Week Two

Jackson is well and thriving! He has already gained almost two pounds since birth and grown an inch and a half!!!He's really starting to focus in while he's awake. Here's a few updated pictures with a couple funny faces :)

The Adjustment Period

I had no idea what to expect coming home from the hospital. How much harder will it really be with two? My only observation so far...it brings multitasking to a whole new level! Bringing Jackson home to his older brother has proven to be challenging and surprising. Initially, there was so much going on with family and friends that I think Rhonen was a little confused about just what Jackson was doing in our home. He has now warmed up to the idea and is getting used to having a little brother. While Rhonen is excited about Jackson...he is sometimes too excited. It took about a week before he stopped swatting at the baby. And jealousy does arise around feeding time. But considering all of the change that happened over the last few weeks, Rhonen is doing very well in his big brother role. His face lights up when he gets to touch Jackson and he is good at giving "Jack Jack" kisses.

Dustin and I have had to adjust our attention towards both boys...instead of just one. For me I am constantly looking for opportunities to be with just Rhonen. Most of my time is spent holding/feeding one and speaking/feeding/bathing/dressing the other. So when I can steel a moment with Rho I try to make it special. And in the early days of life, the mother is the primary caregiver for an infant...so Dustin looks for bonding time with Jackson. We have all had to give a little one way or another. The end result...our family is drastically different and exponentially better because of our little Jackson. 

Week One

How is it possible to love someone so much after just one week? Jackson is such a sweet baby! Of course all he does is eat, sleep, and make dirty diapers. He seems to be very mellow and observant...but that could all change in few months. I can't wait to see his little personality emerge.

Jackson's Birth

Jackson John Holley

Born Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 2:26pm

Weight: 7lbs 1oz

Height: 19 inches

My contractions started on Friday evening. I didn't even realize I was having them for a few hours because it was Rhonen's bedtime and I was doing our routine like every other night. Finally it dawned on me...hey these pains feel like labor pains! I got excited! Finally this baby was on his way. I jumped into gear and finished my packing for the hospital and for Rhonen. We had made arrangements for him to stay with my dad while we were in the hospital. Dustin called around 9:30 and I told him the good news. But as soon as I did the contractions slowed down. What the heck?! I tried to relax, I tried to exercise, I tried a glass of wine...nothing helped. Feeling disappointed I just went to sleep. I continued to have contractions all through the night but they were very inconsistent and by the time morning came they had stopped all together.

So we went to the farmer's market as usual and then to the park so Rhonen could play. Still no contractions. We all came home and took a nice long nap then Dustin was off to work. Around 6pm the contractions started up again. OK...here we go. They were coming more frequently and getting stronger. This was the real thing for sure! I called my dad to give him fair warning...there may be a 2am wake up call tonight. I told Dustin they coming every 15 minutes and he should probably head home. Well, by the time he did come home the contractions were slowing way down again! It was as if the baby could hear me telling him it was time and decided to show me just who was in charge. For the rest of the night the contractions came only once or twice per hour. But they were getting more intense. Just enough to keep me from getting any sleep. At 4am I had a really strong one and I decided I had had enough! I woke up Dustin and called my dad. I needed to know what was going on. How far along am I? I thought I was surely 4cm dilated by now and they would have to admit me. 

We arrived at the hospital around 5am. The nurse hooked me up the fetal monitor and checked to see how dilated I was. "3-4cm" she told me. "I need you to walk around for an hour. Come back and we'll check you again. If your 4cm we'll keep you." Great I thought...now after  all this I'm still only 3! So Dustin and I did laps around that hospital. I climbed stairs. I did squats. We returned after an hour and I was 4-5cm! Thank goodness ;) The nurse admitted us and started getting the water birthing room ready. It took a minute for me to remember how to labor. I knew I needed to use my voice and my breath to cope with the pain. Rest between contractions and save my strength for later. With Rhonen's birth I was committed to an all natural birth, and I was successful in doing that. This time around I again wanted to refrain from drugs but I also thought the process would go much faster. At least that's what everyone told me. 

Finally we got into the room and I immediately jumped into the shower. Endless hot water had never sounded so good. I moved from the shower... to the ball... to the bed several times. After about six hours of this I was starting feel exhausted. At 12:30 my midwife came in to check my progress. I was only 6cm dilated! "If you really want to get things going, I'll break your water". I had to think about this for a minute. As soon as the water breaks it gets quite a bit more painful. But I also wanted this to be over so I gave her the OK. Sure enough the contractions really got moving. I went back to the shower for some relief. All of a sudden I felt nauseous and dizzy. My nurse came into check the baby's heart rate and I told her I wasn't feeling well. She called for another nurse who brought in a wheel chair. They took me to the bed to see how far along I was. With the next contraction I felt the urge. I told them I had to push.

"Do you want us to set up the tub?" 

"yes...wait! No" "I don't want to have to move! Is it too late for drugs? "

My midwife told me that getting drugs would take too long. She thought this baby was coming fast and we should just get ready to have the baby on the bed. I didn't care at this point where I had the baby. Dustin however, thought I should deliver on the birthing stool like I did with Rhonen. He told my midwife that I had a problem the last time in the bed and I really did better in a sitting position. I'm so glad he spoke up. On the bed the contractions were insanely painful and I could feel the urge only sometimes. As soon as I stood up I could bear down much more and I felt the urge with every contraction. 

Within about twenty minutes Jackson was born. He came out screaming...a very nice thing to hear. They handed him to me and I looked down at our baby overjoyed. Dustin was behind me...he kissed me on the cheek and said "you did it...he might be better looking than Rhonen :)"  

Jackson John Holley

Born Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 2:26pm.

7lbs 1oz, 19 inches

Still Pregnant...but not for long!

With just 6 days until my due date I am excited to say the contractions have begun! I was up all night with very irregular, but unmistakable labor pains. Will he come today or tomorrow? Stay tuned...

Father Son Sessions

Dustin has been practicing the guitar. Whenever he sits down to play Rhonen tries to climb on top of him...literally. He would walk up the guitar onto Dustin's shoulders! Today we discovered that he was trying to get behind the guitar so he could play with dad. These pictures are truly priceless!