Beau's Birth Story

July 10, 2017

I woke up at 6:00 am, right when I knew I could call the hospital and see when I could come in to get induced. At my appointment the previous Thursday I had been at only a 2 and a half but was 70% effaced, so my doctor said I was progressing enough to be induced. I was so ready to be done being pregnant, and the anticipation of it all was killing me! My Dr said she's fine with inducing if you've already had one baby, so I was definitely taking her up on that. 

After calling Labor and Delivery, they told me to come in at 8 am! We let Kevin's parents know since they were taking Halle for us and started getting ready. Kirk and Debbie came and picked up Halle and then we were off to the hospital! I wasn't nearly as nervous this time since I had done this before, but don't get me wrong, still nervous as heck to have a baby, you can't predict how these things will go! 

They started inducing me and first up was the pitocin. I didn't get that with Halle so I wasn't sure how that was going to go, but it was just fine. It got my contractions going and we were in business! My nurse was so great, her name was Sarah and we just chatted with her throughout the entire process. Labor and Delivery Nurses are incredible and deserve an award. 

I got my epidural a couple hours into the contractions. I am so grateful for epidurals, they are heaven sent! Kev and I were laughing because when we brought Halle home the US open was on so we watched a LOT of tennis, including Roger Federer, and then it was on when I was in labor with Beau. So we watched Roger Federer again. (Kevin's lookalike) I think whenever I see the US Open I'll think of having my babies! 

At about noon she checked me and I was only at a 3. It was really discouraging to me, I thought I would be a lot farther along by then! I was anticipating a really fast labor since this was my second baby. But then, sure enough, by noon I was already at a six! It was almost baby time and it was the most surreal feeling! By 2:00 I was at a 10 and it was time! Right as my Dr came in and I started pushing, the epidural started wearing off! Talk about timing eh?? I pushed through three contractions and with no epidural helping me out, it was SO PAINFUL! Holy cow! I am so grateful that it only took three contractions and he was out! 

There is just nothing like that moment when your sweet baby comes into the world and make themselves known with that sweet little cry. I have never felt closer to heaven then when I've had my babies. Nothing will ever compare to that. Beau and I got to be skin to skin right after he was born and it was the most amazing feeling. It felt so surreal, I kept looking down at him and thinking, "is this for real? Do I really have a SECOND BABY?" I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that this labor was only 5 hours and my first was 13. There was just so much peace, joy and pure happiness when he was born. I had been a little worried about changing things up from how they had been with our little family. It was strange to think of adding another sweet baby to the mix and loving them just as much as Halle. How could that even be possible?? But it was effortless, as we knew that it would be. 

Halle came to meet him the next day with Kirk and Debbie and she was so funny. She came in and jumped up on my bed and gave me the biggest hug. When Kevin tried to introduce her to Beau she basically ignored him, but I think that had a lot do with all the people in the room. I just kept thinking, "I HAVE TWO KIDS!!!" 

Our breastfeeding relationship has been amazing from the beginning, a lot easier than it was with Halle. With Halle it eventually was great but it took us a few days to get it down. With Beau, he latched on and started eating when we were still in the delivery room! I'm not sure if that was because I knew what I was doing a little better, or he was just good, but I am grateful, breastfeeding is no joke! It's so great but it hurts so bad in the beginning! 

He is the sweetest, most easy going baby and I am unbelievably grateful for him. He's my sweet little boy. Now that I have a girl and a boy, there's just something special about having a little boy. It's just as sweet to have a little girl, but different. I love him so much it hurts. We named him Beau James White. Beau because we loved the name, we literally just heard it one day when we were out to lunch with my family and looked at it each other and said, "That's it!" Which is hilarious because we had gone through so many names for month with no luck. His middle name is James after my Grandpa Jim. It's definitely going to be a tradition to have our kids middle names be a family name. 

My heart is bursting for our sweet little Beau and this family of mine. There really is nothing better in this world then the love of your family and I am so grateful for mine!