Here We Come

Our 2014 holiday card - Minted, of course.

I've written a few posts about transitioning to parenthood that never seem to make it passed the 'Drafts' folder.  They seem to get wordy and as I reread them I wonder, "Does anyone really care to hear this?" So I'm going to scrap them - not entirely, I'll look back on them later when I can reflect on these early weeks with Jasper but I'll spare you.

The truth is, I'm now a Mom.  SURPRISE! (Ha)  It consists of everything one imagines motherhood to be.  We have good days and we have bad days.  Sometimes I feel like we've got a handle on this whole thing and the next we're flailing a bit.  But generally, we're doing ok.  Jasper is still alive, growing, learning, keeping us on our toes.  This week, he turns 10 weeks old.

This week he'll also board his first and second flights.  He'll land in Canada for the first time and he'll meet a bunch of people that have been impatiently awaiting his arrival.  As we organized travel a couple of weeks ago, it struck me that Jasper has never been held by anyone other than his parents and healthcare professionals.  The poor kid has no idea what awaits him.

It's been nice having this time alone as a family of three.  I think a lot of people assume that being away from our family and friends is a bad thing but honestly, for these early weeks as we adjusted, I've been thankful for the space.  Sure, there are times where extra sets of hands would have made all the difference and I would have loved our close ones to meet Jasper when he was teeny tiny but it gave us the time to get comfortable in our roles without interference.  But we're ready.  We're more than ready.

I can't wait to watch the grandparents and aunties and uncles see Jasper's big, contagious smile.  I also can't wait for someone else to feed me and my arms are excited for a break.  There's some trepidation for the flight - 16 hours of travel with a temperamental newborn - and a bit of anxiety as to how Jasper will take to all the ensuing excitement.  There will most certainly be overwhelming moments for him but I hope he feels the love.

While we're off for a white Christmas in Canada, I wish you the happiest of holidays whether you're at home or abroad.  (And apologies if you happen to be on one of our flights - Jasper is bound to be a traveler and I'm sure he'll get the hang of it soon enough.)

Jasper Magnus

Our little Jasper was born at 8:06 am on Thursday, October second exactly two weeks ahead of schedule.  He was pretty little at 2.55 kg (5.6 lbs) but healthy and strong and as expected, we fell in love with him immediately.

As a first timer, we're told regularly to expect to go into labour late and expect it to be long.  We're also told to write a birth plan but be prepared to throw that plan out the window.  I felt like I knew what to expect yet at the same time, had absolutely no idea.  I suppose that's why despite a few signs earlier in the week, I was rather hesitant to acknowledge that I was in fact in labour Wednesday evening.

According to my birth plan, I hoped to labour as long as possible at home.  I would check in to the birthing loft on the seventh floor of the hospital where I would ask for minimal medical intervention and my healthy baby boy would be delivered by a wonderful midwife.

In actuality, my contractions began around dinnertime Wednesday evening and they went mostly ignored until I tried to go to bed when they became more uncomfortable and more regular.  I told Joe I was going to stay up and time them to see if there was any sort of pattern.  By midnight, I was pretty convinced 'this was it.'  We phoned the hospital sometime afterwards in which I told them I was still feeling good about being home but to expect us later.  The midwife advised us to come in when contractions were three minutes apart.

At four in the morning after a long shower, the contractions were coming much closer together (although still just over three minutes apart) and they were much stronger.  I knew it was time to go to the hospital so we somewhat frantically pulled our things together, trying to line up our movements in between contractions.  Upon arrival to the birthing loft, the midwife examined me and somewhat surprisingly exclaimed that I was already 8-9 centimetres dilated.

Three hours later, little Jasper joined us on the outside, not long after the sun rose over Stavanger.

Despite being told to plan for the unplanned, everything went exactly how I'd envisioned it.  I don't have any tales of woe that are so often recounted after birth.  While it wasn't easy, Jasper's delivery was manageable without drama or drugs.  His existence has continued down the same path and we now find ourselves two and a half weeks later, peacefully coexisting like he's been here all along.

Our first days together

Thank you for all of the well wishes over on Instagram.