Happy to be Home

He has a couple nicknames already--"monkey," "bird," "pooper," "the most adorable baby ever born".  Whatever we call him, HE IS OURS!  It is incredible to know that he is came from Matt and I and that this piece of perfection lived in my belly just a couple days ago.  Above all, it is humbling to know that God chose to entrust little Liam's life to us.

And so it begins--our family, this new life, and the great responsibility that comes with it.

I was ready to leave the hospital first thing in the morning the day after D-Day, but we had to wait until 24 hours after the delivery.  So at 2:30pm, on the dot, our new little family was allowed to leave the four walls of the hospital.  He calmed down for the car ride but as you can see below, he was very distressed about us putting on his outfit.  Thanks to daddy for picking out the going home outfit.  It fit perfectly!

Though it's a little larger than the pad he lived in the last nine months, William has adjusted very well to his new surroundings.  After a tour of the home, (I had to show him where he was going to live!) he let me know that he feels right at home.  "How did he tell you this?", you ask.  He slept, and slept and slept.  I am pretty sure that he felt very comfortable from the get-go.

Here are some pics of our family at home on day one.

Goodnight :)

He's here!!!

On Sunday, July 11, 2010 he finally arrived.  William "Liam" Thomas Kratz was born at 2:24pm weighing 8 pounds,  4 ounces/20.5 inches long and looking just like his daddy (pretty much the only features he got from me are his nose and dimples).  It is so incredible to see what God has been working on in my womb for the past 9 months.  I am biased, but I am pretty sure that he is perfect.

We are soooooo thankful for a healthy baby and a complication free labor/delivery.

As you probably read in my previous posts, I was overdue by a week.  I finally came to the conclusion that nothing I did would coerce him out (medicine ball, sex, pineapples, pedicures, walking, "curb" walking, walking, walking, walking--NOTHING did the trick), so we decided to take up the Dr. on his offer to induce.

I was hesitant, because I wanted to stick to my birth wishes as much as possible and with pitocin comes stronger contractions (leading to a higher likelihood of getting an epidural) and about a 50% greater chance of having a cesarean.  Fortunately, I was able to avoid both.   Dr. Cueto (a.k.a the best OBGYN EVER!) broke my water around 8am, gave me pitocin to speed things up at 9:30am and I delivered right before 2:30pm the same day.   Much faster than I thought it would take.  For all of those wondering--YES, it was extremely painful, but YES, you totally forget about the pain the moment your beautiful, slimy, screaming baby is laid on your chest.

He came into this world with quite the fan club--thanks to all of the family and friends that came to support, help, meet our little man and celebrate his birthday--birthday cake, presents and all!

It was without a doubt the most beautiful day of my life so far.  Here is a sample of the joy we experienced.

Due date +3

Summary of my day thus far:
crickets at the kratz home.....
first day of maternity leave and i was bored to death......
walked two and a half miles......
got a pedicure with my best friend......
rented 15 books from the library, almost finished one.....
ate an entire pineapple......

and then there were three...

My Papa called me yesterday.  He told me about when him and my Nana had their first child.  The conversation went something like this:

"I remember when there was just two, and then in one day--one moment, there were three.  Just like that....from two to three.  It was never the same."  He said "Everything changes for the better and changes forever...It is wonderful.  Some moments will be difficult, but all in all it is the best."

His call reminded me of a tree that Matt and I carved when we were engaged.  For over four years it has just been us two--and in a couple days it will be at least three forever.  It will never be just the two of us again......from M+H to M+H+W.  Crazy! 

Due date +2

He is still not here. Apparently the foot reflexology yesterday didn't work.

Though originally I was planning on working up until the moment I went into labor.  I decided yesterday that today will be my last day of work.  Maybe he won't come until I turn on my "Out of Office Auto Reply" and stop checking emails.  That being said, I am closing up shop today, all while bouncing up and down on my exercise ball.  Hoping that helps.

For now, he still has the "do not disturb" sign on his door.

Due date +1

William missed his due date. 

Today, my "What to Expect" tracker moved his size from a watermelon to a pumpkin. 

I have tried to coerce him out.  I have tried talking to him, bribing him with yummy milk, showing him his new room and even resorted to giving him a mini-spanking last night....but he's sticking in to his guns and staying in.

Before my Dr. Appt today, I am heading to get some foot reflexology in hopes that the "pressure points" are not a myth and that they send me into labor.  I'll keep you posted.

Your guess is as good as mine.

Everyone keeps asking me when Baby K will make his debut.   His due date is three days away on July 5th, but your guess is as good as mine. 

Dialation-wise, I haven't made any progress since the OBGYN started checking me three weeks ago.

Am I discouraged?  No.  Am I enjoying silence when I wake up?  Yes.  Do I like that I get to feed myself before I have to feed someone else?  Yes.  Do I like my tidy home.  Yes. 

I am enjoying this calm before the storm.