Life is Good!

Alex and I have completely loved having Eli in our lives. He is just too cute and such a good little baby. I still cannot believe how fast he is growing up. He is only two and half weeks old and he is growing up so fast. He is almost growing out of his preemie clothes but is still a little too small for newborn clothes. Next thing you know he will be getting his drivers license or going off to college. We have so many pictures of him from these past two weeks that just need to be shared.

His back was so hairy when he was born. Look how small he is compared to Alex's hand.

He loves this blanket. I had to wash it one time and he did not sleep the same.

This was his second bath at home. He loves it when his hair is washed, but any other part of his body is off limits.

His attempt at his first newborn outfit.

I always feel so bad for the kid. It looks like he is always trying to rip his eyes out, but that is how he likes to sleep.

Another picture from the hospital that we found.

Again with his binkie. He never lets it out of his sight. We have three around at all times.

This is how he spends time with his dad. Dad does homework at the desk and Eli hangs out with him. And of course his binkie is there too.

He is kind of smiling here.

Baby Eli Has Arrived!!!!

Baby Hallam, now called Eli was born at 10:01 pm on Friday May 11th and here is his story! We left for the hospital around 6:55 am and arrived at the hospital in the Labor and Delivery Unit around 7:11 am. When there, we told them we had an appointment and had to answer questions forever it seemed like which did not make the induction process go any faster. After that we went into the hospital room and I had to change into the most attractive gown ever and once I sat in the hospital bed that is where all the fun began.

I felt like I was being strapped down to the bed because they had to put monitors around my belly to monitor my skin tightness during contractions and the baby's heart beat. Then they put the lovely IV in my arm. Actually, that was not lovely at all, it was the worse experience of my entire life and it hurt so bad, but I guess it did help keep me hydrated and to make Baby Eli come faster.

 

 They put a drug through my IV that they would increase every hour or so to have the contractions come faster and to make the baby come faster. So basically it was supposed to put me in labor. At around 9 I was still only dialated one centimeter. Then the doctor came around again at 2 pm and I was only dialated another centimeter. At that point I knew it was going to be a long day. I was dialated enough that he was able to break my water. Once he did that, the contractions slowly started intensifying. I went as natural as I thought I could and did not ask for an epidural around 5 pm. That is when I decided that the pain was way too much. The nurse anesthetist came in around 5:30 and had the epidural in me around 6pm. Alex was not too sure about the epidural, but I knew that once I had it, the pain was definitely more tolerable and I was hoping that I would dialate more than I had. I was able to relax and hang out with my husband and then they came in and checked me again around 7 pm and I had dialated to about 5 or 6 centimeters. So I hung out a little bit longer because I felt like it had took me all day to get to a 5 or 6 centimeter dialation and I didn't even know how long it would take me to get to 10 centimeters. So then they checked me an hour later at around 8 and the nurse said that I was fully dialated and ready to push. So they called the doctor and I started pushing at 8:01 and Eli Hallam was born at 10:01. It was a crazy experience.

We both love him so much and am so excited to have him around. He is just the cutest thing alive. He was born at 5 pounds 4 ounces and was 18 inches long. Alex loves him to death and loves having him around. We both can't get over how small he is and how strong he is and how good looking he is. I know I am biased but he is one good looking boy. We could not have asked for a better baby in the world. He is the best.

Now here are a ton of pictures. I know some people want to know the story but I know that pictures are the best part of this whole birthing experience. So here are the pictures and I hope that you enjoy him just as much as we do. 

Recent Happenings

It has been so long since I have updated our blog and so much has happened. I know I am terrible, but I update this before our baby comes, which should be this FRIDAY MAY 11th, 2012!!!!! I am so excited! But we will get to that in a second. We recently took a trip to Colorado for our Spring Break. It was so much fun. We were there about a week and that was probably still not long enough. We went to a Colorado Rockies game, had a wonderful baby shower, and was able to hang out with the family. It was so nice and relaxing. Not having to worry about school or work. I just love vacations way too much.

Here are some pictures from the baby shower. We were so blessed by all the friends that attended. It was so great to see everyone and visit. The food was also fantastic!!!

Alex also helped around the yard and pulled some weeds. He can't wait until he has his own lawn. It was so sweet to see him doing this though. I woke up and looked out the door and he was pulling weeds with my sister and just chatting. He is such a sweet man.

These are some of our pictures from the Colorado Rockies game! One of the best games to be at. It was a bit chilly and it did rain on us for 30 seconds but it just made the game that much better! I miss being in Colorado and going to all of the different sporting events that they have, but I love visiting and taking Alex to all of them. I was even more excited when Alex treated me to dippin' dots. These are the best things ever invented!!!

We are also oh so very excited to be getting ready for our baby boy to make his mighty appearance on Friday!!! They are inducing me early because I am too small and therefore the baby is too small. Our doctor said that the baby will mature faster if he is out of me. So they will be inducing me two weeks early, but we are just way too excited and wished it was today!!!! The baby room is all set up and my mom and Alex's family are coming this weekend and we could not be more excited!

I know they are some weird pictures of the baby room but it was really hard to get a picture to fit everything in it. We stayed with our blue and orange themed room and I love it. I can't wait for Baby Hallam to come and enjoy it as well! I hope you all have had a lovely month and we will be sure to update when our precious, active new family member arrives.