The Southwick's: Paityn Becky Southwick

August 31, 2012 was the happiest day of our lives! I want to share Paityn's very detailed birth story so that I can remember all the little details when I tell her one day... so bear with me!

August 30th was a very LONG day. It was three days after my doctor had "stripped my membranes" and I was told that if that was going to work it would happen by Wednesday night. It was now Thursday of the NEXT WEEK and I was so discouraged and uncomfortable. For the last two weeks at our doctors appointments I was told that the baby was "VERY low" and that I was dilated to a 2 and 80% effaced. Even though I was only 38 weeks I was ready! :)

Thursday night Josh and I spent the day at my moms and the evening at his parents house. I had tried everything from sitting on an exercise ball to walking til I was exhausted! I decided to lightly bounce on my in-law's trampoline to see if that would put me in labor... LOL

Well that must have done the trick! When we got home that night Josh told me he would have a little "sleepover' in the downstairs of our townhouse. I had been sleeping on the couch because my back hurt so bad and it was the only way I could get comfortable. I fell asleep on the couch with my husband's bed next to me on the floor. I woke up at 11:15 in a panic. Josh was in the kitchen making a bowl of chili and I flew up and looked at him with my eyes wide opened screaming my water just broke! I was shocked because you hear that only happens in the movies... I was waiting for the contractions to come for day but they never did and then BAM! My water broke and I was in labor.

Josh didn't believe me... but once I convinced him we were on our way to the hospital.

I started having pretty good contractions when we arrived and received an epidural shortly after. I was in HEAVEN! I tell everyone that the whole labor and delivery thing is a piece of cake! Those epidurals are AWESOME!

All went well and at 9:37AM the next morning our little precious Paityn arrived. She was 6 pounds 12 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. She stole our hearts the second we heard that cry. I thank Heavenly Father for her everyday and feel so blessed to be her mom! Watching Josh as a dad melts my heart everyday. He is so gentle and spoils her so much and I LOVE watching him. While we were at the hospital one of the nurses told me that most new dads are cute when no one is around but she admired how Josh didn't care who was watching he was loving on our sweet baby and talking to her. She said he was the cutest new dad she had ever seen.

I love having our little family and can't wait to keep making so many fun memories together. I am so thankful for eternal families.

People say you forget how sick you are while you are pregnant... I don't think I believe that but I will definitely say as sick as I was... this baby girl is so worth it! I would do it all over again if it meant that I get to keep her! Here are a few of the MANY pictures we have of our first month together.