Gavin Matthew Ross.
Born at 9:17 am on August 6th 2012.
Eight pounds five ounces.
What a day. What a wonderful, joyful, heart-expanding day! Caden and Blake spent the night before at Grandpa Scott's house because Nate and I had to wake up pretty early. It was one of those mornings that when the alarm went off you were immediately excited because a long anticipated day had finally arrived. I slept much better this time than I did with the boys. I was so nervous the first time around, not knowing what to expect. Our lives, especially mine, was about to change forever. This time, I felt like my current life was expanding more than changing.
Maybe that's why, one week ago, we hurried into the American Fork Hospital like kids in a candy store. Nate was in high spirits, making me laugh in his marshmallow outfit. We chatted about his work, hospital food and what name we might give the baby. We had narrowed it down to Gavin or Chase and decided we would know when we saw him.
We had lots of visitors and we so appreciate our family for showing us their support. Welcoming Gavin would not have been complete without his extended family around to greet him. The most anticipated visitors didn't come until I had a chance to rest. A day and a half after Gavin was born he met his two older brothers. They walked into the hospital room and said, "Momma!" with big smiles. Then I think the big hospital bed intimidated them because they ran to Dada instead :) After a few minutes of playing tickles with Dada we brought them over to see Gavin. They were intrigued with his little features, especially his feet.
Most of our time in the hospital was pretty relaxed. My pain meds kept me happy and slightly loopy. Nate had many a laugh at my expense. I would start speaking, stop mid sentence, and completely forget what I was going to say. I had one bad night because of the air bubbles in my shoulders and chest. I couldn't breathe without extreme pain. Luckily my mom was watching the boys and Nate was at the hospital with me. I had wonderful nurses but nothing compares to your number one person being there when you need them. Within an hour I had calmed down and was able to feed Gavin again.
Speaking of eating, Gavin Matthew Ross is living up to his uncle's legacy. He could eat continually, with brief naps in between, all day long. Within 5 minutes of holding him for the first time we tried to get him to eat and I made up the word "insta-latch". I have been blessed with a great breast-feeding baby! Twins were a real trial in this area so perhaps I appreciate it that much more. He ate well enough to keep his billi levels low so he hasn't needed any supplemental feeding. It also makes for adorable chubby cheeks :)
Bringing Gavin home felt completely natural. I've had his room ready for months and his brother proof space (a bouncer in a pack n play) set up for two weeks in the corner of the living room. Caden kept saying, "Baby brudder came outta Momma's tummy!" Blake couldn't stop holding him. Even when Gavin started crying, I asked Blake if he wanted me to take him and he said, "No, where's his binky?"
He only wakes up twice a night and I'm back in bed in a half an hour. It's a dream come true. I think it's safe to say that Gavin is pretty happy to finally be here.
Gavin is such a good baby. He loves being held but is fine laying down wrapped up. He likes a binky but can sleep without it. He's my easy going little buddy. And he's already taken up his first hobby: modeling the latest baby fashions.
I was worried about how the big brothers would do with Mommy being so preoccupied. But they have become great friend with their grandparents, and Daddy, and most of all each other. Yes they still fight. But they have learned that getting along makes the day a lot more fun.
Maybe that's why, one week ago, we hurried into the American Fork Hospital like kids in a candy store. Nate was in high spirits, making me laugh in his marshmallow outfit. We chatted about his work, hospital food and what name we might give the baby. We had narrowed it down to Gavin or Chase and decided we would know when we saw him.
Once I had my IV in my hand I began to relax. Peace started to overtake the excitement as I contemplated meeting my new best friend. There was a picture of a baby on the cabinet in my hospital room and I just kept smiling at the little face. I couldn't believe I was going to have a newborn in my life again!
When they asked if I was ready to go into the operating room I couldn't believe how ready I felt. I have been frantic all spring and summer getting ready for this baby. We found out I was expecting just two weeks after moving in to our new home. I felt like our life was chaos and I had to find some order before we welcomed the newest member of our family. My checklist was endless and I'm sure I didn't get it all done. Yet somehow I have never felt more ready for anything in my entire life. I wanted our son with us, chaos or not.
The surgery went like clockwork. Sarah McLachlan's "Remember You" was playing over the speakers when I felt the pressure release and heard a little growling scream that sounded like a baby bear. His lungs definitely worked! Then I saw the matted hair and pink body of what I knew to be a perfectly healthy baby boy. "8 pounds 5 ounces" appeared on the scale. I was overwhelmed with joy at this wonderful gift that seemed to appear out of thin air. All the sudden I loved that little ball of flesh as much as my husband and children. He was instantly one of us. It was similar to the birth of the boys in that I felt like I had always known them, that we were simply meeting again after a long absence. Like I have already loved them all my life.
When they asked if I was ready to go into the operating room I couldn't believe how ready I felt. I have been frantic all spring and summer getting ready for this baby. We found out I was expecting just two weeks after moving in to our new home. I felt like our life was chaos and I had to find some order before we welcomed the newest member of our family. My checklist was endless and I'm sure I didn't get it all done. Yet somehow I have never felt more ready for anything in my entire life. I wanted our son with us, chaos or not.
The surgery went like clockwork. Sarah McLachlan's "Remember You" was playing over the speakers when I felt the pressure release and heard a little growling scream that sounded like a baby bear. His lungs definitely worked! Then I saw the matted hair and pink body of what I knew to be a perfectly healthy baby boy. "8 pounds 5 ounces" appeared on the scale. I was overwhelmed with joy at this wonderful gift that seemed to appear out of thin air. All the sudden I loved that little ball of flesh as much as my husband and children. He was instantly one of us. It was similar to the birth of the boys in that I felt like I had always known them, that we were simply meeting again after a long absence. Like I have already loved them all my life.
To say I was a picky patient on my first day may have been an understatement. At the twin's birth the boys never left my side all during the surgery all the way through their first baths. This hospital had a different policy and I was not supposed to see MY baby for 45 min to an hour after surgery! I talked to all the nurses and begged them to bring my baby back up to my floor as soon as I got out. They said they would try and to my surprise my sweet baby Gavin was in my room two minutes after I arrived there myself. I knew it was Gavin as soon as he was born, luckily Nate felt the same way.
Then I discovered I was going to miss his first bath, one of my fondest memories of the hospital with the twins. I said no, that we would bathe him ourselves in our room if need be. So they wheeled my whole hospital bed into the nursery so I could see his first bath! I felt like such a pain to everyone but the staff was so nice and I loved watching the little pink bundle of flesh and matted hair turn into a baby. What a face!
We had lots of visitors and we so appreciate our family for showing us their support. Welcoming Gavin would not have been complete without his extended family around to greet him. The most anticipated visitors didn't come until I had a chance to rest. A day and a half after Gavin was born he met his two older brothers. They walked into the hospital room and said, "Momma!" with big smiles. Then I think the big hospital bed intimidated them because they ran to Dada instead :) After a few minutes of playing tickles with Dada we brought them over to see Gavin. They were intrigued with his little features, especially his feet.
Speaking of eating, Gavin Matthew Ross is living up to his uncle's legacy. He could eat continually, with brief naps in between, all day long. Within 5 minutes of holding him for the first time we tried to get him to eat and I made up the word "insta-latch". I have been blessed with a great breast-feeding baby! Twins were a real trial in this area so perhaps I appreciate it that much more. He ate well enough to keep his billi levels low so he hasn't needed any supplemental feeding. It also makes for adorable chubby cheeks :)
Bringing Gavin home felt completely natural. I've had his room ready for months and his brother proof space (a bouncer in a pack n play) set up for two weeks in the corner of the living room. Caden kept saying, "Baby brudder came outta Momma's tummy!" Blake couldn't stop holding him. Even when Gavin started crying, I asked Blake if he wanted me to take him and he said, "No, where's his binky?"
He only wakes up twice a night and I'm back in bed in a half an hour. It's a dream come true. I think it's safe to say that Gavin is pretty happy to finally be here.
Gavin is such a good baby. He loves being held but is fine laying down wrapped up. He likes a binky but can sleep without it. He's my easy going little buddy. And he's already taken up his first hobby: modeling the latest baby fashions.
I was worried about how the big brothers would do with Mommy being so preoccupied. But they have become great friend with their grandparents, and Daddy, and most of all each other. Yes they still fight. But they have learned that getting along makes the day a lot more fun.
