The Rammelsberg Fammelsberg: Liam Gil

He's here! He's here!

If we are Facebook friends, you know the newest Rammelsberg made his appearance on December 10, 2015, making him just over a week old today. We are so in love with him! This is the first opportunity I have had to make a post since D day, and I am somewhat sleep deprived, but I will try to hit all the major events/answer all the most common questions I have been getting.

Liam's Birth Story

As you may recall if you have been following my blog since Elliot was born, she was delivered via emergency C-section. This left us with a choice to make with this birth. We could try for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarian) or schedule the repeat C-section. It was a very difficult decision I struggled with for most of my pregnancy. My OB was amazing throughout the whole process. He was supportive of whatever I wanted to do. He said given my previous birth experience I probably had about a 60% chance of successful VBAC. He didn't encourage either the VBAC or the C-section, but said four words magic words that stuck with me and made me feel good about our ultimate decision: "Either choice is reasonable."

After a lot of thought, research, and prayer, Erik and I finally decided that we would schedule the repeat C-Section for December 10, but if I went into labor before then I would try to VBAC. The reason I decided this was mainly because my birth experience with Elliot was generally terrible. After laboring for 26 hours and pushing for 3 hours, I was completely exhausted when we finally did the emergency C-section. I don't remember meeting her for the first time, or the first time I fed her. I didn't want to risk that happening again.

Well, as you can see, I did NOT go into labor before December 10, so the C-section went forward as planned. And it was really beautiful. The hospital where I delivered was very supportive of everything I requested, including immediate skin-to-skin contact and holding off on the bath. As soon as they pulled him out and made sure he was okay, they put him on my chest and he started nursing, while I was still in the OR being stitched up. I was present for every part of his birth, and not exhausted this time around. I do not regret my decision at all.

He was a perfect 7 pounds and 14 ounces. Much smaller than we anticipated! I was expecting a nine pounder! Elliot was 8.5 pounds when she was born, so I just assumed he would be bigger. But he was the teeniest, cuddliest little bundle of curled up legs and squishy cheeks.

What's in a name?

Liam Gil is named after our fathers. Erik's dad's name is William, so we took the end of his name. Those of you who know my dad are saying, "wait, isn't your Dad's name Cres?" Yes, it is. But our entire family calls him "Gil" and for a lot of reasons we decided to go with that rather than his "real" name. I know Liam is like the most popular name for boys right now, but going with the family names was ultimately more important to us than being more original.

And then there were four.

One of the most beautiful moments of my life was when Elliot met her baby brother. She came in, all smiles, wearing one mitten, and immediately fell in love with him. They are so cute together.

She brought him all kinds of toys and cards from her own collection, and placed them carefully in his little crib at the hospital. (Pictured above.)

The perks of having a Christmas baby.

EVERYONE has mentioned how awful it is to have a birthday so close to Christmas, so I have been a little bummed that his due date was in December. However, the hospital does super cute things for babies born at Christmastime! For example, they gave him a stocking to wear with a matching hat! Have you ever seen anything so adorable?!!

Since we have been home...

Despite having a C-section, I was discharged from the hospital the day after he was born because I was recovering so well. For us it was a relief to be home, with Elliot, all of us together as a family. It was also nice to be home in our own bed! And the little guy let us get a decent amount of sleep for a newborn. He has been sleeping about 3-4 hours at a time through the night, so I typically only have to get up twice a night to feed him, then he falls immediately back to sleep. On nights when Erik takes a turn feeding him on milk I pumped earlier in the day, I get around 7 hours of sleep in a row!

How is Elliot handling it?

Elliot is, as always, a champ.

She takes things in stride very well. But this. This was a huge adjustment for her. She loooooves her brother. He gets frequent kisses and requests to be held from his sister. But she is also feeling the jealousy of lost attention, has had a little sleep regression, and a little bit of toilet training regression. We feel so guilty sometimes about all the adjustments she has had to make and will continue to have to make. But we are told she will adjust and I just keep reminding myself that I have a younger sister and I don't even remember a time without her. So we hope that will be the case here.

She is the best big sister though. And so proud to show off her brother!

I am going to leave you with some out-takes from the first photo shoot with both of my kiddos. These are the ones that didn't make the cut for this year's Christmas card, but are too stinkin' cute not to share.