Nicolas Drew Platt

Our son Nicolas was born on Feb 27, 2014.  When I had Laurel, I pushed for 2-3 hours before going to c-section due to having a very narrow pelvis that a baby can't fit through.  This time I had a scheduled c-section, which was nice because we knew the exact day the baby would be born and could plan Scott's vacation time and other appointments around that.  The process of getting ready for the c-section is a lot different and more relaxed than going into an unplanned c-section as well.

My c-section was scheduled for noon on Feb. 27.  They had 3 c-sections that day and two more scheduled for the next day, on top of any people that went into labor, so the OB department in Pella was a happening place!  Everything went smoothly, and the baby was born at 12:34pm.  We had not found out what we were having in advance (we thought it might be a boy), and it was exciting to hear "It's a boy!" come out of the doctor's mouth. 

Here I am on the OR, right before the procedure. The anesthesiologist thanked me for being so calm and easy going throughout. I admit there were a couple moments when my brain considered panicking, but I just closed my eyes, said a short prayer, and breathed deeply, and I was fine.

They allowed us to bring the camera into the OR, and even told Scott he was welcome to look over the curtain and watch the procedure (as long as he didn't faint). He glanced over a few times, but didn't watch the whole thing.  They told him he could take pictures as they were taking the baby out, and he took a few. Nothing too graphic or revealing, but we decided not to post any of those anywhere.

Scott cutting the umbilical cord

Scott bringing the baby over to meet me.

We had a few names of each gender that we liked, but wanted a chance to meet the baby and see what he looked like before deciding on a name.  Se he continued yo be "Baby" for most of the day until that evening, when we had a moment alone to decide on Nicolas Drew.  Neither name has any family significance (although my Grandpa's middle name was Nicholas), we just chose names we like that went well together.

He was not a big fan of being weighed.  I missed all this fun weighing, measuring, cleaning, etc., because I was in the recovery room.

He didn't cry the whole time!

Laurel stayed at my parent's house while we were in the hospital.  My Mom had initially said she would just stay home until they could bring Laurel...but she could not hold out that long and came to the hospital as soon as Scott called her to tell her the baby had been born and was a boy!  Good thing they only live 2 blocks from the hospital!

My parent's brought Laurel over that afternoon.  She had been coloring a card for the baby, and we bought her an "I'm the big sister!" shirt to wear.  When she first walked in, she kept looking from my belly to the baby, and suddenly it clicked in her head that the baby was no longer in my belly.  She was very gentle with him, rubbing his head and naming all his facial features.

Laurel also likes to give the baby lots of kisses!  After 9 months of referring to him as "Baby," she is still calling him that instead of Nicolas.

Family picture.  We did have one where we were all looking at the camera, but I think this one is fun as well.

Sucking on his finger

One of my biggest worries was that the baby would not nurse well, but that has not been a problem--he has been a champ since the first time he tried!  

It's not been about a week and a half since Nicolas was born.  The first couple nights at home we did not get a lot of sleep, but it's been a lot better since then.  Nicolas so far has slept almost all day--until yesterday and today, when he finally started being awake almost as much as he is sleeping!  We have made sure we wake him up and keep him awake for at least an hour in the evening, and then he sleeps well at night.  He usually goes about 3 hours between feedings at night, and then goes back to sleep pretty quickly.  I am even able to put him into his crib when he is not quite asleep, and he will fall asleep on his own.  Laurel NEVER slept in her crib, and NEVER fell asleep on her own (believe me, we tried), so this has been a nice change.  We are also making an effort to put him in his crib almost every time he naps, so he is used to it.  It is tempting and wonderful to just hold a sleeping baby, but in hindsight that could be one reason why Laurel doesn't go to bed on her own!

So far Nicolas is a pretty happy baby.  He can already lift his head up on his own for short periods, and had big, dark gray eyes.  He likes to be loosely swaddled, and at night likes to also have another blanket wrapped around him (so he is in both a burrito and a taco!).  Laurel has adjusted really well.  She still gives him lots of kisses and touches his head, but doesn't maul him or hit him.  And she now allows Scott to put her to bed, instead of only insisting on Mommy.  We are very blessed!