Birth Story: Brandt Ryder Barton

The last three weeks of my pregnancy with you, Brandt, were crazy--to say the least. I could barely walk, I couldn't sleep or get any kind of comfortable, I threw up after almost every meal, and I was having full blown contractions for three full weeks before you were born! Sounds fun, right? (For the record, there was nothing fun about it, but you were so worth it!) In fact, the Tuesday night before you were born, Mommy got very sick! I finally fell asleep around 1am, and I woke up at 3:00 am shaking uncontrollably and having crazy hard contractions. I made my way to the bathtub, but even that didn't seem to help. I wrapped myself in blankets, and I tried laying down in bed again. Eventually (around 5am), your Daddy woke up and knew something was wrong. At some point, I started throwing up and didn't stop for a couple of hours. My whole body hurt, and I just started praying that I wouldn't have the flu and a baby on the same day! Then, I started praying for protection over your Daddy and your sisters. After about an hour of trying to warm up and getting back in the tub, and throwing up a few more times, your Daddy made me call the doctor. He had us go straight to labor and delivery. I had texted Mrs. Holly that I was calling the doctor, and by the time that I called her back to ask her to come over, she was already on her way. What a precious friend to us! She stayed with the girls until she had to take Wesley to his check up, and then her Mom stayed with the girls, and then Miss. Ashley came over for a shift, and then Mrs. Holly came back, and then around 5pm, Miss Becca came over and stayed until Mommy and Daddy got home around 8pm. We are so absolutely thankful for our village. A few other notable things that happened that day--Mrs. Kristin came and got ALL of our laundry, took it to her house, washed, dried, and folded it, and brought it back the next day. Mrs. Carrie came over the next morning with groceries. Our community loved you so so much before you were even born! They took good care of us! Anyway, back to my Labor and Delivery story. Once we got there, they hooked us up to all the machines, and we got to hear your sweet little heartbeat and watch mommy's contractions. The immediate concern was that your heartbeat was racing because of my fever, but once they saw that you were tolerating the fever well, that was no longer a concern. Once Mommy started getting fluids (six liters total) and meds, you calmed down and my contractions calmed down. It was a long, miserable day in L&D, but Dr. Cowan finally agreed to let us go home! He took good care of us while Dr. Neal was out of town! They sent me home with meds and told me to take it super easy until Monday if I wanted to make it until then!  That weekend, we spent a lot of time preparing for your arrival. We cleaned and organized, and Mommy took a couple of naps. We snuggled as a family of four and anticipated your upcoming arrival!  We stayed in and read books and dreamed of what our family of five would be like! ……………………………………………………………………………. On Monday, January 19th, our alarm went off at 5:15 AM! Of course, all of my end of pregnancy ailments along with the anticipation of your arrival kept me up until almost 3am the night before! :) For some reason, it still wasn't hard to get up at 5:15! ;) I was so ready to meet you! Daddy and I got dressed and put our last minute bags in the car. Mom Mom and Pop Pop came over at 6:15 AM to sit at our house until the girls woke up, and then they were all going to come to the hospital! We excitedly got into our car and headed toward Grapevine, and then my cell phone rang! It was the hospital. They called to let us know that it had been a busy night, and they didn't have any available beds. They told us to go home, and they would call us in a couple of hours.  Although we were disappointed, we turned around and went back home. The girls were still sound asleep, so we crawled in bed and watched the news. I might have even shut my eyes for a few minutes until your sisters woke up! I'm glad that we were able to have that special morning with them--just cuddling in our bed! Around 9 am, Daddy and I decided that we should just go ahead and head to Grapevine, so that we could at least be in the area when they called us to come to the hospital. So, we told Mom Mom and Pop Pop to just stay home with the girls and let Felicity take her nap before they came to the hospital. Since things were delayed, I assumed you wouldn't be here until late afternoon at the earliest. So, Daddy and I took off to Grapevine, and we decided to stop at Target right by the hospital. We knew that walking could only help my labor, so we walked around Target for about 20 minutes, and we bought one thing: I remembered that Avaree needed some toothpaste! :) Right before we checked out, Daddy told me to go ahead and call the hospital to just see if they had an estimate on when we might be able to get the induction started. They ended up telling us to head on over, so off we went!  We got there around 9:45 AM, and by 10AM, I was already hooked up to my IV, logging contractions, and dilated to a four! Dr. Neal waltzed in and greeted us, and while we were talking, he broke my water and gave our nurse (Bernal at first, and then Christine) the orders for my pitocin. He also told my nurse that he didn't trust me not to go super fast, and that if I wanted an epidural that I should get it now. So, my nurse got busy prepping me for that, and Daddy and I took a selfie! :) 

We had the most beautiful hospital room! It had five large windows, and from my bed I could see beautiful, whispy clouds, and the sunshine was pouring in! To me, it was a gentle assurance from the Lord that this delivery was going to be different--full of joy and peace!  I got my epidural, and it felt like it only took on the right side, so my nurses turned me to my side, and then told me to try to get some rest, as I was already at a 6! We said hello to your grandparents, Mrs. Ginger (who is responsible for all of these incredibly special and amazing pictures that will forever remind me of your special birth day!), and Alise, and then it was time to rest!

 I was so happy that you were coming soon! 

 My nurse asked me to come up with three goals for the day, and this is what I came up with! haha :) (I am also happy to report that you and I met and exceeded all three of these goals!) 

Daddy put on Chris Tomlin's new CD, and I remember closing my eyes to my favorite song, "Jesus Loves Me," and it was so peaceful in our little room. (When Felicity was born, I listened to "Whom Shall I Fear" over and over again through tears, and there was not peace in the room, so it was a precious gift that I got to really enjoy those last few moments with you inside my belly.) I don't know if I actually ever went to sleep, but I was in a deep (and calm) restful state. I could hear the music and feel the sunshine, and then (seemingly out of nowhere), I told Daddy that we needed to get the nurse! I could feel the pressure of intensifying contractions, and I knew that you were ready! As soon as Christine (my nurse) came in, she said that I was at a 9.5, and we should call Dr. Neal. Not even a few seconds later, Dr. Neal walked in! God is so good! We didn't even have to call him. Next thing I know, Dr. Neal says that we are ready, and my legs went in the stirrups. 

 Also, Daddy pointed out that I should have gotten some blue socks for you. I'm sorry, buddy. I've loved pink my whole life, and then I had two girls. I promise to try to embrace more neutral colors though. ;)

So, your Daddy has always been my rock during delivery, but he was especially amazing this time. The mood in the room was light and full of sunshine, but he knew that I needed a minute to take it all in. :) That's what is happening here.

 I'm not sure what we were talking about here, but I know that whatever Daddy said to me was just what I needed to hear. Dr. Neal was "stretching me" before my episiotomy. 

 Then, it was time for Dr. Neal to get ready to "pull" you out! :) 

 Here we go!

 Do you see the smiles? Daddy was doubled over laughing. Dr. Neal kept us in stitches, and I could hardly breathe between pushing, coughing, laughing, and crying! It was an amazing birth experience. At one point, I even asked, "Wait, so did you tell me to push or stop pushing??" :) I am so very, very thankful for my amazing doctor, and I'm so thankful that God allowed you to stay put until he got back from Mexico. What a gift that he delivered all three of my sweet babies! 

Of course, I won't say that pushing was "easy" in any universe, but the coughing really helped. In fact, I'm pretty certain that this is the reason God did not answer my prayers to take my cough and congestion away before you came! In his divine plan, he knew that there was no way I could just push you out! You were SO big, and the coughing is how we got your shoulders out! Then, Daddy pushed on my back (that was hurting SO badly), and I pushed you, and Dr. Neal pulled…

THEN, (at 1:39 PM) YOU WERE HERE! Daddy cut your umbilical cord! :)

 …and then Dr. Neal placed you on my chest. 

…and I was immediately IN LOVE. 

Dr. Neal, the nurses and Brandon all immediately started guessing your weight! Dr. Neal was just sure you were ten pounds! He was close!

The nurses put us skin to skin almost immediately! 

Your Daddy was so excited!

They took you over to the bassinet (in our delivery room) to get some of the fluid out of your mouth and make sure you were all good! Your Daddy never left your side!

It was so good to hear those strong, loud cries!!!

Bernal checked you out for us!

…and Daddy couldn't stop staring at "his boy!"

You turned to his voice immediately!

…and then it was time to find out how big you really were! 

NINE POUNDS and EIGHT OUNCES!

What a big, little guy!

Daddy got to put your foot print on our security tags!

Then, he got to put your first diaper on!

You were a little annoyed with the whole thing! ;)

Then, Daddy (finally) got to hold you! :) 

…and he gave you back to me!

By that time, Dr. Neal had finished sewing me up, and we took a "family picture," as he called it! Dr. Neal is truly like part of our family! We are so very grateful to him!

My body felt immediate relief, and I was so happy to have you in my arms!!!

I love your Daddy's face here. 

Time for skin to skin again!

You were still covered in vernix and a little slimy. :) It was so precious and such an amazing experience!

We were amazed at you.

Then, the moment that I just couldn't wait for was here! It was time for your two big sisters to meet you! 

Be still my heart!!!

We were waiting on Daddy to bring Avaree and Felicity in to meet you!

Here they are!!!

Look at those faces!!!

Specifically, look how excited our biggest sister is!!!! 

(Thanks to Mom Mom for the girls' big sister shirts!)

She couldn't believe it!

Felicity was just taking it all in! 

(She has fallen in love with him since we've been home, but the hospital was a little much for our little introvert girl.)

Look at that sweet face though!

Avaree held my hand the whole time that she was in our L & D room!

Look at that precious smile!

That's a look of love. It seems like just yesterday I was holding my first little bundle. I remember holding her all day long with seemingly endless tears because I could just never imagine leaving her to go to work. Oh how God used (and continues to use) that girl to mold and shape me. 

Little sis was very intrigued by brother, but she didn't like the wires or the hospital room. Avaree has seen me in the hospital several times, but Felicity has never seen that before, so it was a little harder for her. Besides, the waiting room was full of her favorite people, so she was ready to get back there!

But she still gave her mama kisses!

…and kissed her brother too!

Avaree fed Mommy graham crackers and peanut butter! My favorite post-birth and nursing snack!

I wish I could remember her little questions. I remember they were precious questions about the birth, but I couldn't tell you what we were exactly talking about. 

Two of my sweet babies and me!

…and my other two favorites.

My new favorite picture!! Our very first picture as a family of FIVE! Be still my heart!!!!

I fell in love with this sweet little guy immediately. As with Felicity, until you hold your baby in your arms, you wonder if you have enough room in your heart to hold all that love, but you do. I do. I just couldn't stop looking at him. First of all, he was HUGE, but as he slowly started to not be so swollen, he went from looking like a grumpy little sumo-wrestler, to looking like the sweetest little handsome man in the world--okay, almost as handsome as his Daddy!

His rolls did me in!!!! 

One tired and happy mommy!

Then, it was time for the grandparents to get to come in and see little brother!

Here comes Mom Mom!

Mom Mom and Pop Pop!

Here comes Gigi and G-Pops!

Gigi, G-Pops and Daddy!

Break for more crackers and peanut butter! I hadn't eaten a real meal (doctor's orders to snack lightly and just concentrate on drinking fluids) since the Tuesday night before this, and I can't tell you how good the peanut butter graham crackers tasted! 

After this, the nurses took Brandt to the little bassinet in our room for his Vitamin K shot, newborn screening, and his bath!

He wasn't super excited about it!

Look at those sweet little feet!

Mama loves feet pictures!

Papa and Niecey's turn!

One more weight check!

Niecey held Brandt's hand while they poked his foot!

Then, Papa got a turn!

Look at that pouty face!!!! 

Papa tried to make it better!

Getting clean!

His doting Daddy couldn't stop looking at him. I caught him saying, "That's my boy" over and over again! :)

Where it all started almost ten years ago!

Brother got his hair washed to get all of that vernix off!

Look at that face!

He makes this stretchy, sleepy face every time he finishes nursing! I just love it!

Kisses from Daddy make it all better!

Then, Mommy got to feed him for the first time! He latched IMMEDIATELY, and he ate fifteen minutes on each side. What a little champ! That is definitely different from my first two birth experiences! ;)

Speaking of my first two, look at these beautiful big sisters! 

Love my baby girls! What a gift that my babies get to have a sister and a brother! I hope they will love each other deeply!!

Little sister!

Felicity and Gigi in the waiting room!

A pose from the biggest sister!

So maybe we both have a sassy look?!

Daddy and Avaree loving on brother and me!

So sweet!

Next, the nurses got me up, and I was able to walk to the restroom and accomplish all the tasks that would allow us to move to the Mommy/Baby wing! When we got to our room , we said goodbye to our L&D nurse, hello to our new nurse, and then we had a few minutes for just the three of us. That was special. Here are my two favorite guys!

 …and me with my littlest!

 Then, we got to see our girls, and I had all my babies in the bed with me for the first time! :) 

My heart was so happy and full!

 Avaree FINALLY got to hold her baby brother! She could NOT wait even one more second!

 You can see her tender heart through her eyes in this picture! 

Little brother, 

You have already brought so much love and joy into our lives. You are laid back and calm, and you only get upset when you're hungry. Your eyes tell a deep story, and your sweet little body brings such happiness to our hearts when we hold you! All four of us want to hold you all the time! Your birth day was such a special day for our family, and I will forever treasure it in my heart! The best part about it was getting you--all 9 lbs 8 oz and 21 3/4 inches of you!!!

We love you more than I could ever express or explain. You are the best little guy.

Love, 

Mommy 

A Letter to my Baby Boy...

Dear Brandt, Today, I am 38 weeks and 3 days pregnant today, and we (as in you and I) have been measuring at 40-41 weeks since week 36. You were pretty easy on me for most of this pregnancy, but the end has been hard. I know it will all be worth it soon though. We are all ready to meet you, and we now know that we will get to do so in just 7 days or less!  Your big sisters are really ready to meet you. Avaree can't wait to hold you, let you sleep on her chest while she watches Frozen, and to change your diaper super quickly so that you don't spray her. :)  Felicity is ready for you to get here so that she can get comfortable in Mommy's lap again. She daily tries to move you over, but she daily gets frustrated that she can't. Recently, she has started kissing my belly when I ask her to kiss brother, and I think the two of you will be the best of friends soon.  Your Daddy is VERY ready to meet you. He wants y'all to wear your matching Superman onesies and watch football together. He wants to get a second vote for the male team in our house, and he can't wait until he can play boy stuff with you.  Daddy and I both can't wait to see what you look like. We saw Felicity via a 3D sonogram at least once every two weeks since she was 20 weeks gestation, so we felt like we knew what she would look like, but we haven't seen you since 20 weeks, and we are so anxious to she your squishy little face and kiss your cheeks!  We have been praying for you for a long time. Your name, Brandt Ryder, means "sword messenger," and we long for you to be just that--in whatever capacity God calls you. Ephesians 6:17 tells us to "put on the helmet of salvation, and the sword of Your Spirit, which is Your Word." God gave me a verse for you before we even named you, and it is 1 Corinthians 16:13-14: "Be on guard, stand firm in the faith, be brave, be strong, and do everything in love."  I pray that you will be a man of integrity. In this world where culture often speaks louder than Truth, may you hide His words in your heart forever, and may you live them out daily.  May you be a man like your Daddy. A man who, although he isn't perfect, daily strives to put the Lord and his family first. A man that is brave enough to admit his mistakes and seek to correct them. A man that uses his past and his present to point others toward Jesus. A man that knows just when to step in and help, and also when to just sit back and pray for those involved. A man that loves people passionately and makes everyone that knows him feel loved. A man that genuinely loves life and makes it fun for others.  And so much more… I've recently learned the power of praying scripture for your Daddy, your sisters, and you. Here is what I am praying for you right now… "May Brandt honor You, God, with his heart, and not just his lips." (Isaiah 29:13) "May Brandt walk after You, God, and fear You and keep Your commandments and obey Your voice. May he serve You and hold fast to You." (Deuteronomy 13:4) "May Brandt know that You are his light and salvation--that You are the stronghold of his life; then whom shall he fear?" (Psalm 27:1) "Like Paul, may Brandt learn to be content in any situation." (Philippians 4:13). "Like Timothy, may Brandt be an example to believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12) "Like David with Goliath, may Brandt stand up for You, the living God." (1 Samuel 17) "Like Abraham, may Brandt obey You in faith." (Genesis 12:4)  "May Brandt discern and follow wisdom that is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere." (James 3:17) "May Brandt not have a haughty spirit, for pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18) "May Brandt be wise and inherit honor." (Proverbs 3:35) "May Brandt be blameless and innocent--Your child, without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation." (Philippians 2:15) "May Brandt be Your servant, Lord Jesus Christ." (James 1:1) "May Brandt love You, Lord, his God, with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might." (Deuteronomy 6:5) "May Brandt be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22) …and most of all… "May Brandt confess with his mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in his heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and be saved." (Romans 10:9) Oh little one, you are already so loved. We can't wait to meet you, cuddle you, love you, play with you, and all the other little joys that will fill your babyhood. We are also excited to see what your future will hold and how our family dynamics will grow and change once you join us.  Please know that though your Mommy is so very flawed, I will love you every day of my life, and I will seek every day to not only love you, care for you, read to you, laugh with you, play with you, hug you, and hold you (as long as you'll let me), I'll also do my best to point you to the only one that could ever love you more than me.  We'll see you soon! I love you, Mommy 

New Year's Weekend 2015

New Year's Eve was very tame around here! :) Daddy put Felicity's new (narrow) carseat in our car, and he needed little sister to test it out. Can't believe that we will be a three-car seat family any day now. My back seat sure looks different! :) We even got a seat-belt extender to make it easier for Ave to buckle herself. She's excited about "taking care of both babies" in the back. We'll see how that goes! ;)

 We toasted with the girls at 7pm! They weren't huge fans of the sparkling grape juice, but they enjoyed the "cheers" part over and over again! We talked about what we were thankful for in 2014, and we all said what we were looking forward to most in 2015. Brandon's and mine were exactly the same. :) I guess you do become the same person after a while. ;) Daddy had kept us a fire going all day, so it was nice and cozy in our house!

 On New Year's Day, the girls dressed up in their pretty outfits from Aunt Connie and Uncle Kenneth!

 This year we celebrated Christmas with Gigi and G-Pops on New Year's Day! Our girls could hardly wait for them to get here that Thursday afternoon! They attacked them both upon coming in the door! ;)

The girls with Gigi and G-Pops before they opened their presents!

We started off by face timing with Uncle D, Aunt J (happy birthday, Aunt J!), and baby Blair, and the girls opened their gifts from them!

Avaree is so much fun to watch open gifts! Everything is amazing, and she wants me to see it all! I love it! She has been obsessed with these super soft purple and zebra house shoes!

LOVE this adorable outfit from Uncle D and Aunt J! I wish they made it in my size!

Meanwhile, the only way we even got Felicity to look at her present was to show her that it had fruit snacks in it! She is a hoot! Then, she saw the Minnie cup and decided she was into this! ;)

Thank you, Uncle D, Aunt J, and Blair! It was definitely not the same that we didn't get to see Spencer, Shan, and Evy, or Darrin, Jamie, and Blair, but we are looking forward to getting to see them after baby boy comes! :) For now, technology is a treasured gift! 

After that, Avaree started passing out gifts, and Felicity figured out that she had more presents to open!

All on her own, Avaree initially requested that Gigi and G-Pops get to go first. She quickly forgot this HUGE comment, but it's okay. I know the struggle is real, and she does have a sweet heart! I love how excited she was to watch her grandparents open their gifts this year though! I hope that she will always want to shop with me for special things for them!

Gigi loved her necklace!

G-Pops loved his new work gloves!

Felicity was very interested!

Then, it was little sister's turn! Gigi tore off the end of the paper, so that she could see what was in the box, and she started going bananas trying to get it off!

Then, silly Elmo was tied so many times to the box!

She was waiting so patiently, but she wanted to hold him so badly!

Almost!

She got to hold him! This is Hug Me, Elmo, so he hugged her back and talked to her! She loves him!

Happy girl!

Avaree was up next! She got an Elsa dress and has worn it at least once every day since! ;)

G-Pops got some golf balls too!

Gigi (and Elmo) liked her pictures!

Felicity finally got the hang of it! She loved her Elmo books!

Sister got some new tennis shoes that fit her EVER GROWING feet!

Little sis loved her Minnie jammies and socks!

Daddy opened for baby Brandt! 

…and for himself! A golf discount card!

We are so thankful for all the wonderful gifts! 

My favorite gift was a zoo membership for our whole family!!! I can't WAIT!!!!!!!!!!

After opening gifts, we had our Christmas dinner of steaks, mac and cheese, rolls, bacon-wrapped green beans, and pumpkin cake/gluten free cookies! 

Then, it was bath time! The girls enjoyed some cuddle time with Gigi before bed!

The next morning, Felicity woke up with fever, and she didn't feel good AT ALL. She fell asleep sitting on Gigi's lap while Avaree searched through my Young Living product guide--ha! 

Later that morning, after Felicity got in her bed for her real nap, Gigi treated Avaree and I to amazing pedicures, and then we picked up a super yummy lunch to bring home!

G-Pops and Avaree danced to "The Sound of Music" sing along many times that afternoon!

We had such a fun weekend celebrating Christmas with Gigi and G-Pops! 

Sunday morning, though, Felicity continued to run fever and feel just yucky. She only wanted to be held, and I didn't mind since I woke up feeling awful too!

Avaree pretty much entertained herself all day (at least until Daddy got home from church)!

Occasionally, once her oils and meds kicked in, Felicity ventured over to the other side of the room!

Want a real life picture of how I felt? This is it!

She couldn't sleep laying down, so she slept on me, and I couldn't sleep because I couldn't get comfortable, so I did math flash cards with photographer Avaree on the couch while she slept!

Thankfully, we are both feeling better today! We have been praying that baby brother would stay put until we are all better. So thankful to God for allowing that so far! 
Happy 2015!!