dylan masters : newborn session

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Dylan's birth day

the day I went into labor started out like any other.  my due date was still three days away and I didn't really think this little one would be early.  of course, there were lots of signs that he was coming soon but I kept telling myself he wouldn't be here until the end of the week.  little did I know when his due date arrived, we'd be heading home from the hospital!

in many ways, my labor with Dylan was very similar to my labor with Clark.  both boys were 3 days early.  I experienced false labor for a few days leading up to their births.  they were even almost exactly the same size, differing by just one ounce and half an inch!  the biggest difference was my labor with Dylan was twice as fast as my labor with Clark.  from the time I checked into the hospital, Dylan was born six hours later!  here is his story...

on Monday morning, February 19th, I woke up with mild contractions.  I didn't think much of them since I'd been having irregular contractions for the past few days.  so I just ignored them and went about getting ready for the day.  as usual, once I started moving, they subsided so I went ahead with the day as planned.

my mom was picking Clark and I up after breakfast for one last Target run before baby.  a few days before we had run out of scotch tape and it was suddenly very important to me that we stock up before the baby.  don't ask me why.

around noon we were on our way to Target when I realized my contractions were back.   I began timing them and realized they were coming about every six minutes.  I wasn't worried though because they weren't painful.  by the time we got to Target they were coming four minutes apart.  I kept my mom updated and she of course, was nearly having a panic attack.  we joked about my water breaking in Target and having the first "Target baby".  luckily that did not happen!

so I went into Target for tape but while I was there I thought I'd get a head start on my birthday card shopping since I was pretty sure it would be awhile before I'd make it back to the store.  I was sifting through the cards but I was still having contractions (and timing them) so I could barely get through one card before having to stop and start the timer.  all of my walking around Target was making them closer together and they were now coming every two minutes!!  they still weren't all that painful though so I continued my shopping.

I decided to head to Marshall's next door because we needed some euro pillows for Clark's bed.  halfway through my pillow shopping I really got annoyed with how often my contractions were coming.  I could hardly concentrate on the pillows with how often I was having to start and stop the timer so I decided to stop timing.

soon after my mom called and told me Clark was awake and hungry so I bought my pillows and we headed to Wendy's.  the last supper!!!  I got chicken nuggets and made myself a chicken salad when we got home.  mmm.

this whole time my contractions were not letting up, although they did get further apart after I stopped walking.  let me tell you, it's not a very pleasant dining experience to eat through contractions.  after lunch I decided to call my doctor's office, just to see what they thought.

the nurse said she thought it sounded like early labor but if I wanted to make sure, I should drink a glass of water and go for a walk and see if they stop.  after I hung up I decided it was a great time to take a walk to the park with Clark.  my mom thought it was a bad idea and kept telling me to just walk around the block but I was determined to make it to the park with Clark!  I think I had a feeling this might be the last time I'd get to take him as an only child.

so we headed to the park...and my contractions got real!  they finally started to be uncomfortable enough I was considering the fact that I might be in labor.  this whole time I was keeping Mark updated at work and as we got closer to the park, my contractions were painful enough I couldn't walk or talk through them.  I finally told Mark he should probably start heading home to pick up our bags.  when we made it to the park I took one last video of Clark as an only child.  my baby!!

I pushed Clark on the swing, watched him go down the slide and tried to keep the tears from coming as I was realizing this was it.  I finally called Mark and told him to come straight to the park because I wasn't going to be able to make it back to my mom's.  when he got there, Clark saw him pull up and of course, wanted to join us in the car.  we let him sit in the front seat for awhile and pretend drive and I was a total emotional wreck.  even though I was in pain, I could have sat there for an hour with Clark, letting him play and enjoying my only baby for as long as possible.

finally, we had to go so my mom distracted Clark and we headed for my mom's house to pick up a few things I had left.  but on the drive there, my contractions got further apart. walking definitely had sped them up and made them more intense but now that I was sitting, I still wasn't sure if it was real labor.  so when we got to my mom's I decided to lay down on the couch for awhile and wait.  I wasn't sure what I was waiting for...more pain I think.  my mom and Clark arrived about 15 minutes after us and he was happy to see us.  while we waited, my mom painted my toenails.  finally, I stood up to go to the bathroom and I got one super intense contraction and said to Mark, "time to go!"

we stopped at Carl's Jr for Mark on the way there and there was tons of traffic so I tried listening to this labor meditation playlist I made on YouTube but that did nothing for me.  the only thing that really helps me is focusing on taking slow, deep breaths through each contraction.  after a few hours of that though, I'm usually chanting words and phrases super fast like, "it's okay," "I can do this, I can do anything," "Dylan," "love," over and over until the contraction passes.  call me crazy but it works!

selfies in labor to distract myself

before I had Clark, I was so curious throughout my whole pregnancy what labor would feel like.  it was the first thing I asked any mom and I would read through pregnancy forums and blogs about different explanations of what contractions felt like.  most people said they felt like strong period cramps, but I never get period cramps so that didn't help.  some people said they felt like gas pains or like a tightening and I think that's a better explanation.  but I realized you can't really describe it.  you just have to experience it for yourself.

I remember my contractions with Clark gradually getting stronger and more intense as the day went on and by the time we checked into the hospital (and I had to wait for hours for my epidural), they were so painful I was crying.  well with Dylan, the contractions were really mild until suddenly they weren't!  I want to say they were more painful at the end than Clark's but it's probably just because they're fresh in my mind.  also, with Clark they gave me some strong pain medication while waiting for my epidural (made me feel like I was outside my body!) but with Dylan I got the epidural faster so they didn't give me anything before.

but I'm getting ahead of myself.  so after we finally made it to the hospital around 6 pm, we headed to Labor & Delivery.  Mark told them we were here to check in but instead of taking me in a room to check me, they just started taking my information.  then they asked what time my induction was scheduled for and I quickly told them I wasn't here for an induction but I thought I was in labor.  when I told them my name, they said, "we've been expecting you!  Dr. Schettler's already been up here twice looking for you."  oops!  I guess when I called the doctor's office earlier that afternoon, they told Dr. Schettler I was in labor and coming in.  he had me scheduled for a pitocin drip so they were admitting me no matter what.  I couldn't believe it was really happening!

we got settled in our room and they had me pee in a cup (not easy in between contractions!) and hooked me up to an IV.  the nurse asked if I wanted an epidural.  "yes please!  and as soon as possible."  no shame here :)  at first she said they wanted to get me started on my pitocin before the epidural but they switched nurses for the night shift and the night nurse said I could have my epidural right away.  I could have kissed her!

it still took about 3 hours from the time I checked in until I got my epidural at 9:15 pm.  that last half hour before I got it was brutal.  I'm not sure how far dilated I was at that point (I think I was a 5 with Clark before I got one but I was also on heavy pain meds) because they never checked me!  they were monitoring my contractions and the baby so they knew I really was in labor.  the nurse said she knows how painful it is to get checked so they would wait until after my epidural.

well when the sweet nurse finally checked me, she had the strangest expression on her face and it took her about 5 minutes.  Mark and I kept looking at each other, getting worried.  what was going on??  finally she said to me, "you know what?  I can't feel anything.  I think you're complete!"  WHAT??!!  no wonder I felt like I was dying!!

I think the pitocin helped to speed things up a lot and even though I really didn't want to be induced, I didn't mind getting it since I was already in labor.  it didn't force my body to go into labor when I wasn't ready, it just sped my labor along.  honestly though, once I got my epidural, I would have appreciated a good long nap before having to push!  with Clark, I got the epidural around 2 am and he wasn't born until 6:53 am so we got to sleep for a good four hours.  but this baby wasn't messin' around!

at just before midnight, two nurses came in and told me to do a little half push, just to see where we were at.  I did and they both immediately said, "stop, stop stop!!  call the doctor, she's ready!"  we waited about 20 minutes for the doctor to get there.  it felt like a lifetime but it also went so fast.  they told me not to sneeze, laugh, or even breathe heavy because the baby's head was poking out!

for some reason, I really didn't want Dylan's birthday to be the 19th.  it felt like such a bad number, so uneven and I just didn't want that to be the day!  hahaha.  Clark was born on the 10th and I felt like that was perfect.  so I really was hoping he would wait until the 20th.  well it's a good thing the doctor took his sweet time because at 12:11 am, February 20th, my sweet little Dylan was born.

our hospital lets mama and baby have skin to skin time and nurse for the first hour of baby's life before doing anything else.  Dylan was a pro nursling right from the start and was able to latch on immediately!

Dyl looooves nursing!  my milk came in the day we got home from the hospital and I'm happy to say there was very little pain with breastfeeding this time around.  I don't think I had the latch right in the beginning with Clark and my nipples suffered through it for about a month until they toughened up.  with Dylan I was only a little sore the first couple days and just at the initial latch.  now we're old pro's at 10 days old :)

we spent the rest of that first night waiting for my epidural to wear off so we could move to our room.  it took like 3 hours since my labor was so short!  then we tried to get some sort of sleep but with all the people coming in and out of our room, checking me, checking baby, we didn't sleep at all.  just like last time, we maybe got two hours of sleep (not consecutive) a night if we were lucky.  the worst!!

Mark holding Dylan for the first time

the evening of Dylan's birth day we had three very special visitors...Grandma, Grandad and big brother Clark!  I was so excited for my boys to meet and their meeting did not disappoint.  Clark LOVED meeting Dylan and Dylan obviously loved Clark!  he even smiled at him!!

Clark was so gentle without even being coached!

the day we left the hospital, our discharge nurse was Clark's discharge nurse (our favorite nurse!), Paula and we discovered that she is LDS!  she actually asked us if we were because she thought I looked familiar.  we talked with her for a long time and it was one of those moments where you know you're in exactly the right place at the right time and everything is as it should be.

it's been 10 days since Dilly was born and the transition has been much easier than expected.  granted, my mom comes over every morning as soon as Mark leaves and watches Clark all day for me, haha.  she's taking the entire month of March off work to help me get adjusted.  best mom in the world.  we've had dinner brought to us every single day, thanks to her coordinating with sisters in the ward and even though Mark only got three days off where we weren't in the hospital, I'm much more confident this time around at all this newborn stuff.  Mark is still the better diaper changer, better swaddler, and better burper but I'm the one with the milk!

Dylan is the sweetest little angel I could have imagined.  some people think he looks just like Clark but personally I don't see it.  they are like night and day to me, in both looks and personality, but I love them both more than I thought was possible!  it's like my heart grew two sizes and I have even more love for Clark than I did before, which is crazy to me, and a whole other heart full of love for my Dyl.  it almost feels like Dylan has always been here.  I can't imagine a life without him!  welcome to our family, sweet Dylan.  we love you more than words can say ♥

he's here!

introducing our newest addition!  everyone is in love with you Dylan, especially your big brother.  how did we ever live without you?  our sweet little lamb ♥

birth story coming soon...

39 weeks!!

baby is the size of a WATERMELON!!!

guys, my due date is 3 days away!!!  life is about to get crazy.

the baby is as big as a whole watermelon, not a half, but they didn't have any whole watermelons at the grocery store (nor did they have any pumpkins, which is what I'll need for my 40 week pic!) so we picked up this delicious looking half and brought it to my parents to go along with yummy chicken and shrimp fajitas!

my to do list before baby is getting shorter and shorter and I think I may actually complete it before baby arrives!  I'm basically prepping for D-Day over here.  the house has to be spotless at all times, I'm doing the laundry every single day, our fridge and pantry are super triple stocked, and Clark has been getting so so spoiled these past few days.  his last week as an only child!

while singing Clark to sleep the other night, I broke down and started crying.  I could barely get through our songs.  any day now could be the last night I put my only baby to bed.  I've been doing a lot of crying lately.  it just feels like change is in the air and I love things exactly how they are.  I feel like we were just getting the hang of things.  Clark is finally consistently sleeping through the night AND not fussing about going to bed.  the past month of sleep has been amazing.  if I didn't have to get up every two hours to pee I would be getting such good sleep!!

at my last appt. my doctor asked me if I wanted him to help me in any way in starting labor and I told him nope!  I want to wait it out and let things happen naturally.  everything looks good and I'm healthy so he had no problem with that.  now there's really nothing left to do but wait...

I've had a few signs that labor is near, probably TMI for the blog, but everything I read says it could be anywhere from 24-48 hours or possibly still a week (or two!) away!  there's really no way of knowing.   I'm not sure how long my doctor will let me go without being induced.  I know I wouldn't want to be more than a week overdue because the baby would probably be so big!  the way things are going right now, I think he will be here before this weekend.  possibly go into labor on Thursday and have him here Friday, the 23rd.  on Saturday my dad guessed he'd be here today and Mark's guess passed already, haha.  he has been so sure the baby will be here early!  we'll see who's right!

I've always thought of Clark as my little "wilde" cub but I have a feeling this baby is going to be very different.  I have pictured him as a little lamb, which I've thought since I found out I was pregnant.  then my MIL surprised me with a stocking for him at Christmas with a little lamb on it and I knew it had to be true.  can't wait until I get to look at my sweet little lamb's face for the first time...

Clark at one day old

37 & 38 weeks

baby is as long as swiss chard!

baby is as long as a bunch of leeks - 19.5 in!

happy ♥ Valentine's ♥ day!!!  it's not looking like baby will be making an appearance today but I'll be 39 weeks tomorrow!  THE COUNTDOWN IS ON.

I used to want all the time in the world but now I'm so anxious for labor to start.  it's the unknown that's killing me...when, how, where!!  the nurse told me at my last appt. that the doctor will induce me on my due date, the 22nd.  she didn't ask if I wanted to be induced or anything so I'm wondering if I'll have a say.  of course I should!  especially since I calculated my due date on tons of pregnancy due date calculators and it's actually the 28th, based on my lmp.  so I definitely don't want to be induced a week early!

so at my last dr. appt my mom's car was broken into and my Fawn Design diaper bag was stolen!!  there was nothing of value in it (for them) but it had my first milk snob cover that I nursed Clark with, a romper of his, toys, a gathre mat changing pad, a ring I got for Christmas and the diaper bag itself is very expensive.  I was so sad and upset the whole day,  not to mention Clark didn't get a nap that day because we were at the hospital for hours talking to police and filing reports.  it was a sad day ;(

on a happier note, I'm very grateful that something told me not to bring my wallet that day.  I normally grab it before I go somewhere but I knew I'd already made all the payments to my doctor and wouldn't be needing it so I chose not to take it.  I also usually keep Clark's and new baby's promptly journals in there.  the baby's is filled up through the first three trimesters but Clark's has a year's worth of special memories, notes, pictures, hospital tags, mementos, you name it!  it is irreplacable!!!  I would have been completely devastated if it had been there.  but on this day both of the boys' journals were in another bag safe at home.  so I am truly counting my blessings that nothing was stolen that cannot be replaced.  I'm going to get a new color Fawn Design for this baby (brown) so that will be fun and I already ordered another milk snob.  I hope that thief enjoys their beautiful new diaper bag and nursing cover!

we are officially ready for baby to come any day now...the nursery is painted, the laundry is washed and put away, the house is spotless, the bassinet is set up and now all we need is a b a b y ♥

down to the wire!

baby is the size of a papaya mini watermelon!

so technically, I'm 37 weeks in this picture but we've been so busy I forgot to take my picture last week!  I've pretty much been a week behind the entire pregnancy though, but now I'm starting to get two weeks behind, haha.  also, there was a sign for papayas at the grocery store but all they had in front were mini watermelons so I decided they're probably about the same size anyway and I much prefer watermelons to papayas so, there ya go.

I'm starting to do these closer together because I don't think I'm going to make it to 40 weeks!  Mark and I are so sure the baby will be here early.  he predicts by the end of next week...which is no good for me because according to my baby laundry schedule, I'll still have all the blankets to wash!  also considering Mark still has to do another coat of paint on the nursery and the only real day he can work is Saturday so we have to wait until next weekend for him to finish!  we're definitely cutting it close this time around...

I've stopped gaining weight and actually have lost a couple pounds.  I think I've hit my maximum weight capacity,  haha!  if you want to know, I've gained about 40 pounds, same as with Clark.  it's funny how last time seeing the scale hit numbers I'd never dreamed I'd ever see really got to me but this time I'm like, yeah, whatever, I'll lose it fast.  the best part about gaining this much weight is losing this much weight!!  I've always weighed about the same since I was like 16 so getting back in shape and seeing the numbers tick back down on the scale is so fun for me!

so far no progress at my doctor appointments so that's good!  if I had to pick the baby's birthday I'd pick Valentine's Day because how cool would that be! ♥  but that would also be a week early and not sure if I'll be ready!  if all goes according to plan though, we should be ready that day.

labor goals: hoping I go into labor naturally, the baby comes quickly and I'm allowed to have the epidural earlier than last time.  hey, a girl can dream!

baby boy we are getting SO close.  getting so so so excited!!!

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