Birth Story

Love this adorable hat. 

2 weeks ago I was 6 days over-due and 1 day away from being induced.  

Tuesday morning, (the 13th), I woke up at 430am on the dot with a really strong, really painful contraction.  I knew it was real, and what made it even more real was that the contractions were coming 7 minutes apart right off the bat.  Ahh!  Finally, around 5am, I woke Noel up, called my mom, and hopped in the shower (pre-delivery ritual that I felt like I had to continue).  

I called the doctor, and after reminding him that labor with Walker was really fast, and that I was 4 cm dilated the week before, AND that I was 6 days over due, I was told to come on in.

I went into the boys' room, and mid-contraction, told them that the baby was coming today and that mommy needed to go to the hospital.  They were SO excited.  Charlie said, "Our baby is coming today!", and they both jumped out of bed.

My contractions slowed down to about 10 minutes apart on the way to the hospital, which I was so grateful for.  We dropped the boys off to Nana and Pops' house (Noel's parents house) around 6am, where Pops was already making pancakes for them.  Lucky boys! And lucky us that Noel's parents live right on the way to the hospital.

When we got to the hospital, I was taken back immediately to a delivery room.  I noticed that the hospital was pretty quiet, but was told later that right after I was admitted, tons of women came into the hospital to deliver.  North Carolina had "bad" winter weather the next day, and the nurses said they always see a huge baby boom right before bad weather.

By the time I got settled into the room, the shifts were about to change (around 7am), and the labor and delivery nurse that was assigned to me for the day shift was an answer to all my prayers.  She was kind and loving, and also very assertive when it came to getting me the things I needed (and wanted).  

When I was first admitted, I was already at 8cm...but I pretty much begged for an epidural. That was my number one goal this go around...get an epidural in time to work!!!  The anesthesiologist came in (and looked exactly like a blonde Idina Menzel), and became the #1 love of my life when I felt the contractions (and extreme back labor) go from "I will die...I know I will die" to "Ok, I've got this!"  

My mom came in shortly after, which, after the feeling of an epidural kick in, is the 2nd best feeling. My mother in law got there a few minutes after her, and then it was time to push! Everything happened so fast, and was so surreal, and I was so hormonal, I'm pretty sure I started crying because I was overwhelmed with it being time.  I had waited for so long and then all of a sudden it was go-time.

I don't know if it's just the way my body responds to epidurals, or if it's because I had just barely had it, but the epidural does not help my pushing pain.  I told the doctor this, and he said that he actually preferred it that way so that I could recognize the need to push.  Thank you...man....who has never felt that pain before.  I do actually really like the doctor who delivered Crew.  He's fantastic, and did such a great job.  

Baby was born at 906am, (8 pounds 15 ounces and 21 inches long), and oh my goodness, there is nothing like seeing a person you've loved for 9 months, (but have never seen), for the first time.  It was also such a wonderful moment, while holding baby Crew,  to look at Noel and just have this great feeling of our family is now complete!  How grateful we are to have these 3 amazing boys, and we feel so honored and blessed to have been chosen as their parents.

The big boys came to visit around lunch, and you know those moments that you have planned in your head for...forever?!  This was one of those moments that I've always looked forward to...the big brothers meeting the little one...and it was honestly even better than I ever imagined it to be.  They were in love from the first second they saw him.  Walker was definitely more reserved with his affection, which I expected, but Charlie acted as if Crew was a special present just for him.  It was so awesome.  They both loved on baby and wanted to see his tiny fingers and toes...and then opened their presents that baby Crew bought for them. :)  (Star Wars Legos, of course.)

Crew Davis Anderson.  THE sweetest baby of all time.  

Sneak peek that Sara, from Sara Logan Photography, sent over from baby's newborn photo session!  I'm so excited to see the rest.