Proud Big Brother

Cole is Here!

The Arrival

I had been having braxton hicks contractions for a few days, so when I started having more contractions in the wee hours of the morning of the 27th, I thought it was still just a fluke.  Cole couldn't arrive exactly on his due date, could he?  Contractions started about 3:30 am and I told Robert when he woke up at 4:30 to get ready for work.  After they still continued, he called in to work and called his mom to come watch Chase.  We headed to the hospital about 6am.  I was still unsure because I wasn't in that much pain......yet!
When we got to the hospital, I was dilated to a 5!! Woo,hoo!!  I was admitted and soon found out my doctor was off that day, so Dr. Josh Ward would be delivering Cole.  I was always a little modest, so I never would go to a guy OB/GYN, but at this point, I didn't care.  I just wanted to hold Cole as soon as I could.  Dr. Ward broke my water, and then came on the pain!  Contractions got much stronger and the anesthesiologist was called for my relief, an epidural.  I should have known what would happen next, but I thought it might be different this time.  He gave me a low dose, but I still got sick and lost my breakfast, and my blood pressure dropped.  They had to give me some oxygen and ephedrine, but soon I was feeling better.  I even tried to push the button once b/c I was feeling the contractions, and then got sick again. I guess epidurals and I just don't get along too well.  I progressed pretty quickly after that, but another scary thing kept happening.  Every time I had a contraction, Cole's heart rate would drop.  I later found out this was because the cord was around his neck and the contractions compressed it.  They gave me some sort of amnio-transfusion which lessened the pressure on the cord.  Around 11am, I knew I was pretty close.  I was having a lot of pain with the contractions and feeling that need to push.  They called the doctor in and prepped the room.  After about 3 contractions of pushing, Cole was out!!  All the pain was gone, and I had my little baby boy.  Robert cut the cord and let me see him.  They cleaned and weighed him and he came in at a whopping 9 lbs 1 oz!!  What! I just pushed a 9 lb baby out!  He beat Chase by over a pound and a half!
We then spent some time trying to get Cole to nurse and time to bond a little before the family came in.  Mimi, Maw-maw, Paw-paw, Great Uncle Bob and Chase were all there to meet him.

Still Waiting.....

Well, went to my last clinic appointment today.  Cole is still baking in the oven and we're anxiously waiting for any pains to start.  I am dilated to a 2-3 and 50% effaced, which is a lot farther than I was with Chase before I went into labor.  I hope he comes in the next couple of days, maybe he's just waiting for his due date which is Thursday, the 27th.  I'll be induced next Tuesday if he doesn't come out sooner.  The doc suggested Monday or Tuesday, but I just couldn't PLAN on having a Halloween baby, even though he may come then. 
We're praying for a healthy baby boy and so excited to see what Cole will look like.  I think he will have a lot of hair, and be a healthy size (hopefully not too big).  I'm also ready to go b/c I'm so tired of being prego.  I have not had fun this go round....extreme SI pain, insomnia, heartburn, fatigue.....I just really want some sleep, but I know I won't get much for a while.
I started my maternity leave on Monday.  I'm enjoying the extra rest and time to get things done.  Laundry is actually caught up and dishes are done!  Chase has continued to go to daycare.  I've been working on some projects for the nursery.  I sure have waited to the last minute, but trying to prepare for a new baby with a 2 1/2 year old at home, and working, is especially hard.  Hopefully I'll get it mostly together tomorrow.  It just needs some decor on the walls. 
Chase moved classes at school.  I think this will be much better for him.  I believe this teacher knows how two year olds are, and can adjust better than the other one he started having problems with.  He misses naps sometimes; his daddy quit taking naps at 10 months and he has a cousin that quit at 18 months.  That must be a Bradford thing; I still love naps!  He took one today, though, I just hope it continues to behave well in his new class. 
The girls from RVT and I went to the Race for the Cure on Saturday.  I left Friday while my mom, or Mimi, stayed with Chase.  He definitely has outgrown his separation anxiety when I leave now.  He just told me bye, and then he asked if I was going to go have Baby Cole now......it was so cute.  I'm pretty sure he knows what's coming.  When asked what his baby bro's name is, he hugs himself like he's cold and says "cold" shaking. 

The rest of the weekend went well, with food, games, cupcakes, no sleep, and enjoying the festivities at the race.  I didn't walk because I would have been in a lot of pain in my hips, but I stayed on the sidelines around Craig O'Neil cheering all the women on.  It's always fun to be part of such a great event for a cure to end breast cancer.

Well, off to bed and continued waiting......

We have a name.......

Cole Barrett Bradford!
I have always liked the name Cole.  Robert wasn't too sure at first, but he's come around.  Since my sister and I are the last Barrett's of our family, we don't have anyone else to carry on the name, so I wanted to use it for this baby.  I start going to the OB every week now.....it's getting closer. Four weeks from today is my actual due date but I'm hoping he decides to come early!  I've just been miserable in this pregnancy.  I can't sleep, I have heartburn and serious SI issues.  I just dread going to bed at night, b/c every time I get up I have stabbing pain and can't put weight through my right leg.  I've done some research and I'm managing my pain a little better.  The exercises have worked miracles during the day but nighttime is still trouble.  Just to go to the bathroom, which is becoming more frequent, is about a 30 minute process from the time I wake up to the time I can fall back asleep, so I lose a lot of sleep.  Without sleep and work being so crazy, I'm just exhausted.  This probably confirms that I won't get pregnant again on purpose!  I have also had the worst charlie horse cramps in my legs lately.  I just wake up screaming, but usually Robert is there to massage my legs.  He's been pretty patient with me during this pregnancy. 

Big Boy Bed

I searched around for a Big Boy Bed since we need the crib for the new guy on the block and finally found a good deal at Rackley's.  It's a captain's bed, so I wouldn't have to buy a separate dresser to save space and money.  It's a little tall, but I put a railing up and a stool at the end that he can use to crawl up and down.  I thought it would be a struggle getting him to stay in it, but it was probably Chase's easiest transition.  I tried to lay down with him the first night, but he woke up every time I moved.  Then, I left, he cried for a minute and thought about climbing out.....but changed his mind and fell asleep.  He's been sleeping great in it, and waits for us to come get him.   At least most of the time.  One Sunday morning, we slept in a little bit and he must of woke up and thought he could get down on his own.  Well, he got down, just not gracefully.  We woke up to screaming and he must of slid off the end, missing the stool and hitting his noggin.  He was a little shaken, but after a few minutes of cuddling, he was fine. 

the Bed ... all made up. I <3 Pottery Barn Kids

Not a morning person (like his mommy!)

Reading before bedtime

Rockin Out with MiMi

Although bedtime has been better, Chase is now getting trouble at school.  He's been saying "no" to the teacher and ends up slapping or kicking her.  We're not sure what really triggers this b/c he doesn't act like that at home.  Robert and I have both had to go up to the daycare to give spankings and talk to him.  I never liked getting into trouble as a kid, and I ended up crying as much as he did when I had to take him out to the bathroom for discipline.  I was afraid that my tears would mess everything up, but we didn't get a call today!  Hopefully, he's learned that he can't get away with it as easy as he thought, and that will be behind us. 

"I swim like a fish!"

In the beginning of the summer, Chase was a little reluctant to get in the pool.  A few times on the lake and at Maw-maw and Paw-paws changed all that.  He couldn't wait to get to their house to swim on Sundays.  His surgery had to put that on hold for a little bit, but he finally got to go back in.  He even started jumping off the ladder in the pool, and we didn't have to be right by him (I was on the edge of the pool ready to go in if needed).  After being about 4-5 months pregnant, I didn't want to put on another bathing suit!

 
Almost every swimming session ended with popsicle! Now, he pretty much has to have a popsicle every day!  I'll be glad to get him into swimming lessons next year. 

Another finished project....

Well, I finished my next sewing project.  The lines are a little crooked, but I'm not trying to sell it so I guess that's okay.  I hate dealing with pinning fabric.  I probably don't have the patience for sewing.  Found this pattern on someone else's blog and I just think it turned out pretty cute.  Chase just likes to pull out all the crayons and dump them on the floor.

My next project is a baby book for Chase and his new little brother.  I think it will take me a while though; it's been hard to gather different fabrics that coordinate with each other. I like the argyle and polka dot fabrics I used with my previous projects.  There's just not that many for boys.....