Owen Charles

Owen Charles Pershing was born February 17th, at 7:33pm. He was 6lbs 12oz and 18in.

I went into labor Monday around 6pm with contractions all night, went to the hospital around 7:30am and labored without meds until 2pm and I was 7 cent.

Epidural was a god send and made me feel like I had the energy to push.

I started pushing around 6:15 or so and after a little over an hour he was born! We are very lucky everything went to smoothly and are now enjoying our little boy!

Here are some pictures... I hope to update this with more details later!

Bryan and Owen- aren't genetics crazy?!?!

multi tasking

happy its all over


Baby footprints

Auntie Noelle came and helped the first couple days!

Grandpa Charlie

Grandma Debra

Right after... still over whelmed, tired and happy!

The first time I saw my little boy...

Things went so well and smoothly for us. Bryan is the most amazing father and loves this little boy more than anything.

I am so blessed and lucky to have such wonderful boys in my life!

Happy Valentines Day!

Yes, I am due, and no I am not in labor. I'm pretty tired of talking about it so lets talk about Valentines Day instead.

Ten years ago today Bryan and I celebrated our first Valentines Day together. This night consisted of Bryan making spaghetti at my parents house. We had the table all decorated and the house to ourselves. (Nothing more exciting than that in high school!!)

I don't remember what I got Bryan but he gave me a very beautiful diamond ring. It's not quite the size of my engagement ring but I like holding them up next to each other! I was so excited to get it and even more excited to wear it to school the next day. But then my parents saw it and weren't quite as excited for their 18 year old to get a diamond ring for her boyfriend of four months. So the diamond went into hiding, not back to Bryan like it was supposed to! Oops! But since we have been married for 3 1/2 years and have a child coming any day I think it's safe for the ring to come out of hiding!

Since all we have from that first V-day is a picture of the table and Bryan making food AND since they're not digital I don't have a pic to post but here is one that is back from 2005, before we were engaged. I do want to scan some of our high school pictures to look at how young we were!

It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years!

I am very lucky!

39+ appointment and picture

Ironically, I am breathing through a pretty rough contraction as we speak... so here's the update. My appointment today went well, I am a "tight 2" and 60% effaced. She stripped more membrains to try and "stir things up" so we'll see how or if that works. I would be really happy to go in next week because my doctor is on night call and the Chief Resident I like is on labor and delivery that week too. Otherwise if no go they gave me an induction date of Tuesday, February 24th. Yeah- TWO weeks from today! Ahhhhh! I really hope I don't have to go that far!

Things are good, slowly but surely moving along and we'll see what happens!

And now for some pics...

39 weeks

I wish I could capture how big it really is but here is a taste...

Question for Mom's

Since I'm sitting here just waiting to pop I had a thought. For all you Mom's out there...

How did you start labor? Were you induced? Did your water break? Did you start having contractions?

Were you early? Were you overdue?

Everyone keeps telling me that they tried things to get labor going and nothing really worked. Anything work for you?

I'm getting pretty uncomfortable and since we have everything ready I just want to get him out. I have also decided to stop watching 'A Baby Story' and 'Bringing Home Baby'. You know you're ready to be done being pregnant when you root for the "natural birth plan" Mom's to have bad labor and get an epidural!!! The show used to make me cry or get excited and now I'm just jealous that they aren't pregnant anymore!

So- I'd love to hear some labor stories, it might help me live through your labors!
I'll take a picture tomorrow, but I haven't gained any weight so I'm not sure if I look any different. Think contraction thoughts...

So close... yet so far!

Well I was waiting to update this with a picture but I'm going to be honest, I'm too tired and I dont think my belly has changed much. I will be 39 weeks on Saturday. I went to the doctor on
Tuesday and here are the stats:

-My bloodpressure is still nice and low. I haven't had any swelling which is nice. I still have my wedding ring on- no problem! I am grateful for this!
-I haven't gained any weight in a week, (Apparently some women dont gain any or lose weight in the last 4-6 weeks) I thought this would be my big weight push but apparently it's all baby!
-Baby's heart rate is good- 130's to 140's, while she was trying to find it he was moving and she could clearly see he was in there!
-Then she checked me: I am dialated to 1, easily. Then she decided to check and see if he was moving into position, which led her to strip some membrains and make ME want to cry! She said things looked good and she could see there was "progress" taking place!

So things are good. To be honest I'm getting pretty uncomfortable, not just sleeping but trying to get up off of a chair, picking something off the floor or doing anything that doesn't consist on sitting on my ass. Which is convenient because that's what I do most of the day!

Baby's room is pretty much ready, we just have to put some stuff on the walls, so I will take pictures of it this weekend and post them. I am really happy with how it turned out.

I think that the last couple weeks of pregnancy are really good for being really "over" the pregnancy phase and just wanting to meet your baby. Even though we're really nervous and not sure we're ready, the more uncomfortable I am the more ready I get! It's also a weird feeling just waiting for something to happen. It's pretty surreal to get up everyday just waiting to go into labor! There are two friends of mine down here who I met through nannying and they're both pregnant. Danni WAS due yesteryday the 4th, I am due the 14th and Naomi is due the 24th. We are all hoping to go in at the same time!!!

So, depending on how things go in the next few days I will post again after my next appointment on Tuesday, which will hopefully be my last! We'll see...

37 weeks, 3 days...

Ok kids, I'm officially at 37 weeks 3 days. You know you're getting close to the end when the doctor says, "okay, you can come in any day and have that baby." I'm thinking, yeah... oh crap, she was serious! I had another doctor's appointment today which went well. Same thing as last time, by BP is nice and low, my weight is good, baby's heart rate is good and I am measuring right on. Next week they'll start checking me. I have dropped, I feel it for sure, but I still don't think much is happening or will for a couple weeks. I am enjoying getting ready and relaxing. Thank goodness my parents are giving me this gift of staying home, I think it really helps me feel prepared and be rested enough to be as ready as I can for his arrival! Even the doc said to me today that she just read a study that said that women who have time off BEFORE they have their baby have a better post pardum experience!

Bryan and I are very much prepared now and just enjoying time together before the baby comes. I really appreciate his one day off a week and try to suck in as much time as I can!

Here are some pics as promised!

Belly

My favorite new picture- Bryan folding baby socks! About the cutest thing ever!!!!

Officially dropped and term!

No fun pictures this time, I will take one today, I'm trying to do it every week since the belly seems to change that fast right now. As of this past week we pretty much have everything! Bryan has been putting the swing, bassinette, crib and things together and now that we have the changing table he is going to put that up on his day off.

Thursday night Bryan was oncall and my sister came down after work to hang out with me for the night and then drove to work in the morning! It was so nice to have company especially when Bryan is gone over night! I am spoiled to have people come down for a couple hours!

My parents came down yesterday and took me to lunch while Bryan was at work. We went and made our final Baby's 'R Us run getting everything we still needed. It feels good to have everything we need, takes the stress off in case he comes soon! My mom also finished the shall she made for me, it is my home comfort and labor comfort, probably breastfeeding comfort later on too! My parents have really spoiled me and their grandchild with buying stuff, giving us great gifts and just being there when I need them! I am grateful and so glad I have such great parents!

Carrie's sister Krista also came this week to help me out. Not only did she take me to lunch last weekend but she came over to bring me some baby boy stuff but also showed me how to use the pump! That knowledge is priceless!

Last but not least my hubbie! Bryan has had a really hard month, working so much! This week he was oncall for about 28 hours, came home slept for about 6, went back to work at 5am for a 14 hour day and went back to work this morning for another 8-9 hour day. I don't know how he does it and keeps his sanity. He is never crabby, and still does so much around the house. He'll take the garbage and recycling out at 4:30am before he leaves, he takes both cars to fill up gas, fill tires and get car washes, all before he goes in for his 28 hour shift. He amazes me! I know nothing will change when the baby comes, he will do whatever he can while he's home and not complain. I'm a very lucky wife!

So... all in all things are good. I go to the doctor again on Tuesday, I have dropped quite a bit in the last week so we'll see what's happening. I'm still convinced I'll go around my due date, but we'll see!