D-Day!!!

Let's look back and recap about the beautiful day you came to us! Lets start from the beginning!

Daddy and I had been waiting for 2 years to have a baby! We were starting to get a bit discouraged, and finally when we least expected it, we found out you were growing inside of me! We were soooo happy! We couldnt wait to find out if you were a boy or a girl! Auntie Britney graduated college so she came to California quite a bit to hang out with us! She kept on calling you Shaquira because she saw you dancing all around in my belly and for sure thought we would have a girl...she quickly turned Shaquira to Shaq when she found out you were a boy... because you had the moves, whether you were a female belly dancer or a giant who was black and plays basketball. The same...but not, if you think about it. Once we found out you were a boy, we couldnt stop shopping for you.... so spoiled! We got your amazing cradle, which you looooove! But we had to leave it in California... Sad! But I loved seeing you grow in mommy's belly! 

We had so much fun with mommy's big belly, sometimes it wasn't as fun.... but mostly it was. Auntie Maddi was with me, and I tried on fake preggo bellies in the first trimester, thinking, oh my gosh, this is huge, I'll never be this big... Not knowing I would only get bigger!



Lets back track to the baby shower, of course, none other than the weekend after thanksgiving, as if I needed the holiday weight! It's ok, it did you good! We got tons of amazing presents and you got stocked up! And all the people who love you were there! It was so much fun! All your Aunties and Grandma Shelly showered us with lovin! Then, Nicole's wedding was the 2nd of January and I couldnt go because I was too preggo! She had her wedding reception that friday, just a couple weeks before you came!

Now it gets to the good part! You were supposedly due on the 20th, but I knew you were comin early! On the 13th of January, momma decided to get herself a pedicure...because I knew I was most likely going to be exposing most all of my body parts and her toes might as well look 100%. Then Saturday, 1.14.12, Daddy and I decided to take a birthing class, and in good time too, because the next day, Sunday morning 1.15.12, mommy started having contractions. Grandma Shelly said just to give it time and be patient, because some people have contractions for days! Yikes! So, I did. I waited it out. But those things werent goin away, in fact, they got stronger and stronger! Sunday night into Monday morning, mommy could not sleep, and decided daddy wasn't going to be able to either. Monday at 3 in the morning, we left for the hospital, an hour away in sacramento, and I was only 3 cm. dilated and could not admit me because you need to be at least 4 or 5. They told momma to walk around for an hour to see if I would progress, and guess what, I didn't, real discouraging! So Dr. Knight sent us home with some strong sleeping medicine, because at this point, mommy had no sleep. Mommy took the medicine and slept all the way home and for an hour at home as well. And then....

Mommy woke up in real bad pain! We decided I had to go back! I couldnt have still been 3 cm.!? Could I? But we did, and guess what? We got back to the hospital and I was at 8 almost 9 cm and ready to pop. The whole pregnancy, I wanted to do a natural birth, and taking the birthing class reconfirmed my feelings on it. But once I had gotten in that much pain, when they asked if I wanted an epidural, I said yes please. They immediately moved us to the labor and delivery room, and when the anesthesiologist had FINALLY came, I could not even tell if I was alive or not. I felt like someone stabbed me in my pretty lady part and I couldnt get one anymore, it was too late. Although I had wanted relief so bad right then, I knew you were almost here so it gave me some hope. And I was right. I suddenly felt an urge to go to the bathroom, and lets just say it wasnt just pee... when the nurses told me to get off the toilet, I kinda put up a "stink" and told them "I needed to go"! They said "Ashlee, thats your baby"...well, they were right.... I guess nurses know what they're doing? Just kidding, they really do... I was past 10 cm and I was crowning and they told me to stop trying to get you out because the doctor wasnt there yet! Dr. Knight finally came, and I screamed. You could say for joy... but my scream sounded like a hyena and a monkey, in one. It was ridiculous. Nurses from all floors came to the room to see if we needed more assistance. I'm sure I scared all the other pregnant women on the floor.... my bad. I could not lay on my back I was in such bad pain, I almost gave birth to you standing up, but luckily I laid down just in time. I believe one of the nurses tried to give me a birthing ball but I might or might not have threwn it back in her face... I just tried to get rid of it, but, maybe it was a bit abrupt for her liking... I couldn't help it, I was in pain and I literally couldn't control myself... but again, might or might not have... Finally, only 2 hours later from arriving at the hospital, you were here. As I was screaming, the nurses said, "Ashlee, Ashlee, don't scream", and Dr. Knight, said, "NO, NO, let her scream!" And that's just what I did. During your delivery I was like "I cant do it anymore, I can't!", and the nurses said "Ashlee, your babies head is out, look"... There was no way I was going to look to see a head stuck in my pretty lady...so I just kept pushing. Once you were half way out, the doctor told me to pull you out! And I did! It was an amazing feeling, and such an amazing moment. I couldn't beleive I grew something in my stomach and I was pulling you out of me! It was so unreal! Unbelievably emotional experience! We were so overjoyed there are no words.

Right after I pulled you out, I put you on my chest and just cried, "oh my gosh, oh my gosh!". It is safe to say, everyone who was there, and everyone who watched the video of the birth, cried. It was beautiful. The order of people who held you: I held you, daddy held you, then Grandma Shelly, then Grandpa Johnny, and then Donna Smith came to visit and she held you, and then Auntie Britney, and then Grandma Marjorie. Right after you were born, you weren't taking deep breaths/ cries, so they were a little worried...But man can you cry now! You also lost a little over a pound after your first day so they were worried, and kept us at the hospital for 2 days and we left the 18th...obviously, everything is fine, and you are a healthy healthy boy!

Oh baby boy, you bring so much joy into our lives and are so excited for the future with you in it! Thank you for coming to us and letting us be your parents! We love love love you...

(Sorry if it was too much information! I just wanted to write everything down while it was all still up there, I just love you!)