http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1a7A4KTO5E

Daddy's Version of Maddox's Birth

The night before Jules was to be induced I took one of my basketball shoes and put it next to one of the shoes that someone (I believe Doyle) bought for Maddox. I took a picture of them and posted it on Facebook expressing my excitement that the following day I was going to meet my baby boy. Fast-forward to the next morning, a couple hours after we got to the hospital. The doctor said that Jules was not progressing and inducing her could take 3-4 days. I don't know why but the first thing that I thought about was the picture of my big shoe next to his little shoe and that I was premature in saying that I would be meeting Maddox that day. Nevertheless, a couple hours later, I was able to meet my baby boy! Although I was right about when I was going to meet him, there was a significant difference between how I imagined I would feel upon seeing/holding/kissing him for the first time and what I actually felt. After Maddox was born and while Jules was still in the recovery room, I was able to hold him for a few minutes after they cleaned him up and took his measurements. Holding him, in those short minutes, I had a life-changing experience. One that I hope to never forget. It was quiet. There were no other babies or nurses for a few minutes in the post-delivery room. It was just he and I. I was rocking him and he was quiet except for making a few really cute noises. He was looking up at me and I never wanted that moment to end. Words are insufficient to explain how I felt. Mostly because I had never felt that way before nor did I know I could. It is not rare for me to feel that I should be doing better or more with my life. However, there was only one person in my life that had made me a better person just by knowing her. As I held Maddox and he looked at me like I was his everything, I realized that I would do anything for him. As a result, I realized in that moment that another person just came into my life that would help me reach my true potential. Someone who, just like his mom, would help me achieve things and become someone that would be impossible without him. This was clear to me as I sat there, with tears in my eyes, trying to understand how much my world had forever changed.

Family

6 weeks old

Maddie is six weeks old and has already grown and changed so much since his birth. He is getting stronger by the day. He loves to kick his legs and stand up. Maddie also loves his baths. He just relaxes and lays there in the water very peacefully. His eyes are getting bluer and his hair is still brown. He is also gaining weight and getting a little chubbie. Maddie is smiling more and becoming more alert and aware of his surroundings. He loves to look out windows toward the sunlight and loves being outside. He still loves to be held and still sleeps in my arms. He has also become my running partner. I've been taking him on my runs in a jogging stroller and he has done really well. He still does really well in the car seat and almost always falls asleep. He is very vocal and always grunting or making some kind of noise. We are so lucky to have such an easy baby. Maddie is so beautiful and I love getting to know him as he shows more and more of his personality.

Smile

Bathtime

Maddie's Birth Story (by Mommy)

I fell in love for the second time on July 10, 2012. Maddox was born on a Tuesday at 5:13 pm via emergency C-Section. We had arrived at the hospital that morning at around 7:30 to be induced. However, I was not progressing and my blood pressure was rising to dangerous levels. The doctors began the surgery at 5:00 and 13 minutes later, our little angel appeared from behind the curtain. I remember feeling incredibly sleepy from the epidural but when the anesthesiologist told me I would see my baby soon I kept my eyes open and tried my best to stay awake and lucid. First, I heard him cry. Immediately, tears came to my eyes and an overwhelming feeling of love, relief and anticipation came over me. A second later, I saw my son for the first time. He was beautiful and I loved him instantaneously. They took him to a table behind me to clean him up and check him which took about 5 minutes. The table seemed to be miles away and those five minutes seemed like hours. I couldn't wait to hold and kiss him. I remember Maddie's legs being outstretched and up in the air while he was laying on his back. It was so funny. Finally, Allan carried him over to me and we cried and kissed our little son. During our stay in the hospital, Maddox proved to be the perfect baby. He loved to be held and never cried. He would only fuss a little when he was hungry and he would make the cutest little squawking noises instead of cry. Most nights, he slept in my arms. I have never slept so peacefully. When he was circumcised, the doctor said he slept right through it. He nursed well and took a bottle well. We knew that we had been blessed with a special baby. We believed that Heavenly Father blessed us with an easy baby to help us make it through the trials we faced right after his birth. Maddox was a miracle to us because in spite of all the pregnancy-related complications I experienced, he was perfectly healthy and we never had to worry about him. I remember my doctor telling me that sometimes, babies learn to thrive and become even stronger than they would be otherwise when their mothers have preeclampsia. I knew that this was the case with Maddox. He thrived when I struggled. He was strong when I was weak. I know that my ability to recover was in large part due to his existence and resilience.