Welcome Baby Noah - A Birth Story

Our little man is 18 days new.

We've been home as a family of FIVE for 15 days now, Grandma-less for 8 and almost 1 full day solo since Eric went back to work today.

We are all surviving and head over heels in love with our newest addition, Noah Ryan.

It's crazy to think that Eric and I have THREE kids!  THREE!  Our girls and now our sweet boy and although chaotic at times, life doesn't get much better than this.  

We welcomed Noah into this world via planned c-section on May 12th at 8:11am.  (Addie was breech, so I've been a c-section momma since she was born.)  His arrival went very smoothly, according to "my plan", and that's just how I like it.  My parents and sister arrived into town the night before and were a HUGE help on Noah's birthday.  We celebrated Noah's upcoming arrival by going out to dinner and then home and early to bed since we had a big day ahead of us.  Eric and I had to be at the hospital bright and early at 5:30am for routine surgery prep.  We hung out in the triage room as nurses came in and out to ask questions, I signed a ton of papers,  and the team did everything they needed to do to get ready for the surgery.  I was surprisingly very calm at this point, I guess since it was my 3rd time around I kinda knew what to expect.  My mom got to the hospital about an hour later, while my dad and sister stayed behind until the girls woke up.  A little after 7am my doctor, Dr. Pirkle, came in followed by the anesthesiologist and my new nurses - I knew as soon as they came in we were getting ready for GO time.  I was still very calm at this point and very excited to finally meet our sweet boy.  I gave my mom a hug and she went on her way to our room to wait while Eric and I walked to the operating room.  Eric waited outside for a few minutes while I got my spinal and they finished prepping me for surgery.  Once he came in and stood by my head I knew it was a matter of minutes before we got to meet Noah!

At 8:11am I heard that wonderful baby cry and the emotions just took over me, I couldn't believe he was finally here!  I couldn't see over the curtain but Eric quickly snapped a photo and showed it to me!  He was so chubby, I just wanted to squeeze him!  He had the most beautiful full head of dark hair, just like the 2 previous Harvells did on their birthdays.  We quickly took bets on his size, I knew he was my biggest so I was certain he was over 9 pounds.  And I was right, he measured 9 pounds 5 ounces and was 21 3/4 inches long.  He was absolute perfection.  Noah was very lucky to have one of the very best nurses I know caring for him when he was only seconds new.  One of my best friend's sisters, Heather, is a labor and delivery nurse and specially requested to be in the room with us.  It was so comforting to have a familiar face around to give us a play by play the entire time.  After Heather and the rest of the nurses gathered Noah's stats and scores, Eric got to cut his cord.  Within a few minutes, Noah was brought over to me and I got to meet my son for the very first time.  It was a moment that I will never forget, a moment that makes me wish I could freeze time.  I wanted to take in every single detail of  this moment -from his chubby little cheeks to his little button nose and his tiny little hands and feet.  He was the perfect mix of the girls, yet his own little man all at the same time.  He was my son and the most handsome little boy that I had ever laid my eyes on.  I was on cloud 9 for quite a few minutes, but then the nausea hit me just as it had with Addie and Bella.  I asked them to take Noah because between the nausea and the shakes, I wasn't sure it was safe for him to be on my chest anymore.  Eric went with Noah off to the side so they could clean him up a little more and I just waited out this feeling that came over me for what seemed like hours.  I just wanted to be done with the surgery and have my hands free so I could hold my sweet boy again.  The doctors finished stitching me up and then we were off to the recovery room where Grandma was waiting with open arms to meet her newest grandson.

The rest of the day was pure joy.  My dad and sister brought the girls to the hospital around 10:30 to meet their baby brother.  I had our wonderful photographer, Erin, come to the hospital to snap some pictures of their first meeting and I am so glad I did.  The photos that she took captured one of my all time favorite moments of all time and I still tear up as I look through those pictures to this day.  After Erin left, we gave the girls their big sister gifts from baby Noah.  Addie got a new baby boy baby doll and Bella got some Little People cars (that went with her new car track that they got the next day.)  The celebration continued that evening with a birthday party for Noah.  Grandma and Addie baked him a cake, we sang Happy Birthday, and the girls helped Noah open up his very first gifts.

May 12th will forever be one of my favorite days (Don't worry girls, February 10th and August 18th are up there too...along with May 26th - our anniversary!)  It's the day we went from a family of FOUR to a family of FIVE and everything was absolutely perfect.  Noah Ryan, I feel like the luckiest momma in the world to be able to call you my son, you are a dream come true.  Happy Birthday sweet boy :)

A Letter to my Girls

A letter to my girls as we prepare for the upcoming arrival of their baby brother, Noah...

To the Big Sisters,

You girls are amazing.  My whole word.  You are so alike in some ways and so different in others.  You are sweet, caring, silly, and love to make each other laugh.  You love to play chase, jump on the couch, and hold hands when we are out and about.  Right now we are counting down the days until we welcome your baby brother into our family and I become a momma of 3, something that equally excites me, makes me a little anxious, and terrifies me all at the same time.  But, I know the love I have for my 2 girls and can't wait for my heart to grow again as I lay eyes on your baby brother for the first time.

Addie, you are a seasoned "Big Sister" already and you've really done a great job filling that role to Bella for the past 21 months.  When you first became a big sister, it was foreign territory to you, but your so smart and so sweet, it's become second nature to you.  You are protective of Bella and mommy's little helper and I know you will continue that role when Noah joins our family.  You and Bella are best friends and worst enemies at times, but she already looks up to you so much and you are a great role model!  You are very aware that life is about to change.  You are SO excited to meet your baby brother, you ask daily if we can go to the hospital and get him.  We went for your big siblings class a few weeks ago and you were upset we were leaving without Noah.  I constantly am reminding you that he is still growing in mommy's tummy (although you say Noah is in your tummy and there is just a boy in my tummy) and that very soon we will get to meet Noah and celebrate his birthday and you cannot wait!  You've picked out the most perfect gift to bring him to the hospital and you are so excited to make a birthday cake with Grandma so that we can sing "Happy Birthday."  You want to hold him "all by yourself because you're "bigger", help me give him a bath, and are even willing to change his stinky diapers...or so you claim.  A good friend of mine recently sent me a book in the mail called "You're all my Favorites" and it couldn't be more fitting for our family right now.  It's about a bear family of 5 and how each cub questions who the favorite is and the mommy and daddy teach each of their cubs how they are all their favorites.  Addie, you are the one that made me a momma a little over 3 years ago and you will always hold a special place in my heart because of that.  You make me laugh like no one else can and keep me on my toes at the same time as you are my "strong-willed" child I like to say.  Addie, you are my favorite first little girl and you always will be one of my favorites!

Bella, this whole big sister territory is new to you and I'm not sure you realize what is happening.  You are 100% a mommy's girl and I know that at times having your brother around will be a challenge for you, but at the same time you are the sweetest, most easy going little girl who is going to love on Noah like no one else will.  I already have visions of you giving him kisses in true Bella fashion by sticking your tongue out and licking him :)  I've been trying to talk to you about what's to come and prepare you the best I can.  We practice giving your baby dolls hugs and rocking them in the rocking chair.  We like to "shhhh" and be quiet when the baby is sleeping.  In the last couple of weeks it seems like you have grown from a baby to a toddler right before my eyes and in that sense I feel like you are showing me that you are ready for your big sister role.  Addie calls you to play and the two of you happily climb upstairs laughing and giggling.  The second she gets up on the couch to jump, you are right behind her to join and even though she is much bigger, you hold your own.  You are so observant and love to watch Addie and I know you are going to pick up on your big sister tasks quickly and in no time you will be a second little mommy's helper and protector of baby Noah.  Bella, you are the sweetest little girl I've ever met and I love watching your personality shine through!  You are becoming very independent and like to hang with the big kids, but still have a special place in your heart for your momma.  You give the best slobbery kisses and most gentle little hugs that will never get old.  Bella, you are my favorite second little girl and you will always be one of my favorites!

There are some pretty big changes in the horizon for our family and I know that although the transition may be tough some days, we will work through it.  There will be good days and bad days, but I wouldn't change it for the world.  I know that so much love will fill the hospital room on the day that we welcome your baby brother into our family and within an instant we won't be able to imagine life without him.   Addie and Bella, you amaze me on a daily basis and I can't wait to watch you fill you big and bigger sister roles.  Noah is one lucky little guy to have such amazing little girls in his corner.  I love you all to the moon and back....you're all my favorites!

Love,
Mommy

Happy May - it's BABY month!

Dear Noah,

Happy May!   It's May 1st, which officially makes it your birth month :)  You are a pretty lucky guy because you will get to share a middle name with your Dad, but a birthday month with me - actually maybe we are the lucky ones? :)

I can't believe that we are days from meeting you for the first time.  It seems like just yesterday I found out we were expecting and I was brainstorming creative ways to tell your dad.  Your big sister, Addie, helped by painting an adorable pumpkin picture to tell him that we were adding to our patch in May.  Then, we broke the news to our family during our trip to DC and to the rest of the world right before the holidays.  A few days after Christmas we found out that you were a BOY and from there time just seemed to fly by!

We've been busy preparing for your upcoming arrival.  We updated Addie's room to become a shared big girl room for both of your sisters and converted the nursery to all things boy with the cutest "vintage baseball" theme.  I have grown to love shopping the in the BOY section at stores and Addie seems to love it too because she has picked out several outfits for you.  Bella has helped by testing out all of your baby things to make sure they are just right for you, her favorite is probably the swing.  Both of your sisters participated in the Big Siblings class at the hospital a few weeks ago and got the certificate of approval.  They are ready and willing for their new roles as big and bigger sister!

So now we wait.   We wait for the newborn smells and the baby cuddles.  We wait for the cute button nose and tiny little toes.  We wait for the chubby little cheeks, sweet baby yawns, and tiny little grunts.  Noah, you have lots of people very excited to meet you, but your big sisters are already your biggest fans!  They are going to love on you like no one else can and it makes my heart melt just thinking about it.  We can't wait to meet you Noah Ryan, see you soon sweet boy.

Love,
Mommy