Introducing... Baby Bentley!

Hello, from a brand new momma & her sweet baby BOY! Thank you for all your comments - you are all so sweet! I had such an incredible pregnancy and delivery (though I might not have described them in such kind terms at the time, ha ha), and I really want to share it all with you! So, here goes...

Pregnancy was, well, pregnancy. I was sick, hungry (mostly for potatoes), tired, energetic, happy, sad, nervous, excited, annoyed, round, glowy, busy, and all those other pretty and notsopretty things that come along with growing a little person.

37 weeks

By the time January rolled around, I was so ready to meet our little angel that I could hardly stand it - while at the same time being really nervous to be new parents. I'm so thankful for how well my pregnancy went, and I can tell you now that I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Now, onto the birth...

Due date was January 14th. I went to the doctor on the 11th, and to my dismay, I was not dilated and he had only moved down just a bit. Don't get me wrong, I wanted him to come when he was ready, but I was pretty ready myself! My doctor said that if I hadn't delivered by my next appointment (the 18th), we would schedule an induction for the 21st. I was happy that there was an end in sight!

I worked throughout my pregnancy, and that last week I was feeling SO tired, and was going to bed at like 8pm every night! The day before my due date, I guess I must've looked as crummy as I felt, because all day at work people were asking me if I felt okay and telling me that I could go home if I needed to. My boss made a joke, saying, "I hope I don't see you tomorrow!" I just laughed and told him I was sure I'd be there - I honestly thought I was going to have to be induced! But wouldn't ya know it, around 11pm that night I started having contractions! At first, the thought of contractions didn't even cross my mind. They just felt like really bad back pains. My boyfriend was the one who actually suggested that maybe I was going into labor... and I was reluctant to believe it. I had contractions alllllll night long... 3-8 mins apart. The next morning we got up and ate, and they started letting up a little... prob around 15 mins apart.

I hadn't felt baby move since before the contractions started, so my mom suggested we call the hospital just in case. They told me to come in so they could monitor the baby. Turns out I was dilated to a 3! My doctor had me walk around the maternity floor for about an hour, and by then my contractions had started up again pretty strong. They admitted me around 4 pm. Contractions were.... painful. I had asked so many people what they would feel like, but it really is something you can't explain. They started in my back, but then radiated throughout my whole middle. They didn't really feel like cramps to me... more just like... CONTRACTIONS. Ha ha!

Anyway, I did get an epidural. I'm so happy that I did! I had contractions all through that night and the next day. At one point, because of baby's heartbeat's time to recover after each contraction, they thought that I was going to have to have a c-section, to the point that they were preparing me for surgery. I was freaking out... the doctor was saying things about the cord possibly being wrapped around him, and I was starting to panic. Thankfully, I had a great doctor and she stayed in the room to monitor us most of the time. I had to sit in the most uncomfortable, straight up position, because that's what baby liked best. Eventually, I started feeling the contractions again, and it was time to start pushing. The doctor said we really had to give it a good try, because baby wasn't going to deal with the stress for very long. After just 20 minutes of pushing (and 27 hours of labor!), our beautiful, sweet, perfect, wonderful little boy was born!

January 15th, 2011

2:44 am, 6 lbs 15.9 oz, 20 in. long

It was the most amazing experience of my entire life. I cannot describe the love I have in my heart for my little baby son... there are just no words. And to be able to share that experience with my boyfriend... the look on his face the first time he held his son was indescribable.

I could see the love flowing from him. Our love has not only grown stronger, but our love for this sweet boy - who we named Bentley - grows more and more every day. He was so supportive throughout the entire pregnancy & all throughout labor and birth... I really could not dream up someone better than him to share this with. ♥

After he finally took his first pee pee, we got to go home. It was around 9 pm... and now, here we are, one month and four days later. It's been a rollercoaster of emotions, but every sleepless night has been worth it. He is absolutely perfect in every way... his smiles, his newfound "coos" and his snuggles are my favorite things in the entire world. :)

I am the happiest momma in the universe, I'm sure of it!!

He was a little jaundiced, but luckily nothing that required any treatment and it went away on its own. He's growing wonderfully! At his first check up, he had gained 1 lb and grown 2 inches! My tiny man :)

I still can't believe he went from this little seed...

...to this perfect baby :).

He was born on Saturday, and school started Monday. Needless to say, I've been overwhelmingly busy. I go back to work in one week (SOB!), so I'm trying to get in all the snuggle time I can with my little lovebug. I'm hoping I can keep up with school - which I should probably be working on right now. I'll post about my weight gain and where I am now soon... for now, my little heartthrob needs some lovins :)


xoxo!

-Carissa, a proud mommy