Landen's Birth Story

Much to my delight, Landen Tyler Smutz joined our family a week before his due date! I had gone to visit with my friend Amy who was in town on Thursday night. On my way home I just wasn't feeling quite right so I went to bed right when I got home. I was awoken with what I knew were labor contractions at 1:02 AM on Friday August 22. The contractions were anywhere from 45-60 seconds, 4-6 minutes apart, but they stopped around 7 Friday morning. I had an appointment with my doctor at 8 and she informed me that I was 4cm dilated and 80% effaced. This was welcome news because with Andie it took about 16 hours to get to 4 cm! She said that I could go to the hospital and they would keep labor going, but I decided to go home because I did not feel like spending the day in the hospital!

Contractions were about 15-20 minutes apart all day, so I did a few loads of laundry, vacuumed, swept, mopped, and walked out the contractions. We ordered pizza and I ate two slices (WAY less than my usual). Around 5:30 the contractions intensified and started to come every 4-5 minutes, lasting 45-60 seconds, so we knew it was time to head in. Justin and I finished packing our hospital bag and Grams and Papa pulled up just as we put everything in the car. We are super thankful that they dropped everything and took great care of Caden and Andie for the weekend!

We got to the hospital around 7:00 PM and I was 7cm dilated. I got an epidural around 8:00, and Justin and I took a much needed nap:) Around 11:00 I felt a lot of pressure and it was time to push. They asked me if I wanted a mirror to watch and I said yes, but after one look, I asked them to take it away. I have seen births before, but there's something different about watching while it's happening to you! The doctor came in around 11:20. His heart rate started to drop, so Dr. Crawford used the vacuum to get him out. Landen was born at 11:38 PM on Friday August 22. 

When Landen came out, he was not crying, which terrified me! He had some fluid in his lungs, but even after they cleared it, he didn't cry. Two weeks later, he still hasn't really cried. He lets out some little squeals....he is definitely our quietest baby yet:) We finally got to our room on the mom/baby floor around 2:00 AM and the nurse gave us a 45 minute welcome speech, going over EVERY sheet of paper she could find! We were exhausted and starving so Justin headed to the vending machine. I'm not going to lie, the snacks were pretty disappointing so in addition to the hospital breakfast, Omi and Poppi brought us Jamba Juice and Chik-Fil-A the next morning:) They also brought us Pei Wei for dinner - thanks Omi and Poppi for keeping the tired parents fed!

And now for the picture overload.....

8 pounds, 3 ounces, 21 inches!

Daddy and his little man:)

Not enjoying his first bath! I know it looks like he is screaming, but it was just some little squeals

Love at first site for Caden and Andie! Please excuse my greasy/crazy hair:)

SO sweet!

Sharing his helicopter:)

Our kids are quite spolied! Landen bought them each a gift - Andie dress up Minnie, and Caden an airplane, motorcycle, and indy car with a screwdriver to assemble:) Grams and Papa and Omi and Poppi also got them gifts!

Grams and Landen

Papa and Landen

The hospital throws a little sibling birthday party where they bring cupcakes, juice, and stickers for the older siblings!

For some reason, stickers always go on their stomachs???

Omi and Landen

Poppi and Landen

Flowers in a train from Omi and Poppi:)

Hearing test - he passed:)

G!G! and Landen

Snuggle time with Dad:)

We have a picture just like this of Justin and Caden:)

Going home! The first nurse told us not to give a pacifier for two weeks to establish breastfeeding. If it was our first kid, we probably would have listened to her, but we didn't and he is nursing well!

Big yawn for the ride home:)

Excited siblings welcome baby Landen home!

Leah, David, and Alistair and Jamie came by, but we didn't get pictures. Auntie Mana and Auntie Carissa also came over and hung out in the evening and brought us some yummy snacks so we didn't have to resort to the vending machine, but we also forgot to get pictures with them:(  Landen is a very loved little man!