Introducing Jackson Hal Mitchell

Here's the story of how our little guy got here. (This is the long version, so sorry if you're not that interested. Just skip to the million pictures.)

I went in for my regular doctors appointment on Tuesday the 22nd. My wonderful doctor offered to induce me on the 24th. I figured there was no reason to rush things because I was still not super uncomfortable, my due date wasn't until the 26th, and there were lots of things I wanted to get done before the baby was here. So I told him we'd just wait to see what happened. On his way out the door I asked him how big he thought the baby was and he told me he was probably already in between 8 and 8 1/2 lbs. This made me reconsider. As my mom said, "He ain't getting any smaller." I talked to some people, including my extremely wise mother who has given birth ten times, and decided to go for it.

I spent the whole day doing some serious deep cleaning even though Doug promised me that the baby wouldn't care if the fridge was clean or if the sheets were washed. It just had to be done! (Those men just don't understand...)

After my body was thoroughly exhausted I crashed in bed early to get some sleep for the big day. I think I slept for a total of half an hour. My mind would not stop thinking. This was a HUGE change coming up and it was coming tomorrow! First thing in the morning!

When morning finally came I somehow felt that the baby was even lower than he had been the day before. I felt really uncomfortable. My fabulous mother-in-law came to watch Juliann, and we headed to the hospital, checked in, went to our room, I got into a lovely hospital gown and got hooked up to the monitors. As I was sitting in the bed answering the never ending list of questions my nurse pointed out that I was having contractions and I was noticing that these were starting to hurt a little. Before this I had had lots of contractions, but none of them ever hurt. Eventually they started hurting more and more. This was before they had even induced me. The doc came in and said I was dialated to about a 3 or a 4 and 70% effaced. So it looks like I would have had him that day even with out being induced.

Around 9:30 they hooked me up to a tiny bit of pitocin and we started waiting. The contractions got closer together and really painful. Then I got an epidural that was absolutely heaven sent. The nurse (who I think is the best nurse in the world) checked me again about an hour and a half after the first check and said I was probably about the same. This was a little discouraging. So we kept waiting. I tried to sleep but couldn't, we tried watching tv but I couldn't concentrate.

Around 12:00 (I think?) I heard a big pop and felt a ton of warm liquid all over my legs. My water had broken. The nurse checked me again and said I was now dialated to an 8 and it looked like things were going to happen soon. Sure enough I started having really fast, intense contractions and felt the urge to push. The doc rushed down and about 3 or 4 pushes later, little Jackson came out screaming. Doug cut the cord and we got to hold him for a while. They weighed and measured him a little later and he was 8 lbs. 1 oz (just like Juliann) and 20 inches long.

Overall, the whole experience was 100 times better than the first time around. I knew what to expect and it was much faster. The doctor says the total labor time was 45 minutes because they count starting at when they check and notice a change in your dialation to when the baby is born. But I figure it was about three and a half hours. Also the epidural was a lot better. With Juliann I couldn't move my legs or feel anything, but with Jackson I could still move and feel just enough. Also the recovery has been much, much faster.

Anyways, we are really happy that he's here! He's a wonderful baby. He sleeps a lot. At night so far he wakes up every three hours to eat and then goes right back to sleep. He's a great nurser too and the pediatrician says he's very healthy. His big sister loves him very much. She loves to hold him and kiss him. She's having her own little issues of wanting attention and doing naughty things to get it, but I'm sure she'll figure things out soon. (Hopefully!)

I am coming to find out that my free time is going to be very limited for the next little while. I thought it was short before, but that was nothing. My wonderful mother in law has been here a lot helping so much with Juliann and Jackson and with cleaning up my poor house. I would probably be passed out from exhaustion with out her. (Thank you!)

Here are waaaaaay too many pictures of our new little guy. We are so proud.

In the hospital waiting for something to happen

Fresh out of the oven

Weighing him. (He looks really huge in this picture I think)

Jana, the most wonderful nurse in the world

Proud new parents

Proud new Daddy and son

First visit from big sister

I love this picture. It looks like he's trying to kiss her too.

First new family pictures

Dr. Chau, my wonderful doctor

Monkey feet. This boy can do some serious toe flaring.

Bundling up to battle the snow and head home

This is the only picture we've been able to get so far of his one dimple. I love it!

He rolled on his side by himself. He is really strong and wiggly.

Chubby cheeks