content and/or sleeping it's hard not to scoop him up and hold him just because he is so darn cute!

Baby Will- October 19, 2014

William Joel was born on September 22, 2014, one day after his due date (and the day after Dave's and my 1 year wedding anniversary!).  I felt my first labor pains at 4:50 that morning, and Will was finally born at 11:10 that night.  Talk about a long day!  When I first went into labor, despite the early hour, Dave and I got up and to pass the time we played a few games of Settlers of Catan.  This is one of our favorite games, and with contractions being bearable at this point it was a great way to distract myself.  I wonder if any other moms out there have ever decided to go through labor in the same way?

Contractions, by the way, feel a heck of a lot different than I imagined.   For me, they were just pain.  It felt like terrible, aching cramps that came in waves.  Pain.  I thought they would feel like muscles contracting, or that I would feel more downward pressure.  Nope.  Just pain.

I definitely did not go the all natural route.  In fact, my doctor made me wait far longer to get my epidural than I would have liked!  We decided to go to the hospital around 12:30 in the afternoon, and I didn't get the epidural until I was dilated to 5.5 cm, which was around 2:30 p.m. How women go for hours on end without an epidural, I know not.  I was practically begging for it!    We had a bit of a scare when my blood pressure dropped suddenly and significantly, but thankfully the doctor and nurses were able to stabilize me relatively quickly and Will wasn't bothered by it one bit!

Since Will was "sunny side up" (facing my belly instead of my back) things progressed pretty slowly after that.  However, the time finally came to push, as we knew it inevitably would, and before I knew it I had a beautiful, crying, cone-headed baby boy in my arms!  Weighing 7 lbs 6 oz and measuring 19 inches, Dave and I became the proud parents of our beautiful son.

What a surreal experience.  I still can't believe I did it.  It was certainly the most difficult and rewarding thing I have ever done.  Dave was absolutely fantastic.  He took such great care of me, both physically and emotionally.  What a trouper!  He ended up watching the entire birth, in all its glory, and cutting the umbilical cord.  I'm not sure who was more excited/relieved when the baby finally arrived--Dave or me!  We'll call it a tie.  What an amazing bonding experience to share with my husband.  I feel so, so lucky.  I already knew what a great father Dave is because of how great he is with Jonah, but that doesn't make it any less fun to watch him with Will.  These boys are so lucky to have such a loving daddy!

Speaking of Jonah, Jonah sure was excited to meet his baby brother!  He frequently asks to hold Will, and I have been pleasantly surprised that Jonah seems very willing to help if I need him to run upstairs to get a diaper or something like that.  I can't wait to see how their relationship develops.  I hope Jonah will teach Will everything he knows about bugs and all things creepy crawly!

We have had lots of visitors in the past month.  The weekend after Will was born my parents and the Smith family came to visit for a few days.  If only they lived closer!  I think Cammie is a great babysitter-in-the-making!  I was basically out of commission during their visit because my recovery was pretty tough, but I was so incredibly thankful for all of their help with Jonah and around the house.  It was great having them around!  I just wish I would/could have been more mobile.

A couple weeks later Sarah and Katy came to visit.  Nana and Papa came, too, mostly because Nana couldn't resist another opportunity to see Baby Will!  Again, it was great having the company and the help around the house!

Grandma and Grandpa Janetski will be coming to visit in a couple of weeks, which we are very much looking forward to!  I wish the whole Janetski/Nelson family could come visit our new home with our new baby, but it's just too hard with them living so far away.  Hopefully it won't be too long before we can take a trip back out to Washington so Will can meet his other aunts, uncles and cousins.

As for me, I am LOVING being up and around again.  Every day I can I take Will out for a walk.  We often go visit Daddy at work, and we try to get plenty of outdoors time on these beautiful fall days.  Thankfully Will really seems to enjoy being outside! 

  At the moment I am struggling to get Will to take any sort of decent nap...all the kid wants to do is eat!  I guess he is his father's son!  Still, we are having lots of fun and keep falling more and more in love with our beautiful baby boy.  We love you, Will!

P.S.  I have more photos to add, but that will have to come next time!