Happy Half Birthday Baby!

Happy Half Birthday little D!

In honor of seeing you turn 18 months old, I decided to look up your birth story. Then I decided to share it with the whole world, because it is such a cool one (how many people get to tell everyone they were born at home in a bathroom!!)

So, here goes. 18 months ago, I typed this exciting message to some of my most wonderful friends:

you guys, he is so awesome- SUCH an old soul. a full moon baby indeed!

Saturday was my 36 week mark. It was a pretty typical day I THOUGHT.

Isaiah left to go camping with my brother and said to us, 'Now don't give birth while I am gone." We all laughed and said not to worry about that!

Adam and I went for a very long walk in the morning (2 3/4 miles is a long way at 8 months pregnant), then we went shopping for a few baby things (good thing!).

Then, I ate and ate and ate and ate and ate all day. We went to Denny's of all places, and I ate the yummiest oreo sundae for dessert (and a coke no less! can we say carb loading?) Oh, and I took a long nap before dinner. Saturday night we went to a fundraiser for Isaiah's theater group, trivia night at the park. Our team tied for first place! I also ate a whole lot more while we were there, chocolate chip cookies.

We got home at about 10 or so, and took this picture:

At about 11:00 p.m., I felt a strange pop and my water broke, but I wasn't 100% sure of that at the time because there wasn't a whole lot of fluid. Plus, honestly- It been a family joke to make me pee my pants a little laughing lately, so was not really sure what happened.

Soon though, light contractions started. I was in disbelief for awhile being only 36 weeks along. Adam and I were convinced if I could just relax and go to sleep, they would stop and I would be fine in the morning. Adam fell asleep easily enough, but I couldn't. At 12:00 I started timing them, but they still weren't really painful at all. I had 4 contractions in half an hour and started trying to figure out what I wanted to do. The contractions were definitely becoming more intense.

I got in the shower and started trying to talk to Desmond. We are always telling Isaiah to slow down and not be in a hurry, so I asked Desi if he was going to be like his big brother. I told him he had plenty of time and there was no need to show up tonight. I have a song I sing to sort of tease Isaiah called "Slow Down, Don't be in a Hurry" and I sung that through the contractions. I swear singing was the BEST way to get through them.

I got out of the shower around 1 a.m. and signed on MSN, but no one was there.

Then I gushed water all over my computer chair so I went to wake up Adam. It took him awhile to wake up and he was in total denial. I kept saying that I thought I was in labor and Adam kept telling me that if I was, I should rest as much as possible in the early stages of labor, because it would be a long night! I was in a lot of pain and was basically just bouncing around the house from position to position trying to figure out what to do. I was sure that if this was the real deal, I had plenty of time but I couldn't figure out when my contractions were beginning and ending.

I started getting VERY upset at my so called "inability" to handle the pain because I thought this was early labor- the easy part. I kept thinking I should go to the hospital since he was so early, in case there was a problem but I could never muster up the desire to do it.

I kept telling Adam that there was NO WAY I could have a natural birth if it was going to be like this for 7 or 8 hours, and was quite upset at that prospect. I was really starting to panic at the beginning of each contraction but could get into a good groove with it after a few seconds.

A couple more contractions later I flew off the bed saying I had to poop.

I ran into the bathroom and within a few seconds let out a blood curdling HOWL and finally decided that YES, I was indeed having a baby that night.

I felt the urge to push and put my hand down below me as I squatted over the toilet. I felt his head coming down and starting yelling at Adam, "It's a Baby! It's baby!" (I will never ever for get saying those words over and over again).

I swear he STILL didn't believe me, so I told to put his hand down there and feel. His eyes got really wide, he got a little panicky, and he decided to call 911. I just took charge of the situation.

I felt so calm and collected at this point, and have never acted with such clarity. I squatted down, held my perineum trying my best to apply counter pressure on each side of his head.I remembered every single piece of information I had ever read on the subject of childbirth, which is a pretty vast amount of information considering I have been obsessed with the topic for years.

I concentrated very hard on letting him come out slowly and calmly. I told Adam to lay out a flat towel and I squatted down on my knees and on one hand. I told Adam to put his hands out and take Desi as he glided gently into the world. We unwrapped the cord and looked at our baby. He was beautiful and so pink and healthy. I held his chest to my cheek to feel his heart beat, which was super strong. He didn't cry out or anything just opened his eyes and looked around.

I had never read anything on what to do at that point, not intending a home birth, so I just sat cross-legged, naked on the floor and held my baby close until the paramedics arrived. They cut the cord and we headed up to the hospital, where I delivered the placenta.

We stayed there all day yesterday and Desi never had to leave us once. Adam and I were just left alone with him in our room unless we needed something. Everyone was SO awesome and it was seriously like staying at a freaking luxury resort. I think it was really the best place for us considering the state of our home right now. Things would have just been too busy and chaotic here. We all came home this morning and are just lazing around in baby bliss. Such a different amazing feeling than my over-medicated birthing blur with Isaiah's birth.

Isaiah is home from camping and is in love too :)

So basically, I feel like I had the best birth ever. I feel so great and proud and happy. He is a really wonderful baby. He isn't nursing so much now but he does enough. I am not worried, I think he'll get it.

And boy, did he get it! 18 months later and we are still nursing strong. I think we are pretty close to weaning though, as we are only nursing 2 or 3 times a day at very short intervals.

The short story though, I love this kid!