Introducing Jackson Snow Pond

He's here! Actually, he's been here for 12 days now. Little Jackson Snow Pond was born on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 8:17 pm. He weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz. and was 21 inches long. And he was absolutely perfect in every way. He still is. The little guy sure makes us happy.

I went in Friday night at 8:00 for a scheduled induction. I was almost 41 weeks, and my doctor doesn't like to let women go past 41 weeks. Not to mention, I was ready to be done being pregnant. I'd been having minor contractions throughout the day, but nothing to get too excited about yet. I was nervous beyond reason, and I knew that my life was about to change forever. But at the same time, I was excited to know that my sweet little boy would soon be in my arms.

Just before leaving to the hospital

 We got to the hospital and they hooked me up to the monitors and Pitocin, then told us to get some sleep. The night wasn't too bad. We were both able to sleep...as much as one can in a strange environment with strange smells, strange noises, strange lights. Not to mention we weren't cuddled up like I was used to. And poor Jeff was in the uncomfortable bedside chair. And the nurses kept coming in to adjust the monitors because my wiggly little boy kept moving so it wasn't picking up his heart rate. We were awake by about 6:30 Saturday morning and excited to get things going so we could meet our little boy.

Throughout the morning they slowly increased the dose of Pitocin, but I kept smiling and talking through the contractions and was able to pull out my book and read some more (I was at one of those points where I couldn't put it down!). My doctor came in and broke my water around 11:00 or so and things went very quickly downhill from there...pain-wise anyway. I went from being happy-go-lucky to "give me pain meds and give them to me now" very quickly. I really wanted to avoid having an epidural because the size of the needle absolutely terrified me, plus the sensation of not being able to feel my legs...weird. They gave me something through my IV that helped relax me a bit, but by the time I was able to have a second dose, I'd given up on not having an epidural and told them to do it. I didn't know how much longer I was going to have to wait to have the baby, but I wasn't going to do it without something stronger. The anesthesiologist was in my room probably 10 minutes later. I was pretty miserable and did not appreciate the feeling of being stuck with the needles along with the contractions. But I was feeling much better very quickly. I was even able to sleep for a couple of hours. 

By about 7:00 that evening it was time to get the show on the road. The nurses changed shifts, and my new nurse came in immediately and started getting things ready to go. I don't know that I ever even learned her name. I felt a lot of pressure and was feeling pretty miserable again. I was pushing by 7:40, ready to get that baby out of there. At 8:17 pm, little Jackson Snow was born. Daddy was able to cut the cord. He had a bit of meconium so they took him over to the NICU team to clean out his lungs. But within just a few minutes, my sweet little boy was handed to his Daddy to bring to Mommy and I was able to hold him for the first time. What a sweet experience to hold my little boy for the first time. 

A very grumpy little Jackson

Curiously looking around his new world

One very tired Mommy cuddling her new little boy

A proud, but tired, Papa

We are so happy to have our little boy here at last. My sleepless nights started in the hospital. The babies room-in with their mothers, which I appreciated because it was just wonderful to be able to admire my sweet boy throughout the night. But nurses kept coming in to check on both of us and he woke up periodically. I didn't mind cuddling him though. I was so much in awe that I made this little person. 

Our parents came to meet little Jackson Sunday morning, mine before they had to go back to Idaho Falls (we were hoping he would be here earlier so they could have come on Saturday, but I was too tired by the time we got up to our room) and Jeff's parents before church. He already has them wrapped around his little finger.

We were able to spend Sunday together as a new family, just getting to know each other and enjoying the new little baby who was sent to our family.

Our first family picture

Jackson sleeping with Mommy

Daddy spending some quiet time with his boy

Daddy reading Jackson a bedtime story before he went home for the night

We came home on Monday. It felt good to get out of the hospital. We were nervous to have full responsibility for this brand new baby, but we were excited at the same time. Jeff took the week off work so we could spend time bonding with our new boy and so he could be here to help me. It has been fun watching Jackson grow over the past 2 weeks. 

All ready to go home

Happy to have his boy here

Morning cuddles in bed with Mommy

He loves his swing!

Seriously Mom, another picture?

Beautiful Baby Boy

My mom was able to be here for the first part of the week, and today is a holiday so Jeff has been here again. Starting tomorrow, it's just Jackson and I all day long. It will certainly be a learning curve. Overall, he's been a good baby and we're both doing well. He has had a few rough nights (of course none of them were while Grandma was here helping out), which means Mommy has had a few rough nights. I take advantage of his nap times to nap myself. We sure love our little boy!