Rawlings' Birth & 2 week Update

{Birth & Fresh 48 photos by Footprints in Time Photography, https://footprintsintimephotos.wordpress.com/ }

Rawlings Tate Thompson is here! He came on Tuesday, May 16th at 2:03am. We were scheduled to be induced on Friday, May 19th, but Rawlings made his way on his own at 39 weeks 4 days. I started having contractions on Mother's Day (Sunday) in the evening. We went to church on Mother's Day and I carried my 50 pound toddler to the car. Not going to lie, I was hoping that would put me into labor. I really wanted a Mother's Day baby!

We also had lunch with the boys' grandparents and played outside for a couple hours. We just did ALOT that day. When contractions started that evening, they were about 12 minutes apart and I was able to sleep through them. I was still contracting when I woke up AT 7:30, but they were still far apart (ten minutes). I went on with my plan to get things done that day as it was the last day DT would be home from work before the scheduled induction. My first stop was the nail salon at 9:30 and contractions hit 8 minutes apart. The sweet nail lady asked when the baby was coming and I said Friday, but I was starting to wonder if I was already in labor. I had been having contractions for weeks but these were so different, very cramp like, where I couldn't talk through them. After getting my mani and pedi I headed to Target and contractions hit 5-6 minutes apart at 11:30. I had to stop during each one. I decided to skip lunch and head home to lay down and drink some ice water as my doctor suggests when you think you might be in labor. The contractions really slowed down. I got up thinking all was normal, disappointed about not having a baby today, played outside with the boys, gave them baths, and sat down for dinner about 6:00. The contractions came back and were 4-5 minutes apart. These were the crampy, awful contractions again. We timed them until they were consistently 4 minutes apart and decided to call DT's Mom and Dad to give them a heads up.

Contractions continued so they came over and we went to the hospital. When we checked in at 9:00pm on Monday, May 15th, contractions were 4 minutes apart. We got hooked up and checked and I was dilated to a 5.

Big progress considering I was pretty unfavorable at last Wednesday's checkup (dilated to a 2). When checked around 12:30 I was dilated to a 7 and decided to get my epidural as I was really not enjoying that contraction pain.

Contractions slowed down a bit so DR gave a little Pitocin and things picked right back up. When checked at 1:55 DR said I was a true 8. DR had me do a couple pushes. I was thinking these pushes might be helping to dilate me? 3 pushes in and there was my sweet BOY!! DT was so encouraging. He kept telling me the baby is right here, one more push, and not knowing the gender made me so eager to keep going and get it done so I could see if this babe with a head full of hair was a HE or a She! Baby came out and DT and I both said "It's a BOY!."

DT's mom and my dear friend, Abbey, both got to be in the room with DT and I as this sweet boy came into the world. I know they will always have a special bond with him. Rawlings (nameless at the time) came into the world weighing 8 pounds 1 ounce, and he was 19 3/4 inches long. At his 36 week ultra sound, the tech estimated him weighing 6 pounds 5 ounces so we were expecting close to 9 pounds, and boy am I glad that was a bit off.

We were able to snuggle our boy and have our first nursing session before we moved to our post partum room. Rawlings' latched on like a nursing champ from the get go. We were settled in our room by 5:00am. DT was able to get a few hours of sleep but I had way too much adrenaline so I snuggled our boy. The proud big brothers arrived around noon.

Rowdy was ecstatic to finally meet this little one,  I'll never forget his proud smile, it is a moment I will treasure forever. and Ryder really just wanted Mommy and also the baby's bink. We had so many sweet visitors come by and welcome our sweet boy to the world! It takes a village, right? And boy do we have a good one. DT and I prayed when Rowdy was born that we would find a group of friends that would help us in this parenthood department and that would help us teach our boy about Jesus. You guys, HE delivered. We are grateful and so lucky to have the friends and family that we do. DT and I had our celebratory meal that evening. Our hospital goes all out for this with sparkling grape juice and delicious desert! I started feeling tired that evening so we sent Rawlings (still nameless at the time) to the nursery around midnight. I got some sleep from about 1am to 4am. They brought him back to nurse, we snuggled a bit and then I sent him back to the nursery again. We officially decided on sweet boy's name Wednesday morning. He got his circumcision, they brought him back to us and he slept for most of the quiet second day before we took him home that afternoon. 

Some big dates for his first two weeks:

5-20: First outing as a family of 5! We went to a special little girls' 4th birthday party!

5-21: Mommy caught his first (gassy) smiles

5-22: Umbilical chord stump fell off

5-25: Daddy's first day back to work & Mommy and her three boys ventured out on the town

         Rawlings had his first bath

5-28: Rawlings started sleeping in 4 hour stretches

5-29: Mommy found some white spots on Rawlings' tongue. I am thinking its thrush, but we will see when we have our first DR appointment.

         Rawlings' first holiday- Memorial Day! We spent the evening grilling and playing outside with Mimi, Papa, Uncle Andrew, and the Browns!

Sleep: We've tried a few different newborn sleep techniques these first two weeks. We tried the dock a tot first. It worked really well the first two nights, but Rawlings seems to sleep best swaddled up tight in his Mamaroo (no motion).

Big Brothers: Rowdy has wanted to hold his new baby brother since he came home from the hospital. He is so proud to tell everyone we see in public that he has a new baby. (He says "were having a new baby next week!") Ryder is a bit mixed on his enthusiasm for Rawlings right now. He goes from wanting to hold him, to stealing his bink, to not acknowledging him. The first week home, while DT and I got Rawlings settled and I recovered, Papa and Zannie took care of the boys.  They did all the boys' favorite activities like swimming, bouncing, and playing at the park! I am so thankful and grateful for the quality time Papa and Zannie invest in our boys, especially during this time of change in their lives.

Newborn gear: So far we've used our new Graco swing, Pampers Swaddlers, Little Unicorn swaddle blankets, carters zip up sleep and plays, LeachCo podster, Mamaroo, aveeno wash and lotion, and Soothie pacifiers.

Name: Rawlings: So many people have asked where we got his name! I have kept a list of baby names going for years! We had over 20 R baby names and just couldn't pick one during the entire pregnancy, nothing felt right! Now we know why! I was texting with DT's brothers and they were throwing names out there. Uncle Andrew suggested "Rawling." I was saying them aloud to DT as I was receiving the messages and that one just stuck! For over a day, we were choosing between Rawlings and Reed Hawkins. It makes me smile ear to ear every time I think about the fact that God already knew Rawlings' name, throughout the whole pregnancy, he probably got a kick out of DT and I going back and forth on the name River, knowing that wasn't even close.

Jeremiah 1:5"I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart ..."

         Tate: Tate is a name that has been stuck in my head for about a year. There is a family that I follow on social media whose last name is Tate. Their sweet boy Hayes Tate lost his brave battle with brain cancer at 16 months old. The Tate family rallied around their sweet boy, kept their faith, knowing Hayes' life would not end at death, and it was just very inspiring.

Rawlings,

You have been here for two weeks now and we could not be more proud to have you as part of our little family! You fit right in with your big brothers as you are such a happy, easy going baby. You, sweet boy, are an answer to our prayers. We are so thankful for your smooth delivery and your health. Your Daddy and I know you will do big things in this world! We love you so much, Rawlings Tate!

-Love, Mommy and Daddy