Is It Time? I Think So....

9/26/08-This was our day...

3:56 a.m. (yes, I remember the exact MINUTE) Woke up with contractions? Wasn't sure if that was what they were. Decided to lay in bed for an hour and watch the clock... OUCH!

5:00 a.m. Got in the shower. I thought, "If this is the real thing, I want to at least be ready!" Straightened my hair, put my makeup on, etc... Told Matt that I felt like I was having contractions... He was wondering why I was straightening my hair...

6:00 a.m. Asked Matt to stay awhile just in case this was "it".

6:45 a.m. Told Matt, "Never mind-just go ahead and go to work".

6:50 a.m. Matt leaves...

6:55 a.m. Call my Mom at work freaking out... Timing contractions by this point and writing them down.. 3-7 minutes apart. My Mom tells me that she thinks I am going to have a baby!

7:15 a.m. Call my friend Loni. She tells me to go to the hospital...

7:20 a.m. Called Matt and told him to come back home.

7:25-7:45 a.m. Packed the rest of my bag.

8:00 a.m. Matt gets home and we leave for the hospital! Mind you, in 8am traffic on the freeway and connector.

Lost track of the time by now... We checked into labor and delivery. I was so calm that 2 nurses asked if I was there for my scheduled C-section. I told them I thought I was having contractions and that I was new at this mom stuff and they were probably going to just send me home. Next thing I know, I am hooked up to a monitor and the nurse was checking my cervix. I was 100% effaced and 4 cm dilated. Matt started texting and calling people. He tried calling my Mom at work but she had already left. She knew I was in labor from my phone call earlier. I started crying and saying that I wanted my Mommy... :( My parents packed up and left for Boise (a 4 hour drive). An hour later I was at 7 cm (10 cm=pushing starts)! Things were progressing so fast. I decided I needed an epidural... The nurse was so kind... She called the anaesthesiologist and begged them to come FAST. Next thing I know, I was pushing. Matt's Mom was in the room, but I was heart broken that my parents may not make it in time (FYI- avg labor for a first timer is 14 hours). The nurse said "push!" and my body said "wait!" I really wanted my parents there... After 20 minutes or so of "fake" pushing, my parents called and said they were turning into the hospital! Matt's Mom ran down to get them. So there I was-in all my glory-with my Mom, Dad, husband, and Mother-in-law all in the delivery room with me pushing-for real this time... An hour or so later, Maddox James Hollister was born. He was born at 2:56 p.m. What a surreal and amazing day. The experience was perfect. He weighed in at 6 lbs 10.8 oz and 19.5 inches long. A healthy baby... What more could a Mom ask for?

The last 2 weeks have been great. Okay, yes. I am delirious, sore, and very tired. All it takes is a look into my SON'S eyes, for me to be at complete peace. I have had a lot of help and support-thank goodness. My Mom was here for a little over a week. She slept on the couch with me and woke up with me in the middle of the night. My Dad was also here. He left during the week for work, but then he was back to see his first Grandson again the following weekend. Couldn't stay away! They went grocery shopping for us, helped clean the house, cooked dinner, and of course, spoiled Maddox. Ross (my brother) and Dannielle were here for his 1 week Birthday. Matt's Mom (Karen) has been here this week helping me clean and watched Maddox while I showered (Sad, but showering is such a luxury right now)! My friends Jenn and Jessica came over yesterday. They brought dinner and their little ones. It was nice to sit and talk to them. I am so lucky to have such great friends! Matt has also been helpful. Although I think he is still in shock that he has a son! He helps change the diapers, sterilizes bottles and helped me give Mad his first "real" bath.

Maddox is perfect. I know, I am his Mother, but still... He is perfect. His jaundice is going away and the weight he lost in the hospital has now been found. :) He has really bad gas though. Poor guy. He sleeps between 2-3 hours a night. Some nights are not so great-1.5 hours at a time. He has the funniest little faces that will make anyone laugh out loud. He has pouty lips and has the ability to squeal like a little girl... He has a dimple on his chin (compliment of his Dad) and dimples on his cheeks (compliments of his Mom). Oh, and his hair... As you can tell from the pictures, he has a ton of dark hair. I was in love-instantly. It is so true... You do not know how much you can love until you have a child...