One Week Old

Mason is now 10 days old.  This post is 3 days late, but my only chance to blog is when he is sleeping...which happens to be the only times I sleep as well :)

Here is a picture from the beginning of his first week- his first day on the outside!

He:

-has gained an entire pound since we left the hospital last saturday

-is eating and sleeping well, despite wanting to be held while he falls asleep - but seriously, when I can look at a face like that, how could lack of sleep really bother me?

-does NOT like having his diaper changed, he screams like a pterodactyl, and ryan and I think its precious

-had his first bath yesterday, he loved it!

-sleeps in a "bed" we made on the ottoman of our couch, since it has a 'dip' in it, so he cant roll.

-refuses to sleep in his bassinet, we hope this is just a newborn phase!

-has a range of emotions, even though we are pretty sure they all have to do with gas at this point

-has SO many different crys, we are learning what each one means...its difficult! So far, most of them mean "Hold me, mom and dad!"

-has an unbreakable and unconditional hold on my heartstrings, and I wouldnt have it any other way

I:

- am healing VERY well, I have virtually no pain

-am breastfeeding, and *thank goodness* havent had any issues with him latching on or feeding. The pediatrician was shocked to find out that Mason gained an entire pound in a week on JUST breastmilk.  Apparently I make enough milk for twins!

-am beside myself with the size of my boobs...okay seriously...they look incredible! haha

-went on a date with Ryan last thursday, we dressed up and ate steak and I didnt smell like milk and it was SO romantic, even if it was just for an hour!

-have lost 20 pounds so far, im only 10ish (maybe less) pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight

-find myself waking up from naps at every little sound he makes.  I thought I was a light sleeper before, but sheesh! Just need to reassure myself that he is okay...and he always is :)

-am only moderately over-worried and over-protective of him, despite what Ryans friends may think when I refuse to let them hold him if they have been drinking...sorry guys!

- could look at his chubby little face forever, its hard to believe that we made such a perfect little person!

this is love.

Mason Zachary Rodgers - One week old.

As soon as we get our new camera, I PROMISE that all the pictures I upload (minus those sporadic iphone moments) will be higher quality, All these pictures are from my and Ryans phones.

next baby update on July 9th! thats his ONE MONTH! ahhh.

-Masons Momma

Masons Birth Story

When our doctor told us that we were going to be induced, it was a mixture of emotions.  At first we were glad that we finally had a date we could meet him, then disappointed that it wouldnt be a surprise, but then the joy of knowing that we would meet our son in less than a week made all the bad feelings go away!

We went to the hospital to get induced on Wednesday, June 8th, at 8pm.  They started the pitocin drip and we were on our way! I got NO sleep.  How could I have possibly slept knowing that my baby boy was on the way!?  Through the night, Ryan and my momma slept, and the nurses came in to check on me and turn up the pitocin drip.  Around 3am they started asking me if I had a "really high pain tolerance", I didnt think I did, but they said usually people with contractions like the ones I was having, had already asked for an epidural.  But I wanted to wait.

At around 8am I got the epidural, and a doctor came in to break my water, it was SO. WEIRD! I wont describe it, but seriously, it felt crazy.  And no, the epidural did not hurt, I was pretty worried about that and it just didnt hurt at all! yay!  The dilation progressed somewhat quickly from there. Ryan was getting anxious, which was making me even more excited. At 3pm, the urge to push was pretty intense, but we had to wait for the doctor. All of our family and most of our friends were already at the hospital by this time.  It makes my heart sing to think about all the love that filled that hospital room before mason even came! at 5:10 (yes, I was watching the clock like a hawk, willing it to move faster so we could get the show on the road) we started pushing with each contraction...the feeling was incredible, and with Ryan holding my hand (then eventually my leg)I felt so strong! 8 contractions later and Baby Mason was born at 5:50!

There arent even words to describe the flood of emotions I felt when he finally came out and they set him on my belly.  He is perfect.  I have that memory engrained in my mind.  I had never seen a more perfect sight;  I could live in that moment forever. His first cry was like an angel, and thats when I started crying.  All I wanted to do was snuggle him and Ryan close and never ever let go! when they finally finished cleaning him up and handed him back to us, this is what we saw:

perfect, right? and he opened his eyes so early.  I've had to pause at least 5 times in the blog so far to wipe away the tears, I seriously couldnt have asked for a more perfect baby.  I must have told Ryan "you did so good" like 10 times... He kept looking at me like I was crazy and telling me "you did all the work, babe"...but just LOOK at that FACE! hes like Ryans mirror image. Love it.

After we left the birthing suite, we took the long trip to our room.  We passed by the waiting room...and MUCH to my surprise, it was full of ONLY our family and friends. so much love. It had to have looked like a parade going down the hall and filing into our room, Im not positive how many people were there, but Im thinking it was around 20 all at once, with our families and friends! ahhh, my heart just explodes. Baby Mason is so lucky to come into such a loving environment.

Life is beautiful, incredible, and GOOD, and we cant wait to see where this journey takes our new little family.

-Mason's Momma

Dear Baby

Dear Baby Mason,

I suppose this is my last week that I'll have a surplus of time to just sit around and write, so theres just a few things I wanted to say to you:
I love you.  I've loved you since you were just a scary little "plus" on the pregnancy test.  I cant wait to meet you.  I cant wait to see your face and squeeze your chubby cheeks and laugh at how much you look like your adorable father :)  I cant wait to find out things you like and things you dont like, I cant wait to see if you love PBJ as much as I do. I cant wait to read you your favorite book, and then someday, for you to read it to me.

Its like one day you just suddenly popped into existence, changed my whole life, and im just totally 100% okay with that.  You're going to be so perfect, I seriously cant think of anyway you could be less than perfect, except maybe if you turn out to be your fathers clone...nope, that'd be perfect too.

Your daddy already has camo overalls for you to wear when you go "hunting" ...(which at 12 months old, im not sure what hes thinking), and he has been talking about buying you a tiny little bow so you can go bow-fishing with him.  People ask me if he will be a momma's boy, but from the looks of things, I think you'll be a little manly man just like your father.  Oh I just cant wait.

The doctor says that unless you decide to make your appearance in the next 6 days, he is going to induce labor on Wednesday the 8th, at 8pm.  You should be born sometime on the 9th.  Im a little bummed that it wont be a suprise, but then again, ANY way I can see you is perfectly fine with me.  I guess you just want to stay with mommy a liiiiitle bit longer, I dont blame you, I'd miss me too! haha oh Mason, when you come out, please dont enable me when I say things like that! :)

What am I supposed to say to you when you come out and they hand you to me? Do I introduce myself?  Will you know who I am?  I've been reading you books and singing to you and talking for the past 9 months, maybe you will recognize my voice.  Should I say "Hi Mason, Im your mom.".. no... thats too formal.  "Hey baby, how are you?" ... um...you just traveled down my birth canal, I can only assume the answer to that question.  I guess when they hand you to me,  I'll just wing it.  Isn't that basically what parenting is, a form of "winging it" long enough to see if you turned out okay?

Who am I kidding?  I know youll turn out perfect, because seriously, how could you not?  There is a RIDICULOUS number of people who love you, I mean really, both of your grandparents already have all these plans for you.  Im so excited for you to meet them.

Anyways,  I just wanted to write you a letter and tell you how happy I am that you're coming to live at my house and be my baby next week.  We are going to have so much fun, I promise.  When youre older, I hope we can still have fun then, and I wont be a nerd or something...because I know youll be super-suave and probably wont want to hang around your mom very much.  I want you to know, Mason, that I'll support any decision you make, even if you dont like me for whatever reason teens dont like their parents.  I will never judge you, and I hope you know that you can tell me anything, because I love you more than fish love water.

I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.