First Bath

Did somebody say bath time?

Chillaxin'

(technically this was the picture from his first bath from

the night before....it lasted about 5 seconds because

he was tired and hungry. bath fail.)

{E.A.T.}

Elliott Adam Tew

born 5.26.14

(Memorial Day)

11:31pm

7 pounds 4 ounces

20.5 inches

:the birth story:
I woke up on Memorial Day around 6:30am feeling
contractions.  They were really mild but happening pretty
consistently every hour. This was TWO full weeks exactly
before my due date, and one week before my
midwife thought I would deliver. This was really
exciting because these swollen cankles were
getting pretty painful!

For months I had been
feeling like I would deliver early...but I didn't know if that
was my intuition or just wishful thinking.
I called my mom around 8:30am and
told her today was the day! She pretty much dropped
everything and started getting ready to drive out here.

It was a gorgeous day to be in labor!

We had a photo shoot scheduled for Mabel that
morning at 10:30am so I got her ready while Nate downloaded
a contraction app on his phone. Her pictures turned out
so darling! I love this three year old!

We came home and started to get things ready,

I think we were both still in shock that I was actually in labor.

I text messaged our midwife to let her know.

I knew it was the real deal though because all of a sudden
I had a crazy urge to clean and organize!
I vacuumed the whole house and it felt so good.
I already had a bag packed and ready for the birth center,
Nate put the car seat in the car, and then we just waited.
Nate organized the garage (at my request...because you know,
it's important to come home to a clean garage), I did some laundry,
and then cleaned out every drawer in my bathroom.
We went to Zupa's for dinner and I went to slide into the booth
and DIDN'T FIT!!!! First time that has ever happened.
Belly was too large and in charge for a booth.
At this point my contractions where every 10-15 minutes
so it made it a little challenging to eat. I was still
able to breathe through them though (no sounds yet...that is when
it really gets serious!).
We came home, put Mabel to bed and my friend Jocelyn,
Kelsey, and I just sat in my living room and talked in
between me zoning out for contractions every 7-8 minutes.
It was about 9pm and all of a sudden I was exhausted.
Jocelyn left and I told Nate I wanted to lay down for a few
minutes to rest if possible.
I had him snap my last belly shot before I headed to bed:

I changed into a nursing tank and some yoga pants and plopped
on my bed. I had a contraction while laying down and it
was the worst thing EVER! For me, laying down during contractions
makes them so much more painful. So much for trying to take a nap!
 My contractions started to get really intense and about 4
minutes apart.  It was about 10:30pm and we called
Rebecca to let her know we would be heading to the birth center
soon.  Kelsey was staying home with sleeping Mabel and that
really put my mind at ease that I didn't have to worry about
Mabel at all. She would wake up to a baby brother!
 I got in the back seat of the car, on all fours,
and started making my crazy growling birth sounds during
each contraction on the drive over.

10:50pm
We were walking into the birth center and I had
a pretty rough contraction which made me start to
cry.  Looking back I realize now that I was in transition...I was
so close to having this boy but just didn't know it!
 Rebecca had the birth tub ready and I got right in.
She joked that if I hurried and had him in the next hour
at least he and Mabel's birthdays would be two days apart
instead of one. Well, that is what happened.
I felt like I needed to push and 10 minutes later he was born.
11:31pm


It was was painful! But so much faster than with Mabel.
Only about an hour of the worst pain in the world!
My placenta took forever to deliver and I wasn't
really comfortable until it was out. Then the relief set in!
Childbirth is a trip. A crazy one.
The minute I saw him and held him I was overwhelmed
with how much I loved him! With Mabel I was just so relieved
that the pain had stopped that it took me a little
while to get my senses back and connect with her.
With this boy my brain wasn't completed clouded
over with pain and I felt an immediate bond.
(his cord was super short, just like Mabel's,
so I couldn't bring him up to my chest)
I couldn't wait to kiss hia sweet face!

My mom arrived 10 minutes
after he was born.

He grabbed right on to Nate's finger:

After the birth Rebecca always makes cinnamon rolls.

I didn't get a picture because I was too busy devouring

two of them.  Best after labor treat ever.  After a few hours

my mom drove back to our house so she could be there with 

Kelsey and Mabel in the morning. We put Elliott in the 

bassinet and tried to sleep....but the first night is always rough.

Elliott slept like a log but I couldn't get my brain to shut off.

Post birth adrenaline.

Rebecca made us breakfast in bed!

We got home around 9:30am the next morning and 

Mabel was anxiously waiting to meet baby brother!

Siblings:

Baby brother got Mabel a little present...

Shelby the tiny pink turtle (the one she begged for at

Michaels!) and a sucker. What a nice brother!

Family of four, welcome to the team baby Elliott!

We think he is the spittin' image of his daddy, 

but you be the judge:

Both of them at two days old.

Check out these faces:

My mom and Kelsey would

fight over who got to hold him:

My SAVING grace.

$43 for a jar half full and worth every penny.

I really struggled with my boobs this time around.

This boy latched on like a champ and sucked

and sucked and sucked each day like a mini sucker fish.

My nipples were so sore (as in cracked and bleeding) so my

midwife prescribed this ointment for me. 

You put it on after each feeding and it helped so much!

 :day three:

Rebecca, our midwife, does a home visit...

time for footprints, hearing test, and a pku heel poke. :(

Passed his hearing test:

 Love me some TINY footprints:

 :one week old:

:two weeks old:

This little boy is so sweet and I find myself just

staring at him until I think my heart will burst!

He is a great sleeper, eater, and has such a mellow,

relaxed personality.  He is making the transition

to having two kids pretty smooth.

Plus, he sleeps in his carseat.

It's the most amazing thing.

Our our way home from the birth center.

Mabel loves him so much and always wants to see 

him right when she wakes up in the morning.

She is a great helper and can get almost anything

I ask for while I am nursing!

We haven't been able to get up and go to things 

every day like we usually do so I know that has been

hard for her. She does better when we are out and about.

She has been more defiant and moody...

part of adjusting to another person needing my time 

and energy which used to be 100% devoted to her.

I feel pretty good. Tired, but good.  I am so thankful

to have such wonderful friends and family who have 

helped me so much.  We had dinner brought to us every

night for a week! What a wonderful act of service that is!  

So many people stopped by with 

sweet gifts for Elliott, we got cards and treasures in the mail,

I got numerous calls, text messages, and emails...

I am overwhelmed at how kind and generous you all are, 

THANK YOU!

We feel so loved and blessed and we are

so grateful for this healthy baby boy!