Sleep Patterns

UPDATE: As of Sunday morning, Austin has now slept 8 hr stretches per night for the last THREE nights! This is awesome!!

First off, let me apologize to all of you who were checking my blog in hopes of new pictures- sorry! We'll try to take some this weekend!

So I'm writing this post because of Austin's CRAZY sleep patterns recently! For the first 3 weeks of his life, he would go 4 hrs between feedings (us having to wake him up sometimes.) At around 4 weeks he decided that he would change it to 3 hrs, but give us a 5 hr stretch at night! Well yesterday he decided to only go 2 hrs at a time (I thought I was going to die!) But then to my surprise this morning...I had to wake him up after 8 HOURS. Yes, I jumped out of bed when I noticed the time to make sure he was still breathing!!! I'm sure it's a one time thing, but who knows! Is this normal???? All I know is that it was really nice to get some uninterrupted sleep last night!

My mom is coming into town tomorrow to stay with Austin & I while Shane is in California at a company meeting next week! We're looking forward to spending some time with GiGi again! I'm sure she won't recognize Austin, as he's changed so much in the last 3 weeks since she last saw him! :) Wow, I can't believe my baby boy is already 6 weeks old!!

Everyone have a fantastic weekend!

Meeting his Great Grandparents!

What an exciting weekend! Shane, Austin & I traveled to Victoria to visit Shane's family for the first time since Austin was born. Shane's parents (Papa Gary & Gran) were very excited to see their little grandson again & enjoyed spending time holding him and feeding him! Since they had not seen him since he was born, they were amazed at how much he's changed & Gran kept commenting on how much Austin looks like Shane did as a baby!

On Saturday morning we got up and headed out to surprise all of the great grandparents (yes, we didn't tell any of them that we were visiting!) First we went and saw the Lumpkins side of the family & then over to the Baker side! Austin has a wonderful time meeting his great grandparents! I am so amazed that Austin still has 5 great grandparents living (4 on Shane's side and 1 on mine!) What a blessing! We were also able to visit with some of Shane's aunts, uncles, and cousins!

We headed home on Sunday & are recoving at home today. Traveling with a 5 week old is NOT easy! I'm still amazed at how much "stuff" we had to take with us! Okay, here are pictures from the weekend!

Four generations of Lumpkins- Great Grandma & Grandpa Lumpkins, Papa Gary, & Daddy with Austin

Four generations of Bakers- Great Grandpa & Grandma Baker (Paw Paw & Maw Maw), Gran, and Daddy with Austin

Napping on Gran's shoulder

From a few weeks ago.... Meeting his Great Grandma Anna

Hanging out with Max on Austin's 1 month birthday!

1 Month Old!

I can't believe that Austin is already 1 month old! Time just flies by! I will admit that he has changed so much though since we brought him home from the hospital! The one thing I've noticed most is that he has eye contact now & focuses on things more often! It's just makes my heart skip a beat when he looks up at me while I'm feeding him (and his eyes aren't rolling around, but actually looking at his mommy!)

I know this isn't the most exciting picture, but it's the only one we've taken today! Notice his hand- PEACE :)

Our first few days without GiGi

Well, my mom (Austin's GiGi) left this past Friday after being here for 3 weeks. I was VERY nervous to be "on my own" & had a mini meltdown on my way home from the airport. Thankfully Shane has been so supportive & very helpful with Austin.

Shane is doing a temporary 3 month sales job from our house right now, so he's home 24/7- no travel! I'm so happy because he's here to help out when I'm at that breaking point (all you moms out there know what I'm talking about!)

Overall things are going great though & getting easier with time! We are both a bit sleep deprived as expected, and I need to force myself to rest more. I always find 1000+ things to do while Austin is asleep. As most of you know, it's hard for me to live in chaos & it kills me when everything isn't in "it's place" in the house... definitely something I'm going to have to get over!

Must go for now- here are some pictures from the past week!

Isn't it funny how he's sitting? I imagine this was how he was positioned in my belly!

What a cutie!!

Helping Daddy work.. kinda

Napping after eating

The Story

In honor of April 1st, Austin's official due date, I thought I'd document the story of his birth! Not only do I want to have it written for myself, but I know all of you are just DYING to hear all about it! :)

After one day of bedrest for high blood pressure, I woke up at 6:45 on Friday, March 14th when my water broke. The very first thing I thought was, "Oh my goodness, this is NOT happening on Shane's birthday." As soon as I told Shane, he jumped out of bed! Jumped up faster than he did the morning I said "Shane, the pregnancy test is positive!" Shane got in the shower while I finished packing the hospital bags, put the sheets in the washer, called my parents, etc.

We left the house around 8:15 and headed to the hospital- got there around 9:00 because there was some traffic. After they got me all hooked up to the monitors, the nurse asked if I was going to have an epidural... UM YES- NOW PLEASE. At that point I was 4 cm dilated. The contractions started coming pretty hard and fast... and I was NOT happy. Shane later said that I about broke his hand because I was grabbing it so hard! He was wonderful though- very supportive. Fanning me, getting me ice chips, encouraging me, helping me breath, etc. Around 10:30 I got the epidural and life was much better! They checked me around 11:00 and I was 8 cm- then fully dilated by 12:30! This was going to be a BREEZE!

Well, evidently the epidural was too strong because I couldn't feel ANYTHING. We did a "test push" and the nurse said that I wasn't doing anything. So they turned down the epidural and we waited 45 min and tried again. We waited another 45 min. Finally at around 3:30 I was able to feel pressure and actually know WHEN to push with the contractions.

After 3 hours of pushing, the doctor decided that Austin was NOT coming out. Not only was he not able to get under my pelvic bone, but he turned during delivery and was face up instead of face down. So she said that a c-section was our best option. At that point, I didn't care- I just wanted him OUT!

So they wheeled me into the operating room. They started cutting me open before Shane got in, so he got to see that when he came in (which he loved, by the way... GROSS.) The doctors had a very difficult time pulling Austin out- he was really stuck! One funny note, when they cut open my uterus, the doctors starting laughing because Austin stuck his hand out! Isn't that funny?

At 6:48 I heard him cry- and it was the sweetest sound I'd ever heard! Of course I cried. And cried. And cried a bit more. Shane went over and took pictures & then brought him over to me. I finally got to hold my little boy once we got into the recovery room- and instantly fell in love with him. :)

Austin Cole Lumpkins, 7lbs 8 oz, 20 in.