The Need for Hands

Is it just me or do new moms find that they don't really need two hands? Prior to the arrival of Mr. Parker I coveted my two hands. My right, my left. They were both used often. Of course my right was the preferred hand. But in completing certain tasks - opening a jar, putting on make up, typing at this computer - it was great to have two. 


Well now I've found that it's a good day if I have one free hand. And the amount of things that I can do with one hand is staggering. Just last night I made spaghetti and warmed up some zucchini teabread (no, not homemade) with just good ole' faithful - my right. Parker was, of course, the culprit of bogarting my left hand, as he was on my left arm. And the night before I rearranged Carey's closet. Don't get me wrong - I certianly don't want to donate my left hand anytime soon. But it's nice to know that I could survive with just one.

Parker's Farting Face

I farted today. This is what my face looked like. It felt good. I might do it again tomorrow. 

Pierre and Parker

Isn't it amazing how our animals fall just as much in love with our babies as we do?

Birth and Butts

Birth. Oh fabulous birth. 

As Carey and I chatted ourselves to sleep last night we discussed pain tolerance. Carey recently had knee surgery and the poor guy went through some intense bouts of pain during his recovery. Of course the topic of pain brought us back to us reminiscing about our birth. Ah the birth. I think if I could tell my birth story to every woman, especially those about to give birth, I would. It was just so awesome. So why not add it to the blog?

My water broke around 5:30am. I awoke with an urge to pee - probably the ninth visit to the restroom that evening - and found myself unable to stop peeing. Ah ha, I thought. This is no pee, this is my water breaking! I carefully climbed back into bed and lightly shook Carey..."Honey, I think my water broke." Just like out of a movie he immediately went into "What do we do now?" mode. So what do you do when your water breaks? You call your doula. Our doula, Michelle, carefully recommended that I not call my doctor quite yet, as she would more than likely direct me immediately to the hospital and we wanted to labor at home as long as possible. Both Carey and I felt confident in Michelle's ability to predict the future and so we held off on making that call. For the next three hours or so Carey and I kept ourselves busy as always - Carey gave himself a much needed shave. I swiffered. It was life as always at the Edmund household - minus the fact that I was wearing one of Parker's diapers to prevent amniotic fluid from leaking all over the house. We even decided to walk the dogs around 9am. It was mofo cold out but I had read, and been told, that walking speeds up labor so we thought we'd give it a shot. And so the contractions began. Around 9:30 we finally decided it was time to call the doc. Just as predicted, she told us to come in. So what did we do? We stalled more of course. Carey washed the only pair of pants that he would wear to the hospital. I swiffered...again. We installed the carseat. Typical activities to do when in labor of course.


We jumped in the car around 10:30 and kept stalling. Deposited money in the bank. Got some bagels at Einstein's. I had been on a major bagel kick throughout my pregnancy - still am - and I thought that if I wasn't going to be allowed much food at the hospital I was darn well going to have my bagel beforehand. Was I having contractions? Sure. But bagels are important. Yummy circles of bread. Mmmm.


We arrived at the hospital and at 11:15 we were admitted onto the Labor and Delivery unit. Carey ran home to get my forgotten iPod. We both wanted calming music for the delivery and frankly I had no problem in letting him release some of his own anxiety by making the run home. Immediately I began walking the halls of the hospital. Michelle had recommended this beforehand and sent me a text that read, "walk, walk, and walk some more before I get there." When Carey returned 30 minutes later he assisted me in walking because by then I needed an arm to lean on during contractions. When Michelle arrived another 30 minutes later she also assisted me in walking because by then I needed two arms to lean on. The contractions were intense. Not painful per se but intense. Strong surges of power around my belly. 


We returned to the room after a few seriously strong ones and thank goodness we did because that's when the moaning began. I had read in different books that using your voice was one of the best ways to work through the intensity. Think about it - when you stub your toe sometimes it just feels good to let out a good "F**K!" But thank goodness we were in our room because my moaning was far from quiet and surely would have scared other patrons of the hospital.


I had attempted to prepare Carey for the moaning, letting him know in my previous months of pregnancy that I wasn't going to be afraid to use my voice. But I'm pretty sure he didn't expect me to go to such a primordial place. He told me after the birth that a few times during labor he couldn't help but laugh because I sounded so animalistic. For me, the fact that I moaned and groaned like a whale isn't the funny part. It's what I was saying in conjunction with the moans that makes me smile. Apparently, the only words that I could muster up at the time were, "It feels like my butt's falling out!" Ah the joys of birthing. 


Around 2pm the nurse checked me and I was 5/6cm dilated. Michelle recommended that I get in the tub to help with the intensity of the contractions. The tub was heaven. But I only lasted in there for about 3 contractions because immediately I had the urge to push. So out of the tub I went and onto the pushing we moved all while continuing to groan, "It feels like my butt's falling out!"


Pushing felt amazing. I finally had an avenue through which to work through the contractions. It was awesome. And Carey was probably thankful because this was the only time that I wasn't groaning...or talking about my butt falling out. My doctor shot into the room right as I began to push and suited up in her delivery attire. Our nurse, another Michelle, was awesome. Not a stroke your hair and call you 'Sweetie' kind of nurse. But more of a 'Let's get this done. I'm not playin' games' kind of nurse. Perfect. And of course, Carey was amazing. He continuously told me how awesome I was and how much he loved me. I felt surrounded by strength and adoration. The perfect environment for our son to arrive in. And so, at 2:41 pm Parker William Robert Edmund emerged and a room of 5 became a room of 6. He weighed in at 6 lbs, 14 oz and was just under 21 inches long. Long and lean. He was immediately handed to me and we went skin to skin. His goober covered body was beautiful. And just like that, I was a mom. 

And so it begins...

Welcome. 


As I browsed Babies'R'Us yesterday looking for a baby book to chronicle the development of Mr. Parker I realized that, sure, a baby book is cool and all but it's so private. Certainly a baby book serves the purpose of holding important albeit rather useless information to look back on when I'm old and decrepit or when Parker asks to see it - whichever comes first. The problem with a baby book is that I'm the only one that gets to read it as it gets filled. How sad. Every day with Parker is such a cool adventure. What a bummer that nobody else gets to participate. So...I figured that instead of privately journaling about his development, I would share the awesomeness of this journey with all those who are interested. And so the blog has begun.


I'm pretty sure I won't make entries daily. Life is busy. And there isn't always time for blogging. Heck...in more recent days there isn't any time for peeing. And let's be honest - one of the reasons I quit Facebook was because it was too narcissistic. So blogging daily seems equally as problematic. 


I'll be posting pictures, videos, trials and tribulations of my entrance into this new thing called motherhood. Who knows? Parker may even participate and add a few entries of his own. I'll have to transcribe for him, of course, but I can assure you that the little man probably has lots to say about his own new world. 


So with that I welcome everyone to the Adventures of Parker.