Bryce Clayton Andersen was born early this past Monday morning at 1:35 AM. He only weighed 6 lbs 9 oz and he was only 19 inches long. He has the most black hair out of all our babies - it can not be tamed- but it's adorable. He is tiny - like this little doll - with little toothpick legs and long feet. I hate to say it - but he might just be the best looking baby I've ever seen! :) No bias at all - but he's perfect.
I always think it's amazing that each baby brings so much love into my life. Just when I think I couldn't possibly love my kids anymore - a new baby allows me to love not only the baby, but everyone else more. My little boys are wild, they are naughty at times, they are demanding, dirty, and exhausting, but I LOVE them. Like, can't imagine my life without them. And Bryce is no exception - the best thing that has happened to our family this year! :)
Last Sunday, I was exhausted. Saturday night was horrible and no one slept. Even Jackson was awake. By the time I got everyone ready for church, and we had the missionary correlation meeting here at our house and left for sacrament meeting, I had had it. I said to James, I'm taking the boys and going home. Can you and Jackson get a ride home? And, I left! :) Tommie and Dallin were asleep in the parking lot and just let me carry them in the house. I crashed for a few hours and then we headed to Becca's house for dinner. I wasn't feeling too good there, but stayed late so the kids could just play and was enjoying just talking. I had a few contractions on the way home, but James and I planned the week and talked to the boys about what would happen when the new baby came, how they would go to grandma's house a lot, etc. Turns out that by the time the kids were tucked in and I was rocking Dallin, that my contractions weren't going away. James started timing them and decided he'd hop in take a shower so he would just be ready for whatever. I couldn't get a hold of my mom and dallin still wasn't asleep so we decided to wait it out. Bad choice because within 20 minutes, I was in severe pain and ready to go to the hospital. James gave me a sweet blessing reassuring me we would make it to the hospital and that everything would go well and that I would be able to find ways to relax. Dallin finally went to sleep right as my mom made it down- a little after midnight. The ride to the hospital was torture. I kept reminding James I really wanted an epidural and was crying telling him to run red lights. He was so cute marching in to the waiting room "uh. my wife is in labor. Like REALLY in labor". I ran to the bathroom thinking my water was going to break and telling james everything was happening too fast. But, sure enough, by the time we checked in, they told me I had no cervix, there was no time for an epidural, it was time to start pushing and the doctor was on his way. I really think the amount of pain i was in blocked out most of my memory. James said I never cried, just was really loud. :) I remember that one nurse really bugged me and I asked her to be quiet. I remember that James kept trying to crack a few jokes that didn't really make me smile. I knew that I was so thirsty- like couldn't stop thinking about it. But, I was really nauseous and also thought I was going to throw up. I started pushing right as Dr. Layton came in and I was having a hard time. They all kept trying to encourage me but i'm pretty sure I dislocated my hip. It still is really bothering me and my legs aren't the same length. But, sure enough, a sever amount of pain later, a sweet baby was there. I asked my usual question "is it really a boy?" as they handed the tiniest thing to me. I was still in too much pain and couldn't focus on holding him and had horrible shakes and chills. They lasted a few hours but once the shock wore off, I really was in love with just how perfect he was. He didn't seem to have the redness or cone head right after delivery. He just seemed so calm and perfect. All through the hospital I kept thanking Heavenly Father that everything went so perfect, even with no pain medicine. I did ask for ibuprofen after but only took some for 2 days and, except for my hips, I am feeling LOTS better. I am loving not being pregnant anymore. And, although I feel huge and squishy- I know it'll all go away.
We ended up deciding on Bryce's name right before leaving the hospital. We had a really hard time this go round- nothing ever seemed good. :) We did narrow it down to a few. Craig, Beckett, Parker, Porter, Shane --those are a few I remember. I'm sure we'll reuse those names again some day. Kathleen flew here right after the baby was born and was so sweet to just stay and take over everything. The cleaning, cooking, laundry, even waking up with Dallin and Tommie through the night. She stayed through Friday and was such an amazing help. My kids are of course kind of naughty as they try to adjust. Jackson is wild, copies people, and does weird things. Tommie is rude to dallin - always hitting him and pushing him over, and he bites people a lot now. Dallin just cries and only wants me, he wants nothing to do with the baby. But, they are trying hard and really are good boys. Jackson is the best helper, always holding baby or cleaning something. He tries hard to entertain tommie while I nurse, or help keep dallin from attacking the baby. Tommie is so loving at the same time and always sneaking in to give bryce a kiss, or tell me he loves me. I took Dallin to the doctor and he did have 2 bad ear infections and that maybe is why he isn't sleeping. Who knows- we are exhausted around here and nights are really long. i'm usually in the recliner with the baby and James has the other 2 boys on the bed. By the time i get the baby down, and get the other boys back in their beds, and lay down myself, someone else is awake and screaming, waking everyone back up again. It's pretty awesome. I keep thinking of that country song " you're going to miss this- you're gonna want this back - you're going to wish these days, hadn't gone by so fast...these are some good time, take a good look around, you may not know it now.... but you're going to miss this." It's actually pretty funny to sing that out loud while James is getting kicked in the face by Dallin (he's the worst to have sleep next to you) and the baby is screaming. We laugh a lot though- and James is a trooper. I at least take some naps during the day.
My mom has helped a ton with boys, and Julie takes Jackson for a few hours before and after school each day. Lots of people from the ward have helped with food- I still haven't cooked anything yet. Jennie Jeffries even went to the grocery store for me, Aunt diane bought me diapers, shaela drove 20 minutes just to get some probiotics for me kids, etc. I am amazed at the great support system I have and I never want to leave these wonderful neighbors. Ever.
I love these first few days after a baby because everything slows down, blurs together, and nothing else seems to matter. At the same time, I am ready for life to feel "normal" again. I am ready to walk without my hips killing, I am ready to figure out how to get everyone to sleep at least 5 hours in a row, I am ready to be a better wife to James - more involved in what he has going on rather than my own needs-, and ready to be able to be the one that plays with my kids again. Becca took my boys for the day and it is way nice to get some rest, write in my journal etc. But, I do miss that feeling of "normal".
