Stetson Ames Thompson | 12.10.2013
Well, it’s been seven weeks since Stetson’s arrival. Such an incredible seven weeks, but filled with some highest highs and a few oh-my-goodness-what-did-we-get-ourselves-into lows.
As I had mentioned before, Stets was a little stinker and wouldn’t turn from his breach position. The doctors told us to prepare ourselves for a cesarean section, but I remained hopeful that he’d turn as we got closer to my due date (December 23rd). Because of some of my complications, I was going to the fetal diagnostic center twice a week for monitoring and quick ultrasounds to verify fluid levels… so, it was clear after weeks of seeing him breach, that the little buddy was pretty settled in. I was more stressed about knowing exactly when he was coming via c-section (supposed to be December 16th), than I was about a surprise, natural start to labor. People tried to encourage me that it would be great; in at 7am and by 10am, a baby! While all that would be (and ultimately, was) amazing, I just worried how I would be freaking out the night before knowing that, for sure, baby was coming the next day, not to mention the full-on surgery and recovery I was going to endure.
Then, it happened, at 5:45am on Tuesday, December 10th, I woke up to go on one of my many nighttime bathroom runs, when, as I stood up—a sharp pain, then my water broke. The night prior I had taken a Benadryl for some allergies and stayed up way to late (I’m talking 3:30am!) with the mister wondering what Stetson would be like, what his interests might be, what color of eyes, etc. etc., so needless-to-say, I was pretty exhausted and totally confused. “Did I just pee my pants?!” was the first thought that ran through my mind. Based on the amount of fluid, it was clear that I hadn’t, but it took me a few minutes to really think, “Oh my gosh. This is happening. My water’s ruptured. Holy crap!” I yelled out to Stephan and we called my doctor immediately, reminding her that Stets was still in a breach position. The next hour was a blur… I did take a quick shower, as contractions had just started, and then we ran around the apartment like a crazy people grabbing items for my bag (which I was supposed to pack weeks prior!). We arrived at the hospital around 7:30am, checked in, got checked out by the nurse, had another (felt like my 100th—we thought Stets might come out bionic) ultrasound to confirm his positioning, answered loads of questions, monitored our heart rates and my contractions, and then were wheeled off to the operating room. It was surreal. We barely had a moment to process. There was no family or friends in the lobby. There was no time for a big announcement that labor had started. No time to worry about surgery or the spinal I was about to undergo. It was just us, sleepy-eyed with deer-in-the-headlights expressions, and giant we-are-about-to-become-parents grins. He arrived at 9:52am.
When they brought Stetson around the divider, it was pure joy, followed by a moment of, “Umm… is that our baby?! He looks nothing like us. Or, wait, is that a miniature version of my father?!” I somehow thought I’d recognize him after all those months of carrying him, but I didn’t. Within a few moments, after they rested him on my chest and we could hold him, he was ours. We couldn’t (and can’t) imagine our lives without him. He is so perfectly ours.
We are so thankful for our amazing friends and family, as well as all the kind comments via facebook and instagram. We couldn’t be more in love.
Looking forward to give more updates soon!
xo,
Stets + Mini Stets
With the arrival of baby Stetson, we are keeping things simple for the holidays, which includes wrapping gifts—kraft boxes and paper, sprigs from the yard, and these fun watercolor gift tags. 
