9 1/2 Months ... 18 Month Clothing

We've got a "Drew-sized baby" on our hands, that's certain. Our 9 and a half month old son is hovering around the 95-98% for height. He's about 20-23lbs now. He is 9 and a half months old and he is comfortably wearing 18 month clothes.

The Birth Story

Saturday, October 12th started out like any other day. At this point I was 37 weeks and 3 days pregnant, pictured above. I can't believe how big I was! I had been having Braxton Hicks contracts for a few weeks already and was pretty uncomfortable. But, I got ready for a fun day of hanging out with the siblings. Drew and I went to Stalker Farms with Danny, Laura, Amanda, and Rob and Chris Poisal. We were going to get our pumpkins, but they were all closed up when we got there! Drew didn't want to me to, but I couldn't not do it! I went through both haunted houses. It was just as fun as it was the year before! I was pretty pooped by the end of the long walks and was ready to go home. I was becoming increasingly more uncomfortable when we got home and wasn't in the mood to play Cards Against Humanity with the homies, so I went up and tried to lay down on the guest bed.

I think being alone and focusing on my body made things worse because it was then that I realized I couldn't catch my breath. My stomach was completely contracted and was not releasing to let me breathe. I started to cry just as Drew walked up the stairs to check on me, a whopping three minutes after I had gone up there in the first place. We decided I should get checked out so he, Laura, and I headed off to the hospital. I was admitted to triage and got all hooked up where they figured out that I was having one giant contraction with no let down and couldn't figure out why. They took my blood and checked my dilation, the latter of which was terrible feeling. I was only half a centimeter dilated. I was still having trouble breathing and it was getting frustrating, so I started to cry again, at which point they decided to get an i.v. in me for fluids. Then something amazing happened. They gave me fentanyl. It was the most welcome feeling! 5 seconds after it was in my i.v. I was able to breathe and my body relaxed. Drew, my mom, Laura, Danny, and Amanda were all there for me and I couldn't have been more thankful. They determined that I was not ready to have the baby and sent me home at 1 AM.

Funny side note, as I was walking through my curtain to use the restroom and change to leave I saw my friend Dani Mathews getting ready to leave, too! She would deliver her daughter Mila only 8 hours after I had Booker in a completely opposite way than I would!

Drew and I get home and I go back to the guest room to try and get some sleep. Up until now, for the past month or two, I had been getting up every 2 hours to pee, the night prior it was every hour. This night, after returning from triage I was getting up every 30 minutes. It is the most infuriating feeling to have to pee with such urgency and not have anything left in you! Around 8 AM I woke up and realize I have leaked a little bit of what I believe it amniotic fluid, I ignore it and try to go back to bed. I woke up at 9 AM, still leaking fluid. Drew was awake and making breakfast for us since we weren't planning on going to church after the rough night we had. I decide to call Labor & Delivery and they suggest that we go back in to check if my water had indeed begun leaking. Neither of us really wanted to, so we ate breakfast first and slowly got ready to leave. We check in at L&D and get sent to triage again. Same routine, take the blood, swab for amnio fluid, and check the dilation. I was still at the same, half a centimeter. Aubrey, our lovely nurse, came back with results. Yes, my water had indeed broken and I was going to be admitted! Booker was definitely coming soon! She also had some bad news for me, over night I had developed pre-eclampsia.

I ended up in a wing by myself (and Drew, my mom, Laura, Danny, Amanda, Max, Scott, Sue, Tyler, and Heather) for a short time while they continued to check on me. They gave me pitocin to try and jump-start labor in hopes of a vaginal delivery. Unfortunately for me, after two hours I had only dilated another half a centimeter. And let me tell you, Dr. Brumfeld checking my dilation was the worst. Apparently my water hadn't fully broken, but it sure did when she jammed her fist up there. *shudder* Because of the pre-eclampsia they also had be on magnesium sulfate, which made me incredibly loopy and I did not like it one bit. After finding that I had barely dilated Aubrey and the doctors gave me two choices. I could either wait and see if I dilate further or have a c-section. The doctor put it this way, "We'd like to get him out while you're both happy and healthy." I couldn't argue with that!

Drew and my mom got suited up and I got carted on down to OR during the Seahawks halfitme against the Titans (we won). The spinal block wasn't THAT bad! Drew sat in front of me while the anesthesiologist jabbed me with a needle repeatedly in my back. I was completely numb from the ribs down within 5 minutes, which was the most odd feeling I've ever had! My mom was able to be by the doctors, by my feet and actually recorded them pulling Booker out! Drew stayed by my head, standing where he could see me and watch the cesarean. He's brave, I know! After some tugging, they pulled out our baby and carted him over to the warming table after I got to see him briefly. Drew and my mom both went to look at him while I lay on the table spread open like a Thanksgiving turkey with it's stuffing pulled out. I cried, knowing I wouldn't be able to hold him. He was having some breathing issues, so they took him and Drew up to NICU for further observation. I was able to give him his first kisses before they left.

Kissing my baby for the first time

Thank God I had my mom there at least. She was able to stay with me while they put me back together, holding a pan up to my face as I threw up; another awkward feeling to heave when your stomach is NOT in your body! They cleaned me up and took me back to my room where I got to see the family. I wanted to go see Booker, but apparently I had to wait until I could stand... Bullocks. I heard that B was just fine and they only kept him to make sure. At two hours old he was lifting his head and moving it from side to side as he lay on his tummy. My strong boy.

After four days, we were finally able to head home. Because of the magnesium sulfate making me all loopy, I hadn't cried or really shown much emotion while in the hospital, which Amanda says freaked her out. I was taken off the mag and as soon as I saw Booker in his car seat, knowing we were going home, I lost it. He is all ours and we get to take him home! Our own tiny human to raise. I thank God for him and Drew every day. They have made my life worth living.

37 Weeks

I'm ready. Let's DO this, baby!

• I have our bag packed in Daddy's car.
• Your car seat is installed.
• I have your diaper bag ready to go.
• Your clothes are washed and put away.
• I am pre-registered at Evergreen Hospital.
• I have the number to call when I go in to labor and we are heading to the hospital.
• I have a birth plan that I am ready to throw out the window for whatever you need.
• I have a plan for if I go in to labor here at work.
• I am closing up all of my important tasks and projects necessary with work.

I can be as "prepared" as I want, I know that as soon as I start having contractions or my water breaks, my life is going to go sideways. I'm okay with that. You are so worth every effort.

9 Months

NINE MONTHS. 36 weeks down, 4 weeks to "full" term. I am not even sure what to do with myself at this point.

I still have to pack my hospital bag and have no idea what to even put in the darn thing. I have read list after list of what should go in, but that doesn't really help me when I think of my own items. Hmm... I think I should hit up Target or Bartell's for some travel size toiletries. Am I really just using this blog as a notepad right now? Yes. This is how out of sorts I am.

PAIN. I am so tired of having contractions at night every time I try to get out of bed to pee, which is ever hour up until 1 AM, usually. I slept from 1-5 this morning and thought it was the greatest accomplishment ever. I am tired of needing help to get off the couch, in to the tub, or off the floor. Apparently Drew likes to help, which I am so thankful for. He's been the most amazing cheerleader I could have ever hoped for. He lets me do things myself unless he really deems them dangerous for me or an unnecessary strain. He walks up the stairs bent at the waist next to me so I can use him as leverage. I don't. He's just being silly. But, I love that he wants to walk me up the stairs. He hears how much my breath becomes laboured when I do it alone, so he is trying to make it easier on me. I love him for that.

Booker is active still, which is great! Though at times it's very weird to have him push against my ribs with his feet because that causes him to put pressure on my pelvic bone. He's a big guy. I'm hoping I go in to labor around the 14th or 15th, which is two weeks early. I don't know what kind of state I would be in if I carried him full term at the rate he's growing. If his stats are on track, at our appointment tomorrow he will be the size of a 38 week old, not 36. He's been measuring two weeks big since 24 weeks. Tomorrow's appointment also marks the first of my weekly appointments!

My heart just started racing. I really could have my baby any day now. I'm not fully ready. I don't know what to expect at the hospital. What happens if my water breaks at work? I assume Dawn would take me, she's the only one I trust to drive like a sane person while I'm going insane. I should buy some throw away towels to keep with me so I don't mess up someone else's car. I could just have whoever drives take my car. It's gross anyway.

My face is getting hot and my pulse is starting to rise. I'm going to go ahead and cut this post off now before I send MYSELF in to early labor from freaking out about it.

I. AM. SO. EXCITED.

Booker Scott Kalani Pettersen

Do you know that name? No? Well, I've known that name for about 7 months now. Drew chose it before we even know "he" was a he.

Booker was found in the game Bioshock: Infinite, which Drew had been playing during the beginning of my pregnancy. No, we are not naming our child after Booker DeWitt, we just really liked the name itself.

Scott is Drew's father's name, who apparently doesn't like his middle name, Markam, which I would have loved to have used.

Kalani is one of my favorite names ever. First off, it represents the man that will be Booker's favorite uncle, Danny. Secondly it's a very well loved and used Hawaiian name on my Kruse side of the family. I asked permission from Danny first, of course. He will use the name with his first son, too, but he will use Naumahakalaniopu'u, which is the full version.

Booker is due October 30th, which is only 5 short weeks away. We are almost all ready for him. I'm just missing a few key items, like a diaper bag, bottles, and a few more bibs. He is going to be an amazingly dressed little man, I know that much for sure! He has been showered will all sorts of different sizes and types of clothing and I have never been so excited to do laundry. I love tiny laundry. :-)

 February 19th, 2013. The day before our 3rd wedding anniversary

 8 weeks, first time seeing him

 12 weeks

 16 weeks, amniocentesis appointment, it's a boy.

 20 weeks.

 Maternity photos with Amanda Lockleer

 Our family of 3, almost 4

Drew's very first shoes

 His amazing Star Wars nursery

 Slowly organized closet

8 months

I can't believe I'm almost there. I have been wanting a child of my own since I was 11 years old, when I first started babysitting. Now I have one on the way that is half me and half the most amazing man I have ever known. Drew has been a great care-giver to many babies over the years in service at EastLake Church. They used to call him the baby-whisperer. My heart begins to swell just at the thought of seeing him hold his son for the first time. It's hard to explain, really. It's this whole new world I have never experienced and now it's coming to a head.

I'm ready for him to get here. I want to hold my son. I want to show him just how loved and cherished he is. He is my baby.

MY BABY.

House Update

I figured before I talked about the truly awesome event happening in our life right now, I'd update on our house! We have lived there for a full year now and it is ... home. We can both park in the garage, and plan to keep it that way. We have a nerd den, a guest room, and a nursery. We have a family room. We have a master bedroom and a shower built for two, and we use it most often together. What can I say, I like to save water!

We have projects:

• I want to pull up the bushes in the front and plant lavender. One day I would like to take out the tree in front and extend the porch so I can have my porch swing.
• We have a big backyard that is a bit of a hot mess right now. The deck needs to have the nails pounded back in, get sanded, and get stained.
• There is a rocky path surrounding the cement patio that needs to be dealt with. I think I would like to remove the loose rocks and just lay a smooth path.
• The grass extending from the cement patio needs to be removed so we can lay concrete for our son to be able to play basketball. :-)
• The entirety of the wild bushes growing along the fence need to be removed. They are just sad looking.

Ah... plans and projects. Will you ever get started? Doubt it..

Signing the last page!

  The "Sold" sign with the previous owner's vehicles... We couldn't help but drive by.

Got the keys!

Our beautiful home.

 Some photos... Need more.

 Aunt Amy, who passed away suddenly last year, in her proper place of honor.

 What our living room looked like.

 Dining room. That hutch is now black. :-)

 Up the stairs from the dining room.

 Drew cooking for the first time in our home.

 Master Bedroom + Christopher

Booker's Nursey