PICTURES!

ETHAN!!

What a stud! WOW!

Dear Ethan, [part 2]

Hi son! Life has been crazy busy since you’ve arrived but I would like to take some time to finish writing my letter to you that I started the day you were born. I last left off with Mommy and I going to sleep to take a quick nap before Mommy started her pushing. Reading back Part One I can tell I was pretty sleepy. So shortly after I posted, I fell asleep. We slept for about an hour. I was awakened by a busy birthing suite full of people ready to help you arrive. Your grandmas and grandpas helped wake me up in time to help Mommy. I was so excited that I did not allow myself to really wake up, so I was still sorta asleep when I put my contacts in so that I could see you the best I could when you arrived.

Apparently I was causing a short delay as everyone was waiting on me to get ready, to get into position to help Mommy. My role was to hold one of Mommy’s legs up since she couldn’t feel them from the epidural medicine (it makes Mommy numb from her tummy down so she doesn’t feel any pain). I was also going to be there to comfort her, time her pushes by counting to ten, feed her ice chips, and tell her how much I love her and how great she was doing.

With everyone ready to go, it was time for Mommy to push. The midwife and nurse would tell Mommy when she was having a contraction and she would begin pushing through the contraction. While Mommy pushed, Auntie Kali and I would help Mommy with her breathing, holding her legs, timing her pushes, and encouragement. Everyone once in awhile Mommy would like at me like a little baby bird with her mouth slightly open; this meant she wanted an ice chip. Mommy couldn’t eat or drink because of the epidural so all she could have was ice chips. So I would give her some ice chips whenever she asked.

After an hour of pushing, we could see your head, your head full of hair! A little time later, Mommy gave birth to you, Ethan Alistair Rossman! You were born at 8:44am and weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and were 20 inches long! I got to cut the umbilical cord after you were born too!

Unfortunately, there was a concerning issue with your birth. You had pooped inside the womb and ingested it into your lungs. This poop is called meconium and of course, this stuff is not supposed to be in your lungs. You were having trouble breathing. So a special doctor and nurse from NICU (newborn intensive care unit) came to our suite to take care of you. They determined that you needed to be taken to the NICU to be cared for, cleaned up, and monitored. Before you left, Mommy got to hold you for a quick minute. Then Daddy left with you to go to NICU, so I could be by your side. We were there for a couple hours while the doctor and nurses took care of you and determined you were okay to leave NICU and go back to our room and be with Mommy and the rest of the family!

When we got you back to the room, everyone was so happy to get to really meet you, admire you, talk to you, and love you. First up was Mommy because boy, you were HUNGRY! You made that known while you were in the NICU. So Mommy began feeding you and you two got to bond, skin-to-skin. Once you and Mommy figured out how to feed, you got a full belly - and became sleepy. So we wrapped you up (Daddy makes a great baby burrito swaddle) and let you sleep after such an amazing adventure.

This was the beginning of the new chapter in our lives, the rest of our lives. We are so happy to have you join our family. You are a very handsome young man and we look forward to watching you grow. We love you Ethan!

Dear Ethan,

Hey little man!! It's your Dad. I'm sitting here in our birthing suite at the hospital with you Mommy, Grandmas, Grandpas, and Auntie Kali. We had a little hurdle to over come in the beginning but you and Mommy have been doing awesome ever since!

Mommy toughed out her active labor for a really long time. We got to the hospital around 6pm and she finally decided to get some relief and chose to receive an epidural around 5am. When we first arrived the plan was to help you and Mom by inducing labor but you two had other plans. Contractions came well enough to not need any medicine! Awesome job you two! Shortly after, we discovered Mom was dehydrated and this was causing you some stress. Your heart beat was dropping to 90 bpm and this concerned us all. So Mom was given a fluid IV and you guys recovered well.

The contractions kept on coming, getting stronger, lasting longer and coming closer together. Everything was progressing nicely. Of course this meant Mom had more pain as you descended down the birth canal. This is around the time the family arrived to support us. Then we decided to watch a movie and try to relax. So we put in Toy Story. Good movie. You'll see. ;)

Mommy was then checked to see how she was progressing and you two were doing very well! However with the progress comes more pain. Mom pushed through many contractions with Auntie Kali and I's help. After awhile though Mom decided to get some help, some relief and received an epidural. And that is where we are now. You and Mom are getting some rest and sleep after a long day.

We are all so close to the finish line! Later today we should all be meeting each other. I meet my son. You meet your Father. Mom meets her son and you get to meet your Mother. Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunties and Uncles will get to meet you and you get to meet them. We are all so excited to meet you but in due time. You and Mom get some rest and when you wake up we will continue kicking butt and we will become a family.

I love you Ethan. Mommy loves you too, Ethan. See you soon little guy!

Ethan...we're waiting...

Still no sign of Mr. Ethan Alistair Rossman joining the family soon. His original due date was August 10 but then after his first ultrasound, the tech thought he was undersized for 20 weeks and pushed him back to 19 weeks meaning his new due date would be Aug 18.

We're right in the middle of those now. Maybe the due date is 8/10 and he's just a week late? Maybe the due date is 8/18 and he'll be early? Or late? *cringe* (I dont think have the patience for this option).

We had an appointment with our midwife on Friday and told her all the symptoms Sonia has been having. All of them pointed towards early labor and Braxton Hicks. They suggested he is coming soon -- could be a few days and could have been that night. Well, we know it wasnt that night (dang it too, because I was hoping he would be born on the 12th to rep the Seahawks 12th man).

Will he be here soon? Maybe. I sure hope so! C'mon Ethan, come meet everyone!! We're all anxious to see you.

Baby Bump...er...Mountain. Week 37

So I haven't taken a skin photo since Week 31 (BAD MOMMY) but there really hasn't been that much of a change. Only two short weeks until my due date...and we are both SO excited to meet our little man!!

I am a ball of feelings....EXCITED, anxious, scared, and very emotional. I can't believe very soon we will finally be holding Ethan in our arms, and can see what he looks like. Tony thinks I've started nesting. I've been very into cleaning and organizing things, which if you know me well, know that is NOT part of my personality ;) So it'll be interesting to see how soon he comes after my nesting kick...

We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, but other than that, there is really nothing new to update. We're gathering things for our baby bag, finishing up his room, and just getting our house situated for the invasion of a newborn.

Thank you again for all your love and support through this exciting adventure with us.

LOVES
XO,
Soni

Maternity PhotoShoot: Teaser Pics

Sonia and I had a maternity photo shoot last Tuesday with Justine Shelton at Golden Gardens Park.

We had a great experience taking these pictures to capture the final moments of Sonia's first pregnancy with little Ethan Alistair. We had a lot of cool ideas and Justine captured them all! We can't wait to see the final product of the whole shoot. Until then, she posted 8 teaser photos!

Here are the teaser pictures she posted on her blog last Friday. (click them to enlarge to high-res)











Thank you very much Justine! These look great!! We're looking forward to the rest =)

--Tony

Baby Pool!

Let's have a little contest. Let's see who can predict when baby Ethan Alistair will be born. The winner will receive a gift card (I have to coax participation out of you all somehow). I think I have a Starbucks gift card lying around on this desk. I wont ever use it so maybe someone else can. =P Win win huh? If you hate Starbucks (like I do) then maybe we can work something else out.

Before we get started...a few dates. We think the due date is around August 10 or 11. Doctor said August 18, but then also said Sonia could be a week late (August 24 or 25).

SO! What do you think? When will Sonia and I's son be born?

(Ties will be broken with a random drawing and you have to post your guess as a comment on this blog for it to count -- so, please do not post it as a comment on our Facebook pages) =)