Alec Joshua!

 On Monday July 11 we welcomed an 8 lb. 5 oz, 22 in long baby boy into our family! We decided on Alec Joshua. Joshua is Adam's middle name & we just like the name Alec. I have liked the name Alec for years and years, so it is fun to name him something I have thought about for years. We went into the hospital with 2 names, but when we looked at him, we both just kind of knew his name should be Alec.

 I was not dilated at all at my appt. when I was 39 weeks and a few days and with my Mom coming in town on the 11th to help out and we knew he was already at least 7.5 lbs, we wanted to get him here. So my doctor scheduled me to get induced. We went to the hospital on Sunday at 5pm and got settled. That is where the funny stories begin. 

When the nurse asked me how much I weighed, I told her I weighed in at my last appt at 280 lbs. She then asked me how much weight I had gained and I said between 20-25 lbs. She looked at me kind of quizzically, but I didn't really notice. Fortunately, Adam asked me to repeat how much I weighed because he noticed that I said something funny too. So I repeated, 280 lbs. I thought he was teasing me for the way I said how much I weighed or something until I caught on and said, "Wait, I don't weigh 280 lbs. I weighed in at 180 with baby". We started laughing so hard. The nurse was saying "I wondered where that extra 100 lbs was. I thought I just didn't get a good enough look at you before you got into bed."

Then at 9pm the doctor came in to give me something to make me dilate. They did that again at around 3 am and then around 4 or 5 am I started to have contractions so they let me have some pain meds and a sleeping pill to get some rest. Around 7 or 8 I started to have hard contractions so they brought in the anesthesiologist and he gave me the epidural.

 But, because of the pain meds they had already given me, I was totally loopy. I told everyone in the room about how I told the nurse I was 280 lbs. I was telling jokes and stories to everyone in there. The anesthesiologist was laughing because I was telling him stories and after the epidural was all done, I laid down and he was asking how I felt and if I could feel my legs. I told him my legs felt cotton-y. Like cotton. Yep that's what I said. When he came back to check on me he asked if my legs still felt like cotton. I said no- my legs feel silky and my toes feel cottony. He left saying he had fun.

 At 9 am my doctor came in and checked on me. He is awesome. I could not have asked for a better Doc. and now I know why all of my friends out here recommended him. He broke my water at 9 and then at 12:30 we were ready to deliver, but he was in a c-section so we waited until about 10 after 1 when he arrived. I started pushing and we had him at 1:45 pm.

My nurse was awesome. She was so kind, encouraging, and helpful abut also just fun and nice to be around. Everything went so well! I was expecting the worst thing that could possibly happen to a human, and was pleasantly surprised at how well everything went & how wonderful an epidural is!

 We came home Wednesday afternoon. It was kind of surreal but so exciting. We just love his hair and he is so cute.

 Adam went home the night before to get some more clothes and was gone a long time. He said he got busy helping my Mom with something & I believed him. But when we arrived home, I was greeted by cute signs all over the house! That is something that I love about Adam. He makes me home made cards and signs for special occasions, or just to show me he cares. We had read in one of the pregnancy/ baby books that you need to respect your baby and the fact that they are coming into an unfamiliar environment. (now- that might just be hub-bub but we had talked about it & just the fact that Adam had remembered & put the effort into welcoming us home & welcoming Alec made me feel like a million bucks.)

 The beautiful green orchid plant Adam gave me. He knows I love green, Orchids, and they are extra special because they were our wedding flowers. My friend & her kids were able to stop at the hospital & she brought the beautiful red plant.

 We hung these frames awhile ago and have left a few open to put in pictures of Alec.

 I could not have done it with Adam and I am so grateful for the encouragement, support, kindness, help, love, and devotion from him. It was so awesome to see him hold Alec for the first time and the look on his face after I had Alec. He has been so helpful and understanding and I am crying just thinking about how much I love this man.

 Here is Alec's first sponge bath at home. My Mom has been so helpful to have around, cooking, cleaning, cuddling Alec, and being a walking dictionary to help answer all of our questions and concerns and teaching us how to take care of this little one.

This is a cute outfit my sister Jamie gave us that is just so cute. I sent Adam this picture when he had to go to work. He was able to take a few days off and will be able to take more if I need him to. His work has been awesome. They gifted us a glider chair & ottoman for the Alec's room & we have used it a ton already! It is well broken in- since that is where I feed alec. 

Things have been going so well & we are so grateful that this little guy has made it here safely. We love him to pieces.

Adam's parents will be here on Saturday & my Mom leaves tomorrow, so we will be on our own this week. Wish us luck!