Warner's Birth Story

On March 9th at 39 weeks pregnant Brandon and I woke up early and headed to the hospital around 8am to be induced. It's been almost a month and the details are already a little foggy so I will probably keep this one fairly short. My nurse started me on Pitocin and I got my epidural but it took them a while to break my water because Dr. Thorpe was off doing a c-section. Once he came in and broke my water I started to dilate a lot quicker. It was just Brandon and I for the first few hours and then Steph came in as well. I am so lucky that I was able to have her there with me. With Covid-19 the hospital only allowed for me to have Brandon and one other person and our families weren't allowed to come and see us after he was born. Anyone sick or under 18 years old was not permitted at all and so our girls weren't able to come to the hospital to meet him which was probably the saddest part for me. We could have had visitors once moved to our room but only two at a time and decided we would just wait for everyone to meet him til we got home. Sadly when Steph delivered her baby two weeks later the rules had changed again and I wasn't able to be there for hers. She could only have Spencer. 

Once I was dilated to a ten Dr. Thorpe came in and I probably pushed for about twenty five minutes and he was here. On the last push I actually felt him leave my body and it was the craziest feeling as my stomach fell flat. Warner Emerson Allen. Born at 4:30pm weighing 8lbs 5oz and 20 1/2 inches long. My longest delivery and biggest baby but everything still went smoothly. I was bleeding more than I should have been once he was born and my nurse kept pushing big clots out of me so they started giving me medication and a couple of shots to try and stop the bleeding some. At that point I spiked a fever and threw up and was shaking uncontrollably. They took Warner after Brandon and I were both able to love on him and I stayed on the delivery floor for a few more hours until my bleeding was under control and my fever was gone. Brandon and I passed the time watching the finale of The Bachelor. 

My dad was working at the hospital that day and was able to come and see us once he got off his shift and we were moved to our room. We FaceTimed the girls and family and stayed one night in the hospital and left the next day as soon as they would release us so we could get home to our girls and all be together. This was probably my favorite hospital stay because Brandon stayed with me. With the girls he went home to sleep and would come back in the morning. I loved having him with me the whole time. 

It's all a little bittersweet for me because these moments are lasts for us. We probably won't be together in a delivery room again having another baby and those are some of my favorite times and moments I'll cherish forever. Warner has already grown out of his newborn clothes and diapers. Babies don't keep and I'm trying to soak it all in because as of now our family feels complete. <3

New York/Boston

I never blogged our anniversary trip from last year and so I'm getting to it now before we head off on our next one here soon. These are some of my favorite memories and having them documented is so important to me. Having time with Brandon all to myself, exploring new places and eating good food. I look forward to it every year. We started in New York and ended in Boston but I really only used my camera in Boston since it was new to us and we have been to New York a few times. Look at how cute the streets and buildings are!

Walked around Harvard. It was so much smaller than I was expecting.

Tatte Bakery. They had some really cute bakeries.

Now for my iPhone photos...

We always get ramen in New York.

This Black Tap shake was so good and we finished all of it.

Brandon took me to the Glossier store.

Doughnut Plant always. At least twice.

First time walking through the 9/11 memorial.

Eataly always. This place is so fun to walk through.

Jacques Torres blood orange sorbet. It is so good and we get it every time we go now. You can find it downstairs in Grand Central station or at a couple other locations.

Bryant Park. It's so pretty at night.

Eating at Jacob's Pickles. The food was SO good. But it was very dark and very loud. I'm talking candlelight. We weren't sure we'd be able to see our food but your eyes adjust. Haha.

Sweaty subway station rides.

A hotel room treat I picked up from Eataly. So good.

We went and saw Kinky Boots. Best Broadway show I've seen.

We always grab one of these from the food trucks out and about at night.

Dim Sum from Jing Fong.

These were so good.

Sitting in Central Park.

Yankees game.

U.S. Open.

Sitting in our Boston hotel catching parts of another U.S. Open match. He's the best.

We went and ate dinner at this cute Italian restaurant. I loved the atmosphere but the food was just okay.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

Had to try the famous cannoli from Mike's Pastry which was better than I thought it would be. They look so dry to me. But their tiramisu was better.

Walked past a lot of cute houses on our way to find doughnuts.

I look up all the doughnut shops wherever we travel and need to try them all. After just being in New York with the best these were a let down. They were so heavy.

We love coming across farmers markets.

Boston Public Library is something else.

Getting in my way as I'm trying to take a photo. :)

Boston Public Garden.

Can't get enough of this guy.

Brunch before our flight home.