August: Months 1, 2, & 3

How is it April and how is my baby boy already THREE MONTHS OLD!?!?! They don't lie when they say time really flies by once you have a kid!

In order to try to preserve/remember baby August, I'm planning to do little updates- sort of like my quarterly updates at work, but way cuter!

August: Month One

Coming home from the hospital with August was both wonderful and terrifying. We were officially on our own to take care of this teeny tiny adorable human. Fortunately, Mike's parents stayed with us for a few days and helped us out and then my parents and family stopped by in the weeks that followed to lend a hand. We are so grateful for all their help!

I'm not going to lie, the first few weeks were tough for this mom. I've always been go-go-go so staying inside with a baby all day was quite the change for me. However, I wouldn't trade that time with him for anything. I really became a mom in those first few weeks. Learning his cues, comforting him when he was upset and generally just being in awe of him. He really is just amazing!

As the first month ticked by, August definitely grew more and more alert. I noticed him perk up and try to pay attention to new faces when friends, family and grandparents came over. Right from the start, he LOVED bath time and by the end of month one he started to enjoy laying on his play mat for short periods of time too.

August: Month Two

Around 7 weeks or so, we moved his bassinet into his room and almost instantly all three of us started sleeping better. August cut down to only waking up once during the night, usually between 2:00a and 3:00a and Mike and I could finally roll over or use our master bath without fear of waking our little peanut.

I couldn't believe how quickly August grew and by his two month check up, he was already over 10 lbs!! I'm so glad he's taken to nursing so well and is such a good eater. Once he hit that 10 lb mark, we started using his cloth diapers which was something I was really looking forward to. They work great and are gentle on his skin.

This month, he started to smile and began to cry real tears. It's the absolute best feeling in the world to see his little gummy grin spread across his face but it certainly breaks my heart when he cries.

August: Month Three

Month three brought some big changes for the House of Schells. I went back to work and August started spending his weekday afternoons with his grandparents. It's been working out well for both of us. He loves snuggling and playing with his grandparents and I feel like I have become a more appreciative parent. When I was home all day with him, by the time Mike came home around 5:30p I needed a break to gather my thoughts or shower, but now I come home SO excited to see him and I can't wait to spend the evening together!

Another change this month was Augusts ability to stay content and entertained for longer periods of time. Never during the first two months could I have set him in his bouncy chair for 20 minutes while I did dishes or started the laundry, but by month three I easily could. He also became more and more interested in the animals on his play mat and started smiling at himself in the mirror- too cute! Towards the end of March, he started laughing as we got him ready for bath time each night. His tiny laugh melts my heart every time!

On March 26 the best change of them all happened... August started sleeping through the night! He's just like his momma, loves his sleep :)

Can't wait to see how much he's changed and grown by the time I post my next update in the summer!!

Hugs,
a

August's Birth Story

On January 2, 2015 August Michael Schell arrived! Here is his birth story...

At 9:00am on New Year's Eve, 38 weeks pregnant, I went in for an ultrasound to track The Bean's growth. Everything checked out, our baby scored 8/8 on the bio-profile and was finally above the 10th percentile and into the "normal" range for growth. Mike and I left to head back to work on cloud nine knowing our baby was doing great. Then to my complete surprise my water broke that afternoon. It wasn't a full break, but more like a trickle here or there. After calling Mike to tell him the good news, I called our doula, Joyce, for advice- sit down, relax and wait to see if contractions start. Since I was already 4cm dilated 80% effaced, I figured it wouldn't be long. 

After a couple hours my contractions were extremely mild still. So mild that if it hadn't been for my water breaking I would have never known I was in labor. I kept in touch with my doula and midwife and since we were planning a natural birth, I stayed home for the night hoping that my contractions would pick up. Eventually, sleep set in and I was sure I'd wake up to feel my labor progressing.

As 7:00am arrived in January 1, 2015, my contractions still had not picked up and we knew it was time to head to the hospital to get checked out. We figured one of two things would happen- either my water didn't actually break OR I was going to have to be induced which was one of my biggest fears. When we got to the hospital I was relieved that my midwife, Shellie, was the midwife on call for the day. She checked me out and as it turned out, I wasn't crazy and my water had broken. Unfortunately, we were approaching the 24 hour mark which meant that I would have to be induced. Ugh! I would be a liar if I said I didn't have a breakdown at this point. I was terribly afraid that my birth plan would be thrown out the window and that due to the Pitocin I wouldn't be able to give birth to my baby naturally.  Mike, Shellie and Joyce all helped to calm me down and ensured me that we would take it slowly and that I could still delivery my baby the way I had intended.

At 12:00pm they started the Pitocin and shortly there after I began to feel slightly stronger contractions. For the next 6.5 hours my contractions progressively grew stronger and Joyce and Mike helped me work through them. Due to the IV and fetal monitor I couldn't get in the tub or shower. However, Joyce had an arsenal of positions to try. I really enjoyed using the birthing ball and the rocking chair. The movement of both was very soothing during each contraction.  Around 7:00, Shellie checked me and I had only progressed another centimeter! Discouraged, hungry and tired I had no idea how much would change over the next couple hours.

By 10:00 pm I could feel that I was getting really close to transition. My contractions were very strong and a lot closer together. In fact, the growing strength of each contraction had me doubt my own strength to work through them naturally. Fortunately, Joyce and Mike were my strength in those weak moments and reminded me that I was already doing it and that I could make it. The two of them were an incredible team!

By 11:40pm I shouted out to Shellie and Joyce "I need to push...NOW" and just like that I made it to the final stage of our baby's birth. After about 40 minutes of pushing, I heard a beautiful cry and Mike yell out "it's a boy"! He cut the cord and then placed our perfect son on my chest. It was the best moment of my life! I nourished a baby for 10 months, pushed him out of my body into the world just as I planned and here he was on my chest and filling my heart with a love I'd never known!

August Michael, you are an amazing little boy and you made our little family complete. Mom and Dad can't wait to show you the world. We love you!

August Michael Schell
January 2, 2015 12:22am
5lbs 14oz   19in