Truly I did not mean to keep this baby a secret, but I guess it really is time to get a post up (thank you for the constant reminders Mom and Kelly!). I have one hour before I need to pick up Taylor from daycare so I'll try to get this done :)
Xander Montgomery Bright
Thursday, July 29th 5:58am
7lbs 5oz.
18in. long
And, yes, that also did happen to be my 30th birthday and I got exactly what I wanted! And no, the names are not family names, and Xander is not short for Alexander and is pronounced "Zander." We just liked the cadence of the name, following suit of "Taylor Elizabeth." Apparently our babies like to show up for a party...Taylor arrived for her baby shower and Xander came on my birthday and just in time for Taylor's birthday that weekend. Matt says we are not scheduling any parties within 2 months of my due date with our next baby!
The labor/delivery went something like this...
Well, basically I had a much harder pregnancy this time around and won't bore/gross you out with the details. But the last of my pregnancy I was having contractions for the final month and a half. And not just some sporadic ones, but literally all day and night and had to go to the hospital a few times to get checked and have a shot to slow them down. Not so fun, but I figured the good thing about them was I was then fully prepared for actual labor and knew exactly how to relax through them!
So at midnight on Thursday, July 29th I was having contractions. This was a regular thing by now, but these contractions were harder and went from 10min apart to 4min apart consistently in an hour. Called the doctor around 1:45am, Matt's dad came over to stay with Taylor and off to the hospital.
Got to the hospital around 2:45am, contractions down to 2min apart, dilated to a 5 and officially in labor. Decided not to do an epidural since I figured I'd had plenty of practice for the last month and knew the delivery would be quick (Taylor came in 5hours). Labored through the contractions just fine until they broke my water then they were super intense...threw up one last time for this pregnancy...and wanted to push that baby out! The hardest part was trying not to push at the end because they were waiting for the doctor (another woman went into labor at the same time)...hello! I was the one without the meds so not pushing was easier said than done.
I was about 2 contractions away from either the nurse or Matt catching the baby. Doctor walked in, "Hello, I'm Dr. A, sorry to just meet you under these circumstances..." Me, "No problem, when can I push?" Dr., "Next contraction." Done! Next contraction, baby comes out, but they had me stop pushing to clear his airways. One more, hello Xander! Taylor must have known he was being born because Matt's dad said she woke up the exact time that he was born, very neat. So happy I was able to do it without any meds because I immediately felt great and recovery has been quick.
Home from the hospital...
Xander doing great, nursing well and sleeping all the time, a perfect baby! Unfortunately, we discovered Taylor had a fever the day we got home (picked up a virus visiting us in the hospital) :( Poor girl had a terrible virus - fever, sore throat - for the next week and a half. The hardest part for her was not being able to kiss her new baby brother - only kisses on the back were allowed. Of course, I end up catching the virus, but luckily no one else!
Grammy and Granddad (Janice and Ed) were in town for Taylor's birthday so conveniently got to see the new baby and spend several days with us. Biggest help was entertaining our sick 2-year-old! Taylor had a scaled-down bday party that weekend due to her being sick, but had a great time with family and enjoyed all her presents.
Xander is doing great, just went this morning for his checkup and weighed in at 7lbs 15oz., measuring 19 1/2in long. He is my sweet 2nd baby, very calm and observant, sleeps great (especially at night with his first 5hour stretch, then another 3-4 hours) and is already very strong. Taylor is in love, well, we all are, and asks to hold him in her lap, gives him kisses all the time, brings him blankets and nuks. She can say Xander, but prefers to call him "Z-Z." Very cute when I change his diaper and he cries, she pats his stomach and says "It's ok, Z-Z, mama just change poopey diaper."
So that's the story! Hope the length and details make up for the delayed post! Below are links to pictures. Let me know if you have any problems viewing them, because it will ask you to sign in with your Google account to see them. Just email me if you can't view them!
Congrats to Cassi on finishing her Masters and to Niki and Matt on their successful baby project! Oh, and of course to my brother, Zac on his engagement which he somehow managed to not catch grief for not posting about :)
Love, Elissa, Matt, Taylor & Xander
Mary Jo- to answer your question, Luke was A and Sam was B. With multiples, A is who ever is closest to the bottom in the womb, and B, C, etc. go up from there. When they're born, A is who ever comes out first. Most of the time A stays A and B stays B, and fortunately, that was the case for us. I'd grown attached to calling then by their names, and I wanted Luke to be the oldest.
