Newborn Photos

Thanks to my talented cousin Jen we got some cute pictures of Thomas.    Jen was always one of my best friends and cousins growing up.  We did a lot of dorky things together but she's always been very sweet and kind.  It was fun seeing her in her element with Thomas.  She was very patient and loving... just what I wanted when it comes to people helping our little boy at such a young age.

Favorite.

So these pictures... one of Jen's friends makes these crocheted outfits and wanted a little model for her site. Here's our little stud of a model.  

 

Other favorite.

Snuggly little guy.

First Bath

Thomas' real first bath was an emergency run to the sink because poop was everywhere situation.  We snapped a picture of that experience too, but we'll stick with these ones because the other one is not very flattering of me at all haha.  Anyway, here's a picture of Thomas' "first" bath.  Matt didn't want him to be immodest so he covered him up haha.

He makes a great concerned face.  The whole time we were bathing him I felt like he was thinking... what are these weird people doing to me?

First Week With Our Little Man

Our first week home was an adventure.  My mom was staying with us and she treated us like a king and queen.  She cooked DELICIOUS food for us, stocked us up with groceries and items for our house, and even helped me in the middle of the night.  Meanwhile Thomas took all our time.  I swear I didn't know what day it was for a whole week.  Things were new and exciting but a little trying at times too.  It was a good first week but boy am I glad it's over!

When my dad came to visit over the weekend he asked if there was anything I was craving or excited to have now that I wasn't pregnant anymore.  Immediately I thought SUSHI and boy was it delicious.  Thanks for the special treatment, Dad :)

When we were in the hospital, Thomas' bilirubin count was a little high but nothing to be worried about.  The pediatrician asked us to go get it checked in a couple days, but when we did his count had doubled!  Later that day a bilibed was brought to our house for Thomas to lay on.  It made me really sad to see him basically strapped into that thing.  It was hard as a new and very emotional mom to not be able to help him when he laid there crying for a good hour the first day we had him on the bilibed.  Anyway, I know jaundice really isn't a huge deal, but I'm so glad we don't have to deal with it anymore.  It was stressful.  I know it shouldn't have been so stressful but it was. 

Also... Thomas loves Target... or at least he doesn't hate Target.  Baby steps :)

 And... Here's our little man at a week old.  Love him.  

Baby yawns are adorable.  That's all.

Thomas' Birth Story

I AM A MOM!!!! We had little Thomas William Calton at 11:52 PM on Tuesday, July 15th.  He was 7 lbs 15 oz and was 20 inches long.  I totally expected him to be a little bald alien baby, but he's not (or at least I don't think he is)!  The doctor put him on me after he was born and I instantly fell in love because he was actually cute!!!  We love our little man.  He's pretty stinkin' adorable.  

       Ok here's the full story now.  On Monday (3 days after my due date) I went to the doctor to get my membranes stripped. It was VERY uncomfortable, but it was worth it because I started having contractions and things were moving along.  The doctor told me to watch for contractions that were five minutes apart and lasted 1 minute each.  At 2 AM I was having contractions like that for a while so I called the doc.  He said I could wait a few hours and have contractions at home or go to the hospital if I didn't want to wait at home.  I tried to go back to sleep and waited until 5 AM when they started hurting pretty bad. After that I tried to slowly get ready and by about 6 we were at the hospital in American Fork.  The hospital was really busy.  In fact, when the lady at the desk in labor and delivery asked me why I was here she looked annoyed that I was ready to have a baby.  Yeah... weird.  Anyway, they put me in a room and kept checking me for progress for a few hours but I was dilating as fast as I should've been to be in what they call "active labor".  I was still contracting and still dilating, but it was a little bit of a slow process.  I wasn't supposed to be able to be induced until Friday (I had an appointment set just in case) but the nurse said that since I was already overdue and I would be coming back either in a couple days to be induced or more likely a couple hours to have the baby, they'd keep me.  Plus, my bishop's score (if I spelled that right) was high enough for them to induce me.

     After I was finally admitted into the hospital, they gave me an epidural (AMAZING) and then they broke my water around noon to try to get the contractions coming faster and harder.  Oddly enough, breaking my water actually slowed my contractions down (weird), so an hour later they put me on a little bit of pitocin.  Contractions started coming really hard and frequent, but I had to wait like that for a few hours before I was fully dilated and effaced.  Matt kept watching the monitor show really intense contractions and kept looking over to see if I was in pain, but folks... I was in my happy place haha.  After all that, the doctor wanted me to sit criss cross apple sauce for an hour and a half so that the baby's head would come down further and I wouldn't have to push as long.  I sat like that until my back KILLED (even with the epidural) and then they let me lay down.  

     After being in the hospital all day I found out that "clear liquids" did not just include ice and water.  I assumed clear meant colorless so I was missing out on all sorts of great things... mostly these delicious italian ice popsicles :).  I had the most incredible popsicle of my life and then (finally) it was time to push.  

     I pushed for two hours but nothing happened.  No baby.  I was getting nervous because I could see the doctor and the nurse exchanging concerned looks.  Pretty soon they said that nothing was really working.  The doctor told me that we could try some different positions and see if that helped, but after that the options were forceps or a c-section. I looked right at my doctor and basically told him that I was not a quitter and I was not ready to give up yet.   Realizing that it was after 11 PM, I started getting more motivated because I wanted to push this baby out and in my mind I HAD to have this baby by midnight.  Anyway, soon after that, I got his head past the pelvic bone and I was feeling a lot better.  I pushed again and the next thing I knew, the doctor was jumping up to put all of his gear on.  The nurse sounded excited and I knew this little man was finally coming.  Eight minutes before midnight the cutest little boy came out and we were the happiest parents in the world.  

     It turns out that Thomas was posterior (face up).  The doctor and nurse had tried to feel around before and they both thought that he was face down so this was a surprise to all of us.  The other funny little surprise is that he came out pooping.  Thomas ended up being 7 lbs. 15 ounces, but the doctor laughed and said he was probably 8 lbs before he pooped haha.  All and all he was perfect.

     I feel so blessed to have Thomas in my life.  It's incredible to feel so much love for such a tiny baby.  You hear that it's love at first sight, but it's such a crazy feeling when it happens.  One minute you have this giant baby bump and then the next minute you're staring at a perfect little child that was just in heaven.  Matt and I would do anything for this little guy.  We are so blessed.  

All psyched and ready to head out haha... totally something Matt would say

40 weeks and 4 days

 Our very first family photo :)

Because I wasn't progressing very fast but was having strong contractions for so long, he had a huge bruise while we were in the hospital. It cleared up pretty quickly but left a little scab for a couple weeks. Poor little buddy.

 Matt and Thomas... my favorite. He is such a sweet daddy.