Four Calling Birds

I think before baby #2 arrives, every mother questions how she can possibly love another little soul as much as the first. How can I have enough love for two babies? It's hard to imagine before that second baby comes. But when Dominic was born, I quickly discovered a mother's heart is made for this! It's made to stretch and love every baby God gives her with just as much love as the last. And Mary, the ideal mother, is the perfect example of this. :)

I forgot how much I just LOVE babies! hehe Maybe I didn't forget, but I was amazed how much fun this is again even though I already had a baby. I think it gets better every time. I love holding and just staring at baby Dominic. Taking in his sweet coo's and smiles, squishing his cheeks, and rubbing his double chin. I melt every time he looks at me.

Dominic, you are so special to us and we love you more and more each day!

It’s hard to believe how God can take you by surprise and bless your life in so many unexpected ways in one year. The year 2011 is marked in our life’s story as being heaven sent, the year our two beautiful boys were born! This year was filled with tears with the death of my dear aunt Amy and very close friend, Shannon. But God has also filled it with joy and life and reminds me how precious that life is. I feel my aunt Amy and Shannon blessing me from above in my motherhood.

It all begun on New Year ’s Eve, December 31^st. I awoke around 4:00am with some contractions, but they were too sporadic to get nervous about, especially considering I had this happen often weeks leading up to this night. Around 6:00am they were definitely a lot stronger, but still sporadic. Phil was up at this point and we decided to pack our bags and get in the car because I thought, “this is it!” I had told Phil earlier that week I thought I would have the baby on Saturday. We sat downstairs a little longer with Phil’s Mom who got in two days before, timing contractions to make sure it was true labor. Mrs. Simpson was using my cool new phone app that timed and averaged your labor contractions, haha. Having her there to help and watch John made me feel much more at ease.

All other signs said go to the hospital, so we were on our way! We made some stops at Redbox and the gas station before we hit the road. Oh my! The contractions only intensified, but never got consistent throughout the whole process (note to self). With my back aching, I knew this wasn’t a good sign. John Phillip was also posterior, and it looked like this babe was going to be the same. When we arrived at the hospital, they told us to “go for a walk” for two hours and then come back since I wasn’t far along enough. ?? That was NOT what we wanted to hear. The army base was too far away from home to turn around. Phil and I had a hard time not getting upset at the nurse who checked me. We can look back and laugh a little (yes, just a little) about it now, but at the time, sitting in the car and walking around the nearby mall/grocery wasn’t exactly how I wanted to pass time while having intense contractions. But I got encouraged by my family and friend’s messages and prayers, and also prayed to my aunt Amy in heaven. This gave me enough strength to fight through. Having Phil to lean on and give me words of hope as we walked around the PX was all I needed. I wish I had a picture of me stopping in the isles and squeezing Phil’s arm about every 3-5 minutes, bending over with a horrible look on my face. One lady looked at us and said, “Aw, are you trying to induce labor? Aw!” It didn’t really seem like an awe-cute-moment to me!

So time finally passed and we made our way back to the hospital. This time was good news! They checked me and admitted me into a room since I was 6cm. But soon after, we heard some bad news. We found out my blood platelets were too low for an epidural. We had to decide whether to take the risk (possible immediate back surgery at a different hospital) or go without one. Phil decided to call my Mom and she said she had been praying to St. Gianna and she felt pretty confident that it was a Godsend to find out my platelets were too low and that I shouldn’t get the epidural. After Phil told me that we decided to go with plan B. They were able to give me something pretty similar to an epidural that took away a lot of the pain, but the catch was it only lasted two hours. So baby had to come soon! They thought I would have the baby in the given allotted time once my body was able to relax. I was so scared but Phil kept telling me not to worry and that he knew I would have the baby soon. Within the hour, I was ready to push and ready to meet baby! Praise the Lord! Throughout the whole time, my husband was motivating and encouraging me. What would I do without him? The nurses and doctors told him they want to hire him as a labor and delivery coach. They said he did such a fabulous job being what I needed. I agree! I don’t think you ever feel so reliant on prayers as when you are in labor. They truly worked miracles. The whole time the baby was also posterior, but when it came time to deliver, the baby came out normal. Praise Jesus again! As the baby was born, the midwife yelled, “It’s a Dominic Joseph!” (We had told her our favorite names earlier) Phil also told me, “It’s a boy! It’s a boy!” Me: “Another boy?!” They put him in my arms, one of the best feelings in the world. Squeezing his chubby buns and looking into his eyes that were already so bright, I felt so close to heaven. How can life get any sweeter? My baby that God had created and thought of since the beginning of time was finally here in my arms! Looking at him our first thoughts were, “Look at all this hair, and dimples, and how big he is!” I felt so overwhelmed with joy and happiness, and so much more in love with my husband. It is very humbling to know God would entrust me and Phil with these two beautiful souls to bring to heaven, that He would give us so many blessings in one year’s time.

I could have never imagined I would be a mother of two precious children already, and that they would be BOYS?! I thought I wouldn’t know what to do with a boy, but I can’t imagine anything different now. They know how to melt my heart and I love being their Momma. I am enjoying these days, even though they are quite the transition. I had to laugh at myself the other day as I sat on the couch feeding Dominic in one arm and helping John with his bottle in my other arm. Or when I had to run and get John out of the toilet with one arm while holding/nursing Dominic with the other arm. Dominic is definitely learning how to fend for himself early on. And I’m learning how to multitask like I never have before. :)

Dominic Joseph, what a beautiful baby you are! Born December 31^st at 3:06 pm, weighing 7 pounds and 10 ounces, and 20 inches long. You are so strong already, smart and curious. You only cry when you’re really hungry. You are as cute as a button! We can’t tell who you look like, but it seems you have my nose and look similar to my baby pictures. You first smiled at me on my birthday and made me cry with delight. You like to give me a smile almost every morning, and your two little dimples make it irresistible. As I sit here writing this, you are sleeping in your favorite bouncy seat making oh-so-cute noises, sounding like a little kitten. You already lift your head up and look around like you want to know what’s going on. My ribs were constantly hurting when you were in my tummy and now I know why. You have one strong kick! You always want to eat, especially throughout the night so we’re still working on that. You weigh about 9 lbs. at two weeks old. Your big brother, John Phillip, loves you so much. When he sees you he usually laughs and smiles and wants to either give you a kiss or a smack on the head (which of course is translated as a high-five). We had to move your swing because he loved to push you in it, a little too hard. He’s already looking after you and tries to give you his toys and also his pacifier. He can’t wait to play with you. Me and your Daddy are so proud you’re our baby boy and can’t imagine our lives without you in it. Thank you Jesus for baby Dominic and choosing us to be his parents!

This video is John getting aquainted with his little brother during the first days home.