Welcome to the world, baby boy!

We've talked about starting our family blog for a while now. It only seemed fitting to me that my first post be about the little guy that finally motivated us to do it!

Close to two weeks ago, Joseph and I were preparing to welcome the newest member of the Melancon clan into the world: Gabriel Louis. 

Specifically, we were doing this by attempting to deep clean our house, pack a hospital bag and chase away this pesky mouse that seems to lurk in and out of here at the most inconvenient times. 

As I introduce Gabriel to this blog, it seems fitting to start with the story of how he got here (NO, not THAT story!)…we'll just skip to his entrance into the world. (Don't worry, I'm not getting real graphic over here so you can keep reading). 

We woke up last Sunday morning casually around 10:30 a.m. I had noticed some slight pain that felt different from those Braxton Hicks "practice contractions" I'd been having, but since I've never had a child, I didn't get too excited. 

While we were up making breakfast, I jokingly asked Joseph if he felt like having a baby today. I also texted my sister-in-law (who's little one turned a year old on Gabriel's birthday) and told her I'd do my best to give her son a cousin for his birthday. Little did I know that would even be possible! I've heard the stories of how long labor can last, especially for a first time mom.

So that morning, as the contractions started to get to a level where I believed I was actually in early labor, I decided it was time for a distraction. (It was my goal to labor in the comfort of my home as long as possible, so I figured keeping busy would make that easier). That's when the cleaning began.

Around 5 or 6 that evening, the pain was getting a little more intense, and thinking that I may be laboring till the wee hours of the morning, I decided it was time to rest and maybe start actually timing these contractions and see if there was a pattern. 

I lounged in bed, downloaded a contraction-timing app and read a little Harry Potter 4. Then me and Joseph watched Blue Jasmine (good movie, though I must admit I didn't super pay attention to the whole thing). The pain started getting a little more intense, and I just kept trying to relax and do normal stuff (like straighten my hair…I was NOT about to go in labor looking crazy). 

After an hour of contractions that were about 3-5 minutes apart, I decided to call the midwife and let her know what was going on. When she talked to us on the phone, she said we sounded so calm that she didn't think I was actively in labor and told us we could probably spend another hour or so at home. 

We made it to about a half hour and decided it was time to go to the hospital. (Thank God we did that!)

We checked in St. Francis, and she told me I was 4-5 cm dilated and could stay and have that baby (woo-hoo!). About 10 minutes later, my water broke, I threw up on the floor and she was wheeling us into the Labor & Delivery room. 

At this point, the pain got really, REALLY real. All those relaxation techniques I'd used to keep myself calm went out the window, and I just kept telling Joseph to "help me" (whatever that means). Not even an hour later, I told the nurse the pressure was getting real intense, and she checked again…9 cm! 

She called the midwife to urge her to come a little faster, she walked in the room and literally asked if I was ready to have the baby. My whole active labor and transition phase only took 1 hour! 

Probably four or five pushes later (who was counting) Gabriel busted his way out in the world. 

Joseph said his mouth dropped open and I just stared around the room and didn't make eye contact with anyone for a while. I think it is safe to say we were both super in shock about how quickly everything went (um, and that we were PARENTS!) Joseph gave little 6 lb., 9 oz. Gabe-the-babe his first bath and I just hung out with a nursing staff who couldn't quit marveling over how quickly everything moved. 

I literally had to sign the consent forms for them to deliver my baby AFTER he was already in the world. We called our parents (who had last heard we were headed to the hospital...except my dear Dad who was definitely asleep and got the surprise the next day) and told them we were holding our new baby boy.

Joseph and I sat in our room, consumed an entire box of Triscuits and some M&Ms and attempted to digest how everything went even better than we had hoped it would. (And of course started at how freaking adorable baby Melancon is!) 

The next day, I felt like I could do anything. I just gave birth…NATURALLY!...Then, we fumbled our way through a week and a half of being parents and I wasn't so sure I was invincible anymore (in fact, I'm sure I'm not…but here we are giving this parenting thing the old college try!) Wish us luck!

-Holli