Arriving home...

So the 24hr-a-day care is over; no more nurses and doctors checking in every few hours, and no more nights in the nursery so Lauren can get some sleep... at 1pm today we were officially evicted from the hospital, and made the journey home. As we began to gather our things, it was apparent that at least two trips to the car were in order -it seemed Lauren had moved in, rather than stay for three days ...


The ride home was uneventful; all I can say is that I would love to find the guy who invented today's carseats (they have a base that remains strapped into the car while the actual seat is detatchable - its so easy to get him in and out of the car with this system) - and buy him a beer, or 12! I remember watching my parents trying to strap Simon in and out of his carseat and it didn't look easy.



Brandi and Bailey took to Rhys as I expected, with lots of enthusiasm. They (Brandi especially) have been continually trying to get in his face to give him kisses and sniffs. I'm sure if we left her to her own devices Brandi would literally drown the poor kid with her kisses!


Ok, enough is enough; he's crying, Lauren's tired. I need to go help now :)

The Bean has arrived...finally!

So, it’s finally over ... or should I say begun!


Rhys Alan Witheridge was born at 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24. He weighed eight pounds and nine ounces, measuring twenty inches tall. Mum and baby are doing great and we expect them both home on Friday. Lauren went into labor at about 6pm Monday night (after having spent the entire day there preparing for induction) – it was a long day and night for sure; probably the longest night of my life; but of course, the prelude to the very best day of my life yet!

Now, for those of you who don't know much about the name “Rhys”, here's the deal: It's a family name ... it was my Grandfather's first name (mother’s side; Rhys James, which is where my name came from too), and it is also my brother's middle name (Simon Rhys).

According to Wikipedia: "Rhys is a surname or (usually male) given name of Welsh origin, and meaning "ardour", "fervor", "passion" or "zeal". The name is also anglicised as Rice, Rees, Reese and Reece."

Other internet sources suggest Rhys means ‘Enthusiastic’. I would tend to agree – he’s certainly enthusiastic about nursing … he’s been making sure Lauren is up every couple of hours for feeding and cries whenever I pick him up as I obviously don’t have the goods that mum does ;)

So just in case you're still not sure, it is pronounced 'r-ee-s'. If you still need help, then try this - pronounce only the letters in blue... rat see so. Hopefully, that should do it for you... lol!

Ok, time to go visit them both. Just in case anyone wants to know ...
Lauren and Rhys are at Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia, Minnesota.

The address is:
Ridgeview Medical Center, Maternity Ward, Rm 320.
500 S. Maple Street, Waconia MN 55387

This truly changes your perspective on life!
Hopefully this will be the start of many more posts from me ... I think this is perhaps #3?

Take care,
Jamie.

Watch this space

We are heading in for an induction this afternoon. Watch this space.

Another week and no baby

I feel like I've been stood up. Like it's a bad blind date....being told "at the end of 9 months you'll meet this great lil' person...." and now the baby has decided the s/he just isn't interested in showing up.

I was due a week ago. And since last Monday I've been walking like crazy, eating spicy food, pineapple; basically everything but standing on my head. And I WOULD try that too...except I'm not that suave without the belly...wouldn't want to see how it all ends.

Today, Jamie and I went for a long hour walk, and I started having stronger contractions that I couldn't talk through...they lasted like 1 min45 sec. (every 2-3 min) but as soon as i got home....they slowed WAY down. Just thought that I would share some frusteration, since everyone is calling asking me "when are you going to have this baby". i know they are all eager...but I'm all for meeting the Bean too! Promise...i'm not holding this baby hostage, s/he can walk out at any point...infact, I'd encourage him/her to do so...soon!

HOW RUDE....

Okay, so i grew up on Full House. Loved it...thought DJ was the coolest...all that jazz. So when today it's become painfully obvious that this Bean of our will not make an appearance on his/her due date all i can think is "HOW RUDE" (thank you Stephanie Tanner).

I went to the dr. today and we're still not making enough progress, so I then followed up my visit by a two hour walk at the Mall of America (only mildely damaged my wallet). Followed by maybe 5 contractions and now nothing. All I can think is "apparently, I'm a good hostess."

I'm sure s/he will come on their own time...i honestly still can't believe that this SHOULD be over by now..40 weeks flies by! It's still weird every morning when I wake up and realize...today could be the day....yikes! On the plus side...I'm uuber excited to see if it's a girl or boy....