Sunday, November 17, 2013

Two Months

I can't believe a month has gone by since I posted an update! We are doing well in the Esqueda house. Andrew is really busy with work and is now coaching wrestling for Roswell High School. His weekends are now dedicated to wrestling tournaments! Isaiah and I get a lot of mommy son time while daddy is away!

This past week our little guy hit the two month mark!




He has gotten much bigger



Over the past month....
Isaiah has met a lot of new faces, all of them are very important people in our lives!!
Right after Isaiah turned a month old he got to meet Grandma and Grandpa Diego! Andrew's parent's flew in from San Diego and got to spend three full days snuggling and holding their newest grandson! We had lots of fun spending quality time with them. There was no agenda or plan which was really nice!!
Snuggling with Grandma 
Dinner at Greenwoods!

A few weeks ago two of my BEST friends flew out to Atlanta to meet Isaiah! Four days flew by, but we packed a lot in. Drank coffee, ate fried food, went for walks, got our nails done, drank good wine, and watched some football! It meant so much that these girls took time off to come meet our baby! I miss them horribly right now.
Rachel and Janelle w/Isaiah
Southern BBQ at Swallow in the Hollow
Nov. 1st we road tripped to Charlotte NC to spend the weekend with my sister, her hubby and my two nieces! They all loved meeting the baby! We did a whole lot of eating, watching tv, drinking good beer, and taking walks!
Cousin Ayla w/baby Isaiah
Cousin Mia! AKA: my nursing assistant
My Beautiful Sis with her new Nephew!
Last weekend our friends Brad and Addie got to stay with us while they were here for a youth ministry conference, which Andrew attended as well. The weekend flew by. They got here from Spokane on Thursday night and flew out Sunday early evening. Brad was here earlier this summer to speak at the RPC youth summer camp. It was fun to have him back so soon! Next time they both need to bring their spouses!
Addie and Brad
Brad's 2nd daughter Alice is three days younger then Isaiah and I guess she's three times smaller. I'm not shocked. But, I am planning to set Isaiah up with Alice!

Isaiah had his first Halloween!! He was the cutest little spider I've ever seen. Thanks to our friend Lyndsay for letting him barrow the costume.
little spider!
During his second month of life Isaiah had his first...

  • trip to downtown Atlanta with mommy and daddy
  • day at daycare
  • full night of sleep :)
  • run with mommy
  • shot at the doctor's office
  • and he rolled over for the first time from his tummy to his back
Last but certainly not least; the most frequent comment we get about our baby is "THAT HAIR". Yes, that hair is all natural not styled in any way. He has a natural mohawk and it's pretty funny to see. 

check out his hair :)

Two Month Stats

Height: 24 inches - 84% (he grew an inch since last month)
Weight: 12 lbs 6 oz - 65% (gained 2 lbs 1 oz since last month)

Friday, October 18, 2013

The First Month



I can't believe we have a one month old little baby! When people told me that time would fly they weren't kidding. It goes by in the blink of an eye! Although our lives have changed significantly, Andrew and I were really insistent on the fact that this baby was coming into our family, we weren't coming into his. Yes, our schedules have changed, but we haven't been held back from doing the things we love. So, ever since the day we left the hospital Isaiah has had many firsts...

Heading home! Happy family of 3!
First Doctors Appointment
First piece of mail
First bottle
First youth group event
First farmers market
First walk around the neighborhood
First church event (Fall Festival) 
First time being the 3rd wheel while mom & dad go on a date
First Parade

One month milestones:

  • moved from our bedroom to his at two weeks
  • sleeps 5-6 (sometimes 7) stretches at night
  • loves to eat and sleep
  • he is very social and doesn't like to sleep when he knows socializing is going on
  • he has met so many people who love him already
  • started taking a liking to the pacifier, not all the time, but when he feels the need to suck and it's not time to eat then he loves it!
  • we have a swaddle rebellion on our hands. Most of the time he sleeps in a sleeper bag, but we occasionally try the swaddle





Here are just a few of my favorite pictures of him from the past month...













Friday, October 11, 2013

Isaiah's Birth Story Part 2

**This is as much a post for for family and friends to read as it is a journal entry for myself. If you don't like birth stories or you're easily grossed out (even though I will spare some details) then you might not want to read this! P.S. this post is long!!

This is one of the most exciting and hardest posts I've written. Exciting, because Isaiah's birthday is hands down the best day...ever!! Hardest, because there is no possible way for me to capture with words the experience of giving birth. I really want to tell this story because while I was pregnant (and even before) reading other people's birth stories was one way that I prepared for my own delivery day.

As I mentioned in the last post, on Thursday Sept 12 Andrew and I woke up nice and early to go to my midwife appointment. Kim told us everything looked great from the ultrasound we'd had the day before and the baby's heartbeat was strong. Although I was only 1cm dilated, I was 100% effaced which was wonderful news. We left her office feeling confident that I was indeed going to go into labor on my own very soon! Which was a huge glimmer of hope for me because as my 42nd week of pregnancy was fast approaching I knew the topic of induction would come up, something I wanted to avoid at all costs.

Andrew went to work and my parents and I spent the day doing errands. Andrew called me mid afternoon to say that he was going to work from home for the rest of the day because he wasn't comfortable being in his office with such poor cell reception. He apparently sensed that labor was approaching. I started having small contractions here and there while I was out running around with my parents, but nothing alarming or unmanageable. Andrew and I had plans to head to a friends birthday party that evening. When Sarah Kate told me that she was having a birthday gathering on the 12th I made sure to let her know that I hoped NOT to be there because obviously I wanted to have my baby by then.  Well, it was the 12th and still no baby, so I knew we would be making an appearance at her party! It was about 5:30pm when I noticed that my contractions were getting stronger. My parents were heading out the door to go to the food trucks in Alpharetta. I clued them in a little that I was feeling more intense contractions, but still wanted them to go and enjoy themselves for the evening. Andrew made us some food and I changed into the only dress that was comfortable at 41 weeks and 1 day pregnant. As we were sitting at the dinner table I down loaded a contraction timer app..



I wasn't too uncomfortable, but if it had just been up to me I probably wouldn't have gone to the party :) I knew how badly Andrew wanted to go so I toughed it out  (and in the end I was glad I went, it was a good distraction). Around 7:00 we walked down to Sarah Kate's house (3 doors away) to hang out on her screened porch for a bit. I mentioned that I was having contractions and of course they were really excited for us! I wanted to make sure that SK's birthday party was about her, but they were just so happy and curious about how I was feeling that we talked about labor and babies for a while. Around 8pm we went to Table and Main to enjoy drinks on the patio!

Celebrating Sarah Kate (in the middle)
Some lady at the restaurant overheard that I was having contractions that were about 5 to 6 minutes apart lasting for 45-60 seconds and she looked at me like I was crazy for being out on the town. If the restaurant hadn't been a couple blocks away, we wouldn't have gone. But, I wasn't in active labor at that point and it was fun to be with our friends just hours before having our baby.

Around 9:45 we made our way home so that I could get a little more comfortable. It seemed like we walked through the front door and my contractions immediately got worse. I was definitely in pain and tried to find ways to manage it, but I wasn't doing a very good job. I texted Kim and let her know that my contractions were closer together and getting more painful. She told me to relax, take a bath and try to get some rest. I thought "yeah right, there is no way I am going to be able to get some rest with this pain". I was also texting with a friend back home who is a doula and she suggested the same thing. So, Andrew and my mom got a bath going for me with some lavender oil. I felt some relief in the tub. Andrew was being extremely helpful and sat in there with me to time my contractions and help me through each one. I was probably in the bath tub for 30 minutes and I couldn't take it anymore. I got out, put some comfortable clothes on and sat on my birthing ball for a while. We never heard back from my Kim, probably because we later found out that she wasn't on call until mid day on the 13th.


The above screenshot was what my contractions were at on Sept 12 at 11:19 pm. Regardless of hearing from Kim or any other midwife from her practice I told Andrew it was time to go to the hospital. I couldn't take it anymore. We got our stuff together, said a quick goodbye to my parents and headed to the hospital.  My mom and Dad were empathizing with my pain just by the looks on their faces, but I'm sure when I walked out the door they did a little celebration because I was FINALLY in labor. I was so thankful that the hospital was no more then 5 minutes away because having a contraction in the car is extremely painful. We pulled up to the L&D drop off area, I finished having a contraction and we hurried to try and make it inside and down a short hall before I had another contraction. That didn't happen; we turned a corner and I crumbled to my hands and knees. A kind nurse passing by got us a wheel chair and pushed me the 50 feet to the labor and delivery unit.

I changed into a robe and immediately was put on a monitor by my nurse Connie. She was so calm and soothing even though I was freaking out. She asked me what my pain level was and I think I said a 7. After being monitored for what felt like forever she checked to see how much I was dilated. When I heard 2cm I about lost it. NO WAY, ONLY 2 CM?! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? Because I was 100% effaced, Connie knew I'd progress quickly so they told me to walk the halls for an hour and then they'd check me again. Well, walking the halls felt like the worst idea ever, but Andrew somehow convinced me. We walked the hallway, that I had earlier been pushed down in a wheel chair, for about an hour and a half. I was practically sleep walking; trying my best to zone everything out. At one point I noticed Andrew was talking on the phone. It was Kim, my midwife. She was so sweet to call at 1:00am even when she wasn't on duty. She told Andrew that I should get on my hands and knees to work through each contraction since my back labor was horrible. After that, things seemed to click. I would walk to one end of the hall and get down on all fours and have a contraction. Andrew would get down with me and rub my back each time.

I'm sure most moms feel this way about their husband or partner, but I was so impressed and completely captivated by the way Andrew attended to me during my labor and delivery. I never thought I had any extra room in my heart to love him more, but boy was I wrong. He was so amazing and patient even when I told him to stop talking :) I still feel bad about that.

Around 1:45, two hours after arriving at the hospital, I was put on the monitor and checked again. 4 CM, YES!!! I was going to be admitted. The nurse asked if we had a birth plan. Andrew pulled out our binder and handed the plan to her. Connie took so much care in reading through every part of our plan. I spent a lot of time procrastinating on writing out a plan. I didn't really know what to write. Our midwife really encouraged us to write one just so that the hospital staff would be on the same page as we were. After all, I spent 9 months planning and talking through my labor with Kim and Andrew not anyone from the hospital. When I thought of it that way, it made sense that I should at least have something  to hand them. I went to the bump.com and downloaded this birth plan. I liked this option because it prompted me with questions and possible responses. She talked through it with Andrew for a few minutes, I signed some papers for the water birth we had planned and then we were on our way to our room.

Once we got to the room, Andrew made sure I was ok and then went to move the car and bring our stuff in. He set up our speakers and put on my playlist that I had created specifically for labor. The lights were dimmed and we had very few interruptions. I fell into a grove and managed the contractions even as they got stronger and stronger.

At 3:30 I told Andrew it felt like I was sitting in water. I got up to make sure I hadn't spilled my water and Andrew said "maybe your water broke". We called one of the nurses in and she confirmed that indeed my water had broken. From that point on things got really intense. My contractions got pretty unbearable at that point and to make matters worse the nurse told me I had to be put back on the monitor for a half hour before getting in the water. My midwife was on her way and it would take about a half hour for her to get to the hospital. It would work out well for me to be done with the monitor by the time she got there.

I brought a bunch of snacks to the hospital to try and keep my energy up, but nothing sounded good. In order to get a good read on the monitor I needed to spike my blood sugar so the baby's heart beat would do what they wanted it to. Andrew convinced me to eat a popsicle, drink some juice and possibly my fifth mini can of ginger ale. It took a little longer then a half hour but finally they got the read they wanted. Elysia, the midwife, arrived at 4:30 and I was so relieved to see her (even though I had never met her before). She checked me and I was 10cm dilated! I went from 5 cm to 10 in an hour and a half!! Woohoo I was so ready to get in that water. Before I got in the nurses asked me if I had a swim suit top or a sports bra that I wanted to wear in the water. I said I had planned on it, but I didn't even care at that point. I was in a room with 3 medical professionals and my hubby and I didn't give a care who else walked in the room, all modesty was out the door.

Instant relief fell upon my body when I stepped in to the tub. The water was set for about 99 degrees. My Labor playlist was still playing and at one point my nurse Lori said she loved my choice in music. I relaxed through the first few contractions in the water. Before I got into the tub I had started feeling the strong urge to push with each contraction, but the water was so soothing that I was able to sit through a few before I started pushing. Everyone was standing around me, Andrew was behind me, and at one point I fell asleep. That's how amazing that water was!!! I remember waking up when I was about to have another contraction and noticed that everyone was hustling around the room getting equipment and other essentials ready for the delivery. I wondered in my head if my falling asleep was some indication that the baby was about to be here, but I never asked.  My urge to push was back and with each contraction I pushed. This was my favorite part of the whole labor process. Simply amazing to feel each push and that my baby was almost here!! After each push Lori reached down with her gloved arm and listened to the baby's heart beat with an underwater monitor. It took a good five or six pushes for me to feel that progress was being made.

Andrew was being so attentive and helpful. He put a cold wash cloth around my neck to keep me cool and let me squeeze his hand...really hard! Finally after about an hour of pushing the medical trio surrounding me along with Andrew started encouraging me even more with each push. He was almost here! Then I heard them say, "you're baby has a lot of dark hair". I could have told them our baby would have a lot of dark hair before I even knew I was pregnant. Lori asked if I wanted a mirror to see, to which I replied NO WAY!! I think that would have made me stop pushing so hard. A couple pushes later his head came out. Elysia reached down and unwrapped the cord from his neck. "one more big push" she instructed. I looked up at Andrew and he was already crying his eyes out. It was the sweetest thing! I pushed once more and just like that the baby was placed on my chest and I couldn't believe it. One of the nurses reached over and suctioned out his mouth and nose. Then we heard the sweetest cry we've ever heard. Someone looked at the clock and said 6:31am. Then they asked us if we wanted to know what it was. Boy or Girl?? Andrew lifted up his leg; IT'S A BOY!! I looked at Andrew and said, "It's Isaiah". Andrew could hardly get a word out, still crying!! I tried to soak in as much of that moment as I could. I'm sure I was in shock, I couldn't believe it finally happened.


You can see that Isaiah thought the white towels needed a little color :)




September 13, 2013 at 6:31am sweet Isaiah was born. 7 lbs 13 oz 21 inches long. We are so blessed!

Friday, September 27, 2013

Isaiah's Birth Story Part 1

My parents arrived in Atlanta from Spokane on August 31st (5 days prior to my due date). Andrew and I had just moved into our new rental just a week before my parents came. We still had (and have) a number of little projects to do around the house, but for the most part we were settled. Immediately my parents and began working on projects and unpacking what boxes were left. We spent labor day weekend grilling, hanging out with friends, and exploring Atlanta. 

My due date came and went. Something I wasn't prepared for. Of course I knew the chances of me having the baby by or on the due date was slim especially since this was my first. But, what I didn't think would happen was the amount of pressure I would feel to have the baby. Since my parents had pre-purchased their tickets with a return flight time was ticking. It felt like all eyes were on me. AHHH!!! It took a good 5 days for me to relax and just recognize that this baby is going to come when it's good and ready!!


September 3, 2013

At the Food Trucks! One day over due!
Dad!!



King of Pops is an amazing popsicle cart in Atlanta and they have the best Chocolate sea salt popsicle that I couldn't get enough of while I was pregnant!!



On Saturday (September 7th) we woke up bright and early to head into Morningside (a killer neightborhood in ATL) to hit up the farmers market. This is one of my favorite markets. I thought a picture by this sign was appropriate!! 



OCTANE!! Aside from Barista, a coffee shop in downtown Portland, Octane is definitely a favorite. Once we were done at the market we headed here for a snack and some people watching :)


My parents!! 

We took lots of walks and ate all our meals on our screened porch! We had a lot of fun during the time they were here, but it was obvious that something was missing. WHERE IS THAT BABY?!?!?!

On Wednesday (September 11) I had an ultrasound to check and make sure the baby had enough fluid. They also told us the estimated fetal weight, 7lbs 2ounces. Unless he gained 11 ounces in a day and a half, they were a little off :)

The next morning (September 12) I went back to see my midwife. I was put on the monitor for 30 minutes to check for contractions and to get a reading of the baby's heart beat.



At this point I was 1 cm dilated and 100% effaced! My midwife was confident that she would be seeing me over the weekend to have this baby!! I felt hopeful and a little sense of encouragement from this appointment.  I felt even more more excited later in the day when I started having contractions!

To be continued...