Baby Jackson Ryan came into this world on Wednesday, July 13 at 1:27pm and weighed 8 lbs 11 oz and was 20 inches long! God is so GOOD and was truly faithful to us during labor and delivery! We feel blessed beyond belief at God’s handiwork in the creation of our baby boy Jax! Just staring into his beautiful face and looking at the tiny details of his little fingers, nose, and ears are just breath-taking! I keep telling baby Jax how special God made him, and we are blessed to be his parents.
These verses have a special place in my heart for baby Jax (makes Mommy a little teary eyed!):
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. - Psalm 139:13-16
July 4th- 39 weeks 4 days
Last pregnancy photo (before labor!)
July 4th at Royal Oaks!
Here’s the story of baby Jax’s birth:
My official due date was July 7, and that day came and baby Jax just didn’t have a time schedule to keep! We trusted the Lord that His timing was perfect for Jax’s arrival! Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” I continued to go into work for some electronic medical record training, and we were waiting for the big day! The weekend before Jax arrived I was cleaning and trying to find any last minute things to do!
On Tuesday, July 12, Ryan went into work since Jax hadn’t come yet, and I decided to do a little shopping (bought nursing things!) with my Momma and hang out with my Momma and CJ while Ryan worked. I felt great- felt more Braxton-Hicks contractions but nothing painful or out of the ordinary. I continued my work-outs and went to the gym and walked my 3+ miles that morning. I came home that evening, and Ryan and I had left-over pot roast for dinner. We talked about my midwives appointment the next day (at 40 weeks 6 days), and we were planning for an ultrasound and non-stress test to make sure everything was looking good for baby Jax. Little did we know God had other plans for that day! I was doing some laundry of pajamas and things I’d bought that day.
About 9:05pm on Tuesday, I bent over to pick up some lint off the ground in our entry way and told Ryan “I think my water just broke!” It wasn’t a big gush, so I wasn’t completely sure. After heading to the bathroom, it was definite that my water broke and it just kept coming! There is lots of water to cushion baby! After calling our doula (labor coach) Sharon with First Birth Ministries (she is wonderful!!!), she recommended we go walking to try to get contractions to start since nothing started yet. About 9:30pm, Ryan and I went on a walk around the block in our neighborhood. Luckily it was dark so no one would notice I was soaking my shorts! haha I had some crampy type contractions during the walk, but not painful (yet!). Once we got home, I decided to shower so I could feel clean after walking in humidity! We showered and Ryan began getting last minute things packed into our bags. Once I finished getting ready, I walked around the house and put away a little laundry. After talking with Sharon again, I started doing labor positions (lying on sides, exercise ball, etc). About midnight I started having contractions that were painful and I would do breathing patterns through. Here are a few pics (our camera saves the time so I can tell when it was taken- of course I don’t remember that!):
Early labor at home- 2:15 AM
Smiling BETWEEN contractions- key word between! :-)
My Momma came over to help and our doula Sharon joined us at home before 4am since contractions were now between 5-8 minutes apart and becoming more and more painful. I was having lots of back labor which meant I had a lot of lower back pain and wanted almost constant massaging of my lower back, especially during contractions. Ryan and my Momma were great at massaging to help relieve some pressure! When Sharon checked me around 4am, I was dilated to 2 cm and his head was very low- about a 0 station. Sharon helped get my contractions to progress by having me do different positions and side lying seemed to help the most with progress (although was the most painful- which is a good thing in this circumstance).
Trying to keep my body relaxed- 4:15 AM
Momma massaging my back and Ryan comforting me during a contraction. I was blessed with a wonderful support team!
About 8:30am my contractions were getting closer together (~3-5 minutes apart) and I was not quite 3 cm dilated. We decided we would head to St. Luke’s Hospital so I would not be in the car when contractions were continuing to get more intense. We called our midwives and they told us to head to the hospital and one of them would meet us in L&D. We left for the hospital a little after 9am, and I sat in the back seat with my Momma while Ryan drove. Contractions seemed to spread out a little during the drive since I was sitting up (except during contraction, I would try to lie down). Once I started walking into the hospital, I had about 4 contractions between valet and getting to my L&D room about 10am. Once I got into the room, our midwife Debbie checked me and I was dilated to 4 cm and his head was at a +1/0 station.
Sweet husband rubbing my back & prayed for me during the most difficult part of labor! (11:02 AM)
Wonderful sister Nat & Sharon rubbing/putting pressure on my back during transition (12:20 PM)
I was complete and ready to push about 12:55 PM! We’re ready to meet you baby Jax! Sharon helped me stay focused and remember the end is near and the reward of meeting our son was very close! I pushed for about 30 minutes and our midwife Debbie delivered baby Jackson and Ryan also helped catch the slippery little guy at 1:27 PM! Ryan is the best husband in the whole world and was an incredible support and encouragement to me during labor! I admire Ryan’s dependence on the Lord for strength and patience that seem to flow so easily from Ry. I am a very blessed wife to have a hubby who loves me so much!
Our first glimpse of baby Jackson! Debbie put Jax on my chest immediately!
Jax weighed 8 lbs 10.6 oz and was 20 inches long!
Thanks Sharon! You were a God-send and we were blessed by your godly wisdom, encouragement, advice, and support through this time! (Having a baby soon? Check out Sharon’s website First Birth Ministries for information on childbirth classes and doula services. We highly recommend her classes based on Scripture!)
Future Aggie!
Proud Daddy’s 1st time holding his son!
Our new family!
Mimi & grandson
Bebbie & her 1st grandbaby!
Auntie Natalie with her nephew!
Pops and his grandson!
Uncle CJ’s 1st nephew! I remember when you were this small CJ!
Uncle Gene & Jax
Papa & grandson
Look at those blue eyes and strong neck muscles!
I’m in love with this boy!
Day Two- 7/14/11
Check out my new bling- diamond necklace was my “Mommy present” from my sweet hubby! I feel so special!
Jax loves his Daddy and Daddy knows just how to calm him!
Day 3- 7/15/11
Taking Jax home from the hospital!
Jax loved his car seat ride and slept all the way home! We’re home with our baby boy!
Aunt Robin came to visit her newest nephew!
Uncle Josh and his new nephew!
We’re loving being parents and beginning a new chapter in our lives together! Even the labor pains and the sleepless nights are worth the sweet reward of God blessing us with a beautiful and healthy son! Thank you Jesus for our son Jackson!
