Meeting Colby Ives

Sweet Colby is here safe and sound!  And gosh, we could not love him more.  I had forgotten how much I love this newborn phase.  He is so tiny and fragile and perfect.  I don't want to blink.

After a fair amount of (whining?) impatience on my part, Colby did in fact arrive one day before his due date.  I woke up to more contractions around 3:30 Tuesday morning, but they were about 7 minutes apart.  Based on the previous few days, I  figured they'd just stop.  Instead,  I decided to take a shower around 6 to hopefully feel better, and they jumped into high gear- about every 2 minutes.  So I told Ryan we'd better plan to go to the doctor's office (on the hospital campus.)  I called my mom, who got to our house about 30 minutes later.  

When we got to the office at 8:00 (my doctor was expecting us) she did a quick check, and I was already at 5cm.  She went ahead and broke my water, which really kicked labor into full gear.  Dr. Dausch walked us over to L&D.  I was in a lot of pain and not handling it very well.... fast forward.... Colby was born at 10:48!  He was 8 lbs. 6 oz. and just perfect.

Already so cute and a little chubby!

In loooove!

Happy Mommy and Daddy

My mom had arrived some time between the epidural and pushing, so Ryan went to let her know it was time to come back in to see Colby.  Soon after, Ryan's mom Cheryl was there, too.  Ryan's dad was in the waiting area for a while before he was able to come back, so he got a quick visit with Colby, too.  My dad and Casey had been keeping our big boys throughout the morning, but soon they each got a turn to come visit, as well.

One of the nursery nurses checking Colby out.  She measured him to be 20.5" long.

Later that evening, after we'd moved upstairs to our postpartum room, we had two very special visitors come and meet their new brother...

Anderson seemed really excited to see us, and said, "Colby is born," in a matter-of-fact way when he arrived.  He kissed his head and even asked to hold him (I told him when Colby is a little bigger.)

Brady mostly ignored Colby, and really me, but he did have time for a quick hug.

Papa and the three boys :)

Checking out his baby.

Trying to figure out how to get a hold of that blue ball-looking-thingy in Colby's bassinet.  

The boys left with Nannie and Papa and headed to their house to spend the night.  Ryan picked up some food for him and me and we settled in for the night.  It was such a good day.

Not baby pictures...

Well, sweet Colby has already done his best to prove that he is his own man.  "My babies come early," I say?  "See you at 40 weeks" says Mr. Colby.  Big picture everything is still great, so I will try to minimize my whining.  I've just thought at least a dozen times since Friday night (it's Monday night) that I would be heading to the hospital in the next couple of hours.  And then we don't.  Very different than my first two birthing experiences- I've had contractions since Friday evening.  Saturday night I was up for 3 hours timing them.  They got as close as 6 minutes and then suddenly spread back out.  Then Sunday night into this morning, I awoke to contractions which were steady around 8 minutes for 2 hours, and then they stopped.  I've had contractions every 5-15 minutes most of the day.  But they just aren't picking up momentum.  And they don't feel good, especially as the day goes on.  So the good news is, he does seem interested in being born soon.  It just keeps being "not yet."

Alas, I had a very relaxing day today because the boys went to Montpelier as usual for Monday, except I didn't tutor today because I started my "maternity leave" last week.  I didn't accomplish much, but I did take pictures of Colby's room... which is all ready for him.... hint, hint!

It's little, formerly my office, which is attached to our Master Bedroom.  But he's little, and by the time he's ready for a crib, he'll move into Brady's room.  (Brady will join Anderson in the "big boy room"... I can't even stress about this yet, so we'll just pretend that won't mess with sleep routines at all.)

My dad made the "COLBY" letters over the window.  Ryan (and his lovely assistant, me) made the corner book shelves.  The rocking chair is one of my favorite possessions- it is really comfy, and I have spent hundreds of hours rocking each of my babies in it.  The beautiful cradle my dad made before Anderson was born will now have Brady's and Colby's names added to it.  The quilt in the cradle was made by my wonderful cousins Brandi and Sarah and given to me during my surprise AZ shower.  The blue dresser/ changing table was an Etsy find that arrived from Chicago via Greyhound bus.  Here's a closer look....

The final finishing touches will be two picture frames, one on each side of the gray print.  We just need a beautiful Colby baby to put in the frames, and then the room will be complete.  

I should have more exciting (baby) pictures soon........I just don't think I had better predict how soon anymore.  To be continued......

These next couple of weeks... (39 and 40)

I like to plan ahead, and I like to know what to expect.  I think I'm pretty patient if there's a countdown involved.  But I am finding myself to be VERY impatient for Colby's arrival.  It's like any given morning I could wake up and it's Christmas (with a side of sleep deprivation).  But instead, I keep waking up and it's not "the day" yet.  I know that he must be coming soon, but I am ready, ready, ready.  Anderson was born at 38 weeks, Brady was 38 and a half weeks, and here we are, 38 and a half weeks in and I am still very pregnant.

See?  I know I look tired in this picture, but a dozen pictures in I conceded that this is just what I look like these days.

So there's that, but then this week- specifically these last two days- have really been so wonderful.  I do feel disappointed some, but I also feel really lucky to have these bonus days with Anderson and Brady.  I haven't planned much- honestly I had planned more for me not being home than for me being home.  But it's finally been sunny and the temperature has been in the 50's and 60's, and we've had a lot of fun.

Yesterday, Anderson had preschool and it was pony picture day!  I had truly looked forward to this day since the school calendar came home in September.  Anderson on a pony?? Swoon!  So a week or so ago I picked out and labeled the little outfit I wanted him to wear- since I wouldn't be home to dress him myself. Ha.  I was home, alright.  And he refused to wear the cowboy boots, but you win some, you lose some.

Brady and I dropped him off at school and headed home to get ready for our morning date.  He was the cutest/ sweetest little date ever!  I wasn't quite sure what we'd do, but since the weather was gorgeous, we headed to our pretty outdoor mall.  We shopped for a specific onesie for Colby for like 5 minutes, and the rest of the time was all date.

Starbuck's for breakfast...

Apparently I was hilarious ;-)

Then some playing on the lawn...

Brady talked to and then rode upon the deer.

We rode the train...

Brady definitely wanted to ride in the black coal car.  He was so chatty all morning, and he kept saying, "Lots of trains!" as we'd ride along.

Finally, playing in the children's area in the food court.  Lately whenever the elevator doors into the food court open, Brady shouts, "Hooray!"

After the mall, it was back to preschool to pick up Anderson.  As soon as I saw Ms. Gina's face I knew- Anderson refused to sit on the pony.  Darn it!!  But Ms. Gina said I could bring him back tomorrow morning and he might do better with me there.  I was doubtful, but more on that later.

I had invited us out to grandma and grandpa's house so Mom and I could get some real estate office stuff caught up while the boys napped.  And we got a yummy lunch. :)  Anderson told them that his friends were cowboys today, and he would be a cowboy tomorrow (at this point I told him that tomorrow, all cowboys get donuts.)  There was lots of pony talk, and Grandma asked if he'd find out the pony's name and call her the next morning.

So this morning I got both boys dressed in button-down shirts and corduroys and we headed back to preschool a little before 8:30.  No pictures to prove it yet, but both boys were sooo cute on the pony!  Anderson still refused the boots, and he also refused one of the cute little vests the photographers offer, but he was rocking his bandanna and cowboy hat.  Brady looked so cute in the vest, bandanna, and cowboy hat, too.  So now instead of zero pony pictures, I should end up with two.  I can't wait to see how they turned out!  And the pony's name was Pablo.

As promised, both cowboys (and one cowgirl) got donuts.  We tried one of the new donut shops our side of town, and after waiting in line for 20+ minutes we had said donuts.  Anderson wanted to eat them at home.

Next, we headed to our favorite little park.  It had been too long!  The snow and rain plus all of the shade meant it was just now finally dry enough to enjoy.  Some days there's plenty of scuffling between the boys, but here recently they're really acting like good buddies.  Anderson LOVES for Brady to "chase" with him.  Brady enjoys it too, but for shorter time periods than his brother.  For one thing, he just gets tired sooner, poor guy.  But at the park there was chasing and giggling, and Anderson kept trying to talk Brady into climbing up the steps and  sliding down with him.  He was talking so sweetly, saying, "C'mon, Brady! I'll show you the way!" or "How can I help you?"  when Brady didn't want to try.  And Brady was cute about being super impressed when Anderson would slide down, which suited big brother just fine.

Eventually they both had a little sugar crash and enjoyed soaking up a little sunshine before lunch...

I had so much fun just watching these big boys.

So I don't know what these next couple of weeks will bring... my doctor and I went ahead and scheduled a c-section for two weeks from today, two days after my due date.  But we mainly did that because she's admittedly superstitious and now we're sure we won't need it.  Also, she said we'll have a Plan B, C, D, etc. to avoid needing it at all costs.  I am really hoping for another successful VBAC, but all I really need is a healthy baby boy.  And of course I'll take him however- and whenever- I can.