Introducing Asher Xavier – My Birth Story

The past two weeks have been a sweet and sleepless blur but I’m
excited to put down into words, the birth story of our fourth little baby, Asher Xavier!
He was born October 2nd 2015 at 8:45pm!
He currently loves milk, being swaddled, and staying awake when mommy wants to sleep.

We are officially obsessed with him and have been trying to soak up these tiny baby days.
Sophia and Sienna can’t stop gushing over their newest little brother and think he’s just perfect.
Sophia always wants to hold him, and has become a baby whisperer, getting him to fall asleep.
Sienna wants to constantly change his outfits and dance to let it go for him.
Micah is still figuring the whole thing out, he is concerned for
baby when he cries but doesn’t want to get too close.
He said that he is Hulk Smash and Asher is Iron Man.

BIRTH STORY
I was the most nervous about this labor. I think it was because my first two
were pretty “easy”… and then when I had Micah it was really traumatic and painful.
He was crowning while I got my epidural. I literally rolled over and pushed him out.
It was insane, and not what I pictured.
Everyone was shocked with how fast I progressed. Suddenly dilating 4-10 in an hour tops.

This time, I really wanted an epidural to kick in BEFORE I was holding my baby…
And, with all of the prodromal labor I had been having, (start and stop labor) I was worried
it could go fast again since my body was ready to roll!
I was already effaced and dilating and contractions would go timeable
and more intense the last couple weeks of my pregnancy. We had 3 false alarms. Our hospital wasn’t too close,
and I was so worried about a quick labor. The doctors scheduled an induction for me on
the 3rd but didn’t think I would make it till then. I had a Bishop’s score of 9, so I was favorable for an induction.
I was hoping to go on my own though, since my body had been contracting and dilating.
I had bad back pain with my contractions starting the morning of the 1st.
It continued off and on till the next day. I woke up with contractions but nothing time able yet.
I’m going to skip some of the details because of TMI, but I ended
up going into my doctor’s office for a labor check around 11.
Not enough was happening, so Ben and I ended up going to grab lunch, Mexican food.
Where the kind, but clueless, waiter put us at a booth table where my pointy belly wouldn’t fit lol.
We moved to a stand a lone table and all was right again. Couldn’t help but laugh.
Then we went stroller shopping and kept track of contractions.

I started having contractions every 15 minutes. We went to the mall to walk around, we were right by
the Hospital so wanted to see if these were the real deal before going back home.
I could barely walk through some of the contractions. But I still wasn’t sold that it was real labor.
I had had horrible contractions before, these were more intense..but still.
I always felt like they were going to slow down and ease up like before.
We decided that we should go to the hospital and see if anything was happening.
They were just getting SO intense.
When they checked me, I had progressed some since my appointment earlier that day.
So they hooked me up to see the pattern of the contractions and keep an eye on me.
Soon they started going every 10 to every 5 and within an hour I had progressed
even more and they officially called it… BABY TIME!
I had been telling them how when I go, I go fast..and I REALLY wanted an epidural this time.
So they drew my blood and gave me fluid and ordered the epidural.
It ended up coming in time and then I had some time to “Rest”..which was insane
to me because of how intense and crazy it was with Micah.
I was having contractions every 3 minutes, but barely feeling anything but pressure.
When it was time to push he came in 4 pushes and it was my easiest labor yet!
I couldn’t believe it. Ben ended up helping deliver the baby, catching him as he came out!
IT’S A BOY! It was such an amazing moment… and when they put
him on my chest I couldn’t believe all that dark hair!

I couldn’t help but think he was a mini Sienna! We were totally in
love and so thankful for a healthy baby and easy labor.

The last month of my pregnancy was so hard with all of the prodromal labor.
I’m just so happy that we are on the other side of this and able to hold our sweet baby boy.
It was SO FUN having the kids come into the hospital room the next morning and saying, “It’s a boy!!”
They were thrilled and kept saying, “our wish came true!” haha.

This pretty much sums up Micah’s reaction to Asher in the Hospital. haha.
He was more into the donuts and buttons to press. ;)
He’s already warming up to him and ready to teach him how to build + knock over things.

Asher sleeps as much as can be expected from a newborn. He’s a pretty good nurser.
I have to burp him more than with my other babies. I love the sleepy milk smiles we get from him. :)

The first couple weeks home were a blur haha.
Going in slo mo but too fast at the same time.
I loved seeing our family all together and all the sweet snuggles.
There is something just so amazing when seeing your older kids experience
a new baby brother or sister. It’s magical!

Asher is getting plenty of smooches and snuggles in this house.
Lots of little mamas who are happy to hold and sing to him.

Ok I officially lost it when I saw and snapped this photo.
I couldn’t even handle the cuteness!
Asher loves being on our shoulders like this. especially his daddy’s.

Micah warms up more to Asher every day!
He has a love/fear relationship with him right now. haha. ;)
“MOM He touched me!!”

I’m a hormonal sleepy hot mess, but trying to see through the fog and enjoy these newborn days.
I always get a little emotional and weepy around day 14..It already started today.
But I’ve learned some tricks to help me stay ahead of the emotional roller coaster.
Take a breath. Say a prayer. Focus in on something.
Take it day by day and look back at how far you’ve come.
Soak up those sweet moments and push aside those hard ones.
Focus on the blessing you have and how time so quickly passes.
This is my postpartum pep talk. ;)

I escaped to target with my mom and Asher when he was a week old.
The walls were closing in on me and his first trip outside the womb to target was overdue. ;)
Small easy outings help me stay sane!

Thanks for following our family adventures, this is one of the biggest ones!
Adding a fourth baby to our family. Sometimes I am like, wow how did we get here already??
But I wouldn’t want it any other way. These little ones…It’s crazy how you can
love each of them so much and yet be so utterly exhausted. lol.

I will always shout how blessed we are with a fourth child and
how he has already brought so much joy into our family.
xoxoxo,
Natalie