Baby Brock

Today Brock is 6 weeks old already! I really can understand now when people say that their kids grow up too fast. These past few weeks have FLOWN by and I regret not having recorded my thoughts and feelings earlier. I now know that I need to stay on top of things because I can quickly fall behind now that Brock takes up the majority of my time. But I guess the important thing is that I am still recording things, even if I'm a little late.

Brock's Birth Story: On Saturday, June 25th, Blair and I had a day full of fun! We had a feeling it would be our last full day together and we wanted to take advantage of it. In the middle of the night Saturday night, I got really bad contractions that kept getting closer and closer together. I couldn't sleep past 4:30am because they were so strong. I didn't go to church that morning because I thought I'd be heading to the hospital within an hour or two. Nope. The contractions slowed down and lessened in intensity. Christina and Shayla drove from Delta, CO to bring my mom back to Provo. They all arrived a little after 4 and Christina and Shayla decided to stay the night.

In the middle of Sunday night, the contractions came back really strong and pretty close together. I got up at 3:30am because it was easier to handle them if I was doing something, instead of just lying there. I did the dishes, cleaned the bathroom, painted my fingernails, and got myself ready. Christina and Shayla had to head back to Colorado around 9am and Me, Blair and Mom headed to the hospital around 10am. The contractions were getting pretty strong by then, to the point that when one came, I had to stop whatever I was doing and just stand there as still as I could be...the more I moved, the more they hurt.

Just hanging out with Blair and Mom

 

We got to the hospital a little after 10 and got checked in quickly. By the time I got in a room and they checked me I was already dilated to a 5, so they gave me my epidural right away...heavenly! The actual epidural wasn't nearly as bad as I had anticipated and within minutes I could hardly feel a thing! I progressed well and just read, napped, talked with Blair and Mom, and listened to my ipod to pass the time. My water broke around 2 and by 4 the nurse said it was about time to start pushing. I pushed for a few minutes, then she made me stop because the baby was coming quickly and the doctor hadn't gotten there yet. When the doctor got there I just pushed for a few more minutes and the baby came. I only pushed for 18 minutes. The nurse was sure to tell me that for a first time mom, that is almost unheard of. I must acknowledge that Brock's birth story is not a very exciting one, but I am grateful for that! Everything with the labor and deliver went perfect! I really couldn't have asked for it to have gone any better!

Brocky with the Doc. I loved my doctor!

7 lbs. 5 oz. and 19.5 inches...the perfect size!

After Brock was born the nurses quickly cleaned him up then gave him right to me. I cried as I held  him for the first time. My son! So perfect! So innocent! So beautiful! I was overwhelmed as a rush of emotion hit me as I was trying to wrap my head around the fact that Brock was mine. I still get those moments where it is almost beyond my comprehension that I have a son...that I am responsible for another human being. Wow!

I'm so glad Mom was there with me. She is always such a great support! 

Brocky sure loves his Grammy too!

About two hours after the baby was born, we still hadn't decided on a name. For the few days before he was born, I felt like Brock was the right name, but Blair still wasn't sure. Blair went with Brock to the nursery as the nurses cleaned him up and when they returned we tried to decide on a name. After a while, Blair agreed with me and thought that Brock was the right name for him.

 Brock Blair Rhodehouse

We spent the next two days in the hospital and everything went well. Brock and were both learning to nurse, which took a little time, and we just spend the days resting and bonding. Blair spent the night in the hospital with us and everything went smoothly. We went home Wednesday afternoon. Brock fell asleep on the drive home and when we walked in the door, I turned to my mom and asked, "What next?!" She just laughed and told me to take a nap while Brock was sleeping.

About to head home from the hospital.

I look back and can't believe that Brock has been with us for six weeks already! I wouldn't change it for anything. The only thing I would do differently is to try to enjoy Brock and focus on him more, but it was a little hard when we decided to move unexpectedly (that will be another post soon). I am trying to enjoy him more now and I am loving him so much! He is such a sweetheart!