Wes has been talking about his birthday for months and it's finally here! What a great little guy he is.
Since we didn't start this blog a couple weeks after Wes was born, I wanted to post his birth story here, basically for my own reference. This is from a letter I sent out to our friends and family about a week after he was born.
It all began on Monday, April 16th at 6:00am... :)
I woke up and it appeared as though my water had broken so of course I woke Brian up to share the news. I tried not to think too much about it in case it was just a false alarm or something but neither of us could sleep after that even though we were both very tired. I started having a few contractions but nothing major. Around 9:00am, Brian and I decided to walk over to Target (since it's just across the street) to get a few things that we needed before the baby came and to help get him to work his way down. While in Target I was having contractions that were more just annoying and I found it funny that no one knew I was just walking around in labor. I called my mom and I thought she thought I was a little crazy for being at Target while I was in labor. (I really wasn't that bad though!)
I woke up and it appeared as though my water had broken so of course I woke Brian up to share the news. I tried not to think too much about it in case it was just a false alarm or something but neither of us could sleep after that even though we were both very tired. I started having a few contractions but nothing major. Around 9:00am, Brian and I decided to walk over to Target (since it's just across the street) to get a few things that we needed before the baby came and to help get him to work his way down. While in Target I was having contractions that were more just annoying and I found it funny that no one knew I was just walking around in labor. I called my mom and I thought she thought I was a little crazy for being at Target while I was in labor. (I really wasn't that bad though!)
When we got home we had some lunch and then I relaxed for a bit while Brian tried to refrain from being too giddy. :) I called the midwife and we decided that we'd talk again around 2:00pm to see how I was progressing. Around noon Brian and I decided to take another walk over to Kohl's (which is in our backyard, basically). This walk started to get a little more uncomfortable. On the walk home I could only take about 20 to 40 steps without having a contraction. (We weren't awesome at timing contractions because I felt like it was kind of a hassle to tell Brian every time I had one.) I was still trying to walk through them but that was bugging Brian (he thought I was trying to be too tough) so he'd make me stop and rest on him during each one (I'd avoid it when we were passing people though, because I felt a little silly). Once we got home, I started to feel like they were getting a little more intense...still not crazy though. I just would try and relax on my hands and knees as best I could. Just after 1:00pm, our awesome doula, Carrie, came over. (For those who don't know, a doula is essentially a labor support person.) She was a great help through the contractions.
At 2:00pm I called the midwife and she asked if I wanted to come into the hospital. Of course I didn't really want to because I wanted to be at home as long as possible, but I didn't really know (it's hard to make coherent decisions in labor sometimes). She told me to wrap things up at home in the next hour and get in around 3:00pm. Shortly after that I moved to my bed to give my knees a break. At the time, I thought the move had made it more uncomfortable, but things started getting really hard. My back was the worst part so I'd have Carrie or Brian push on my back...which sometimes seemed to help but not always. Between contractions we put a heating pad on there which seemed to help. Once it was getting to be around 3:00pm I started wondering how the heck I was going to get to the hospital in the condition I was in! I couldn't believe that people waited at home so long. We started heading down to the car (contractions along the way) and I was FREEZING. Then we started heading toward the hospital and I would get SO hot. The contractions were really hard in the car and I'd think of the passing cars and how they had no idea I was on my way to the hospital to have a baby. Brian was doing his best not to speed (since that stressed me out more). :)
Anyway, we arrived at the hospital safely and I got in the wheelchair and Brian tried not to rush to the labor and delivery unit. We had to stop as we went to work through the contractions but it was fine. When we got to the check in place it was obvious I was in labor so they sent me to my room and gave me a gown to change in to. The nurse came in to try and ask me questions about allergies, etc... as I was having my contractions. I had been there maybe 10 minutes when I felt like they really needed to check me to see where I was at. The midwife came in and sure enough I was already dilated to a 10! I was glad about that because I was starting to feel the need to push. As she checked me another bulge of water broke so that helped continue the process along. Then came the hard part...pushing! (At least it was the hardest part for me!) As I pushed I kept feeling like he should already be out, but it took a bit longer than that. My midwife had to keep telling me to stop and breathe as I pushed because my face kept turning bright red. At 5:24pm, after about an hour of pushing, the boy finally came out and began crying all on his own. They put him on my chest and then Brian cut the cord and we just looked at him for a while as I held him. It was pretty crazy and I don't know that the reality that he's actually MY child has really sunk in yet still.
We stayed that night in the hospital and then headed home Tuesday evening since we were all happy and healthy. Brian and I were glad to be in our own house and bed with our own food, etc... Wes is now 6 days old and is doing really well! He's very content, sleeps well, and has some good awake time. We love just looking at him...especially when he opens his eyes and looks around. It's fun to look at him when he's asleep too because he makes some funny faces. :) And, I have looked at him objectively and I have decided that he really is cute. :) We're having fun and so grateful that he's not only a great baby, but healthy and doing well. Brian's definitely a "proud papa" and wants to play with him and hold him as often as possible. I'm definitely grateful that I had sisters and learned a bunch of tips and tricks from watching them take care of their kids...and helping them out when I was around. I'm having fun teaching Brian how to change his diaper, put on his clothes, swaddle him, etc... He's doing a great job and already becoming a pro. My mom has been here since Thursday and she's a great help with everything. It will be interesting to get back to reality when she's leaves next Thursday...but a whole new reality.
Well, I guess that's about it from our end! Thanks for everyone's love and support and all are welcome to come see our cute little boy anytime! Chicago is awesome and beautiful!
Love,
The Hanks Family
Brian, Natalie, and Wesley (aka 007)
