Ellis :: Birth Story

After a traumatic emergency c-section with Harry, we opted to go for a planned c-section with Ellis. I didn't want to go through labor again only to find out I had to have the same situation as last time.

So Wednesday April 20th was the day. We were supposed to check in at the hospital at 5:30am for a 7:30am c-section...and as it turned out, Ellis had a different plan in mind. But it all kind of started on Tuesday.

I intended to have a really restful day on the 19th. It was my last day as a mom of just one boy after all. The weather felt more like summer, and I had no major plans. I figured I'd hang out with Harry, paint my nails, and "live it up" (aka: relax all day) before Ellis' long-anticipated arrival on Wednesday.

As with most "birth plans" this did not happen.

I woke up Tuesday morning with severe back pain. It felt similar to when you tweak your neck and can hardly move your head without sharp pain, but it was along my ribs and onto my back.

I could hardly move my torso (which basically involves every movement I tried to make) without being in pretty severe pain. I managed to take Harry to and from preschool, but spent much of the day trying to get comfortable on my bed. It took about five pillows...and even then I was still pretty uncomfortable.

Now looking back, I'm pretty sure I was experiencing back labor, all day.

Once Josh got off work, we dropped him off at my parents' house for his big sleepover before getting to meet his little brother the next day. You can tell in this picture that he was pretty pumped! Then Josh and I went to dinner and went to bed around 9:00, hoping to get some sleep.

At about 11:00 I woke up with contractions. I'd had some contractions here and there over the past month or so, but these were a lot more painful than any I'd experienced thus far. They were about nine minutes apart at that point, but by 12:30 they were 3-4 minutes apart and I decided to wake up Josh. It was time to go to the hospital.

He was half-asleep and tried to convince me that we could just wait. It was only a few more hours after all until we were supposed to get up and head out.

I managed to convince him that waiting was not an option. Good thing! By the time we got to the hospital and I was checked - I was already 7 cm dilated!!! What?!?!

Here we are, halfway to the hospital and stuck behind a train. Of course, right? I was sitting in the passenger seat breathing pretty heavily through the contractions which were now 2-3 minutes apart!

Needless to say, it was a relatively short amount of time before I was prepped and ready to meet our little guy. I was so relieved to have the spinal block because my contractions were SO PAINFUL by the time I was laying in the operating room. Not sure how much more dilated I got...but I'm guessing at least an 8 or a 9.

Everyone in the O.R. was so nice. They took great care of me and talked us through what was going on. Not exactly the "calm, planned" procedure I was anticipating, but it was night and day compared to what we experienced when Harry was born.

Josh watched over the screen, and told me when Ellis was about to "pop out" (as big brother Harry likes to say). As soon as I heard his wailing cries I burst into tears. It was such a healing moment for me as a mom. I didn't get to experience that with Harry...and then after two miscarriages I wondered if I'd ever get to experience becoming a mom again. This moment, this sweet picture of us holding Ellis brings me to tears, really happy and thankful tears! He was instantly calm as soon as he was in our arms. We got to hold and kiss and talk to him the whole time they were stitching me back up.

It was heavenly!

Here he is snuggled up "skin-to-skin" on my chest, where he stayed for the first two hours of his life. It was so wonderful to hold him like that.

I got to nurse him right away and he was a champ! He latched right on and hasn't stopped eating since. I think he'd like to be a chunk-ster like his brother ;)

After we got acquainted and were transferred to our new room, my parents brought Harry to the hospital. Josh got Harry and brought him into the room to meet Ellis. It was just us, a family of four, for a little while before we introduced our new little guy to the rest of the family. Harry was thrilled! He couldn't stop grinning and asking to kiss Ellis (his toes, hands, nose, cheeks, you name it)!

I LOVE love LOVE this picture of me with my two boys. This right here was the moment I had dreamed about and prayed for over the past nine months! I am SO THANKFUL to have the incredible blessing of being Mama to both of these incredible little boys.

Harry was just SO proud of his new little brother! :)

He even got to help the nurse give Ellis one of his first check-ups. It was so sweet to watch him helping her take his vitals. 

Love these photos that capture sweet moments snuggling with and kissing my new little bundle. Ellis was (and remains) one of the most laid back babies I've met. He is so calm and rarely cries!

And the hospital cinnamon rolls were delicious too. Mama's weakness ;) lol

After two nights we were more than ready to head home and get adjusted to life with two sons instead of just one. Harry was so excited to help us get Ellis situated in his carseat. H was telling him all about the fact that he would have a room next to his, and that we have a mini-van with "magnetic" (automatic) doors. So adorable!

And with that, we were off. We have a very similar picture of us with Harry (in the same carseat) ready to go home. I love that this time we have Harry and Ellis!

So there you have it! Ellis' birth story. It was planned and a surprise at the same time. He came in the perfect way, exactly the way that God knew he would...and I am just so thankful that this time, I got to hold my baby right away and bring him into the world in a way that was not an emergency, but felt just right. Crazy to think this whole post describes the very beginning of a grand adventure we are just now starting.

Both of my boys came into our families in their own ways - and I treasure the vivid memories (and the photos that capture them) of the births of both of my boys. Becoming a Mom is the greatest calling and gift I will ever experience in this life. A tad bit sappy, but one hundred percent true.

Now I'm off to go make coffee...or take a nap...or daydream about taking a nap... ;) 

Letter: 3 Years

Dear Harrison,

Three years ago today, you were born. I am in AWE of how you made our family so full. Full of laughter, joy, tears, hugs, noise, smooches, and lots and lots of messes. Seriously, you are the boss of making a mess. All we have to do is give you about 10 minutes and the house looks like a disaster zone. Even though it makes me crazy sometimes...I really LOVE the mess. I love that life is no longer quiet and tidy with you around.

Now that you're three (and potty-trained :) WAHOO!) I finally feel like I have a big boy. My baby is slipping away, and while the thought of it used to make me cry, I am so glad you are three. You are loving and tender-hearted. You can be bossy and sometimes rude...but mostly you just love to make people laugh and discover "silly" things that make you laugh.

Oh, that belly laugh. I wish I could bottle it up to save forever.

You still love trains, planes, cars...pretty much anything that zooms. You also love animals. Lately you like to be "Harry tiger" which automatically makes me "Mommy tiger". We play this game with animals, super-heros...you name it!

The other day on the way home from school you were telling me about which letters are "for" your friends. "H is for Harry. M is for Myla..." I am amazed by the things you are learning on a daily basis.

Last night when I told you "three more bites" of dinner, without skipping a beat you responded with "Dad told me two bites". I looked over at your Daddy who shook his head laughing. He had said no such thing! How do you already come up with stuff like that?! We couldn't help but laugh...but don't get any ideas...your Dad and I are on the same team. I'm sure this is just the first of many attempts to try to get what you want. You really are a kid now!

Happy 3rd birthday sweet Harry boy!

I hope today is wonderful day for you.

Most importantly, today and always, I hope that you know how deeply you are loved. Not just by your family but by Jesus. He knows you better than anyone ever will, and He delights in you my big boy. My greatest hope and prayer for your life is that you grow to know Jesus too. That with every passing year you will grow in a deeper understanding of who Jesus is, and what He has done for you. He has truly changed my life, and continues to do so daily.

It's the greatest adventure you will ever go on, walking with Jesus. I can tell already that you have such an adventurous heart. Your favorite stories involve wild animals like in the Jungle Book, the adventures of your favorite characters from Toy Story, anything with swords, and lately the story of David and Goliath (which you pronounce "Gwi-wif"). Trust me...living for Jesus will be full of grand adventures. I cannot wait to see how and where He leads you in your life.

I'm about to go wake you up (I just can't wait to hug and kiss you). It's time to eat a birthday doughnut for breakfast!!! And tonight after Daddy and I pick you up from school it'll be a special birthday dinner with the three of us. We can't wait to hang out with you and treat you to ice cream for dessert!

...and even though we had your party, I think there's a special present waiting for you to open tonight.

Thanks for being our boy. You are such a blessing in our lives. Seriously...the BEST gift we have ever received came to us the moment you were born.

Love always,

Mama

Ahoy Matey

We had a "swashbuckling" time at Harry's 3rd Birthday: PIRATE PARTY!

Lots of family and some of Harry's friends (plus their families). Add in a pirate book, a treasure hunt, lots of sugar...and we had one very happy pirate boy (and a really tired Mama)!

My mom's cousin Catherine pulled off the most INCREDIBLE pirate cookies of all time. Seriously...they made the party! (Thanks Catherine)!!!

Three candles for our (almost) THREE year old Harry!

The treasure. 

Honestly...it was BREATHTAKING!

Story time. Harry insisted on sitting on my lap, and since it was his party...I figured, why not?! :)

The Treasure Hunt...hilarious!

PIZZA :) Harry's favorite!

The Piñata. I can't tell who was more into it, the kids or the parents ;) lol!

And then...the photo booth. My family got WAY MORE into it than the kids. These pictures will be sure to make an appearance from time to time...just for a good laugh!

All in all...it went down without a hitch. I think that's the right phrase.

Happy Third Birthday Harrison Levi Matt!

Letter: 2 years (+ a few months)

Dear Harrison,

TWO YEARS!

Well actually a little more few months more than two years. I intended to write this letter on your actual birthday. Then days turned to weeks, and now it's well into spring and you are WELL INTO BEING TWO.

But I am finally here. Sitting down to write this little letter to my not so little toddler.

I think I've been dragging my feet for several reasons:

1. Actually writing this letter means that you're growing up. No longer my baby, but fully my little boy. And I love it, but it is also sad to me how fleeting this life is. I'm trying to savor it all as much as I can! But time keeps marching on...
2. In my head I have struggled with what exactly I want to write here. It's hard to summarize the past year, or even six-months into a concise letter that you (or anyone else) would probably want to read. So instead I am going to just write from my heart, about where we are at right now in this season of our family.

You love trains, cars, planes...basically any kind of vehicle. Lately you've been enjoying school busses and the garbage truck on our way to and from school. Your favorite position to play is laying on the floor, making your trains go "woo hoo" and zooming them around. They also go "cash" a lot!

You also love Disney/Pixar characters. Woody and Buzz from Toy Story, and Mater from Cars have been your longtime favorites, but you are also very fond of Nemo these days. Your pediatrician's office has two fish tanks and you LOVE looking for Nemo whenever we go in! You also know all the names of the Thomas trains. We bought tickets to go see the real live Thomas the train this summer, and I cannot wait to see your excitement when we actually get to ride on Thomas. It will be a pretty exciting day!

You can string so many words together, it honestly amazes us! It's crazy how fast you are picking up phrases and using new words you learn in the appropriate context. We get a lot of laughs at the things that come out of your mouth. The past couple of weeks you've been really enjoying the "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" song. Every time we sing it, he has a horse. Over, and over, and over! You also love reading books and putting puzzles together. You're getting pretty good at the puzzles we have, so I think it's time we get some more challenging ones.

One day after work I made the "mistake" of wanting to run and exercise outside. You had a blast chasing me up and down our street. I call it a mistake because now when we get home from school you are always asking me to "run, mama run!" This is not necessarily a bad thing, but there are some days when we have things going on in the evening and it just doesn't work out to run around outside (which usually makes you cry until we find something fun to do inside while I get dinner going).

You love dancing and playing around. You like to hide and think it's hilarious when we "find" you. You also enjoy helping out by passing out blankets to anyone sitting on the couch (especially at your Grandma and Papa Lamb's house). Tonight you were piling pillows up on Papa when he was sitting on the couch and couldn't stop cracking up. It was pretty funny!

Counting and talking about letters is also something you enjoy. You already recognize several letters (H, P, and W are the three I've noticed you recognizing most often). Whenever you see letters on clothing or signs you are so enthusiastic to point them out. You even like watching the credits at the end of a movie because you see so many letters. It honestly makes me giddy to think about teaching you to read someday (not too far from now...I swear, I will blink and you'll be in school)!

I could seriously go on and on my sweet boy. You are such a fun little person to spend time with. And despite moments when time-out is needed (and the occasional tantrum) you are such a tender-hearted little fellow. One of the moments I can't stop smiling about since you turned two was the first night you called me back into your room for more kisses.  We call them "smoochies" and you said "more smoochies mama". How could I resist that?!

Harrison Levi Matt. I love you so much! You made me a mama and keep reminding me of God's amazing grace and love that He would bless me with the honorable job of raising you up. This Easter I decided to start a new tradition. I chose a verse from the Bible to pray over you for the next year. When next Easter rolls around I will choose a new verse. I am so excited to be praying intentionally over your life...and it's a tradition I hope to continue throughout our whole lives. Someday when you get married and hopefully have some babies of your own I want to do the same for them. I love you and believe that God has good things in store for your life. And I know that there will be hard things too, but I also know that Jesus is there to help us carry those burdens. It is my greatest hope and desire to see you experience the love of God as you grow up. So here is the verse that I'll be praying over you this year:

Ephesians 4:2 :: Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

It's funny, but as I've been praying this verse over you, God has given me many opportunities to also live it out as your mama. I think we both need extra patience and the remind to bear with each other through the challenging moments. That's how we will show our love to those around us most, by being humble and loving even when it isn't easy.

I love you when you are sweet and snuggly, and I love you when you are tired and cranky. No matter what I will love you, not perfectly, but with the love that God has given me I hope to love you well.

You're sound asleep right now as I finally get this letter typed up and posted. Good night and sweet dreams to my little mister!

Love always,

Mama