My new life as a mommy

I'm not going to lie, this motherhood thing is harder than I expected. I think what makes it so hard is that we have no family here. It is just me, Cory and Brody. I stay at home with Brody, which is the most amazing thing. I know that I will never miss a thing. Cory is such a blessing and I fall in love with him more and more each day. Seeing him as a daddy is the best thing in the world. But it still is so trying. Cory works so I do all the night stuff and then when he comes home he takes over. He changes his diapers and helps with feedings. I wish we lives closer to family but his job is here and it is an amazing. It allows me to stay at home. We have a beautiful home and food is always on the table. We are so very blessed.

I did go through some postpartum blues in the beginning and I now I am getting better. Having a child puts everything into perspective. I thought about everything that could go wrong and I wondered if we would be good parents. I realized that I have to live one day at a time and enjoy life. I have a loving husband, healthy baby boy, and a very supportive family.

Being a mother, I worry about everything now! I find myself waking up throughout the night just to make sure he is breathing. He sleeps right against my side of the bed in his bassinet. He is never out of my sight. He is already two weeks today. Time goes by so fast!!

I am so excited the family is coming for Thanksgiving. It is well needed family time that we all need!!

Brody looking at his daddy...def. a little version of Cory!

Beautiful baby boy

Doing what he does best...snoozing!

Time for Thanksgiving!!!

We are so excited that Thanksgiving is right around the corner!! My mom, Rachel, Tara, Lane, Nana, Aunt Angie, and Cousin Haley are coming in for the holidays! Some get here on Saturday night and the others will get here Tuesday night. My Aunt Terry, Uncle John and cousins might be coming but they would be driving and they cannot leave until Wednesday night. It is such a long drive to only stay 3 days so they still don't know if they are coming. Then about 2 1/2 weeks after that, we will be heading to Texas and Michigan for Christmas! I love this time of year! I cannot wait until the family gets here!!!

Our new life with Brody

Cory and I are both adjusting to our new life as mommy and daddy. We are loving every minute of it. Brody had his first dr. appt. on Tuesday. He is doing wonderfully. He weighs 7 lbs. 8 ozs. and is 20 1/4 in. The doctor said everything looks great and he will see him back at his one month check up. After the doctor left, we were getting him dressed again and he peed all over the table!!

I had my appt. on Friday and everything looks great with me too. The dr. said I have a beautiful scar...ok those two words do not belong in the same sentence!!! I go back in 4 weeks.

Here are pics. of our precious boy!!!

Brody and his silky

Kisses

So sleepy

His fav. thing to do...sleep in his poppy

Passed out

Finally wide awake!

So sweet

Going to eat on Veteran's Day

Sleepy after his dr. appt.

Sweet dreams

Love all his hair!

Loves swing time

Brody's first bath

Look at that smile!

Getting some sun...no more jaundice!

Introducing Brody Austin Stokes

Well Brody Austin Stokes is finally here!! He blessed us with his arrival on November 4, 2009 at 9:40 P.M. He was 8 days early! He weighed in at 7 lbs. 12 ozs. On Tuesday, November 3rd, I went to my dr. appt for my 38 weeks checkup. I had some contractions all weekend so I thought that I might have progressed a little more from the week before. I still had some protein in my urine. She checked my blood pressure next and that's when things got crazy. She took it once and then said, "No, that cannot be right." She took it again and said my blood pressure was 170/110. She told me to change so I could get an exam and the dr. would be in as soon as possible. I was getting a little worried that my blood pressure was so high. It had been high the past couple weeks but nothing like that. My dr. finally came in and told me that I was to go straight to the hospital for more blood work. She examined me and found that I was dilated to a 2 and about 60% effaced. Then she said, " I am going to have you stay the night and you will be induced tomorrow morning at 5:00 A.M." I almost fell off the table!! I was so excited but scared at the same time because I knew that my blood pressure was so high and that he needed to be taken out soon. We went home to get out bags and headed straight for the hospital. Once I got settled in my room, the nurses checked my blood pressure several times and it was completely normal! I don't understand how it changed so dramatically within a short period of time. I thought that maybe I would be sent home but they said that was to risky and that I am for sure going to have a baby tomorrow!

Needless to say, I did not sleep any that night!! At 6:00 A.M. the nurses came in and induced labor. I took the contractions for awhile but the nurse asked me about an epidural and said that she could put me on the list. When the anesthesiologist came in, I was so ready for it! I had felt the labor pains long enough and I was ready to relax! Throughout the late afternoon and evening, the nurses kept coming in to change my position because the Brody's heartbeat kept decreasing with every contraction. I had to wear the air mask, which I hated! Around 8:45 P.M. the dr. came in to check my progress and I was stalled at 9 cm and about 95%. I had been 9 cm for awhile. I also developed a high fever and they were worried that my risk for infection was increasing because they had broken my water first thing in the morning when the started the pitocin. Also Dr. F examined me and noticed that my cervix was swelling really bad. She felt like there was no way he would be able to come out. The next thing I knew, I was being rushed to have a C-section. Everything happened so fast and the next thing I knew, I heard Brody cry.

It was not what I planned or hoped for but it was the best thing for mine and Brody's health. We both came out great and that is all that matters. I could not see anyone for an hour because I was in recovery, but then I saw Cory and he showed me pics of our handsome boy! My mom came in a little after I finally met Brody. I stayed in the hospital from Tuesday night to Friday night. I was so ready to go home! My mom and my sister came for his birth and to help me. My sister stayed from Friday to Monday and my mom stayed for a week.

Brody Austin Stokes...7 lbs. 12 ozs.

Grammy and Brody

Aunt Tara and Brody

Brody going home

A family of three now

Mommy and son