Joyful. Patient. Faithful.

Blake Denver - ONE Month

• He has grown from his birth weight, 6lbs. 6oz, to 8lbs. 13.5oz.
• He is still wearing Newborn sized clothes.
• He loves being swaddled...most of the time.
• He has big beautiful dark blue eyes.
• Has lots of dark brown hair, with some lighter hair underneath.
• He smiles with his whole face while he is sleeping and after he has eaten.
• He is starting to really focus in on faces.
• He recognizes his mom and dad's smells, faces and voices.
• He has a few nicknames: Squeaker (after all the little sounds he makes), Little Man and Little Bug
• He still gets woken up every three hours to eat by mom and dad...even though he could sleep longer.
• He loves to snuggle, especially after his belly is nice and full.
• He likes going for rides in his stroller, unless he gets woken up by a bump in the road.
• He falls asleep every time he gets put in the car.
• He 'accidentally' rolled over from his tummy to his back...twice.
• He still gets hiccups a least once a day...same as when he was inside his mommy.
• He enjoys sleeping, and coos while he is settling in.

"Your hands made me and formed me."

Psalm 119:73

 "We love because he first loved us."

1 John 4:19

 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Romans 12:12

 

We are so in love with our sweet little boy. It is amazing to think that it has already been a month that he has been in our lives because it feels like we have known him forever. We have been working really hard this month getting his weight up and getting him to become a good eater. It has been a lot of work, and not so much sleep, but so worth the effort.  He has diffidently grown this month, and already he looks so much different than when we first brought him home from the hospital. We have been so blessed by so many family and friends that have helped us welcome our new little man. So many wonderful meals, and visitors have come to welcome Blake, and to make us as parents feel a little less overwhelmed.  So very thankful for the support we have had, and for the world that we get to raise Blake in.

Our family of two is now three.

Blake Denver Bernard

June 25th 2012

12:54pm

6lbs. 6oz. 19"

Our sweet little miracle decided that he was ready to come 3-weeks early; we could not be more excited that he is here. Our family has officially gone from two to three. Sweet little Blake is the perfect addition to our family, and even though we have only just started getting to know him, I know he is exactly what Jason and I needed in a son.

It all started Sunday morning, June 24th, when I let Jason know that I thought we should go to the hospital to get checked out since I wasn't feeling so good. At around 9:15am the triage nurse said she was pretty sure that we would be heading back home in an hour or so; then she checked me, and said I was 3cm and was having contractions.  They most likely would have sent me home except my blood pressure was just a little to high and wasn't coming down.  After walking the halls for an hour-and-a-half they checked me again, and the doctor working that day decided to keep me for observation and to further test to make sure I wasn't experiencing preeclampsia.

At around 11:30pm Sunday night, after Jason and I had spent the day playing cards, spending time with family and watching a movie we went to bed...well I should say Jason went to bed.  The moment I laid down, I felt my first contractions.  Since I had been told I had been having them all day, I wasn't sure if I was making them up or not...soon enough as they got stronger I knew they were real.  I attempted to time them, and paced around the room to alleviate some of the pain.  I wanted to give Jason as much sleep as possible, but at 3:30am I was ready to wake him up and get the process going.

The nurse came in, and I could tell she was still expecting nothing really to be happening.  What did take place was that I was already 6cm dilated and 80% effaced.  The nurse turned to us and said, "It looks like this is baby day for you two! Let's move you over to a delivery room."

Jason called our parents while I dressed into the "fashionable" gown and got ready for what the day would bring.  Around 6am our family started showing up.  I took a bath in the tub...not the most relaxing bath I have ever had...I was told it would cut my pain in half; I don't think that happened.  When I got out of the tub the nurse checked me again, and I had progressed to 7cm and 100% effaced.  She said I should go walk the halls to help the labor to keep progressing.

While in the hall I had two contractions less than a minute apart, and I looked at my mom and just said, "Epidural."  Ten minutes later I was sitting on the edge of the bed, shaking, but thankful for the decision I had made.  I got a little bit of a break after the epi, since my labor stalled at 8cm.  Soon though, after the doctor broke my water, my contractions intensified, and I was officially 10cm and ready to push.  I remember looking at Jason and us saying, "This is it. Our family of two is growing into three so soon."

At 12pm I started pushing.  Partway through there was a little bit of an issue.  Suddenly there was an extra nurse in the room, and they were having me roll from side to side while I was given oxygen.  We found out later that we were close to a C-Section due to the fact that the cord was wrapped around his neck, and with each contraction and push the baby's heart rate was dropping very low. Thankfully, the oxygen helped and we were able to continue pushing.

At 12:54pm I gave once last push, and instantly Jason and my life changed for the better.  Blake came into the world crying, but when they place him on my chest he calmed down and had his big eyes open looking around.  Amazing. That's the only word I can think of to explain the many feelings that were rushing through me as I held this tiny baby that is part of Jason and part of me. He is such a sweet blessing to our family.  We are feeling so blessed that the labor went smoothly, and that our 'little man' is healthy and here.

First Bath

Going home!

Relaxing at home.

Calli checking out her new baby brother.

Happy 4th of July