katie at 39 weeks ... Beckton arrives!

If you want to skip the story and go right to the pictures ...

http://www.our365.com/newbornportraits/babydetail.aspx?birthid=b647d50c-bc13-4445-9f9b-172c357c1042&babyid=3d104df4-5cf9-47f1-a594-1082d76f0f81

Well on April 29th little man decided it was time to make his debut. The story .. Scott and I went to lunch at Panera on Tuesday April 28th. I said I wanted a nice relaxing lunch with him. Relaxing it was, we ate, chatted and read the paper. Scott then decided he wanted to go to the new Vitamin Shop (yes random) across the street. So we did just that. Inside I confessed that I had been feeling a little funny and so we called my doctor. I kinda had a feeling like my water might break. The doctor had us go to labor and delivery almost immediately. We checked in around 1:30PM got settled and waited. Nothing really happened and all signs appeared to point to no baby coming that day I was only dilated 1 1/2 cm. So, Scott decided to head home let out the dogs, mow the lawn and come back to pick me up. As I awaited tests results I noticed my abdomen becoming a little firmer from time to time and my Mom decided that she would come over and sit with me. The nurse walked in and said are you aware that you are having contractions that are lasting 6 minutes? I said well I knew something was going on but 6 minutes seems like a long contraction! Yes, she replied it's not the norm. Then they noticed that Mr. Beckton's heart rate was going down during these lengthy contractions and they started monitoring me a little more closely. When Dr. Komoroski arrived she checked me out and said I was dilated about 3 cm. Obviously I called Scott and he came back to the hospital but nothing much more happened. The nurses just said they would monitor me. So Scott and my Mom decided to go and grab some dinner. Just before they left the room the nurse came in with a bunch of IV's and trays and said - looks like we're going to have a baby tonight! Apparently with the dilation, long contractions and baby's heart rate the Dr. made a decision to augment me - meaning help the labor along without inducing. We were all a little shocked but Scott's (what the hell did you just say) face really made us laugh. He literally thought this was some silly false alarm. Turns out Beckton and I knew what we were doing. So they hooked me up, had me sign a bunch of forms and about 5 minutes after I was augmented (and my Mom and Scott left) my water broke on it's own. Funny thing was, Scott's parents decided to pay me a visit during that very moment! They were standing at my door as I yelled - you may not want to come in here my water is breaking all over the place! From there it was pretty much your typical labor story. Things moved much more quickly and I started dilating 1cm an hour. The pains were steady but not unbearable until I reached the back labor portion. That was pretty excruciating and I decided an epidural was necessary. The epidural was also pretty painful and a little scary as well. All in all though, it did it's job - took the pain but not the pressure away. From there I was just monitored every 45 minutes. Scott, his parents and my Mom were in the room keeping me company but when things settled down they decided to head home and wait for Scott's call. Probably a good idea because the Dr. informed us that with the risk of the baby's heart rate going low she wasn't keen on having a bunch of people in the delivery room. So, it ended up being just Scott and I which was actually very nice. The nurse Karen was too funny and she really made things memorable for us both. When she came in at 2:45AM and said ok you're at 10cm - I said what happens now? She replied - you push and have that baby! This pretty much freaked me out, knowing that just 12 hours ago I was having a nice relaxing lunch at Panera! Regardless Scott and Karen the nurse turned on some music and started dancing and singing and that lightened my spirits! Instead of "Poker Face" (a song that I truly hate) they sang "Pushin' Face." I will always remember that! Then about 5 pushes later and Mr. Beckton joined our world. He was born at 3:07AM, weighed in at 6 lbs 7oz, and was 20 in long. After his safe arrival our parents gathered in the delivery room and held him. Scott took some video of his first moments after he was all cleaned off and the two of us just gazed at our baby boy.

We love him so much!!!!!!!!

Katie at 38 weeks (Maybe this nice weather will do the trick!)

Love this little summer dress my sister sent me!

Well, nothing too exciting to report except for the beautiful weather. I hope Beckton was just waiting for a break in the weather to join us. He's got to be enjoying himself in his Cabo like atmosphere and I can't imagine he would want to leave that to come to 33 degree weather like we've been having in Dayton! Luckily we've had some incredible 80 days just like I like 'em and I'm sure he's running out of space in there because I am getting big! Today at work everyone who has seen me says and I quote "Wow, you are HUGE!"

I'm having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions - and I still feel like he's going to make an appearance at any minute, but so far no such luck.

Scott and I are starting to get anxious and nervous at the same time. We keep saying we are ready and then we ask each other "Are we really ready?" We are though, we have to be! I swear I have packed and re-packed that hospital bag 5 times now!

We are also reading a chapter of Baby Wise every night in anticipation of being good parents and having a pleasant baby!

Beckton's Room is complete! I am obsessed!

Beckton's Blankie

How it looked first .. How it looks now! (Not as yellow as the picture portrays - walls are actually ivory) Where our little man will sleep
The monkey really makes the room
This bookshelf has been in our family for years!
Changing Table

My favorite picture frame with the sweetest wording everShelves
Wall Art

LOVES IT!

Katie at 37 weeks (Beckton are you coming soon?)

(No I didn't ride on this just posed for a picture on Tommy's Harley!)

I'm full-term! I'm exhausted, I'm nesting like crazy and I can't keep myself out of the bathroom. He is literally sitting on my bladder. It's weird because I can feel him moving down all the time. Especially at night. Then I think this is it! And it's not! Week 37 was filled with more accomplishments ...

We finished all of our classes! Childbirth, CPR etc. we are trained and ready to roll.

We finished the nursery!! It's DONE! We love it and can't wait to post more pictures!

We prepared the house ... everything is clean thanks to my nesting phase last weekend. We cleaned grout, toilets, baseboards, windows, the gardens, sprayed for bugs, packed un-packed and re-packed my hospital bag, filed documents, power-washed the deck, I mean we got serious!
So the big question is when will you come little guy? We would love to hear your predictions ... you can leave comments at the bottom of this post!

Katie at 36 weeks (Happy Easter!)

Wow time is finally flying by! It's funny how in the early stages I felt like I would never get this far. 30 weeks seemed unimaginable ... now here I am at 36 weeks and Beckton could literally come any day! I find myself feeling these little bursts of excitement. I started out so excited I couldn't stand it, then I got so sick that it was hard to focus on anything else, and now it's almost time! Between feeling a little overwhelmed and nervous I just keep smiling thinking that soon we'll have this little guy who will depend on us and learn from us. It's going to be so much fun.

This past weekend we did some maternity photos. THANK YOU TO MARISA for taking the time to take over 300 photos like a total pro! They turned out awesome and here are just a few!

Nursery Sneak Peak..Love ..

Just us ..

Blooming ..

Our last few moments of serenity

36 weeks!

The whole family

Katie at 35 weeks (Spring has sprung but with snowflakes)

At Miami University with the Upham Arches behind me - while visiting with Scott

Snow in April? Note the tulips mixed with snow on the ground and blowing in the air!

Week 35 means we have 5 weeks to go until 40 weeks! Week 35 was a little crazy as I started having some contractions. Luckily they subsided but were actually pretty painful. Thank God my Mom was able to stay with me since Scott was out of town. If those were any indication of what labor is like ... all I can say is epidural.

The childbirth classes are over but we still have some parenting classes to finish up through April. We also have to attend a Baptismal class for Beckton's baptism after he is born. It's a lot of learning, but I think it will all come in handy.

So far April has been a month of getting things done! From the classes to decorating the baby room, making sure my claims for maternity leave are ready, securing a pediatrician, de-cluttering our house, making space in our house for new baby things, buying items we didn't get from showers like bottles and diaper bags, working on a transition plan for the new person to cover my responsibilities at work ... I think we will be prepared!!

I'm still feeling exhausted because of the bathroom visits in the middle of the night but all in all doing well. Beckton is all over the place and we're all very excited for what's to come.

Katie at 34 weeks (Baby Room is making progress and Beckton is a Canteloupe)

34 weeks and we're moving right along! Beckton is about the size of a canteloupe! This weekend another milestone ... baby furniture arrived, we put it together and the room is almost done. I was so emotional this weekend while we were arranging the room. I guess I just couldn't really believe how one minute it looked like a storage unit and the next it was the room where Scott and I will bring Beckton home to for the first time. It's a pretty cool/strange feeling. Obviously anyone who has done this before gets it but I swear until you go through it once you just can't know how the emotions will take over. It's exhilarating. I'm starting to get really excited and really nervous at the same time. I cannot wait until the room is 100% complete and I can just sit back in the rocker and await Beckton's arrival.

This weekend (March 27th) we also celebrated Scott's 28th Birthday ! This was his last before becoming a Dad so we wanted to make it count! We headed to his favorite restaurant El Toro for dinner with family and friends and then topped off the night with a few rounds of bowling! Everyone had a blast and I think we sent Scott off well into fatherhood.

We also had a doctor appointment and Beckton appears to be doing well! Strong heartbeat and measuring right on target. No signs of any issues which is THRILLING!!! We should learn more next week at our next appointment ...